Nigeria: KEDCO Refutes Claims By Challawa Manufacturers On Poor Power Supply, High Tariffs
The Management of Kano Electricity Distribution Plc. (KEDCO) refuted recent claims of poor electricity supply and high tariffs by the manufacturers in the Challawa Industrial area of Kano.
This counter follows claims made by the Secretary, Challawa Industrial Manufacturers Association, Aliyu Mahadi, in an interview on Channels Television, when a delegation from NDPHC and NASENI visited the industrial cluster in Kano, recently.
Therefore, KEDCO is compelled to address the outright falsehoods therein, stating that they are untrue and malicious.
To set the record straight, from our daily dispatch records, available hours of supply for feeders in the challawa industrial area – 33kV Coca Cola, 11kV Ceramic, and 11kV NBC, all Band A have consistently recorded a daily average of 23:45 hours of supply, throughout the month and prior.
Additionally, contrary to his claims that they get Band C services despite their feeders being Band A, we wish to state that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) closely monitors and assesses our service level compliance, and if his claims were true, the feeders would have been subjected to a downgrade as part of the service contract agreements.
Our ultimate goal is to power every home and business in our franchise area. As we continue to execute initiatives towards achieving that goal, we prioritise power supply to social service providers and industrial clusters such as the Challawa, in line with our industrialisation and economic empowerment vision.
Over the past 12 months, KEDCO has taken deliberate steps to cushion the impact of rising energy costs on SMEs.
We recognise their pivotal role in our local economy, supplying manufacturers with reliable power at competitive rates significantly below market costs.
By easing their financial burden, we are creating a more enabling environment to foster innovation and employment generation, while achieving our foremost vision of excellence in service delivery.
KEDCO, therefore, urges its customers to verify information and facts before drawing conclusions and making misleading statements capable of damaging its image and reputation.
KEDCO remains committed to enhancing service delivery through continuous improvement in power supply, leveraging investment in network expansion and upgrades to improve reliability and reduce losses.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Government To Commission The 102 Million-Litre Lusaka West Fuel Depot
The Ministry of Energy wishes to inform the nation that preparations are underway for the commissioning of the state-of-the-art fuel storage depot in Lusaka West. Construction of the multi-billion Kwacha facility was successfully completed in 2024.
The government is currently finalising discussions with the contractors to pave the way for the commissioning process, which will include both cold and hot commissioning phases in the coming weeks.
Following today’s tour of the depot by senior government officials and technical experts from the Department of Petroleum, the Ministry is satisfied with the quality and readiness of the infrastructure.
This visit has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to commission the facility without delay and ensure that it begins serving its intended purpose of strengthening the country’s fuel storage and supply systems.
The Lusaka West depot boasts a total storage capacity of 102 million litres, making it one of the largest fuel storage facilities in the region. Once commissioned, it will significantly enhance Zambia’s fuel security, increase national stockholding capacity, and improve the overall efficiency and resilience of the petroleum supply chain.
In addition, the facility will ease the distribution of fuel across the country by reducing logistical bottlenecks and supporting a more reliable and timely supply of petroleum products.
This strategic investment is also central to the implementation of the TAZAMA Pipeline Open Access Framework, which is designed to liberalise the use of pipeline and storage infrastructure.
By allowing multiple players to access and utilise the system, the framework will promote transparency, competition, and private sector participation in the petroleum subsector.
The Ministry reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the successful delivery and operation of this critical infrastructure.
The Lusaka West depot is a key milestone in the Government’s broader strategy to modernise and expand Zambia’s energy infrastructure in support of economic growth, regional trade, and equitable energy access for all citizens.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Tullow Expects Arrival Of Noble Venturer Drillship On May 16 To Begin Jubilee Drilling Campaign
Africa-focused independent oil and gas firm Tullow Oil plc is gearing up to welcome the arrival of the Noble Venturer drillship on Friday, May 16, 2025, offshore Ghana.
The drillship’s arrival will facilitate Tullow’s drilling campaign, spanning May 2025 into 2026, which will include the first six wells within the Jubilee production area.
As the lead operator of the Jubilee Field, Tullow Oil works alongside partners Kosmos Energy, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), PetroSA, and Jubilee Oil Holdings.
Ahead of the drilling campaign, the company’s team of 95 people, including onshore and offshore contractors in Ghana and London, held a kickoff meeting and engaged with stakeholders on how to safely and efficiently execute the drilling campaign. Source: https://energynewsafrica.comSaudi Aramco Signs MoUs And Agreements With US Companies Worth $90 Billion
Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, has signed 34 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements with major US companies, potentially worth $90 billion.
The MoUs and agreements cover various collaborations and partnerships, including liquefied natural gas, fuels, chemicals, emission-reduction technologies, artificial intelligence, and other digital solutions, manufacturing, asset management, short-term cash investments, and procurement of materials, equipment, and services.
These agreements aim to build on the longstanding relationship between Aramco and US companies, enhance shareholder value, and foster further collaboration and innovation in the energy sector and beyond.
Amin H. Nasser, Aramco President & CEO, said, “Yesterday’s announcements show the breadth and depth of Aramco’s long history of partnerships with US companies since the first discovery of oil in the Kingdom over 90 years ago. Our US-related activities have evolved over the decades and now include multidisciplinary R&D, the Motiva refinery in Port Arthur, start-up investments, potential collaborations in LNG, and ongoing procurement.
As Aramco pursues an ambitious value-driven growth strategy, we believe that aligning with world-class partners supports further development of our operations, strategic diversification of our portfolio, industrial innovation, and ongoing capability development within the Kingdom.”
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Eni Highlights Its Concrete Commitment To The Energy Transition In “Eni For 2024” Report
Italian oil and gas firm Eni has published its “Eni for 2024 – A Just Transition” report, highlighting its commitment to a just energy transition. The voluntary sustainability report outlines the company’s achievements and future strategies for a safer, more sustainable energy sector.
The report, now in its nineteenth edition, provides an overview of Eni’s performance and concrete actions for a Just Transition, capable of combining industrial growth, environmental sustainability and social inclusion, illustrating future strategies and goals.
“We live in times of rapid and complex change’, says Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi in his message to stakeholders introducing the report. ‘Profound geopolitical evolutions, environmental challenges and technological revolutions are reshaping the routes to global growth and energy security.
The result is a context of unprecedented fragmentation, uncertainty and volatility, in which the ability to adapt no longer appears to be a sufficient lever: we need to put all our skills into play in order to lead the response to change, anticipating new trends through innovative solutions, carefully assessing risks and courageously seizing opportunities.
And it is precisely in this ability to anticipate and transform that lies one of Eni’s distinctive traits. In 2024 we continued on our path of transformation and achieved concrete results, the outcome of an industrial model that aims to embrace environmental, economic and social sustainability.”
This year saw an important discontinuity in sustainability reporting: the entry into force of the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which regulates mandatory sustainability reporting and introduces new European reporting standards.
In addition to publishing its first Sustainability Statement in line with the EU legislation, Eni has decided to continue to prepare its voluntary report Eni For, a complementary and supplementary document to the Sustainability Statement, to make Eni’s sustainability information more accessible to stakeholders, enriching it and providing concrete examples through case studies, in-depth analyses and interviews.
Among the company’s main achievements in 2024, the report includes the reduction of net Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 55% for Upstream and 37% for Eni compared to 2018. A special focus was placed on reducing methane emissions by confirming the target of bringing them close to zero in 2030. Eni for also renewed its commitment to achieve water positivity in at least 30% of sites operated with withdrawals greater than 0.5 Mm3/year of fresh water in water-stressed areas by 2035.
The report also illustrates Eni’s progress in implementing the satellite model, an innovative approach that aims to create integrated businesses capable of generating value for the energy transition.
It highlights the achievements of Plenitude, which has exceeded 4 GW of installed capacity from renewable sources and aims to reach up to 15 GW by 2030, integrating production from renewable sources with the sale of energy and energy solutions to households and businesses, and with an extensive network of charging points for electric vehicles (10 million customers and 21k charging points for electric vehicles).
On the other hand, Enilive, the company dedicated to mobility products and services, reached a biorefining capacity of 1.65 million tonnes in 2024 and plans to exceed 5 million tonnes/year by 2030, also increasing the optionality of SAF production (Sustainable Aviation Fuel).
Eni continues to invest in innovation and in the development of cutting-edge technologies, as demonstrated by the commissioning of the HPC6 supercomputer and the creation of Eniquantic for quantum computing, and in transformation consistent with the energy transition: from the announcement of the reconversion of the Livorno refinery into a biorefinery, to the start of the relaunch of Versalis towards greater financial sustainability.
Just Transition permeates Eni’s strategy, with a constant commitment to respect for human rights, the safety of people – a founding value of Eni’s activities -, transparency and dialogue with stakeholders.
In 2024, the company strengthened actions to prevent and combat violence against women and worked to ensure that the transformation generates concrete benefits for communities in host countries, also in collaboration with international organisations such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to promote more inclusive and safer working conditions along the agri-feedstock supply chain.
Finally, the report documents the company’s contribution to the communities in the countries where it operates, with over 100 local development projects active in 21 countries of presence, ranging from access to water, to energy and to health, and the promotion of initiatives consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Eni for 2024 confirms the company’s clear vision, built on the integration between business and sustainability and between growth and responsibility, as well as its role in driving an equitable energy transformation, with the aim of continuing to generate shared and lasting value together with its people and stakeholders.
Source: Eni.com
Algeria And Slovenia Extend Natural Gas Supply Deal
Slovenia and Algeria have extended by two years an agreement on the supply of natural gas under which Slovenia gets between a third and half of the gas it needs from the North African country.
The agreement was signed on 13 May by Geoplin, Slovenia’s largest energy trader, and Algerian state-owned energy giant Sonatrach as part of a visit by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
“Based on the agreement, Geoplin will continue to provide uninterrupted supply of natural gas to its customers in Slovenia and abroad,” the company said.
“The collaboration between the two companies not only strengthens Algeria’s presence in the international arena, it also affirms its commitment to further expand and strengthen bilateral economic cooperation,” it said.
Algeria started supplying 300 million cubic metres of natural gas per year under a three-year agreement in 2023, with the volume increasing to 500 million cubic metres last year.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Robert Golob along with an intergovernmental memorandum of understanding on the strengthening of bilateral relations and deepening of cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
A memorandum of understanding on regular political consultations between the foreign ministers, and a memorandum of understanding on police cooperation in fighting cross-border crime and managing migrations were signed as well.
Golob described the memoranda as the basis for a deepening of cooperation.
He said the police cooperation agreement was particularly important.
“I believe that this agreement can be a mode for other European countries on how to deal with a matter as important as illegal migrations in the Mediterranean,” he said.
Tebboune likewise welcomed the agreement and expressed the wish that “our countries deepen cooperation in all possible areas.”
Moreover, he said, “the relationship we have with Slovenia exceeds cooperation based on bilateral agreements.”
The countries also signed memoranda on space technologies for peaceful purposes and a letter of intent on cooperation in maritime transport.
President Nataša Pirc Musar, the official host of President Tebboune, lauded the agreements as the next step in the strengthening of bilateral cooperation.
“At today’s talks we all, together with the ministers and the president, agreed to strengthen the cooperation,” she said.
She highlighted AI, renewables, agriculture, information and communication technology, waterways monitoring technology and space technology as areas where closer ties were possible.
The two presidents also discussed current affairs, including the conflicts in Ukraine and Middle East and the situation in the Western Balkans.
Also on the agenda was cooperation in the UN Security Council where both countries are currently non-permanent members.
Pirc Musar expressed Slovenia’s position on the Western Sahara issue. Slovenia advocates for a fair and lasting solution under the auspices of the UN.
Source: Slovenia Times
Ghana: I’ll Sack You If You Sabotage Energy Sector – Energy Minister Warns Admin Officers
Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has warned administrative officers within the energy sector that anyone found to be underperforming or attempting to sabotage the system will be dismissed.
Speaking on Thursday, May 15, during a meeting with members of the Energy Committee of Parliament and Cabinet, Jinapor emphasized that swift action will be taken against non-performing officials, regardless of rank.
“I’m serious about this. If we find that any administrative officer—be it Director, General Manager, or Area Manager—is not working according to procedures or is lazy or sabotaging the system, you will be sacked,” he cautioned, adding, “If I don’t sack you, I’ll be sacked. So, I appeal to the Chairman and Committee members to work together with us.”
The Minister highlighted the sector’s dire financial situation, revealing that the government has inherited over GH¢3 billion in debt owed to power generation companies.
The total sector debt previously stood at approximately GH¢80 billion but has slightly reduced due to the recent appreciation of the local currency, which has eased the burden of foreign currency-denominated debt.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Zimbabwe: Hwange Power Station Partially Back Online, Supplies 260MW
The Zimbabwean Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has announced the partial restoration of the Hwange Power Station after repair works. Units 1, 2, and 3 are currently online, generating a combined total of 212 MW, with Unit 3 still ramping up. The total output from these units is expected to reach 260 MW.
The power station experienced a technical fault on May 4, 2025, following an acid ingress incident affecting Units 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, which were producing 498 megawatts (MW) of electricity at the time.
ZESA reports that Unit 4 has successfully passed safety and performance tests after repairs and is scheduled to reconnect to the grid on Thursday, May 15, around midday. Unit 6 briefly returned to service on May 9 but developed a separate issue and is currently offline, expected to return by May 27, 2025.
ZESA apologizes for the inconvenience caused.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Gabon Oil Company Buys Tullow’s Gabonese Assets For $300 Million
Key highlights:
- Tullow Oil had explored a merger with Kosmos Energy, but talks ultimately fell through.
- The company has been working to reduce debt, which stood near $1.5 billion in late 2023
- Tullow recently sold its oil interests in Kenya’s Lokichar Basin to Gulf Energy for at least $120 million.
Kenya: Kenya Power Begins Installation Of Sensors To Reduce Blackouts
Kenya’s power and lighting company (Kenya Power) has begun the installation of new sensors on its power lines to detect line faults, temperature anomalies and mechanical stress in real-time, reducing outages besides improving grid performance.
The new initiative which began earlier this week is being implemented by Amotech Africa, in partnership with Megger, a global electrical test equipment manufacturer, according to a report by Capital FM.
In recent years and months, Kenyans have been treated to frequent electricity blackouts running into hours, resulting in millions of losses to businesses as well as households that rely on power for operations.
Such outages have often resulted in public outrage at the power utility firm, necessitating the need to address the problem.
“Technical teams would have to visually inspect these lines to determine where the faults originated and which portion of the line is effective. These sensors analyze the line in a very powerful way. We use built-in technology, and it will send the data via cellular communications to a central software location so that the operations team can get immediate notification that the line has gone down, and they also know where exactly to go to focus their attention,” Jackson Mwema, Sales Manager at Amotech Africa, said.
“By doing it this way, we reduce the time it takes to find these faults by, at least, 60 per cent, enabling people who are affected by power outages to now get power restoration a lot quicker,” he added.
Amotech has also lined up a five-day training programme with the Kenya Power team to ensure project sustainability.
“So, Africa is a very, very special place. It’s an amazing continent, and I really love (it). However, we are struggling with certain challenges. Electrification doesn’t reach the whole of the population on this continent,” Johan Pryra, Senior Applications Engineer at Megger, added.
“This will allow us to add more infrastructure so that power can reach more people. So, this really speaks to the heart of what we do and why we do it. And that’s why we make it. We are very honored to have partnered with KPLC.”
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Gambia: NAWEC Kicks Off Nationwide Disconnection Exercise On May 15
The Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has announced a nationwide disconnection campaign effective tomorrow, May 15, 2025. The exercise targets all electricity and water consumers with outstanding bills.
A statement issued by NAWEC highlighted the need for customers to settle their arrears to avoid disconnection. According to NAWEC, customers who get disconnected will only be reconnected after making full payment.
“Please note that reconnection will only be carried out after full payment, including applicable fees, and will be completed within 72 hours of settlement,” the statement said.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Kenya: IAEA Launches SMR School As Africa Looks To Nuclear Energy
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has launched a new initiative to inform governments, regulators and industry players in countries around the world about small modular reactors and their potential role in the energy mix.
Hosted by the government of Kenya, the first such small modular reactor (SMR) workshop, known as an SMR School, took part in Nairobi from 5-9 May with a focus on African countries, with 28 participants including officials, policy makers and managers of organizations implementing nuclear programmes in Kenya, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia. Future SMR Schools are already planned for Asia and Latin America.
“As an embarking country, Kenya recognizes the critical role of SMRs in bridging gaps in clean and affordable energy access, supporting industrial growth, and complementing our renewable ambitions,” said Serah Esendi, Acting CEO of the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) of Kenya. “This school serves as a catalyst, equipping our technical teams, regulators, and future leaders with the expertise required to navigate the complexities of nuclear technology deployment responsibly and efficiently.”
Africa’s Nuclear Power Push
In Africa, nuclear power is expanding and the IAEA is supporting countries in the development of the necessary infrastructure for safe and secure nuclear energy. Egypt is building its first plant, comprised of four large reactors, and South Africa is planning to expand Africa’s only existing nuclear power programme. Many more African countries are exploring SMRs in their energy mix.
Benefits of SMRs
A fraction the size of large reactors, SMRs are under development around the world, with China and Russia having already deployed their first units. With lower upfront costs and flexibility to work in tandem with renewables such as solar and wind, SMRs are expected to make nuclear power a more accessible option amid a global consensus on expanding nuclear power that emerged in 2023 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.
The inaugural SMR School was the first event for high level officials covering key aspects of SMRs, including technology development and demonstration, legal frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and safety, security and safeguards.
“The technical presentations, discussions, and shared experiences deepened our understanding of SMR deployment and regulatory considerations,” said Rasheed Adeola Ogunola of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission. “We also appreciated learning about the publications and services available to support Member States in building safe and effective nuclear programmes. This knowledge will directly inform our next steps as we progress through the nuclear power programme development milestones.”
“As countries seek clean and reliable solutions to their energy and development challenges, they are increasingly looking to nuclear energy as an option, particularly SMRs,” said Dohee Hahn, IAEA SMR Platform Coordinator. “The new IAEA SMR School aims to fill a critical gap for countries in better understanding the array of issues involved in the development and deployment of this promising new technology.”
IAEA Support on SMRs
Asia and Latin America are slotted to be the next venues for the IAEA SMR School. Thailand will host a school on 21-25 July in Bangkok with participants from Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Estonia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Uzbekistan. The Latin America session will take place in Buenos Aires on 25-29 August with participants from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Paraguay and Peru.
The IAEA provides comprehensive support to countries on the development, deployment and oversight of SMRs through its SMR Platform, Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative and SMR Regulators’ Forum.
In addition, the IAEA supports nuclear newcomer countries in developing the necessary infrastructure for safe and secure nuclear power through its Milestones Approach and associated Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) service.
The IAEA use its regular budget, technical cooperation funds and extrabudgetary contributions to support these activities.
Source: IAEA
Ethiopia Secures $1.6 Billion Energy And Minerals Deals
Ethiopia secured more than $1.6 billion worth of investment deals – most of these with Chinese firms – in its energy and minerals sectors at the end of the Invest in Ethiopia High-Level Business Forum 2025, the Ministry of Finance of the East African country said in a statement.
Ethiopia is currently looking to enact reforms and boost its economy via private-led growth, including by attracting investments in its natural resources.
Last year, the country reached a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $3.4 billion Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement to support Ethiopia’s Homegrown Economic Reform (HGER) Agenda to address macroeconomic imbalances, restore external debt sustainability, and lay the foundations for higher, inclusive, and private sector-led growth.
At the closing ceremony of the business forum in the capital city Addis Ababa, Ethiopia signed on Tuesday a number of investment deals.
China’s Huawei Mining Processing Company Limited agreed to a planned investment totaling $500 million for mineral exploration, processing, and the development of a special economic zone focused on minerals.
Sequa Mining and Processing PLC – a joint venture between Ethiopian and Chinese companies – plans about $600 million in investment to develop coal mining projects in the East African country.
Hanergy New Energy Technology Company Limited & Jandu signed a deal for a planned investment of $360 million to establish a solar cell manufacturer in Ethiopia.
Toyo Solar Manufacturing Development PLC signed an agreement to invest $14 million to further increase its Ethiopian solar cell capacity.
Additionally, Sesar Energy Advancing Solutions signed a deal for a planned investment of approximately $100 million in the first phase and an additional $150 million in the second phase to support local solar energy development.
Ethiopia is known for having deposits of coal, opal, gemstones, kaolin, iron ore, soda ash, and tantalum, but only gold is currently mined in significant quantities.
Source: Oilprice.com
Africa Technology Conference 2025
