Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and its partners in the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) block, Eni Ghana Exploration and Production Limited and Vitol Upstream Ghana Limited, have paid an amount of $1.650 million as compensation to land and property owners at Sanzule in the Elembelle District of the Western Region.

The amount forms part of the processes to secure 237 acres of land to serve as site to host an onshore gas receiving plant dedicated to the upcoming Sankofa-Gye Nyame gas project.

A total of 205 claimants, made up of 175 crop farmers, 14 building-structure owners and 16 fish pond owners, received an amount of $1 million.

The remaining $650,000 was used to pay families and clans as land lease compensation for a period of 30 years.

This was in line with a Property Leasehold Agreement earlier signed between ENI and the Sanzule community in April, this year.

Cheques were presented to the landowners and the families at a historic ceremony that took place at the chief’s palace at Sanzule, Thursday, 22nd October, 2015.

Mr. Letizia disclosed that in addition to the compensation paid, the Sanzule community is to enjoy a $200,000 project package annually under the livelihood restoration plan and social responsibility programme instituted by ENI and its partners.

Ghana has approved $7.9bn Sankofa-GyeNyame gas project, which has Eni and Vitol as operators, with GNPC as a partner.

The field is expected to produce substantial gas to power Ghana’s thermal energy plants for 20 years and beyond.

The integrated project, when completed would produce 80,000 barrels of oil daily and 170 million cubic feet of gas per day, capable of generating close to 1,000 megawatts of power.

First oil from the field is expected in August 2017, while gas production will commence in February 2018.

Finance and Control Manager of ENI Ghana, Rosario Letizia greeting chiefs and elders of Sanzule

An elder of Sanzule being assisted to sign the necessary documentation on receipt of his cheque

Some of the land and property owners waiting for their turn to pick up their cheques at the ceremony