The Energy Center in collaboration with the College of Engineering of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has held a colloquium on Ghana's oil and gas find aimed at strengthening its capacity for training and research activities.

The colloquium attracted some local and international experts who shared their views towards the effective management of revenue to be realised from the oil and gas production.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor W.O. Ellis, underscored the importance of science and technology in the oil and gas industry. He was confident that, the KNUST Energy Center would continue to play essential role in order to enhance the sustainability of the development in the industry.

In a welcome address, the Provost of the College of Engineering Professor S.I.K Ampadu, expressed his optimism that the colloquium will provide the platform for students to acquaint themselves with operational details in the oil and gas sector.

Professor Ampadu   pointed out that the College of Engineering has played a major role in training engineers since its establishment in the 1950s. He added that the personnel have been very instrumental in national projects, including the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO), Akosombo and Kpong Hydroelectric projects and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).

He further stated that the objective of the colloquium was to create the requisite platform for deliberations between the University Community and its stakeholders so as to help put the revenues realised from the production of oil and gas to good use.

According to the Provost, the Center has benefited from a US$38 million fund from Government and the World Bank to assist with the development of modern laboratory facilities, and to strengthen capacity in the area of training and research in Petroleum and Petrolchemical Engineering.

Mr. Kwame Pianim, an economist and the former Chief Executive Officer of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) underscored the need for Ghana to train more engineers and researchers so as to make management of oil and gas production effective and efficient.

On his part, the Minister of Energy, Dr. Joe Oteng Adjei, entreated the Provost of the College, and the Head of Department of Chemical Engineering to work beyond expectation in implementing the project within the shortest possible time.

Dr. Oteng Adjei recommended that the KNUST Energy Center should establish links with foreign institutions in its quest to maximise knowledge and skills in the industry.

Among other dignitaries present were: Professor Abeeku Brew-Hammond, Director of KNUST Energy Center; Nana Asafo Adjei, Managing Director of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC); Mr. Ato Ampiah, Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR); and Mr. Alex Mould, Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). There were also some representatives from the World Bank, Amalgamated Bank Ltd., Kosmos Energy, Schlumberger and the Ghana Insurers Association (GIA)