Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi (ENI) Ghana, in association with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and University College London (UCL), and with technical support from the Institute of Energy Research and Training (IERT) University of Jammu, India, Vitol and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), has organised a two-day educational programme on oil and gas exploration and production for junior and senior high school students in Kumasi. The programme which took place on the 11th & 12th of December 2012, was organised under the theme “Petroleum Geology, Global Warming and Energy Efficiency Campaign: Climate and Environmental Concerns.”
Mr. Claudio Nini, ENI Ghana, in an opening remark, said that the purpose of the programme was to identify and introduce young talents to the world of technology and to make them aware of global warming.
Prof. S. I. K Ampadu, the Provost of the College of Engineering KNUST, in a welcome address, said that KNUST as an institution was highly delighted to be associated with the organization of the event. He said that KNUST, which was adjudged by the Government of Ghana as the only tertiary institution offering a course in Oil and Gas, started offering programmes in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production in the year 2004 and has since lived up to the expectation of many Ghanaians by producing most Ghanaian Oil and Gas engineers. He advised the students to, as much as possible, develop interest in the Oil and Gas industry because of its potential to enrich and transform the lives of Ghanaians.
Prof. Juergen Thurow (UCL), in his presentation, noted that Eni E & P Limited, an Italian company, was a major energy company committed to finding, producing, transporting, transforming and marketing oil and gas. He also said that ENI had a passion for excellence, the continuous improvement of the integrity and the capacity of human resource and the environment. He further stated that with over 79,000 employees in 85 countries, ENI operated in the following industries: oil and gas, electricity generation and sale, petrochemicals, oilfield services construction and engineering industries. “In these businesses, ENI has a strong edge and leading international market position” he added.
In his conclusion, he said that every action of the company was geared at making the most of people, contributing to the development and well-being of the communities in which it worked, protecting the environment, investing in technological innovation and energy efficiency as well as mitigating the effects of climate change.
Mr. Eric Pwaduro – Acting Head, Corporate Affairs Department, GNPC – explained in his presentation that ENI Ghana, which was a major international player in Oil and Gas production, was established under PNDC Law 84 to lead in the exploration and production of Oil and Gas. He said that over the years, the company had been keen in building local capacity and producing human resource in the exploration of oil and gas.
Schools which participated in the event, the second of its kind in Ghana, included Opoku Ware Senior High, Adventist Girls’ Senior High, T. I. Ahmadiya Senior High, Jachie Pramso Senior High, Anglican Senior High, Kumasi Technical Institute, Martyrs of Uganda Junior High and Asem Boys Junior High schools all in Kumasi.
Presentations were also made in three (3) thematic areas: Global warming and Climate Change, Energy Conservation and Efficiency and Earth, Energy and Environment. A poster painting competition was organised for students of the participating schools and the winner was expected to take home a brand new laptop.
