Registration Guidelines For Upstream Petroleum Companies
All companies which intend to operate in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector are required to register with the Petroleum Commission and be issued with a Permit (renewable annually) before commencement of operations. Below is the process:
A. Acquisition of Application Pack
An application pack must be obtained by email from Petroleum Commission for a non-refundable fee of One Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH₵100) payable by Banker’s Draft ONLY to Petroleum Commission, Ghana.
PAYMENT DIRECTIVES FOR APPLICATION PACK
Payment of GH100 can be made by Cash Deposit or Banker’s Draft issued in the name of Petroleum Commission and deposited into the account with details
Account Name: Petroleum Commission, Ghana
Bank Name: GCB Bank PLC
Branch: Highstreet
Account Number: 1011130038656
Currency: GHS
Please Note
1. Kindly write the company name on the Deposit Slip, scan and send to fin1002@petrocom.gov.gh and gcd_permitting@petrocom.gov.gh
2. The Finance team will issue a receipt and send to the applicant’s email address once value is received for the deposit.
3. The Permit Department shall then forward the application pack to the applicant.
4. Kindly contact us via email on gcd_permitting@petrocom.gov.gh or fin1002@petrocom.gov.gh on 0302 550943/ 0302 550950 should you require any further information in this regard.
B. Submission of Application Form and Related Documents
Three (3) copies of duly typed and completed application forms and related documents should be comb-bound and submitted at the offices of the Petroleum Commission at either of these addresses:
Head Office
Plot No. 4A, George Bush Highway,
Accra, Ghana
Tel: 233 302 550938; 233 302 550 933
Takoradi Office
Plot No. 62, Wilson Avenue,
Airport Ridge, Takoradi
Tel: 233 302 550 961
Application for registration MUST be submitted with the following documents:
I. Certificate of Incorporation
II. Certificate to Commence Business
III. Company Regulations & Form 3
IV. Valid Tax Clearance Certificate
V. Valid SSNIT Clearance Certificate
VI. VAT Certificate
5. SIGNED HSE POLICY AND OBJECTIVES
6. BUSINESS PLAN
7. COMPANY PROFILE
8. AUDITED FINANCIAL REPORTS/ PROJECTED REVENUE
9. COPY OF RECEIPT FOR THE APPLICATION PACK
10. CERTIFICATION BY PROFESSIONAL BODIES – In the case where services are rendered by professionals or licensed/certified practitioners, applicants are required to attach certificates of membership of the Company or relevant documents that govern or control such operations in Ghana. E.g. EPA Permit, Air Operator Certificate, NPA Licence, Aviation Licence, FDA Hygiene Certificate, etc.
If an applicant cannot submit any of the documents listed above, the applicant will have to obtain a waiver from the appropriate Government agency.
Kindly note that the Commission accepts applications for Permits from Mondays to Fridays between 9:00am and 3:00pm.
***For Joint Venture Companies, Channel Partnerships or Strategic Alliances, see Guidelines for additional documentation to submit
General Information
- All communications to the Petroleum Commission must be on the applicant company’s official letter head and addressed to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Commission.
- Application for a Registration Permit must be made by the corporate head of the company or an authorized representative.
- All applicants shall be restricted to one category of the listed services. Applicants may then select a maximum of two (2) activities under a particular category in accordance with the Commission’s Classification of Upstream Petroleum Industry Activities list. The Classification of Activities list is attached as part of the application pack.
- An application shall be rendered void if forged or if it is detected that fake documents have been submitted. Sanctions may apply in accordance with the law.
- All regulatory certificates/licenses submitted with the application must be valid at the time of submission.
- Applications which are not properly filled and may be rejected at first submission attempt. Where necessary, the Commission may request the applicant to provide additional information to support an application.
- Information provided by an applicant on completed application forms that are submitted and processed by the Commission shall not be amended until the renewal of the Permit.
- Upon fulfilling the requirements for registration, the Commission will process the application and if approved, may issue a Permit within six (6) weeks of receipt.
- Successful applicants would be required to pay appropriate fees in accordance with the Petroleum Commission (Fees and Charges) Regulations, 2015 (L.I. 2221).
- The Commission will send renewal notices, via emails to companies, at least two months before their Registration Permits expire. However, the responsibility to renew lies with the applicant/company.
- Renewal forms are available here.
- In accordance with Regulation 9 of the Petroleum Commission (Fees and Charges) Regulations, 2015, (L.I. 2221), all companies must submit their renewal application at least one month before the expiry of their current Permit.
- Where an applicant fails to make payment of an invoice within six (6) months of issuance, the applicant would have to begin the application process afresh.
C. Issuance Of Permit
- Permits will only be issued by the Petroleum Commission after the applicant has satisfactorily met all requirements and paid the appropriate fee.
- A Registration Permit shall expire after one year of issuance.
- Permits may be ready for collection five (5) working days after the appropriate fees have been paid.
- Permits should be picked up by an authorized representative with a National ID (Ghana Card, Driver’s license, Voter’s ID, Passport, etc).
- Expiration date of the Permit shall be at the anniversary of issuance.