Energy

Since the discovery of offshore oil reserves in 2007, the Ghanaian government has reached a number of important decisions regarding production and distribution, and set the aim of reaching production in just 42 months. Crude oil output accounted for 6.8% of GDP in 2011, the first year of hydrocarbons production, and production is expected to be increased to 120,000 barrels per day by mid-2013. However, more questions are also now being raised regarding the long-term sustainability of oil production, the costs to producers and the best ways to engage with international oil companies. The government and producers alike are now faced with issues of infrastructural development, with the need to maximise the benefit of the industry to local communities and establish gas production and transport facilities being particularly pressing. This chapter contains interviews with Joe Oteng-Adjel, Minister of Energy; and Kwesi Botchwey, Chairman, Ghana National Gas Company.