Correction To Press Release: Opening Of Prequalification Applications For The 2018/19 Licensing Round

Accra, December 22, 2018 - In a press release issued under the same headline yesterday, December 21, 2018, by the Ministry of Energy, please note among the companies that expressed an interest is EQUINOR and not EQUINOX. The corrected release follows:

The Ministry of Energy wishes to inform the general public that the Licensing Round Committee, on Friday December 21, 2018, opened applications for prequalification received from interested companies who submitted Expression of Interest (Eol) for the competitive bidding for three Blocks (GH_WB_02, GH_WB_03 and GH_WB_04) in the Western Basin and direct negotiations in respect of two Blocks (GH_WB_0S and GH_WB_06), offshore the Republic of Ghana.

Overall, sixteen (16) high caliber companies with proven track records submitted a total of sixty applications. Two of the applications were invalidated as they were for Block GH_WB_01 which has been reserved for the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC). In line with this, fifty eight (58) valid applications will be considered for the next stage of the process.

The number of applications received shows a high level of interest by international companies in our Basins.

According to Deputy Minister for Energy in charge of Petroleum, Hon. Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, who observed the opening of the sealed expressions of interest, "the high level of interest shown by major International Oil Companies in our first licensing round is a vote of confidence in the Ghanaian economy under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo."

"Government is determined to use a transparent process as specified by law to shortlist companies that have the capacity and will qualify based on prescribed criteria" Dr. Amin said.

The Ministry wishes to assure interested parties that whoever is selected would be a true partner to Ghana. "We will collaborate and partner with them to explore and exploit the resource for our mutual benefit and most importantly the benefit of the Ghanaian people" said Mr. Lawrence Apaalse, Chairman of the Licensing Round Committee.

The exercise was also observed by the Ghana Oil and Gas for Inclusive Growth (GOGIC) which convenes civil society organizations working in the oil and gas sector.

Companies that expressed interest are TULLOW OIL, TOTAL, ENI, CAIRN, HARMONY OIL AND GAS CORPORATION, EXXONMOBIL, CNOOC, QATAR PETROLEUM, BP, VITOL, GLOBAL PETROLEUM GROUP, AKER ENERGY, FIRST E&P, KOSMOS, SASOL AND EQUINOR.

SIGNED

HEAD, COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF ENERGY