BOST MD Is The 2023 Energy Personality Of The Year

On Friday November 17, the Managing Director of Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation (BEST) Company Limited, formerly BOST, Edwin Alfred Provencal, was crowned as the 2023 Energy Personality of the Year at the 7th edition of Ghana Energy Awards held at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana.

Mr Provencal had a strong rivalry from big names including:

• Dr. Ben K.D Asante , CEO of Ghana National Gas Company

• Dr Ismael Ackah Ph.D, Executive Secretary of Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC)

• Joseph Kweku Horgle, Chief Executive Officer of JK Horgle Transport & Company

• Michael Bozumbil, Chief Executive Officer of Petrosol Ghana

• Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, Chief Executive Officer of Bui Power Authority

• Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Chief Executive Officer of National Petroleum Authority (NPA).

At the 6th Ghana Energy Awards in 2022, Mr. Provencal won the title of Petroleum Sector CEO of the Year.

BOST is a state-owned petroleum strategic stock company mandated to keep strategic stocks for the West African nation. Mr. Provencal was appointed Managing Director of BOST in August 2019 by President Akufo-Addo after the late George Mensah Oakley was relieved of his position as MD of the company.

BOST’s assets, including pipeline infrastructure, storage tanks, barges, tugboats and other crucial installations, had been abandoned for years without being repaired when he took office.

Additionally, BOST was burdened with colossal inheritance obligations which dated back under the past government. However, the company’s shabby state had changed, and significant progress had been made.

BOST has turned around from a business that was losing money. In 2020, the company made a profit of GH¢31 million, and in 2021, it made another huge profit of GH¢ 161 million. Then in 2022, it made a net profit of Gh 342 million.

The award came along with a beautiful, designed stool bearing the inscription Energy Personality of the Year.

Aside from his award, BOST was also adjudged Energy Company of the year.

BOST – From Losses Of Gh¢400Million Over The Years To Now Making A Whopping Gh¢342Million Profit

Mr. Provencal praised the company’s board of directors and management team for their outstanding efforts in reversing the company’s fortunes in his remarks about the award.

He promised that there would be no turning back, stating that State-Owned Businesses have the potential to be profitable, as demonstrated by BOST’s performance over the past few years.

“Immensely proud and humbled by the honors received at the Ghana Energy Awards last night. I was awarded Energy Personality of the Year, with BOST winning Petroleum Company of the Year. Thanks to H.E. President Akufo-Addo for the recognition, and to my team at BOST for their exceptional work.

The event featured prominent dignitaries, including Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo. Mr Provencal got the Citation of the award from the President.

“Congratulations to all the awardees for their inspiring achievements. Grateful to the Ghana Energy Awards for this esteemed acknowledgment, driving our commitment to excellence in the energy sector,” Mr Provencal ended it.