The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) emphasized its strategic role in promoting innovation and excellence in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector at the 2nd Ghana Biennial International Summit & Exhibition (GH-BISE 2024) in Accra.
Victor Sunu-Attah, General Manager of Engineering at GNPC, spoke about the corporation’s efforts to develop local talent and invest in research and technology to overcome challenges in the sector.
Mr. Sunu-Attah highlighted GNPC’s collaboration with local universities to enhance their capacity to train Ghanaians for the industry. He explained that when Ghana discovered oil in commercial quantities, it lacked the necessary human resources and had to rely on expatriates. Therefore, GNPC prioritizes the development of human capacity to drive growth and progress in the energy sector.
In line with this, GNPC has allocated funds through the GNPC Professorial and Research Chairs program to four universities in Ghana to strengthen research and technological capabilities relevant to the petroleum and gas industry.
These universities are the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, the University of Mines & Technology, and the University of Cape Coast. This initiative fosters collaboration between industry and academia to ensure that research aligns with industry needs and leads to practical innovations.
Additionally, GNPC has established a Research and Technology Centre (RATC) to better manage the large volume of data generated from its operational activities.
This centre will contribute to cultivating world-class expertise in upstream operations management, in collaboration with academic research centers.
Addressing concerns about the future of careers in the petroleum sector amidst the energy transition conversation, Mr. Sunu-Attah refuted the prediction of the death of oil and gas-related engineers. He emphasized the continued relevance of gas as Africa’s response to clean energy transition. He also highlighted that the petrochemical industry will thrive with a reliance on oil and gas experts.
Mr. Sunu-Attah concluded that innovation and maintaining relevance in the energy transition era will involve leveraging applications in present technologies such as AI and machine learning for increased efficiency.
The 2024 Ghana Biennial International Summit & Exhibition provided a platform for discussions on industry innovations, technology, and workshops aimed at shaping the future of energy in Africa.
