Ghana, Kosmos Energy start capacity building initiatives in oil industry
Kosmos Energy in collaboration with Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), is conducting an International Maritime Organisation (IMO) course for selected governmental, industry and community stakeholders in Accra and Takoradi from June 11-20.
It is designed to outline the key responsibilities of oil spill management for decision makers while providing participants with the knowledge to make practical, hands-on decisions regarding shoreline protection and treatment following an incident.
This was contained in a statement issued in Accra on Friday by Ms Ruth Adashie Communications Manager, Kosmos Energy Ghana and copied to Ghana News Agency.
The training is being conducted by Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL), UK, an international industry-owned cooperative which specialises in incident response and readiness.
Participants are drawn from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Petroleum Commission (PC), Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Ghana Navy (GN), Zeal Environmental Technologies Ltd, the Ghana Petroleum Security Coordinating Council (PSCC) and representatives from 12 Coastal Communities in the Western Region.
Mr Mike Murphy, Vice President and Country Manager, Kosmos Energy Ghana, said, “Kosmos Energy believes that the key to effective response lies in the expertise of people with up-todate training, an understanding of the critical issues and the availability of the appropriate spill equipment. We are honoured to join forces with the MEST in executing this initiative”.
Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, interacted with the participants and thanked them for availing themselves for the course.
She said “It is important that we build human capital for proper management of our oil resources”.
In 2011, MEST and Kosmos Energy undertook a “Needs Assessment of Capacity Building for Environmental Governance and Regulation of the Oil and Gas Industry.”
As a result of the joint study, multiple enhancement opportunities were identified.
Kosmos Energy is a leading independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on frontier and emerging areas in Africa and South America.
Its asset portfolio includes existing production, major discoveries and exploration prospects offshore
Ghana, as well as exploration licenses with significant hydrocarbon potential offshore Mauritania, Morocco and Suriname and onshore Cameroon.
Kosmos is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol KOS.
Source: GNA