Ghana and Uganda deepen upstream petroleum cooperation through peer learning

Ghana and Uganda have strengthened their cooperation in the upstream petroleum sector through a peer learning engagement, hosted by the Petroleum Commission (PC) last week. The visit aimed to share experiences and enhance regulatory capacity between the two African petroleum regulators. Emeafa Hardcastle, CEO of the Petroleum Commission, emphasized that this meeting provided an opportunity for both institutions to learn from each other's experiences and confront shared challenges in ensuring petroleum resources generate lasting value for their citizens.

Ghana shared its successes and challenges since transitioning from exploration to commercial production, highlighting key areas such as legal and regulatory frameworks, policy development, expenditure oversight, health, safety, and environmental standards, investment facilitation, and local content development. Local content remains crucial to Ghana's petroleum governance strategy, ensuring citizens and local businesses reap meaningful benefits from the industry.

Ernest Thompson, Chair of the Petroleum Commission, stressed the importance of the engagement in light of increasingly complex challenges faced by African petroleum regulators. He commended Uganda's progress in its major upstream projects, particularly its work on onshore resource management, community engagement, and environmental safeguards. Thompson expressed confidence that the knowledge-sharing arrangements would deepen cooperation between the two regulatory institutions.

Professor Vincent Bagire, a member of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda's board, emphasized the importance of learning from Ghana's experience while sharing Uganda's own lessons. The delegation was in Ghana to learn from Ghana's progress while contributing knowledge from Uganda's petroleum development. Bagire noted that Uganda's experience in onshore petroleum operations could offer valuable insights for Ghana, as Ghana explores opportunities for onshore development, particularly in the Voltaian Basin.

During the visit, the Petroleum Commission delivered technical presentations on Ghana's legal and regulatory framework, policy underpinnings, institutional arrangements, upstream petroleum operations, local content development, and health, safety, and environmental management. These presentations were followed by interactive discussions, allowing both delegations to exchange practical experiences and perspectives on petroleum governance.

Both sides acknowledged the broader challenges in the petroleum industry, including attracting investment, managing resources efficiently, upholding environmental and safety standards, and adapting to changes in the global energy landscape amidst the energy transition.

The engagement concluded with a commitment to deepen cooperation and maintain knowledge exchange between Ghana and Uganda as they strive to ensure their petroleum resources contribute meaningfully to national development.