GNPC Exploration and Production Limited Company (Explorco) has reaffirmed its plan to begin onshore drilling in Ghana’s Voltaian Basin in the fourth quarter of 2026 as it works towards becoming an independent Ghanaian oil and gas operator.
The company announced this at its maiden Annual General Meeting (AGM), held at the Accra Marriott Hotel.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah, said the government expects Explorco to start drilling as scheduled.
He urged the company’s management to follow due process and carry out thorough due diligence throughout the project.
The Voltaian Basin project will help Explorco build its technical capacity and establish itself as an operator in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector.
Explorco Board Chairman, Dr Aaron Issa Anafure, said the company must strengthen its technical expertise, project management, procurement processes, risk management and stakeholder relationships as it prepares to take on direct operatorship.
He described the Voltaian Basin project as a national learning and capacity-building initiative that could influence the future of Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry.
At the meeting, Managing Director Samuel Opoku Arthur also provided updates on the company’s operations in the Jubilee and Tweneboa-Enyenra-Ntomme (TEN) fields, alongside preparations for the Voltaian Basin drilling campaign.
Presenting the company’s 2025 financial performance, Opoku Arthur reported higher revenue and profitability, stronger cash generation and a significant reduction in overall borrowings.
However, he acknowledged that the company still has outstanding financial obligations and receivables to manage.
Explorco also reaffirmed its commitment to safety, local content development and operational efficiency as it works towards becoming a fully independent operator.
source: www.modernghana.com
African Energy Council