Nigeria: PowerUp Nigeria Condemns Attack on Ikeja Electric, Demands Independent Probe
PowerUp Nigeria, a non-governmental organization advocating for sustainable energy access, has strongly condemned the recent attack on Ikeja Electric’s offices by Nigerian Air Force personnel.
The organization described the attack as a dangerous assault on critical energy infrastructure.
According to PowerUp Nigeria, the March 6, 2025, attack at Ikeja Electric’s headquarters in Ikeja and its Oshodi Business Unit caused significant damage, including structural destruction, equipment damage, and temporary suspension of operations. PowerUp Nigeria’s Executive Director, Adetayo Adegbemle, deemed the attack “uncalled for” and a violation of public trust, posing a direct threat to Nigeria’s power sector.
Adegbemle demanded an independent investigation into the attack, emphasizing the need for transparency, impartiality, and public disclosure of findings.
He also stressed the importance of accountability, seeking prosecution of individuals and entities responsible for authorizing or executing the assault.
“Power up demands full restitution by the Nigerian Air Force for damages incurred by Ikeja Electric and affected communities with concrete measures to prevent future attacks on critical infrastructure, including clear protocols for military-civilian engagements,” he said.
PowerUp Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and civil society to strengthen the resilience of Nigeria’s energy sector.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Power Minister Blasts Army Officers For Visiting Mayhem On Electricity Staff, Infrastructure
Nigeria’s Minister for Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has condemned another attack on Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) in Badagry, Lagos State, by Nigerian Army personnel.
The minister also denounced the forceful abduction, intimidation, assault, brutalization, and destruction of facilities at the substation.
This attack occurred less than a week after a similar assault on Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) staff and infrastructure by Nigerian Air Force personnel.
In a statement issued through Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Mr. Adelabu said the attack happened on March 14, following a temporary power outage.
He described the vandalism, destruction, and forceful abduction of staff as unacceptable and a direct threat to Nigeria’s power supply stability and economic well-being.
He called on the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu to intervene by calling security operatives to order, adding that there were ways such issues could be handled without resorting to violence, especially in a democratic setting.
”Electricity infrastructure is the backbone of the Nigerian economy and a critical enabler of development.
“Attacks on these facilities and staff on duty undermine the efforts of the Federal Government to ensure stable and reliable power supply to homes, businesses, and public institutions.
”The repeated targeting of power infrastructure and the personnel of distribution companies by uniformed personnel, who are expected to protect national assets, are deeply troubling and raises serious concerns about discipline and accountability within our armed forces,” he said.
The minister said that the army was emboldened to attack EKEDC facilities and staff because of the silence of the Federal Government on the earlier invasion of Ikeja Electric by the Air Force.
“The NSA has to wade into this matter in order to forestall further attacks,” he said.
The minister also said that the attack on EKEDC sub-station had resulted in significant damage, leading to power outages and disruptions in service to thousands of customers.
He said that the attack came at a time when the government was working tirelessly to improve the efficiency and reliability of the power sector.
Mr Adelabu said that actions were counterproductive and sabotage to the collective progress the country was striving to achieve.
He called on the Nigerian Army to immediately investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The ministry of power also urges the military high command to take urgent steps to educate and sensitise its personnel on the importance of protecting critical national infrastructure.
”The repeated occurrence of such incidents suggest a systemic issue that must be addressed with the utmost urgency,” he said.
Adelabu said that the power ministry remained committed to working with all stakeholders to safeguard power infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to all Nigerians.
The minister said that though, he recognised the sensitive role of the military in safeguarding the country and protecting its assets, they should see the sector as a partner in progress and not its enemy.
“We appeal to all Nigerians, including members of the armed forces, to recognise the importance of protecting our power infrastructure.
“These facilities are vital to our collective prosperity, and their destruction harms us all,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Dangote Refinery Halts Petroleum Sales In Naira
Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery has suspended sales of petroleum in the country after it stopped receiving naira-denominated crude cargoes from the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
A statement issued by Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Wednesday said the company has temporarily halted the sale of petroleum products in naira. .’’to avoid a mismatch between our sales proceeds and our crude oil purchase obligations, which are currently denominated in U.S. dollars.
To date, our sales of petroleum products in naira have exceeded the value of naira-denominated crude we have received. As a result, we must temporarily adjust our sales currency to align with our crude procurement currency.”
Last year, Nigeria’s beleaguered energy sector witnessed a very significant event after the Dangote Oil Refinery began producing gasoline and selling it domestically to NNPC, marking the first time in decades Africa’s largest oil producer is refining its own crude.
The state-of-the-art $20.5 billion refinery was launched in January 2024, but only began producing gasoline in September.
The giant refinery has a capacity to process 650,000 barrels of crude per day, considerably bigger than any refinery in Europe and more than enough for Nigeria’s needs.
To sweeten the deal further, the facility has been buying crude and selling refined fuels in Nigeria in the local currency, saving the country’s much-needed foreign exchange, especially the U.S. dollar.
Unfortunately, the arrival of the giant refinery has coincided with developments completely out of his control. Since the 1970s, the NNPC has been subsidizing fuel prices for local buyers.
Every year, the state-owned firm has been gradually clawing this money back by depositing lower royalty payments with the Nigerian treasury.
However, Nigeria’s new President Bola Tinubu was forced to scrap the subsidy in 2023 after it cost the government $10bn, more than 40% of the total money it collected in taxes.
Further, he stopped the policy of artificially propping up the value of the naira, and let market forces determine its value.
Nigerians are now paying ~$2.30 per gallon of gasoline, dirt-cheap by U.S. standards but triple what they were paying just a couple of years ago.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Côte d’Ivoire: Eni Increases Gas Volumes For Power Generation
Italian oil and gas company Eni, in partnership with Ivorian national oil company Petroci, has announced a significant increase in gas supply for Côte d’Ivoire’s power generation system.
According to a statement issued by Eni, up to 70 million cubic feet per day of gas produced from the Baleine Phase 2 project will be entirely allocated to meet local demand, ensuring a reliable supply for the country’s power generation needs and further reinforcing Côte d’Ivoire’s role as a regional energy hub.
This achievement was made possible through close collaboration with Ivorian authorities and Petroci, leveraging Eni’s integrated approach that combines responsible production with a positive impact on local communities.
Eni has also reached its oil production plateau of 60,000 barrels per day, tripling output compared to the 20,000 barrels produced in the previous phase.
Notably, the Baleine project is the first net-zero upstream project (Scope 1 and 2) in Africa, a milestone made possible by advanced technologies that reduce its carbon footprint and innovative initiatives developed in close cooperation with the Ivorian government.
With Phase 1 launched in August 2023, Phase 2 launched in December 2024, and Phase 3 currently under study, total production is expected to reach 150,000 barrels of oil per day and 200 million cubic feet of associated gas.
Eni has been present in Côte d’Ivoire since 2015 and is committed to energy production as well as sustainable development through projects in education, training, healthcare, and economic diversification, aligning its efforts with the country’s national development plans.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Zambia: Zesco Signs Transmission Interconnection MoU With Mozambique’s EDM
Zambia’s power utility company, ZESCO Limited, has signed an inter- utility Memorandum of Understanding with Electricidade De Mozambique (EDM) of Mozambique for the Mozambique-Zambia Interconnector (MOZA).
The MoU was signed at the 2025 Zambia International Mining and Energy Conference (ZIMEC).
This strategic electricity project is designed to significantly increase transmission capacity within the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP).
According to ZESCO, the project would enhance regional energy security through cross-border electricity trading to support economic growth in both countries.
ZESCO would also use the Mining and Energy Conference to share insights on ‘Powering a New Green African Future: Investing in Zambia’s Renewable Electricity Generation to Meet Growing Domestic and Regional Demand.
“We will highlight our rapid trajectory to diversify our electricity mix, with a targeted addition of 1000 Megawatts of solar electricity by the end of 2025,” ZESCO said.
The Mozambique-Zambia Power Interconnector is expected to cost approximately USD 500 million, with financing to be sourced from international financial institutions and development partners.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
ZESCO would also use the Mining and Energy Conference to share insights on ‘Powering a New Green African Future: Investing in Zambia’s Renewable Electricity Generation to Meet Growing Domestic and Regional Demand.
“We will highlight our rapid trajectory to diversify our electricity mix, with a targeted addition of 1000 Megawatts of solar electricity by the end of 2025,” ZESCO said.
The Mozambique-Zambia Power Interconnector is expected to cost approximately USD 500 million, with financing to be sourced from international financial institutions and development partners.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com Nigeria: Tinubu Approves Board Members For Nigerian Independent System Operator
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed the executive and non-executive board members for the newly established Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).
The board will be chaired by Dr. Adesegun Olugbade, with Engineer Abdu Mohammed Bello serving as the Managing Director.
The President has also appointed four Executive Directors: Engineer Nafisatu Asabe Ali for Systems Operation, Engineer Shehu Abba-Aliyu for Systems Planning, Dr. Edmund Eje for Market Operations, and Mr. Babajide Ibironke for Finance and Corporate Services.
The Non-Executive Directors include Engineer Lamu Audu, representing Generation; Mrs Folake Soetan for Distribution; Mr Tajudeen Giwa-Osagie as Market Expert; Engineer Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz for Transmission, and Alhaji Mahmuda Mamman, Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Power.
The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) will finalise the recruitment process.
These appointments align with the Electricity Act of 2023.
They followed a memorandum from Vice President Kashim Shettima and a rigorous selection process conducted by the Independent Board Nomination Committee (IBNC) in collaboration with Phillips Consulting Limited.
The creation of NISO fulfils a key mandate of the Electricity Act (2023), which requires the unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) into a Transmission System Provider (TSP) and an Independent System Operator (ISO).
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) officially established NISO on April 30, 2024.
The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) are its subscribers, each holding equal equity shares.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: New NPA Boss Vows To Crack Down On Illegal Fuel Trade
The newly appointed Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority, Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, Mr. Godwin Kudzo Tameklo Esq., has expressed his outfit’s commitment to dealing with groups or individuals engaged in illegal fuel trade.
He said the Authority would be tough with its mandate to ensure that the transportation and sale of fuel were carried out lawfully.
Speaking at a meeting with Bono Regional Security Council (REGSEC) during his familiarization tour in the region, the NPA Boss enumerated fuel smuggling, selling of adulterated fuels, operating with an expired license, and operating without proper safety standards as some of the illegal fuel trading.
Mr Tameklo pleaded with regional ministers across the country to abstain from intervening on behalf of unscrupulous fuel traders.
He stated that there was the tendency for people to hide behind political parties to try and induce officials of the NPA to engage in illegal activities; a practice he said would not be countenanced.
“We must support President Mahama’s agenda of reseting the economy for growth and prosperity for all.
“If you plead on behalf of these criminals who are not playing by the rules at the expense of the reset agenda, who will you call when you buy bad fuel in your car?” he quipped.
The NPA CE indicated that collaborative efforts by the NPA, National Security and other security agencies had helped to drastically reduce the menace of supply leakages such as export dumping in the country.
In his remarks, the Bono Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Addae Akwaboah assured the NPA of the support of the regional security council.
“I assured you of the Bono REGSEC support that we are here to serve, and we can have a good collaboration with NPA to curb the future occurrence of such illegalities” the Regional Minister assured.
The meeting with the Bono Regional Security Council was part of a three-day tour by the Chief Executive of NPA to the Bono and Ashanti regions to familiarize himself with some petroleum installations.
The Chief Executive and Management of the Authority, on Wednesday, made the first stop at the Bono Regional Coordinating Council and paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of Sunyani to court his support in dealing with fuel supply and export challenges in the region.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
“We must support President Mahama’s agenda of reseting the economy for growth and prosperity for all.
“If you plead on behalf of these criminals who are not playing by the rules at the expense of the reset agenda, who will you call when you buy bad fuel in your car?” he quipped.
The NPA CE indicated that collaborative efforts by the NPA, National Security and other security agencies had helped to drastically reduce the menace of supply leakages such as export dumping in the country.
In his remarks, the Bono Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Addae Akwaboah assured the NPA of the support of the regional security council.
“I assured you of the Bono REGSEC support that we are here to serve, and we can have a good collaboration with NPA to curb the future occurrence of such illegalities” the Regional Minister assured.
The meeting with the Bono Regional Security Council was part of a three-day tour by the Chief Executive of NPA to the Bono and Ashanti regions to familiarize himself with some petroleum installations.
The Chief Executive and Management of the Authority, on Wednesday, made the first stop at the Bono Regional Coordinating Council and paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of Sunyani to court his support in dealing with fuel supply and export challenges in the region.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Nigeria: BolaTinubu Declares State Of Emergency In Rivers State Over Pipeline Explosion
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday, suspending the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all lawmakers for six months.
Tinubu, in a television broadcast, said he had received security reports in the last two days of “disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them.”
“With all these and many more, no good and responsible president will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the constitution to address the situation in the state,” added Tinubu.
For him, what many fear – the venom in its sting – is a potential gold mine.
Police said earlier they were investigating the cause of a blast in Rivers state that resulted in a fire on Nigeria’s Trans Niger Pipeline, a major oil artery transporting crude from onshore oilfields to the Bonny export terminal.
Rivers, in the Niger Delta, is a major source of crude oil and militants have in the past blown up pipelines, hampering production and exports.
The state has been embroiled in a political crisis pitting factions of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against each other.
The state lawmakers had also threatened to impeach the governor and his deputy.
Tinubu’s state of emergency enables the federal government to make regulations to run the state and also allow authorities to easily deploy security forces to bring order if needed.
Tinubu nominated a retired vice admiral as caretaker to run the affairs of Rivers State for an initial six months.
The president said he had sent a copy of his proclamation to the National Assembly, which can endorse or reject his decision.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate,” said Tinubu.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Russia Agrees To 30-Day Suspension Of Energy Infrastructure Attacks
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to impose a 30-day suspension on attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in exchange for an identical halt of attacks on Russian infrastructure from the Ukrainian side.
The commitment was made during Putin’s two-and-a-half-hour phone call with President Trump during which the two discussed the next steps in the Ukraine war.
A full 30-day ceasefire, as originally proposed by the U.S. side, was rejected by Russia, which sees it as a means of giving the Ukrainian army a break to rearm.
One of Russia’s conditions for a peace agreement is the suspension of all U.S. military aid to the Kyiv government.
Following the lengthy call, the White House said the two sides will continue their negotiations with a ceasefire in the Black Sea, progressing to a permanent peace agreement, Reuters reported.
Trump’s special envoy on the Ukraine, Steven Witkoff, told Fox News that the next U.S.-Russian talks will take place in person, in Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, March 23, where the parties would discuss the details of the ceasefire and the future peace deal.
“Up until recently, we really didn’t have consensus around these two aspects – the energy and infrastructure ceasefire and the Black Sea moratorium on firing – and today we got to that place, and I think it’s a relatively short distance to a full ceasefire from there,” Witkoff told Fox News.
Crude oil prices dipped on the news of the partial ceasefire, as they do on any positive news about progress towards peace in the Ukraine, since peace would likely mean the lifting of U.S. sanctions in Russian energy, facilitating the access of Russian oil to international markets.
“The agreement marks a positive step towards an eventual resolution, with the halt of attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities reducing further oil supply disruption risks and keeping oil prices under some pressure,” IG analyst Yeap Jun Rong told Reuters.
Source: Oilprice.com
Ghana: Shareholders Approve Appointment Of Nana Philip Archer As Board Chairman Of GOIL PLC
Shareholders of Ghana’s largest indigenous petroleum downstream player, GOIL PLC, have approved the appointment of Nana Philip Archer as the new Board Chairman.
His appointment was confirmed by shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the plush Movenpick Hotel in Accra.
He secured the votes of 106 shareholders to be confirmed, with 4 shareholders voting against his appointment.
Profile
Nana Philip Archer is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in multinational corporations, having served as CEO and Managing Director in various organizations.
He specializes in sales and distribution management, trade marketing, public relations, and corporate leadership.
He holds a BSc in Chemistry from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and an Executive MBA in Marketing from the University of Ghana Business School.
His career spans leadership roles in construction, cement manufacturing, logistics, supply chain management, and agriculture, including positions at Dzata Cement Limited, Ghacem Limited, and Takoradi Flour Mill.
Nana Philip Archer is also the CEO of Archer and Archers Consult, a consultancy firm specializing in construction, cement/concrete application knowledge, logistics, and project management.
He is the founder of Nana Archer Farms Limited, engaged in cocoa, palm nut and coconut plantations, as well as greenhouse snail farming.
Nana Archer is also the proprietary owner of a chemical-based product (Universal Thinner) known in the hydrocarbon field study as ‘diluent used for reducing viscosity of auto paint for spraying vehicles.
Beyond business, he has held various political roles, including Assemblyman and Parliamentary Aspirant for the Assin South Constituency in the Central region.
Additionally, he is the traditional chief (Kyedomhene) of Assin Juaben under the title Nana Akogyei Yeboah I.
His personal interests include volunteerism, communal service, soccer, music, and traveling.
Source: https://energynewsfrica.com
Ghana: GOIL Senior Staff, Workers’ Union Express Confidence In MD’s Leadership
The Senior Staff Association and unionised workers of GOIL PLC have reaffirmed their confidence in the leadership of the company’s Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director, Mr. Edward Abambire Bawa.
At separate meetings held to welcome Mr. Bawa, both the Senior Staff Association and the Workers’ Union pledged their full co-operation and commitment to fostering industrial harmony under his leadership.
The President of the Senior Staff Association, Mr. David Osei Bonsu, recounted the history of strong collaboration between staff and management and expressed optimism that Mr. Bawa would build upon this legacy to drive GOIL forward.
Mr. Bawa, in response, assured the workers of an open-door policy that prioritises engagement, transparency, and fairness.
He emphasised that the company’s future success is deeply rooted in a committed workforce and a merit-based reward system that recognises hard work and dedication.
Mr. Bawa also tasked the staff to foster teamwork and reinforce unity to enhance productivity and reposition GOIL as a market leader.
The local chairman of the GOIL Workers’ Union, Mr. Mac-Jordan Macbeth Norgbe, reaffirmed the union’s support for Mr. Bawa, underscoring their shared commitment to the company’s progress.
He assured the MD of the workers’ dedication to advancing GOIL’s corporate goals.
The meetings were attended by key management members, including the Head of Administration and Human Resources, Ms. Millicent Ocquaye, the Head of Corporate Affairs, Dr. Marcus Dake, and the Public Relations Manager, Mr. Robert Kyere.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Mr. Bawa, in response, assured the workers of an open-door policy that prioritises engagement, transparency, and fairness.
He emphasised that the company’s future success is deeply rooted in a committed workforce and a merit-based reward system that recognises hard work and dedication.
Mr. Bawa also tasked the staff to foster teamwork and reinforce unity to enhance productivity and reposition GOIL as a market leader.
The local chairman of the GOIL Workers’ Union, Mr. Mac-Jordan Macbeth Norgbe, reaffirmed the union’s support for Mr. Bawa, underscoring their shared commitment to the company’s progress.
He assured the MD of the workers’ dedication to advancing GOIL’s corporate goals.
The meetings were attended by key management members, including the Head of Administration and Human Resources, Ms. Millicent Ocquaye, the Head of Corporate Affairs, Dr. Marcus Dake, and the Public Relations Manager, Mr. Robert Kyere.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: VRA, NEDCo Staff Groups Oppose Purported Appointment Of R. A. Abdul Jalil As VRA’s Public Affairs Director
The Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) staff groups are protesting the alleged appointment of the Savannah Regional Communications Officer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr R. A. Abdul Jalil, as Director of Public Affairs for VRA.
Some media platforms reported on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, that Mr. Abdul Jalil had been appointed as Director of Public Affairs for VRA, drawing the attention of the staff of the power generation company to news that was previously unknown to them.
The workers group accused the appointing authority of violating time tested criteria for recruitment of staff to the position of Director of Public Affairs for the company.
In a press release signed by Theophilus Tetteh Ahia, National Chairman of Senior Staff Association of VRA, and Fuseini Adjei, Divisional Union Chairman of VRA, the group argued that directorate positions are filled based on established procedures, fairness, competency and meritocracy.
They contended that the purported appointment of Mr Abdul Jalil violates established recruitment policies, senior staff conditions of service, Collective Agreement of Public Services Workers Union of TUC and also undermines experienced professionals.
“This purported appointment is not only a major source of demotivation to the workforce, an affront to hard work that negatively affects productivity, but also it undermines career
progression, as well as succession planning within the VRA,” the workers group stressed.
They called on the newly appointed acting Chief Executive Officer to, as a matter of urgency, resist any pressure to enforce this purported appointment.
Besides, they called on the Honourable Minister of Energy and Green Transition to urgently ensure that this purported appointment is withdrawn immediately in order not to further endanger the fragile current industrial harmony in the VRA.
They, however, pointed out that if Mr. Abdul Jalil is qualified to be employed at the VRA, then he must be made to submit to the standard recruitment processes of the company and compete fairly with other qualified candidates as and when there is a vacancy.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Energy Minister Assures Ashanti Region Of Improved Power Supply
Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Jinapor, has assured the Asantehene and residents of the Ashanti Region that efforts are underway to stabilize the power supply and address persistent challenges in the electricity supply.
Speaking during a courtesy call on the Asantehene, H.M. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace, on Monday, March 17, 2025, Jinapor highlighted ongoing interventions, including the installation of a new transformer, to improve power supply.
He informed Otumfour that the newly installed transformer, which replaces an older 66MVA unit, has more than double the capacity of the previous system. This upgrade, he noted, will significantly enhance power distribution in Kumasi and beyond.
“The electricity demand has been increasing, and the existing infrastructure was unable to keep up. With the completion of this transformer new 145MVA, we expect a remarkable improvement in power delivery,” Jinapor said.
Hon. Jinapor further addressed the power rationing (load shedding) issues that have affected businesses and households, revealing that at its peak in December, Ghana experienced up to 750 megawatts of load shedding.
He, however, assured that the power supply situation has since stabilised, with Ghana, exporting excess electricity to neighboring countries.
According to the Minister, despite these improvements, more work needs to be done to achieve a fully stable energy supply. He stressed the need for a comprehensive approach, including power generation, transmission, and distribution, to ensure long-term stability.
“We are working around the clock to resolve these challenges and guarantee a reliable power supply. Beyond generating enough power, we need to effectively transmit and distribute it to consumers,” he said.
Hon. Jinapor commended the technical team for completing the new transformer installation, acknowledging that the transition between transformers caused some temporary disruptions.
He assured Otumfour that the situation has been resolved, and the region will receive improved service moving forward.
Additionally, he urged power providers in the Ashanti Region to improve communication with consumers, particularly during scheduled maintenance or emergency power switches, to minimize panic and inconvenience.
Hon. Jinapor hinted at ambitious plans to make Kumasi a major power generation hub, with multiple plants expected to be operational in the coming years. He indicated that these projects could contribute up to 500 megawatts of electricity from the region, further strengthening Ghana’s energy security.
The Hon. Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the country’s energy challenges and ensuring uninterrupted power supply for both residential and industrial users.
On his part, H.M. the Asantehene expressed gratitude to the Minister and his team of engineers for the swift response to addressing the power challenges in the Ashanti Region.
Otumfour Osei Tutu II assured the Minister of his support while he worked to improve the power situation in Kumasi and the Ashanti Region in general.
The Minister, as part of the visit inspected the newly commissioned GRIDCo’s 145MVA Transformer at Anwomaso, the Ameri Plant, the construction of the AKSA plant, the construction of the Cenit Plant, the ECG double circuit tower line from Anwomaso BSP to the Airport Junction.
The Minister was accompanied by officials from the Ministry, VRA, GRIDCo, and ECG.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: Six Arrested In Eskom Procurement Fraud Scheme
Six individuals, including Eskom’s former procurement officer and manager, have been arrested for their involvement in a fraudulent procurement scheme at Kusile Power Station.
According to Eskom, the arrests were made on March 14 and 15, 2025, following a coordinated intelligence-driven operation by the Mission Area Joint Operational Centre (MAJOC).
The investigation revealed that in 2018, a pump was unlawfully procured for R857,977.00, despite an identical pump with the same serial number having been purchased in 2015 for only R18,835.00.
This fraudulent transaction led to a direct financial loss for Eskom.
Four suspects, including the Kusile Procurement Manager, were taken into custody on March 15, 2025, in addition to the former Kusile Procurement Officer who was arrested the previous day.
Two suspects remain at large, with authorities actively pursuing them.
The arrested individuals appeared in the eMalahleni Magistrates’ Court on March 17, 2025.
These arrests are part of the ongoing efforts by the NATJOINTS Energy Safety and Security Priority Committee to address fraud, corruption, and criminal activities within Eskom and South Africa’s broader energy infrastructure.
Eskom’s Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, emphasized the company’s commitment to eliminating corruption, stating that “those who engage in wrongdoing will increasingly face investigation and action”.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com