Ghana: Edmond Kombat Takes Over As Acting MD Of TOR After Dr Sulemana Moved To Energy Ministry As Technical Advisor
The Deputy Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery, Edmond Kombat Esq., has been elevated to the Acting Managing Director position, this portal can confirm.
This follows the reassignment of Dr. Yussif Sulemana, the Managing Director, to the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition as a Technical Advisor.
This portal broke the news of Dr. Yussif Sulemana’s reassignment to the Ministry on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
An internal notice communicating the appointment of Edmond Kombat stated, “This is to inform you that the company’s Acting Managing Director has been reassigned to a new position.”
The notice, bearing the signature of Nelson M. Obuo, Acting Human Resources and Administration Manager, indicated that the Deputy Managing Director has been appointed by the President of the Republic of Ghana as the new Acting Managing Director pending the constitution of the company’s Board.
“Thank you for your attention and cooperation,” the notice concluded.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Gambia: Falling Tree Causes Total Blackout In Central, Upper River Regions
The Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has announced a total blackout across the Central River and Upper River Regions of the West African nation since 3:00 am on Friday, May 2.
According to a statement issued by the utilities provider, electricity supply from the Senegalese national electricity company, Senelec, to Basse was interrupted at about 3:00 am due to a large tree falling on the main incoming transmission line around Kaba Kanman.
Although Koina was isolated, power could not be restored using the available generator due to a technical issue, the statement said.
NAWEC assured that its engineers were working assiduously to restore power supply to the affected regions.
“Our teams have been mobilized and are working diligently to resolve the problem and restore supply as quickly as possible,” the statement said.
The company apologised for the inconvenience and appreciated the patience and understanding of consumers during this time.
Source:https://energynewsfrica.com
Ghana: Gov’t Will Not Privatise ECG– President Mahama Assures Organised Labour
The President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, has assured Ghanaians that his administration will not privatize the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), despite ongoing concerns about the state of the country’s power sector.
According to him, what the government is seeking is private sector participation in the operations of ECG, and not an outright sale of ECG as speculated.
Addressing Ghanaian workers at the May Day celebration at Black Star Square on Thursday, May 1, the President addressed growing fears about the possible privatization of ECG.
“Let me assure you that it is not my intention to privatize ECG as an institution. Our attention is more on a public-private collaboration to inject efficiency into our downstream electricity distribution system,” the President said.
He explained that ECG is currently burdened with debt and inefficiencies, which threaten the stability of the entire power sector.
“The ECG has been brought to its knees by a culture of poor governance over the last eight years, with a debt of GH¢68 billion and rising. If we do not do something drastic, our whole power sector will collapse. We can only bring down power tariffs if we improve efficiency in the distribution of power,” he stated.
President Mahama said public-private partnerships offer a workable solution and pointed to a successful model from his previous term in office.
“When I was President, in the free zones, a private company, Enclave Power, was given the right of metering and billing in the free zone. ECG provided them with a bulk supply of power. They pay ECG, and until today, they still pay ECG monthly on time. Their billing and collection in the free zones enclave is 99% of revenue collected,” he said.
He said this example shows that partnerships with private entities can help improve efficiency without handing over ownership.
“I am sure that we can make our electricity distribution more effective through public-private partnerships, but I can assure you that electricity as an institution will not be privatized,” President Mahama emphasised.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Zambia: Energy Regulatory Board Extends Emergency Tariffs For ZESCO Limited
Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board has extended the ZESCO Emergency Tariffs for another three months, effective from May 1 to July 31, 2025.
However, the tariff will not be increased.
In a statement issued by the Board Chairperson of ERB, James Banda, the Board observed that the factors that led to the declaration of the emergency tariffs still exist.
He explained that the extension is also due to low water levels in reservoirs and that ZESCO has still not been able to ramp up generation arising from the prolonged drought situation over Southern Africa.
According to Banda, the emergency period and emergency tariffs have been subject to review by ERB at intervals of three months.
Banda further indicated that the ERB, in October 2024, approved ZESCO’s application for an emergency period tariff for retail customers, which was approved after public consultation meetings.
ZESCO Limited applied for emergency tariffs about eight months ago to enable them to procure 300 MW of power to shore up generation due to the severe drought that resulted in low inflows into Kariba Dam.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GRIDCo And ECG Report Power Outage In Western, Central, Northern Regions And Part Of Accra
Ghana’s power transmission company, GRIDCo, and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have announced that the Central, Western, and Northern regions, as well as parts of Accra, the capital of Ghana, have been cut off from the power supply.
According to a statement jointly issued by ECG and GRIDCo, they attributed the power cut to a system disturbance that occurred at 1:42 pm on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
The statement said a tipper truck discharging stones at a private developer’s construction site near the Nkawkaw-Konongo Transmission Line lifted its bucket into the line conductor, damaging the line and causing the disturbance.
“This incident caused all power plants at Aboadze and Anwomaso to trip, taking off supply to the Western, Central, and Northern parts of the country, as well as some customers in Accra,” the statement said.
The statement informed that engineers have mobilized to the location to repair the damaged transmission line, assuring that work is ongoing to restore all affected areas by 6 pm today. GRIDCo and ECG apologized to electricity consumers for the inconvenience this incident has caused.
In view of this unfortunate development, the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) has issued a statement informing its customers about the situation.
NEDCo assured its customers that power supply would be restored as soon as the issue is resolved by GRIDCo.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: TOR MD Reassigned To Energy Ministry As Technical Advisor
The Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery, Dr Yussif Sulemana, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition as a Technical Advisor, this portal can confirm.
Dr Sulemana was appointed in February 2025 and replaced Kofi Tagoe Mocumbi who served as the Managing Director in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration.
During Akufo-Addo’s administration, TOR had four Managing Directors, including one Acting Managing Director and an Interim Management Committee (ICM).
Despite several attempts, attempts to revamp the refinery remained unsuccessful during the eight-year administration.
As one of the energy sector agencies frequently in the news, TOR attracted significant attention from industry watchers.
Dr Sulemana has over 15 years of experience in the energy industry, specialising in oil production, oil refinery process systems optimisation and systematic troubleshooting.
His credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, a Master of Science in Management (Oil & Gas), and a Doctor of Business Administration in Energy Management.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Mahama Appoints Charlotte Osei, Totobi Quakyi, 7 Others To Ghana Gas Board
Ghana’s President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, has appointed eight members to the Board of Directors for the Ghana National Gas Company, the national gas aggregator of the Republic of Ghana. The new board includes a former Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei.
The rest of the newly appointed board members are Mr. Kofi Totobi Quakyi (Chairman), Ms. Judith Adjobah Blay (Acting CEO), Mr. Emmanuel Vincent, Ms. Nasira Afrah Gyekye (MP), Mr. Samuel Kwame Borlu, Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, Mr. Baba Abdul Jamal Adama, and Mr. Blay Nyameke Armah (MP).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, April 30, Ghana Gas said the appointments reflect the President’s confidence in the new board’s ability to lead the company effectively.
“We look forward to working with the new Board to enhance the company’s operations, address challenges, ensure quality standards, and foster peaceful coexistence,” the statement said.
The Ghana National Gas Company was established in July 2011 as a limited liability company with the responsibility to build, own, and operate natural gas infrastructure required for gathering, processing, transportation, and marketing of gas.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria Dismisses Managing Directors Of Three State-Owned Refineries
Nigeria has dismissed the managing directors of three state-owned refineries and replaced them, local reports suggest. The dismissed managing directors are Ibrahim Onoja, Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC); Efifia Chu, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC); and Mustafa Sugungun, Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC).
According to reports, their dismissal is part of a broader organizational shake-up to bring efficiency to the operations of the refineries. However, the move has been viewed by many Nigerians as a deliberate attempt to oust loyalists of the dismissed Group CEO and Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).
Last month, President Bola Tinubu sacked the board of NNPC Ltd, including its GCEO, Mele Kyari, and board chairperson Pius Akinyelure. The president also approved Bayo Ojulari as the new GCEO of NNPC and Ahmadu Kida as non-executive chairman. NNPC Ltd announced the appointment of a new 8-member senior management team, stating that the appointments take immediate effect, following the recent appointment of Mr. Ojulari and the Board of Directors.
Although the company’s spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, did not respond to inquiries on the matter when contacted, multiple impeccable sources at the firm familiar with the development confirmed the shake-up by the new management team.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ukraine, US Sign Minerals Deal Sought By Trump
Ukraine and the U.S. on Wednesday signed a deal heavily promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump that will give the United States preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals and fund investment in Ukraine’s reconstruction.
According to a report by Reuters, the two countries signed the accord in Washington after months of sometimes fraught negotiations, with uncertainty persisting until the last moment with word of an eleventh-hour snag.
The accord establishes a joint investment fund for Ukraine’s reconstruction as Trump tries to secure a peace settlement in Russia’s three-year-old war in Ukraine.
The agreement is central to Kyiv’s efforts to mend ties with Trump and the White House, which frayed after he took office in January. Ukrainian officials have hoped that the deal would ensure continued U.S. support for Ukraine’s defence against Russia.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko were shown signing the agreement in a photo posted on X by the Treasury, which said the deal “clearly signals the Trump Administration’s commitment to a free, sovereign, prosperous Ukraine.”
Svyrydenko wrote on X that the accord provides for Washington to contribute to the fund.
“In addition to direct financial contributions, it may also provide NEW assistance – for example air defense systems for Ukraine,” she said. Washington did not directly address that suggestion.
The U.S. has been Ukraine’s single largest military donor since Russia’s 2022 invasion with aid of more than 64 billion euros ($72 billion), according to the Kiel Institute in Germany.
Before the signing, Trump repeated on Wednesday that the U.S. should get something for its aid to Kyiv, thus the effort to secure a deal for Ukraine’s plentiful deposits of rare earth minerals.
In announcing the deal, the U.S. Treasury said the partnership recognized “the significant financial and material support that the people of the United States have provided to the defense of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion.”
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: NPA Boss Seeks Police Support To Combat Fuel Diversion Amid ‘Galamsey’ Fight
Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, the National Petroleum Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, Esq. has solicited the support of the Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, to curb fuel diversion amidst the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey in the Ghanaian parlance.
Edudzi made the appeal when he led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, on Friday, April 30, 2025.
The purpose of the visit was to officially congratulate the IGP on his appointment and to hold discussions that bothered on strengthening the long-held relationship between the NPA and the Ghana Police Service.
The IGP lauded his guests for the visit and assured the NPA of the Police Service’s readiness to assist them in the fight against fuel diversions and other crimes in the downstream petroleum sector.
He also stressed the importance of ensuring that the relationship between the Ghana Police Service and the NPA continues to grow.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Nigeria: Power, Defence Ministers Not Sacked — Onanuga
Nigeria’s Presidency has called on security agencies to take stringent action against fake news websites and platforms, as well as purveyors who fail to check the authenticity of stories before disseminating them virally.
This follows a report suggesting that the Power and Defence Ministers have been sacked.
According to the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the report is completely false, misleading, and devoid of any factual basis.
“At no point has President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dismissed the Ministers of Defence or Power. This falsehood, presented as breaking news, is nothing but reckless propaganda designed to misinform the public,” he clarified.
To set the record straight, the most recent cabinet changes announced in October 2024 did not include the Ministers of Defence or Power.
Those affected were Ministers of Women’s Affairs, Tourism, Education, State for Housing and Urban Development, and Youth Development. Furthermore, ten ministers were reassigned, and seven new nominees were presented for Senate confirmation, all of which were officially documented and widely reported by credible media platforms.
Nigerians are strongly advised to ignore the concocted report by Phoenix Browser. It is fake news, plain and simple, sensationalist hogwash that should be treated with the contempt it deserves.
The Presidential aide, however, clarified that “press freedom and freedom of speech will not exist when some people can wake up and concoct their news and narratives without regard for truth.”
Tinubu’s spokesman described the report as simply “licentiousness and must be criminalized.”
He therefore urged the public to depend on official government channels and trusted news outlets for accurate and verified information.
Source://https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Embrace New Technologies, Ideas To Improve Services—Acting VRA Boss Tells Workers
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Edward Obeng-Kenzo, has urged the staff of the organisation to be ready to embrace new technologies and ideas to improve services and imbibe innovation to shape the future of this critical national power asset.
According to him, this is the new and innovative way to make the VRA a competitive and functional energy resort that will help Ghana fast-track her socioeconomic development agenda in this competitive world.
He said this at the 64th Anniversary celebrations of the VRA, under the theme: ‘Unite, Explore and Innovate’, which was held at Akuse on Friday, April 25, 2025, in the Eastern Region.
Mr Obeng-Kenzo asserted, “Digital transformation, customer-centric approaches, internal process optimisation and strategic planning would be our principal guide in pursuit of a sustainable future.”
The Acting VRA boss was of the view that the power environment has taken a new dimension due to increasing competition, with rapid changes in policy, regulations and the global energy transition drive having a telling effect on the energy business across the world.
“We, therefore, need to run our business with a different mindset for a better tomorrow. We need to operate in a way that provides value to our stakeholders. We need to continue to build on our quest to deliver reliable and affordable electricity and demonstrate with clear actions our strong belief in developing local talent,” he assured the staff.
To attain this, Mr Obeng-Kenzo expressed the firm belief that they should collectively remain innovative, disciplined and hardworking, trusting that their esteemed workforce, endowed with differentiated value, skills and competence, should be harnessed to provide superior service delivery, innovative solutions, and responsiveness to their adopted new strategy.
“As the Acting Chief Executive, I am committed to increasing the efficiency and reliability of our operations, increasing the capacity of our generation portfolio, reducing equipment downtime, and enhancing overall organizational performance,” he affirmed.
The Acting VRA CEO said the theme for the celebration underscored their commitment to fostering collaboration, driving continuous learning and cultivating innovative practices that position VRA for sustainable grand operational excellence.
To achieve this noble objective, he, therefore, called for renewed productivity and efficiency by making it habitual to find new ideas, fresh energy, and attract novel partnerships to help sustain the business.
“That is why the organisation will invest in talent development, attract, develop and retain talent while fostering a culture of innovation, safety and excellence that can shape the landscape of their productivity,” he said.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
He said this at the 64th Anniversary celebrations of the VRA, under the theme: ‘Unite, Explore and Innovate’, which was held at Akuse on Friday, April 25, 2025, in the Eastern Region.
Mr Obeng-Kenzo asserted, “Digital transformation, customer-centric approaches, internal process optimisation and strategic planning would be our principal guide in pursuit of a sustainable future.”
The Acting VRA boss was of the view that the power environment has taken a new dimension due to increasing competition, with rapid changes in policy, regulations and the global energy transition drive having a telling effect on the energy business across the world.
“We, therefore, need to run our business with a different mindset for a better tomorrow. We need to operate in a way that provides value to our stakeholders. We need to continue to build on our quest to deliver reliable and affordable electricity and demonstrate with clear actions our strong belief in developing local talent,” he assured the staff.
To attain this, Mr Obeng-Kenzo expressed the firm belief that they should collectively remain innovative, disciplined and hardworking, trusting that their esteemed workforce, endowed with differentiated value, skills and competence, should be harnessed to provide superior service delivery, innovative solutions, and responsiveness to their adopted new strategy.
“As the Acting Chief Executive, I am committed to increasing the efficiency and reliability of our operations, increasing the capacity of our generation portfolio, reducing equipment downtime, and enhancing overall organizational performance,” he affirmed.
The Acting VRA CEO said the theme for the celebration underscored their commitment to fostering collaboration, driving continuous learning and cultivating innovative practices that position VRA for sustainable grand operational excellence.
To achieve this noble objective, he, therefore, called for renewed productivity and efficiency by making it habitual to find new ideas, fresh energy, and attract novel partnerships to help sustain the business.
“That is why the organisation will invest in talent development, attract, develop and retain talent while fostering a culture of innovation, safety and excellence that can shape the landscape of their productivity,” he said.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com Nigeria: TCN Demolishes Illegal Structures Under Power Pylons
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Kano Region, has cleared illegal structures erected within parts of its Transmission Right of Way (RoW) in Kano Metropolis.
The exercise, carried out on April 23 and 24, 2025, was undertaken under the directive of the Encroachment and Anti-Vandalism Committee, reinforcing TCN’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the national transmission network.
A statement issued by Mdidi Mba, General Manager for Public Affairs at TCN, said the exercise targeted unauthorized developments along critical power lines, including the Kano-Zaria 330kV line, Kano-Zaria 132kV line, and Kano-Kankia 132kV line, in the Panshekara and Reka communities.
“These encroachments posed significant risks to the reliability of the lines and safety of individuals in structures under the transmission lines,” TCN said.
TCN had previously issued warnings against trading, buying, or constructing within designated Transmission Rights of Way, emphasizing the importance of adhering to prescribed clearance zones for the protection of lives and access during line and tower maintenance.
The company reiterated that the specified RoW measurements are 25 meters on either side of 330kV lines and 15 meters on both sides of 132kV lines.
It asserted that any infringement upon these areas not only negatively impacts TCN’s efforts but also endangers lives, posing severe risks to surrounding communities.
TCN emphasised that the committee will continue to work not only in the Kano Region of TCN but also in other transmission regions of TCN, as part of measures to safeguard the transmission lines and integrity of its towers for more stable and efficient bulk power transmission.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s Petroleum Proceeds Jumped By 27% To $1.357 Billion In 2024–PIAC Report
Ghana’s total petroleum proceeds soared by 27.8 per cent from US$1.062 billion in 2023 to US$1.357 billion in 2024.
This is the second-highest annual petroleum receipt since inception, with 2022 being the highest year (US$1.42 billion).
This was revealed by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) in its 2024 Performance Report, citing an increase in crude oil prices.
The report added that the total proceeds from GNPC Explorco’s liftings received in 2024, amounting to US$145 million, were not paid into the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF).
This brings the cumulative proceeds of unpaid revenue into the PHF held by Jubilee Oil Holding Limited (JOHL) and, subsequently, GNPC Explorco to US$488,790,044 as of the end of 2024.
GNPC argued that proceeds from liftings by GNPC Explorco did not constitute payments into the Petroleum Holding Fund.
About the recommendation, the Committee reiterated its position that proceeds from liftings by GNPC Explorco constituted indirect participation of the State and, therefore, must be paid into the Petroleum Holding Fund.
Surface Rental Arrears
Meanwhile, the surface rental arrears owed by some International Oil Companies (IOCs) remained high at US$2,893,120 as of the end of 2024.
The report stated that about 60 per cent of the arrears were due to three companies whose Petroleum Agreements were terminated in 2021.
For recommendation, the report urged the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Petroleum Commission, the Bank of Ghana and the Ministry of Energy to collaborate to recover the Surface Rental arrears.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com