The Government of Ghana, through the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), has begun steps for a potential state-led takeover of Springfield Exploration and Production’s Afina-1x oil well in the West Cape Three Points Block 2, which is one of the country’s most contentious undeveloped oil fields.
According to an official statement from the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), together with its upstream subsidiary GNPC Explorco, is in constructive discussions with Springfield as part of a strategy to safeguard petroleum assets and prevent economically viable reserves from remaining stranded.
To ensure transparency and technical rigor, the Petroleum Commission and GNPC have initiated a procurement process to hire an independent Technical Consultant and a Transactional Advisor.
The mandate of the consultant and advisor includes coming up with a comprehensive technical evaluation of the WCTP2 block, a full audit and verification of past expenditure, as well as a financial and commercial due diligence report
In addition, they are to carry out an independent valuation of Springfield’s interest.
These independent assessments, according to the government, are to ensure a fair and commercially sound basis for any potential takeover.
The government’s plan includes repositioning the asset for faster development, potentially in partnership with experienced deepwater operators.
“This approach ensures that all decisions are evidence-based, commercially prudent, and in the best interest of the Republic of Ghana”, part of the statement signed by Richmond Rockson, Spokesperson and Head of Communication at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, mentioned.
These processes, the statement says, are being conducted without prejudice to ongoing investigations involving Springfield or related entities, and that institutional independence remains fully upheld.
The push for intervention follows years of stalled progress on the Afina field, despite its confirmed discovery, as Ghana’s oil production declines with global transition reshaping upstream investment.
The statement further reiterated the government’s commitment to local content and indigenous participation, noting that any future development of WCTP2 will be aligned with national policy to build a competitive Ghanaian-led oil and gas sector.
