Accra, June 5, GNA- The Government, Tullow Oil plc (Tullow), Kosmos Energy (Kosmos), PetroSA, GNPC and Explorco have entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to extend the West Cape Three Points (WCTP) and Deep Water Tano (DWT) licences to 2040.
This covers the Jubilee and TEN fields in Ghana.
The MOU includes approval to drill up to 20 additional wells in the Jubilee field, representing investment of up to $2 billion in Ghana over the life of the licences.
A statement in Accra said because of the extension the JV partnership expects to realise a material increase in gross 2P reserves.
It said a number of principles were covered within the MOU that would help underpin the continued development of the Jubilee and TEN fields.
These include a commitment to work to increase in the supply of gas from the Jubilee and TEN fields to c.130 mmscf/d, a reduced gas price for Jubilee associated gas, a guaranteed reimbursement mechanism for gas sales and investment in Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and the Petroleum Commission’s capacity with a focus on the use of advanced technology.
The statement said all terms and conditions of the existing WCTP and DWT Petroleum Agreements remain in place and continue unchanged.
It said the next steps, following this MOU, were the submission for approval of a Jubilee Plan of Development (PoD) Addendum, entering into new fully termed gas sales agreements (GSA), and the submission for parliamentary approval of the payment security mechanism and licence extensions planned before the end of the third quarter of 2025.
Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition said, “This MOU between Ghana and the DWT and WCTP partners marks a significant step forward in our nation’s energy sector. Extending the licenses to 2040 demonstrates our commitment to fostering a stable and attractive investment climate.”
He said the MOU would not only ensure the continued production of oil, supporting their economic growth, but also allow them to further develop our infrastructure and create more job opportunities for our citizens.
“We are dedicated to responsible resource management and look forward to a prosperous future fuelled by sustainable energy practices,” he added.
Mr Richard Miller, Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Tullow, said, “This is a valuable step forward for the Government of Ghana, Tullow and our JV partners, highlighting the collaborative and constructive relationship we all have in reaching our shared goal of building a better future for the people of Ghana, through responsible oil and gas development.”
He said the extension and the fiscal stability of the contracts emphasized the opportunity in Ghana to deliver additional value through production and reserves additions, providing greater long-term optionality and materiality to these core assets.
Mr Andy G. Inglis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kosmos, said, “This MOU recognizes the importance of oil and gas in Ghana and the desire of the new administration to create an attractive environment for new investment in the sector.”
He said extending the Ghana production licenses was highly accretive, adding material reserves and enabling the partnership to continue investing in the country for the long-term.
He said the investment was expected to maximize the value of the fields for the benefit of the country’s economic development and Kosmos’ shareholders.
“We look forward to working with President Mahama and his government to invest in and advance Ghana’s energy sector,” he said.
GNA
Christian Akorlie