Could you introduce Gecric Asset Integrity?

Incorporated in 2015 and headquartered in Ghana, Gecric Integrity is a provider of specialist inspection maintenance and repair solutions, serving the energy, oil and gas, mining, marine and manufacturing industries across Africa. Our purpose is to localize global technologies and capabilities in the continent through the deployment of state-of-the-art equipment and a competent local workforce. Gecric is highly globalized, investing in cutting-edge technologies and advanced equipment to offer the highest-standard asset integrity solutions for our clients in the upstream energy space. We are the main inspection and maintenance partner for MODEC, the operator of one of the FPSOs for Tullow Ghana Limited. We also carry out inspection work for Yinson, for one of Eni’s facilities in Ghana. In the midstream and downstream, we provide inspection services to facilities such as tank farms, subsea pipelines, refineries and gas processing plants. 

What opportunities for further expansion do you see outside of Ghana?

The oil and gas market in Ghana has been stagnant in recent years, with oil production dipping from about 73 million barrels in 2019 to about 48 million barrels this year, so we have been looking to maximize our revenue generation in the broader region. We already have a presence in Côte d'Ivoire and we are moving forward with focus on Angola and Senegal to establish local partnerships. 

What innovative technologies are shaping the asset integrity space?

The industry is moving beyond conventional point based traditional inspection methods like Dye Penetrant Inspection (DPI) or Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI), which are typically slow, laborious and require shutdown periods for significant inspections, to faster advanced technology and data-driven approaches that reduce non-productive time of the assets. We have implemented Digital Radiography Testing technology for scanning welds faster during Pipeline construction, Phase Array and Time of flight diffraction for corrosion and weld inspection, Tube inspection using Eddy current Array and IRIS for heat exchangers, amongst others. 

How is Gecric implementing AI as part of its offer?

Through our strategic collaboration with Vidyatec, we are introducing Digital Fabric Maintenance, which provides virtual replicas that continuously gather operational data. With these, we can track the condition of an asset over time and make smarter decisions about maintenance before a failure occurs. It enables both predictive and preventive actions, reducing downtime and minimizing environmental risks. 

How would you assess the current availability of skilled local talent in Ghana?

Ghana has a teachable, well-educated labour force. The average educated Ghanaian completes a bachelor’s degree, and thousands of graduates enter the workforce every year, to the extent that our economy is unable to absorb the available talent. So, what is there to stop treating the whole of Africa as the broader market for this talent pool? 

Is the current policy around local content sufficiently supportive of indigenous companies looking to serve the broader African market?

There are two perspectives to consider here, and I’ve had the opportunity to experience both, on the regulatory side and as a service provider. While it’s fair to say that governments can do more, the core issue isn’t so much a lack of support as it is a lack of strategic direction. For example, the importation of equipment; if governments offered duty waivers or tax relief in this area, those savings could be redirected into workforce development and technical training, the type of investments that yield long-term value. Similarly, improving access to affordable financing for SMEs would shift the mindset from short-term gains to sustainable growth. In other words, if you remove the constant pressure of capital constraints, you give businesses the breathing space to plan, invest, and scale strategically.

In the West African context specifically, removing trade bottlenecks, whether through reduced border taxes, streamlined customs processes, or greater labor mobility, would significantly enhance regional competitiveness. A truly unified African economic zone would lower the cost of doing business and unlock cross-border synergies that benefit local industries.

That said, I believe in enabling, not protecting, local businesses. The goal shouldn’t be to give local companies an artificial advantage but to create a fair, competitive playing field. My view is that if you give me a tax incentive, I can reinvest in my business, improve service quality, and win contracts on merit and not because a regulation mandates it.