The Project Manager in charge of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana, Mr. Caleb Annan Sarpong, says Ghana is on the cusp of a transformative energy revolution driven by the country’s immense solar potential.
According to him, Ghana’s solar resources should be nurtured through strategic partnerships and indigenous innovations to strengthen the nation’s energy supply chain.
Mr. Sarpong, a seasoned energy expert, made this known in an exclusive interview with Energy News Africa on the sidelines of the 2025 West African Clean Energy and Environment Trade Fair and Conference (WACEE), which took place from November 11 to 12, 2025, in Accra.
He highlighted Ghana’s solar energy resource as not only feasible but essential for the country’s sustainable energy future.
Mr. Sarpong noted that “Ghana is charting a path forward by exploring innovative green finance mechanisms, such as green credit lines from banks, to help potential investors in the sector take advantage of emerging opportunities.”
He emphasised the critical need for stronger collaboration between government and the private sector to create an enabling environment for sustainable energy development.
Mr. Sarpong also reaffirmed Germany’s commitment as a dependable partner in transferring advanced sustainable energy knowledge and technology to help accelerate Ghana’s green ambitions.
In a related interview, Mr. Nicholas Kyei Osae, Project Manager of Hedge Energies Solutions, an exhibitor at the conference, explained that his company provides cutting-edge renewable energy solutions through engineering, procurement, and construction services.
He said Hedge Energies markets two key brands — Diners Batteries, tailored for residential users, and Stock 100, designed for commercial and industrial needs.
Mr. Osae also highlighted the company’s Goodwin inverter, a 100kW grid-connected solar inverter capable of reducing utility bills by up to 80 percent for industrial clients.
Similarly, the Co-Chief Executive Officer of Subasol, Mr. Michele Valenderic, said his company delivers robust solar and battery storage projects across Ghana, Denmark, and Cameroon, helping customers reduce energy costs.
He added that Subasol’s services across West Africa are tailored to support the region’s transition to renewable energy.
The conference, themed “Greener Solutions, Stronger Economy,” provides a platform for exhibitors and stakeholders to showcase their products and discuss key topics such as renewable energy, the circular economy, waste management, and climate change.
More than 2,000 delegates from West Africa, Europe, Asia, the United States, and the Americas are participating, engaging industry leaders, exploring sustainable solutions, and pursuing business opportunities through exhibitions, conferences, and B2B matchmaking sessions.
In an opinion piece for The Guardian Fiona Harvey and Matthew Taylor wrote that it was time for gas exploration in Africa to stop.
“Africa must embrace renewable energy and forgo exploration of its potentially lucrative gas deposits to stave off climate disaster and bring access to clean energy to the hundreds of millions who lack it, leading experts on the continent have said,” they wrote.
This is hardly new. For several years now, wealthy nations and their environmental organizations have been strong-arming African countries to leave their petroleum assets in the ground.
The stance of the African Energy Chamber has been consistent: Yes, African oil and gas-producing countries should and will do their part to support global emissions-reduction goals. Yes, the dangers of climate change should be taken seriously.
However, we refuse to let the world set the timing for when Africa will ease up on oil and gas exploration and production. We are convinced that oil and gas production, when managed strategically, provides a pathway for economic growth and energy security, and we are determined to help Africa realize those benefits.
This is the message that we urge every African leader to take to COP30 in Brazil: African countries have to produce every drop of hydrocarbons they can fine and they have every right to set the timing for their energy transitions. And like nations around the world, African states will be exercising those rights.
Africa’s Miniscule Contribution
The world must understand that African countries cannot be on the same energy transition timeline as Western countries. Africa still needs time – time that the Western world has already had and, frankly continues to milk – to resolve energy poverty and industrialize.
Let’s first address the proverbial elephant in the room: When it comes to global emissions, Africa is NOT the problem.
In 2023, global CO2 emissions hit 37.12 billion tonnes. China ranked first in contributing 11.47 billion tonnes; the entire continent of Africa contributed 1.45 billion tonnes, only 4% of global carbon emissions. In fact, over the last two decades, Africa’s total contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions has never been above 4% — by far the smallest share in all the world.
Africa has the lowest per-capital emissions of all continents, averaging 1 tonne of CO2 emitted annually by each individual. The average American emits as much CO2 in one month as the average African does in an entire year.
And yet, Africa is disproportionately being punished for the climate catastrophe that, let’s be honest, it was initiated and is perpetuated by Western and developed economies.
“The story of Africa or the developing world is not really an energy transition story, it’s a development story,” Andrew Kamau with the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University said in a recent interview with Energy Intelligence.
“You hear a lot about all these technologies that are being developed, but where are they at scale?” Kamau asked. “And has somebody industrialized using wind and solar only? I don’t know. We wait to see if it’s possible.”
Kamau also questioned where all the international funding is. The West has made grand financial promises, but the level of support truly needed to undertake a transition to renewables at the pace dictated by the West has yet to materialize.
Using the Resources at Our Feet
While we at the African Energy Chamber agree that it’s important to develop affordable and sustainable green technologies to supply our energy, we strongly disagree with being pigeonholed into accepting the West’s one-size-fits-all timeline.
I hear from Africans who are skeptical about the benefits of oil and gas because they have seen the problems caused by the energy sector. You could make the same arguments about the Internet, which has been blamed for harming social relationships, decreasing our safety and security, and damaging children’s cognitive development.
Yet, used wisely, the Internet does considerable good as well, and I’m not hearing widespread calls to get rid of it. My point is, oil and gas can and does do good (I’ve written whole books on the subject!) — the key is to be smart about how we capitalize on our resources.
Some 600 million people on the continent still lack adequate electricity access or even clean cooking technologies. These Africans aren’t focused on the fact that reliable energy infrastructure facilitates economic growth by generating jobs, increasing productivity, and reducing the cost of doing business. Most would be elated to have light in their homes after dark or the ability to refrigerate their food.
But think about Africa’s abundant energy potential!
By 2050, the continent will be home to 11% of the world’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) market and the second-highest growth supply of gas. By tapping into the vast stores of natural gas at our feet, we can first work to eradicate energy poverty from the continent, and then secure our economic growth as we transition toward renewables.
I agree with Mohamed Hamel, the Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, in his description of the argument that Africa should not develop its natural gas resources as “misguided.”
“A prosperous Africa will be more capable to protect its environment. The right of Africa to develop its vast natural resources can be preserved, and its access to finance and technology, facilitated,” Hamel said.
Turning the Pressure into Partnership
At the previous COP, I made it clear that, while African nations would not be continuing oil and gas operations indefinitely, with no movement toward renewable energy sources, we Africans should be setting the timetable for Africa’s transition.
“What I’d like to see instead of Western pressure to bring African oil and gas activities to an abrupt halt, is a cooperative effort,” I wrote at the time. “Partnerships, relationships rooted in respect, open communications and empathy. What does that look like? It begins with the belief that when African leaders, businesses, and organizations say the timing is not right to end our fossil fuel operations, we have a point. That when we are discussing our own countries, we know what we are talking about.”
Clearly, we still have progress to make. Too many outsiders suggest that African leaders are being manipulated or influenced by greed when they work to foster oil and gas exploration and production in their countries.
Few seem to believe that, when countries establish and fine-tune local content laws, adapt investor-friendly fiscal regimes, and promote policy that protects human dignity, they are making reasoned, strategic moves to create better futures for their people.
That saddens me, but it also strengthens my resolve. We will continue to fight for what’s right, for what’s ours. We are not giving up on a just energy transition for Africa — a transition on a timetable that benefits and uplifts Africans.
The Government of Ghana plans to amend the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA), 2011 (Act 815), to access portions of the Ghana Heritage Fund (GHF) and the Ghana Stabilisation Fund (GSF) — ostensibly to finance green investments and related initiatives — Business & Finance (B&F) has reported, citing sources close to the Ministry of Finance.
Ghana’s Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, is expected to make an official announcement when he presents the 2026 Budget Statement on the floor of Parliament today, Thursday, November 13, 2025.
According to B&F, this could be the main reason the Ministry of Finance (MoF) recently met with selected individuals and civil society organisations (CSOs).
However, the meeting did not formally include the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) — the independent watchdog established under the PRMA to monitor the collection and use of petroleum revenues.
It also excluded the Bank of Ghana (BoG), which manages the two funds, as well as other key statutory bodies responsible for oversight within the petroleum revenue management framework.
The GHF was created to preserve part of the country’s oil revenue for future generations, while the GSF serves as a buffer for the national budget against shortfalls caused by oil price volatility.
According to PIAC’s 2025 Semi-Annual Report, projected petroleum revenue for the 2025 financial year stands at US$1.01 billion.
Based on the allocation formula prescribed by the Act, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is projected to receive US$192.67 million for both Levels A and B expenditures. The Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) is expected to receive US$573.08 million, representing 70 percent of the net benchmark revenue of US$818.69 million.
The remaining 30 percent — amounting to US$245.61 million — will go to the Ghana Petroleum Funds (GPFs), with the GSF receiving US$171.93 million and the GHF US$73.68 million.
From August 2011 to June 2025, cumulative petroleum receipts distributed total about US$11.47 billion.
Of this amount, GNPC has received US$3.16 billion (27.53 percent), while the ABFA has received US$4.55 billion (39.69 percent). The GSF and GHF have received US$2.64 billion (23 percent) and US$1.12 billion (9.78 percent), respectively.
If confirmed, the government’s move could reopen debate over the sanctity of the PRMA and the extent to which the country’s oil revenue savings can be repurposed to meet short-term policy priorities.
The Act was last amended in April 2025 to discontinue sustained and predictable funding for PIAC, while also allowing the ABFA to be channeled exclusively into infrastructure projects nationwide.
A broader review of the Act, initiated in 2018/2019 with extensive stakeholder consultations, stalled between 2020 and 2024.
Reacting to the development, the Executive Director of the Centre for Social Impact Studies (CeSIS), Robert Tanti Ali, described the plan as risky and ill-advised.
“GHF and GSF remain our brightest hope for the prudent management of petroleum resources. Their continued retention gives Ghanaians confidence in government’s ability to manage oil revenues,” he said.
Given this, he warned that touching these funds especially the GHF would amount to “robbing our unborn generation of their ability to benefit from our resources, and this is plainly wrong.”
“We have hailed the GHF as a model for ensuring intergenerational equity. If we had replicated this idea in the mining sector, we would not see the level of deprivation in mining communities. Why then is government tampering with it and taking us backwards?” he questioned.
Mr. Tanti Ali further expressed concern about the lack of transparency surrounding the proposed use of the funds.
“Who provides oversight? Who makes decisions on investment? These are issues that must be clarified before any amendment is passed,” he added.
Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria, has set December 1 for its 2025 Licensing Bid Round, with high expectations of attracting more international oil companies to help achieve its production target of 2.75 million barrels per day beyond 2026.
Nigeria’s current oil production averages between 1.7 million and 1.83 million barrels per day, and the government expects to increase output by an additional 1 million barrels by the end of 2026.
Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, announced this at the Commission’s Project 1MMBOPD Additional Production Investment Forum in London on Tuesday.
“We are announcing that we are ready, following the approval of the Minister of Petroleum Resources in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, to commence the 2025 Licensing Round beginning December 1, 2025,” he said.
The 2025 Licensing Round aims to unlock Nigeria’s undeveloped and fallow oil and gas fields, with particular focus on gas assets. According to Komolafe, the initiative seeks to accelerate upstream production and bring previously discovered but unexploited fields into commercial operation.
Licensing rounds have been a key feature of Nigeria’s upstream sector for decades. Major rounds were conducted in 2000, 2005, and 2007, while the 2010s featured smaller, targeted rounds for marginal fields and deepwater assets.
These exercises were designed to attract investors and stimulate production, although some blocks awarded in earlier rounds stalled due to technical, financial, or regulatory challenges.
The NUPRC is expected to publish detailed guidelines — including the list of blocks on offer, pre-qualification requirements, and submission timelines — ahead of the licensing round to ensure transparency and clarity for all prospective investors.
At the forum, which was attended by CEOs of oil companies, bank representatives, and potential investors, Komolafe noted that funding remains the biggest challenge in Nigeria’s upstream sector. He explained that the Commission, as a business enabler, plans to address this by connecting interested parties.
He said the event was organized to bring together all stakeholders to help make the additional one million barrels per day target a reality.
“One of the factors that affected business was that activities were happening in silos, but the NUPRC now realizes the need to bring everyone together,” the CCE said, adding, “We want you all to network. Bank of America is here, as well as representatives of other banks.”
Komolafe stated that the reforms initiated by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration have improved Nigeria’s economic metrics. He noted that crude production now averages 1.71 million barrels of oil per day (BOPD), with peak daily output reaching 1.83 million barrels of oil per day (MMBOPD) — evidence of tangible progress.
He disclosed that 46 Field Development Plans had been approved from January 2025 to date, representing immediate investment commitments and production growth potential.
The NUPRC boss also noted that the rig count has grown to over 60, with at least 40 rigs currently active.
Komolafe said this was the best time for existing investors to deepen their participation in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“The drive to reach and sustain one million barrels per day in incremental capacity and beyond will require Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units for cluster developments; Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessels for crude evacuation and storage; and a variety of Modular Offshore Production Units and Early Production Facilities to enable early production and accelerated monetization. All these need investments — and the prospects are here in Nigeria,” he added
Malawi’s Minister for Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Hon. Dr. Jean Mathanga, has undertaken a familiarization tour of the Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO)’s solar power plant currently under construction at Nanjoka in the Salima District.
The project, designed to generate 10 megawatts (MW) of electricity from solar energy, forms part of Malawi’s broader efforts to expand renewable energy generation and reduce dependence on hydropower.
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Mathanga reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to securing the required external financing by the end of December 2025 to enable EGENCO to complete the ongoing works.
She emphasized that the Nanjoka Solar Project represents a key milestone in the country’s energy transition and a strategic intervention to address power shortages that continue to affect industrial productivity and economic growth.
“The Government is determined to ensure that by next year, Malawi experiences a significant reduction in load shedding. Projects such as this one in Salima will help stabilize the national grid and support economic activities across various sectors,” said Dr. Mathanga.
EGENCO Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Maxon Chitawo, disclosed that approximately USD 13 million (about MK22.5 billion) is required to complete the first phase of the solar project.
He further noted that the company’s long-term vision is to scale up generation capacity to 50 MW in order to contribute meaningfully to the diversification of Malawi’s power generation mix.
Salima District Commissioner, Mr. James Mwenda, commended the project, noting that it has already benefited the local community by providing employment opportunities to residents in surrounding areas.
Once completed, the Nanjoka Solar Power Plant will enhance EGENCO’s generation capacity, improve power reliability, and contribute to the achievement of national energy access targets under the Malawi 2063 development agenda.
A Federal High Court in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, has convicted David Udensik, also known as Dr. Jacob Bello, for his involvement in an international oil fraud scheme worth over $1 million.
The conviction followed a petition by a United States–based energy company, which accused the suspect of defrauding it under the pretext of facilitating crude oil transactions in Nigeria.
Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
Investigations by operatives of the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC) revealed that Udensik operated a criminal network between 2018 and 2023.
Udensik was also found to have forged documents purportedly issued by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other regulatory agencies to deceive the victim company.
According to the statement, “The Nigeria Police Force has secured the conviction of one Mr. David Udensik, also known as Dr. Jacob Bello, for his role in a transnational oil-related fraud scheme amounting to over one million United States dollars (USD $1,000,000). The conviction followed a petition by a United States–based energy company alleging that the suspect obtained funds from the firm under the pretext of facilitating legitimate crude oil transactions in Nigeria.
“Acting on the petition, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force – National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC) commenced investigations, which revealed that the suspect, between 2018 and 2023, operated a coordinated criminal network that forged documents purportedly emanating from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other regulatory bodies to deceive the victim company.”
Forensic analysis confirmed that the documents, seals, and authentication materials used in the transactions were fake. Funds traced from the deal were allegedly diverted into accounts linked to the suspect and his accomplices.
Hundeyin further stated that the court, delivering its judgment on October 22, 2025, found Udensik guilty of forgery, obtaining by false pretence, and money laundering.
“The court further ordered the forfeiture of assets valued at several hundreds of millions of naira, including real estate and other properties derived from the proceeds of the crime, to facilitate restitution to the victim company,” the statement added.
Hundeyin also noted that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the officers who handled the investigation and prosecution for their professionalism.
“He reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to protecting Nigeria’s corporate integrity and ensuring that cyber-enabled financial criminals, irrespective of status or location, are brought to justice,” the statement concluded.
Zambia’s Energy Minister, Makozo Chikote, has apologised to the public for the recent fuel shortages experienced across the country, assuring that supply will normalise soon.
In a statement, Mr. Chikote said the shortages were caused by logistical challenges and not depleted reserves.
He disclosed that as of Tuesday, 11th November 2025, the country had 57.3 million litres of diesel and 40.1 million litres of petrol in stock.
“The Ministry expects the situation to stabilise soon as normal fuel supply resumes nationwide,” he said, adding that both short- and long-term measures have been implemented to prevent future disruptions.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring a stable and reliable supply of petroleum products across Zambia.
Kenya is considering public-private partnerships (PPPs) to expand its electricity generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts (MW) by 2032.
The East African nation also plans to use similar PPP arrangements for infrastructure and irrigation projects.
According to President William Ruto, the partnerships will play a key role in scaling up investment in power generation and modern infrastructure to support industrial growth and food security.
“Our talks focused on deepening investment partnerships in infrastructure and energy, including projects to expand Kenya’s energy generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts in the next seven years,” President Ruto said after meeting a United Arab Emirates (UAE) delegation in Nairobi on Monday.
“We are committed to strengthening our bilateral relations with the UAE through enhanced trade, investment, and economic cooperation under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), unlocking opportunities for growth, job creation, and shared prosperity,” he added.
The President noted that the initiative will include the development of 50 mega dams under PPP arrangements to boost irrigation and food production.
It would be recalled that President Ruto recently visited Qatar, where he cited Kenya’s limited power supply as a major constraint to attracting foreign direct investment, including the establishment of data centers that require at least 10,000 MW of reliable electricity.
Kenya’s installed capacity currently stands at 3,192 MW, according to data from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
However, system losses in transmission and distribution averaged 23.36 percent in the year to June 2025—meaning nearly one in four units generated never reaches consumers.
The figures underscore the scale of the challenge ahead, as the country must not only triple its generation capacity but also significantly cut losses to meet future demand.
The government says its pivot to PPPs aims to mobilize private capital for new power plants and infrastructure while modernizing the national transmission grid to improve efficiency and reliability.
In November 2024, the administration signaled plans to explore alternative financing for the country’s aging power network following the cancellation of a Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) deal with Indian-based conglomerate Adani Solutions.
Alaa El-Din Abdel Fattah has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM), effective January 1, 2026. He succeeds Ibrahim Mekki.
El-Din Abdel Fattah began his career as a chemist at the Alexandria Petroleum Company in 1993. He rose through the ranks to become Assistant General Manager for Operations at the Egyptian Linear Alkyl Benzene Company (ELAB) in 2010.
He later served as General Manager for Paraffin and Alkyl Production in 2017 and was appointed Chairman and Managing Director of ELAB in 2024.
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi congratulated Abdel Fattah on his appointment and emphasized the importance of continuing ECHEM’s comprehensive modernization plans aimed at maximizing the value of Egypt’s petrochemical sector, boosting local production, substituting imports, and expanding exports.
The minister also commended Mekki for his contributions to updating the national plan for the petrochemical industry, implementing green initiatives, and expanding production at key complexes such as MOPCO, ELAB, and Egyptian Petrochemicals.
Badawi noted that the coming period will focus on building upon these achievements and completing ongoing ambitious projects.
TMC Compressors (TMC) has secured a contract from MODEC to supply a large-capacity marine compressed air system for the FPSO Gato do Mato, which will operate offshore Brazil.
Under the contract, TMC will deliver a marine compressed air system consisting of multiple compressors to provide control and service air across the vessel. The company did not disclose the contract value.
The system is designed for high reliability and easy onboard maintenance, minimizing downtime and operating costs for the remote deepwater facility located about 200 km from shore.
“We have designed our compressors so that the offshore crew can easily maintain them without needing external service technicians,” said Hans-Petter Tanum, TMC’s Director of Sales and Business Development. “Our systems are purpose-built for marine and offshore environments such as FPSOs operating far from shore.”
The FPSO Gato do Mato – Orca Project is being developed through a partnership among Shell (50%, operator), Ecopetrol (30%), and TotalEnergies (20%), with PPSA serving as contract manager. Once completed and installed, the FPSO will have an oil production capacity of 120,000 bpd and will be moored in 2,000 m of water.
TMC has previously supplied marine compressed air systems to multiple MODEC-built FPSOs. According to Tanum, the new award underscores a long-standing collaboration between the two companies built on performance reliability and trust developed over several decades.
Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, together with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has indicated that it is exploring ways to ensure that the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) introduced by the previous administration does not lead to wastage of existing investments in LPG refuelling stations.
The Chief Executive of the NPA, Mr. Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, Esq., said the intention is to maintain both the CRM and the current LPG refill system concurrently.
“It is wrong to use policies to collapse people’s investments. When people invest, we can’t use a policy to destroy their investment,” he said.
Mr. Tameklo made these remarks on Tuesday at the launch of the NPA 2025 Consumer Week Celebration at Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region.
The event, which was preceded by LPG safety awareness durbars in Maamobi and Teshie, as well as market engagements in Ashaiman, was held under the theme: “LPG: A Sustainable Energy for a Better Tomorrow.”
Godwin Edudzi Tameklo Esq., Chief Executive Officer of National Petroleum Authority (NPA)
Participants—including industry players, opinion leaders, market women, traders, transport operators, and students—were treated to performances by Stonebwoy and Nacee.
The week-long celebration aims to sensitize the public on the benefits of using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), the implementation of the CRM, and the Authority’s role in protecting consumer interests within the petroleum downstream sector.
The NPA Boss noted that LPG forms a key part of Ghana’s sustainable future, stressing that by choosing LPG over charcoal and firewood, “we protect the forests, reduce pollution, and improve public health.”
“Through the CRM, the NPA ensures that all cylinders are safely filled, inspected, and distributed through licensed bottling plants. Our goal is to make LPG the preferred energy choice for every Ghanaian household,” he said.
Mr. Tameklo added that the NPA envisions a downstream petroleum industry that is innovative, efficient, and sustainable.
“Since assuming office as Chief Executive of the NPA, I have emphasized the importance of affordability, quality, and reliability in the supply of petroleum products to Ghanaians. Our commitment remains to ensure fair pricing and strict adherence to industry standards, in alignment with the vision of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama to reset and transform the sector while rolling out the 24-hour economy,” he said.
The Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Mr. Richard Gyan-Mensah, who delivered the keynote address on behalf of the sector Minister, Mr. John Abdulai Jinapor, stated that LPG has emerged as one of the most viable transitional fuels, serving as a bridge between dependence on traditional biomass (charcoal and firewood) and the cleaner, modern energy systems the country seeks to develop.
Hon. Richard Gyan- Mensah, Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition
“LPG is not just a cooking fuel; it is a health intervention, an environmental safeguard, and a driver of economic empowerment. Compared to charcoal or firewood, LPG produces up to 60 percent fewer carbon emissions, significantly improving indoor air quality while helping to reduce deforestation,” he said.
For his part, the Chairman of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), Mr. Gabriel Kumi, said the Chamber is not opposed to the introduction of the CRM but rather to the mode of implementation that threatens existing investments in the LPG sector.
Gabriel Kumi, Chairman of Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC)
“The Chamber is not against the introduction of the CRM. What we are against is the previous attempt to shut down existing investments. We believe you don’t collapse existing businesses—you run them side by side,” he said.
The renewable energy boom has been heating up around the world, with many countries shattering their previous records for clean energy expansion year after year.
But in many grids, the rapid growth of renewables has outpaced the advancement of critical supportive infrastructure, from sufficient power lines to reliable and practical energy storage options.
As a result, renewable energy is facing a two-pronged and seemingly dichotomous problem – too many new clean energy projects without a grid to plug into, and too much clean energy already on the grid at times when no one needs it. But all of this is about to change as the world’s rate of electrification heads into overdrive.
The AI boom is reshaping energy systems, policy, investing, and infrastructure around the world. As the private sector races to build as many new data centers as it possibly can, the public sector is frantically trying to predict and adequately prepare for future energy demand.
The problem is that no one knows exactly how much energy the tech sector of the future will demand – but most experts project that it will be a whole lot. However, while we know that AI is extremely energy-intensive and that its integration will continue to expand at a rapid pace, scientists also argue that AI will be instrumental to increasing the energy efficiency of countless other sectors, creating a seriously messy spreadsheet for utilities to puzzle out.
But it is clear that we will need all of the clean energy we can get to power our ever-more electrified and data-driven world without tossing climate ambitions out with the bathwater.
This means that we can no longer afford to see new renewable power projects beset by grid-connection delays, nor can we afford to give away clean energy for free at peak production hours. As Utility Drive reported last week, “The era of ‘free’ excess renewable energy is over.”
This year, the world will see a record number of hours of negative electricity prices, as excess supply and low demand cause utilities to drop their prices below zero, effectively paying consumers to take energy off their hands.
While negative prices are a boon for consumers in the short term, they present a serious problem for investors and for power grids themselves. Plus, a lot of that excess energy ends up going to waste, since there is no profit to be made.
But Utility Drive reports that “with rising energy demand, wasting power will soon be an unaffordable luxury,” and that surpluses will very soon become a thing of the past. Making sure that no energy is wasted will require major advances in energy efficiency and energy storage, and especially long-duration energy storage (LDES).
LDES can capture excess electricity at peak production hours – when the sun is beaming on photovoltaic panels and the wind is roaring through turbines – and feed it back into the grid as needed, after sunset or even in later seasons when the daylight hours are shorter, for example.
Currently, global energy storage systems are dominated by lithium-ion batteries, even the best of which can only hold onto energy for a maximum of four hours, give or take.
Finding a longer-term solution will be critical to ramping up clean energy production to meet demand projections without compromising energy security.
There is currently a fierce global race to find a high-efficiency, affordable, and long-term storage solution to fit the increasing demands of our rapidly changing energy landscape.
The Economist has noted that, as a result of its integral importance, energy storage is heating up to be “clean energy’s next trillion-dollar business.”
Potential solutions vary wildly in approach and in materials, from huge weights for gravity-storage in high-rises to storing heat in mounds of sand or dirt, to name just a few projects from among a myriad of other technologies currently in development.
But not all of these storage solutions are created equal, especially in terms of efficiency – a factor which will soon become all-important as energy demand continues to rise.
“Round-trip efficiency, or RTE, will be a key determinant of which technologies can deliver at the scale and cost we need and which ones will perpetuate the pattern of waste,” reports Utility Drive. “The industry must prioritize high-efficiency LDES technologies now to achieve both our climate goals and economic viability.”
Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the World Bank to drive ongoing reforms and enhance efficiency within the country’s energy sector.
Mr. Jinapor made this known when he received a delegation from the World Bank, led by Dr. Robert Taliercio O’Brien, Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, during a courtesy call on Monday.
The discussions, he noted, focused on key areas of partnership, ongoing reforms, and strategies to sustain and build on the progress achieved so far in the sector.
According to the Minister, his top priorities remain centred on three critical objectives— reducing system losses, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring affordable and reliable power for all Ghanaians.
“I emphasized that our focus is on strengthening the fundamentals of the energy sector to deliver sustainable, affordable, and reliable electricity to every Ghanaian,” Mr. Jinapor stated in a post on his Facebook wall.
He further noted that the Ministry is pursuing strategic efforts to secure additional generation capacity at lower costs, stressing that the government’s overarching objective is to obtain the most cost-effective new power sources to strengthen the sector and deliver long-term benefits to the nation.
The World Bank team, for its part, reaffirmed the institution’s role as a strategic partner to Ghana and expressed continued commitment to9 supporting the Ministry in achieving its objectives.
The former Managing Director of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) Company Limited, now known as BOST Energies, Dr. Edwin Provencal, has reportedly been arrested by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) while attempting to board a flight at the Kotoka International Airport.
Dr. Provencal was said to be en route to Mozambique for an engagement when the arrest took place.
It is not yet clear what necessitated EOCO’s action.
Some social commentators are linking his arrest to the previous administration’s Gold-for-Oil (G4O) programme.
However, this portal recalls that in October 2025, EOCO issued a statement debunking a report about the alleged arrest of the Chief Executive Officer of Springfield E&P, Mr. Kevin Okyere, in Dubai, following claims that the agency had failed to act on a petitioner’s case.
In that statement, EOCO clarified that it was investigating two cases. It explained that the first case involved Springfield E&P, while the second concerned a dispute between Springfield E&P and BOST, following a petition the office had received.
EOCO noted that the BOST–Springfield case was of significant economic importance, with immediate implications for BOST’s finances, making it a priority investigation.
This portal cannot confirm whether Dr. Provencal’s arrest is connected to the Gold-for-Oil programme or the Springfield E&P–BOST dispute.
Efforts by this portal to reach his lawyers for comment have so far been unsuccessful.
“The Government is determined to ensure that by next year, Malawi experiences a significant reduction in load shedding. Projects such as this one in Salima will help stabilize the national grid and support economic activities across various sectors,” said Dr. Mathanga.
EGENCO Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Maxon Chitawo, disclosed that approximately USD 13 million (about MK22.5 billion) is required to complete the first phase of the solar project.
He further noted that the company’s long-term vision is to scale up generation capacity to 50 MW in order to contribute meaningfully to the diversification of Malawi’s power generation mix.
Salima District Commissioner, Mr. James Mwenda, commended the project, noting that it has already benefited the local community by providing employment opportunities to residents in surrounding areas.
Once completed, the Nanjoka Solar Power Plant will enhance EGENCO’s generation capacity, improve power reliability, and contribute to the achievement of national energy access targets under the Malawi 2063 development agenda.
