GHANA’S GAS FORUM – 15th and 16th February, 2012

With Ghana's recent discovery of oil in commercial quantities, its gas sector has likewise received the attention of industry observers all over the world. The country's nascent sector became noteworthy as the Government of Ghana announced its strategic plan to utilize the associated gas from the oil-producing Jubilee Field to boost industrialization and also minimize the detrimental environmental effects associated with gas flaring. The Ghana's Gas Forum is set to yet again focus the spotlight on Ghana's gas sector and address the burning issues by bringing together key public and private sector players in the local and international oil and gas industry.

The forum will be chaired by Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, Board Chairman of the Ghana National Gas Company. Speaking on behalf of the conference organizers, Mr. Francis S. Gbeho, member of the Planning Committee explained that the initiative is meant to create “the opportunities to share perspectives on gas sector development in Ghana's bid to maximize benefits from its gas resource”. By focusing on gas as a unique resource, the organizers seek to document additional initiatives and strategies that may be discussed for presentation to key stakeholder institutions in Ghana such as Parliament and state agencies.

The conference will educate participants on Ghana's gas monetization plans for the Jubilee field and go further to discuss policy framework considerations needed to ensure sustainable development of otherwise stranded gas assets. Conference papers titled “Making the Case: State-run Industries versus Competitive Markets”, “Gas Trading in Ghana: Prospects, Challenges and Opportunities”, “Regional Infrastructure Development: The Future of the West African Gas Pipeline” and “Development of Ghana's Natural Gas Industry – Learning from others” will be presented as part of the conference's panel discussions to be led by key individuals in the energy sector including Mr. Pianim (Board Member, Petroleum Commission), Mr. Kweku Awotwi (Chief Executive, VRA), Mr. Charles Adeniji (Managing Director, West African Gas Pipeline Company) and Mr. Philip Liverpool (Commercial Director, Kosmos Energy).

The Main speaker for the conference is Mr. Stephen Dow. He is a lecturer at the prestigious Center for Energy, Petroleum, Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee, Scotland. As a qualified solicitor, he has worked on post privatization regulation of energy industries in many countries. He is also involved in research into proposed reforms of the electricity market in China, and continues to study developments on the UK energy markets, particularly in the run up to the introduction of full competition in electricity and gas supply.

Ghana's Gas Forum, endorsed by the Ministry of Energy and Ghana National Gas Company is scheduled to take place on February 15th and 16th, 2012 at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, Ghana. The conference will also feature an exhibition for upstream and downstream oil, gas, energy and service companies.