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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

GHANA:GNPC Explorco goes for 70% and 37% stakes to control AGM, Aker blocks

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The Government through the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), has initiated the process expected to lead to the acquisition 37% interest in the Deep Water Tano Cape Three Points (DWT/CTP) operated by Aker Energy Ghana Limited and 70% stake in the South Deepwater Tano (SDWT) operated by AGM Petroleum Ghana Limited.

The purchase agreement ones finalized will ultimately result in the establishment of a joint operating company between Aker Energy, AGM Petroleum Ghana Limited and GNPC Explorco.

The planned acquisition which has received cabinet approval was laid before Parliament on Monday 2nd August 2021 for the input and approval of the house and to mandate the Ministers responsible for Energy and Finance to commence negotiations and agree on a purchase price with Aker Energy and AGM.

Parliamentary Processes

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, after the Energy Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, laid the proposed arrangement before Parliament on the 2nd of August 2021, commended government for the procedure it has adopted as far as the planned acquisition is concerned.

He subsequently forwarded the Energy Minister’s memorandum to the joint Finance and Energy Committee of Parliament for further consideration.

The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta and his colleague Energy Minister on the 3rd of August 2021, appeared before the joint committee to justify the decision of government.

According to the Parliamentary memorandum from the Minister of Energy on the proposed GNPC acquisition of significant stakes in the two institutions (Aker Energy and AGM), a loan facility not exceeding US$ 1.65 billion to finance the acquisition at a price to be negotiated has also been submitted for Parliamentary approval.

Rational behind Acquisition

Ghana has in place eighteen (18) petroleum agreements, many of which have not seen substantial work done as at December 2020. Out of the 18 fields, three (3) are producing fields and four (4) are discoveries.

The Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, 2016 (Act 919) which governs the upstream petroleum industry gives GNPC exclusive rights to undertake its mandate in all open blocks in the country. It requires all persons wanting to undertake upstream petroleum operations in Ghana to partner with the Corporation.

But, the declining number of majors in Ghana and the ongoing energy transition means that if no one else is willing to explore or develop, GNPC may have to develop Ghana’s deep water resources alone. To do so GNPC must have operator capabilities and the technology.

GNPC acknowledges that it will need some capacity building in order to become an operator on its own. The process requires a major oil company willing to travel on this learning route with GNPC. Partnership with AKER Energy and AGM, with proven deep water capabilities, provides such opportunity for the national oil company to develop operator capabilities.

GNPC proposes to partner with Aker Energy/AGM to jointly develop the DWT/CTP and SDWT blocks. The two companies, with a wealth of deep water experience and the requisite technology, are keen to entering into this arrangement with GNPC.

The existing discoveries by Aker Energy and AGM (the Pecan and Nyankom fields) are by far the largest discoveries in Ghana, and the only ones that can be developed as stand-alone developments. This partnership has the potential to add more than 200,000 barrels of crude oil to Ghana’s current production within the next 4 to 5 years.

Benefits of the Partnership

The Transaction according to the Energy Ministry, offers significant benefits to Ghana in its quest to develop her petroleum sector. Among others, GNPC gets to build operator capacity at a critical time in history to ensure that the hydrocarbon resources in the country can be fully developed.

Other expected benefits are Ghana’s crude oil production will increase by 140,000 to 200,000 bpd within 3 to 9 years, oil produced may be exported or refined in Ghana for domestic use thereby reducing imports of refined products and conserve foreign exchange, local content agenda can be effectively set by GNPC and a GNPC with operator capabilities will provide enhanced value creation for Ghana.

GNPC Explorco will eventually recoup the capital expenditure as part of petroleum costs and loan offered to GNPC Explorco for the transaction can be repaid at First Oil through securitization of crude oil entitlements.

Additionally, tax expenditures (through exemptions) and initial concessions extended to Aker Energy/AGM will be substantially reclaimed by GoG and assets to be acquired by GNPC Explorco will be done at a discount to current valuation.

Royalties, tax revenues and profits to GNPC Explorco will amount to about USS6.5 billion in nominal value over 15 years and substantial foreign exchange inflows will accrue to Ghana which will contribution to GDP growth and expanded job opportunities.

Wilberforce Asare

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