Sulzer-Mansa, a joint venture service provider in the oil and gas industry, has commissioned a US$500,000 state-of-the-art rotating equipment service centre at New Amanful in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.
The centre is to serve the upstream players, mining and manufacturing industries as well as repair heavy duty equipment, such as pumps, compressors, motors, generators, among others.
Also, it is to train Ghanaians to have the skill-set and knowledge in the oil and gas sector.
Mr. George Yaw Owusu, Chief Executive Officer of Mansa, in an interview with the media during the opening of the centre explained that: “After the discovery of oil in Ghana, most Ghanaians did not have the technical know-how and skills required to operate in the sector”.
He noted that most of the repair works were done overseas or expert were brought to work on the equipment, and this was draining the country’s resources.
“To solve some of the industry’s problems in terms of skilled gap, a search was made to get some companies on board and fortunately, Sulzer was identified. We partnered to have a joint venture. Mansa, is a wholly-Ghanaian company; we are here to solve the industry’s problem and to ensure that Ghanaians take over the industry in some few years to come,” he said.
Currently, he pointed out that, Sulzer-Mansa has trained eight Ghanaians as well as invested in over 10,000 hours in this training.
He praised government for the formation of the Petroleum Commission, and the achievements made in the passage of L.I 2204 and its implementation on local content.
“Indigenous and joint venture companies in the sector are doing so well, especially in training and the awards of contracts,” Mr. Owusu added.
He mentioned that the partnership with Sulzer is to establish a workshop in Ghana to train Ghanaians on how to repair pumps, pipes and other equipment. He also indicated that this will be replicated in some regions. “We want to make sure Ghanaians are able to do the job.”
Mr. Alex Myers, Managing Director – Sulzer Pumps Middle East, said Sulzer is a Swiss engineering company that manufactures pumps, oil and gas separation equipment, among others.
“We started working in Ghana since 2015; we are here to develop the people, the economy as well as the technical competence of the locals,” he said.
He commended the CEO of Mansa for being instrumental in the oil and gas industry in Ghana and for partnering with Sulzer in ensuring that the skills of the youth are developed to be able to bridge the gap in the sector.
Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister for Energy, commended Sulzer-Mansa for establishing the workshop to support the oil and gas industry.
Egbert Faibille, Chief Executive of Petroleum Commission, applauded the company for helping to bridge the skill gap in the oil and gas sector.
