The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, Emeafa Hardcastle, says Ghana is preparing to drill its first onshore exploration well in the Voltaian Basin before the end of 2026.
She says the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and its exploration subsidiary, GNPC Explorco, are leading preparations to test the petroleum potential of the basin.
Ms Hardcastle disclosed this when Parliament’s Select Committee on Energy paid a working visit to the Petroleum Commission.
She described the Voltaian Basin as one of Africa’s frontier basins and said drilling the first well will provide critical information to guide further exploration and investment.
“GNPC and Explorco are preparing to drill the onshore Voltaian Basin, one of the continent’s most exciting frontier basins, before the end of this year.”
The Petroleum Commission has previously indicated that the basin has attracted growing interest following the acquisition of seismic and geological data, with drilling expected to help reduce exploration uncertainty.
Recent preparations have focused on the proposed TUA-1X exploratory well at Chegu in the Mion District, including plans for a 13.5-kilometre access road, a rig pad and other infrastructure required to mobilise the drilling rig.
But Chairman of Parliament’s Energy Committee, Emmanuel Bedzrah, says Parliament expects the exploration programme to produce tangible results.
He says the Committee wants to see the outcome of the exploration and determine whether the basin contains oil in commercially viable quantities.
“We want to see the first drop of oil, whether it’s at a commercial quantity or not. We want to know.”
Mr Bedzrah said Parliament’s support for budgetary allocations to the exploration programme would be linked to seeing progress on the ground.
He warned that if the exploration programme does not yield the expected results, the Committee would reconsider its support for future budget allocations.
“If we don’t see any drop of oil by way of exploration, we will not give them our budget. We will not support them in their budget again.”
The Chairman said Parliament wants to ensure that resources approved for the programme are effectively utilised in advancing exploration in the Voltaian Basin.
The planned drilling is expected to provide subsurface data that will help GNPC and GNPC Explorco assess the basin’s hydrocarbon potential and determine the direction of subsequent exploration activities. Recent reporting on the TUA-1X project also stresses that drilling should not be interpreted as confirmation that commercial oil or gas has already been discovered.
The Voltaian Basin therefore represents a significant new frontier in Ghana’s efforts to expand its petroleum resource base, with the outcome of the first exploratory well expected to provide a clearer picture of its potential.
Source: gbcghanaonline.com