oleum Corporation (GNPC), Alex Mould has challenged the claims of Tullow Ghana that it has spent in total about US$30 billion in various forms of social –economic projects in the country since 2011.
The operator maintained that, US$30 billion socio-economic impacting projects, excludes the benefits associated with the training of the local people and their multiplying effects on the Ghanaian people.
However, the former key player of the industry has challenged these data given by the operator of Jubilee and TEN Oil Fields.
Mr Mould, who has been the leader of the national company which is a partner to all operations in the oil sector said, what Tullow is not saying is that, although over 60% of the staff are local, betwwen 65-75% of the wage bill accrues to expatriates.
He further stated that, “what they are not saying is that they are refusing to pay our Additional Oil Entitlement (AoE) which accrues to Ghana when they have excess than agreed Rate of Return) of about US$250m since inception.
“What they are failing to say is that out of the US$8 billion awarded to JVs, less than 10% of that revenue and less than 5% of the profits goes to Local partners.”
In an interview with Economy Times newspaper, Mr Mould advised that, it’s important that things are put into perspective.
Tullow has been sharing highlights of their contribution to the growth of the Ghanaian economy.
It said, since its operation in 2006 in Ghana, in offshore oil exploration and production, the company has made tremendous impact in support of the country’s fiscal and economic growth.
Director of External Affairs and Social Performance with Tullow Ghana Limited, Ms. Cynthia Lumor at a press engagement last week in Takoradi indicated that, oil liftings to GNPC in the same year accrued to US$2.5 billion.
She explained further that, a total of US$938 million, as at December 2017, was paid to government in terms of royalties.
“One of the benefits is the fact the 200 billion cubic feet of gas that is being supplied to Ghana Gas, are at no cost to government . So when we look at 200 bcf for gas, the crude oil that you will need to generate that amount of gas, they value it depending on what price you are using is between US$1.7 billion and 2.4 billion”, Ms Lumor explained.
Tullow Ghana further indicated that, it has awarded a wholesome amount of US$15.1 billion worth of contracts to other companies in the oil and gas sector.
Out of this, US$5.6 billion worth of contracts has been awarded to foreign companies, US$8 billion to joint venture partnerships between foreign and local companies, and a total of US$1.5 billion worth of contracts awarded indigenous Ghanaian companies as part of their compliance and effort to improve local participation in the oil and gas industry.
According to the company’s information, currently, five out of the eight, representing 63% of the leadership team with Tullow Ghana, are Ghanaians.
“The truth is that we haven’t done any of these by ourselves. We’ve talked a lot about the Jubilee and TEN partners but Government of Ghana has played an instrumental role because without their collaboration and cooperation there wouldn’t be a lot that we have done”, she said.
