The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Exploration and Production Limited Company (EXPLORCO) has officially announced plans to begin onshore oil and gas exploratory drilling in the Volta Basin.
In a scoping notice issued on Monday, March 11, 2026, the company revealed its intention to drill two exploratory wells within the GH-VB-01 block. The project area spans approximately 5,480 square kilometres, covering portions of the Gushiegu and Mion districts in the Northern Region.
The primary objective of the operation is to confirm the presence of oil or gas and evaluate reservoir properties. Each well is expected to reach a depth of approximately 2,000 metres, providing critical geological data to determine the commercial viability of the basin.
The notice serves as a formal invitation for public participation, as required under the Environmental Protection (Petroleum) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2509) and the Environmental Assessment Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2504).
This phase is a mandatory component of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, designed to ensure transparency and environmental safeguards for large-scale energy projects.
EXPLORCO has called on individuals and organisations with specific interests, concerns or technical knowledge regarding the potential environmental effects of the drilling to come forward.
These stakeholders are encouraged to submit their feedback to the Managing Director at the company’s headquarters in Accra, or via telephone on +233 (0) 30 398 3375 / +233 (0) 30 398 3377, or by email at info@gnpcexplorcogh.com.
They may also contact the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) through P.O. Box M. 326, Accra, Ghana, or via telephone numbers +(233) 302 708175–9 / 0501301447 / +(233) 302 664697–8, or by email at info@epa.gov.gh
By SELORM GBORBIDZI, Accra
