A power outage has prompted the shutdown of the Whiting refinery in Indiana.
The facility is operated by BP, which evacuated the facility on Thursday and started flaring gas to avoid more serious problems.
Volatile gases are flared during a refinery shutdown because they cannot be processed the usual way and present a hazard.
“This flaring is a safety release to burn off the extra product and is a normal process during an event,” the Whiting City authorities said in a statement quoted by NBC Chicago.
“BP is working to resolve the power outage as quickly as possible.”
The company itself said “We are in the process of safely shutting down the refinery after a suspected power outage.”
“We have activated our emergency response team and evacuated refinery office buildings out of an abundance of caution,” Christina Audisho, a spokesperson for BP, told the news outlet.
“Local fire departments are assisting with the evacuation by closing nearby roads.
The safety of refinery staff and the community are our highest priority.”
BP has not given any indication as to how long the shutdown will continue.
The Whiting refinery has the capacity to process 435,000 barrels of crude daily.
The facility is the largest refinery in the Midwest and BP’s largest in North America, per Reuters.
According to energy consultancy Refined Fuel Analytics’ managing director, the shutdown could last as little as a week but there is no certainty.
“Restarting depends on how quickly you can restore power and if you have any damage,” John Auers told Reuters, adding that “You can manage power outages but it’s very complex.
You don’t have instrumentation when you lose power, so you don’t know what’s going on in the units.”
The last time the Whiting refinery was shut down by an incident was back in 2022, when a fire broke out on the territory of the facility, prompting the temporary suspension of operations.
Source: Oilprice.com
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) FORMOSO, in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, have destroyed three illegal refineries sites laden with about 50,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil.
The operation was conducted from Sunday 28 to 30 Tuesday January 2024 in Bayelsa.
The operation which was in line with the recently launched Nigerian Navy Operation Delta Sanity was to put an end to illegal oil theft and bunkering activities within the maritime domain.
In a statement signed on Wednesday, by the Commanding Officer Forward Operating Base FORMOSO, Capt Murtala Rogo, the Navy said the outfit carried out the three days patrol along Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Tebidaba – Brass pipeline.
It said: “On 29 January 2024 at about 0845, the Team located one illegal refinery site and a wooden boat laden with about 20,000 litres of product suspected to be crude oil at Latitude 04°30’38″N Longitude 006°14’51″E, Galubakiri Creek, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
“While in the heat of the patrol, on the same day at about 1130, another illegal refinery site was also located laden with about 17,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil at position Latitude 04°31’51″N Longitude 006°15’58″E around Mbiakpaba, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
“Accordingly, in line with the extant Rules of Engagement, both illegal refinery sites and the boat were appropriately handled,” the statement read.
On January 30, 2024, the team said it conducted patrols around Obama, Igbikiba, Igbomotoru, and Tebidaba General Area.
During the patrol, the team disclosed that it intercepted two wooden boats with remnants of product suspected to be stolen crude oil at position Latitude 04°28’30″N Longitude 006°5’49″E Diebu Creek, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
It added that while combing other creeks around the pipeline, the it discovered another illegal refinery site laden with about 15,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and five locally made iron ovens at position Latitude 04°32’4″N Longitude 005º56’38″E Biabagbene Southern Ijaw LGA.
“Pertinently the illegal refinery site was handled appropriately while the ovens were dismantled accordingly,” it stated.
The commanding officer affirmed that the ‘operation is geared towards combing and clearing creeks, and channels as well as other places within the base area of operations, while further investigations into the criminal networks associated with the illegal refinery’s sites are ongoing.
The navy further asserted that the operation marks a significant step in actualising the objectives of Operation Delta Sanity which aims to combat crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering.
The statement stated that under Operation Delta Sanity, the Nigeria Navy has come all out and is poised more than ever to rid the Niger Delta of crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in line with the strategic directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
By: Tom Alweendo, Minister of Mines and Energy, Namibia
As the 2023 U.N. Climate Change Conference, the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai drew to a close, the air was thick with determination among the 200 delegates.
Acknowledging that the era of fossil fuels was on its last legs, they collectively pledged to hasten its demise. This was heralded as “the beginning of the end” for coal, oil, and natural gas. The nails and hammers were poised to pound the coffin of a sure- to-be- dead fossil fuel industry.
The conference culminated in a comprehensive agreement known as the “global stocktake”.
This ambitious strategy set forth key objectives: tripling renewable energy capacity, doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030, expediting the reduction of coal power without carbon capture, and intensifying efforts to shift away from fossil fuel reliance in energy systems. The overarching message was clear: a full-scale transition to renewable energy sources is imperative, while fossil fuels must be left in the ground.
However, this either/or binary approach poses a significant dilemma for African nations. The economic and social benefits derived from fossil fuels are still crucial for us – from reducing energy poverty to bolstering our economies. Moreover, we believe that these benefits can be harnessed in tandem with addressing climate change concerns.
Our plea for understanding from Western nations and environmental groups, who are intensifying their efforts to stop new investments in African oil and gas ventures, seems to fall on deaf ears.
The struggle to secure project financing is growing. On November 30, 2023, The Economist revealed that 27 banks had withdrawn from financing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline project, and numerous others had decided against directly funding new oil and gas initiatives.
Yet, there are glimmers of hope, particularly in Namibia. Here, we have introduced reforms to reduce the risks for investors. Almost a year ago, significant offshore oil and gas discoveries rewarded the investments of oil majors like Shell, TotalEnergies, and
QatarEnergy in Namibia. Following this, Namibia has witnessed a surge in exploration activities. At the beginning of 2024, Portugal’s Galp Energia announced the discovery of a substantial light oil reserve in Namibia’s offshore block PEL83. Galp, along with its partners NAMCOR and Custos Investments Ltd., plans to explore deeper depths. Upcoming drilling campaigns by Chevron (U.S.) and Woodside Energy (Australia) are expected to continue this momentum.
This is a testament to an irrefutable fact: despite the global push for near-instant transition to renewables, the immediate benefits for us (and many African nations) still predominantly lie in oil and gas.
A Reality Check
The immediate shift to renewable energy, as suggested by the COP28 global stocktake is impractical and overly idealistic. The reality is that any swift transition to renewable energy would only be viable if Africa, or indeed the world, were ready to rely entirely on wind, hydro, wave, and solar energy for powering homes, businesses, vehicles, and industries. Unfortunately, we are nowhere close.
For instance, despite Africa’s abundant potential for solar and wind energy — holding 60% of the planet’s capacity — our actual production capabilities are starkly different. We might be termed the “Sun Continent”, but our solar energy generation capacity is a mere 1% of the global total. In sub-Saharan Africa, biomass remains the predominant energy source for many.
Let us be in no doubt; Namibia remains committed to a renewable energy future. We have taken significant strides towards establishing a green hydrogen economy, evident in projects like the 3-gigawatt Tsau Khaeb and others in Kharas, Kunene, and Walvis Bay. However, achieving parity with global renewable energy capabilities will take time and money. A whole lot of money that most, if not all countries that make up the so called “Sun Continent”, do not have.
Lacklustre Funding Support
To be fair, this funding gap has not gone unnoticed. Institutions like the World Bank, the U.N., and the International Energy Agency have urged developed economies to invest in African renewable energy infrastructure. Till date, the financial support has been underwhelming. What this means is that, for all their renewables fervor and promises, the richer western nations — who collectively contribute the highest to global emissions — are not putting their money where their mouths are.
The International Energy Agency estimates that Africa would require over USD200 billion annually until 2030 to meet the Sustainable Africa Scenario’s energy and climate objectives. Yet, despite a rise in global clean energy investment everywhere else, only a mere fraction of this amount, about USD25 billion, have been invested in Africa’s renewable infrastructure development. This shortfall is even more pronounced considering Africa’s burgeoning population, projected to constitute 25% of the global population by 2050.
The continent’s energy needs will rise exponentially and the funding gap does not seem to be closing anytime soon. As of today, the Just Energy Transition Partnerships, a COP26 initiative designed to finance sustainable development in emerging economies, has yet to be effectively implemented or produce significant results. It is within this context that one must challenge the renewables or nothing stance of the Global Stocktake at COP28. If fossil fuels are out, what do we have to replace them, now and into the future?
Unacceptable Interference
The underinvestment in African renewables is just one aspect of a larger problem. Concurrently, there’s a concerted effort by the West to stifle investment in African fossil fuel projects. Even natural gas exploration – the cleanest fossil fuel and a transitional energy source – faces intense scrutiny and opposition.
For instance, a 2021 article in The Guardian reported that some experts advised Africa to prioritize renewable energy adoption at all costs, even if it meant abandoning the exploration of lucrative gas reserves. The intention was noble – to avert a climate crisis and expand clean energy access to millions lacking it. However, practical strategies and timelines to achieve this were notably absent, despite vehement criticism of the oil and gas sector.
This is not to undermine the dedication of climate activists; the reality of climate change impacts is undeniable. However, I believe Africa can address climate change while simultaneously tackling energy poverty through the judicious use of our natural resources. With 600 million people lacking electricity access, a comprehensive approach is imperative to overcome the current energy deficit and mitigate against a larger one in the future.
Namibia’s Logical Response
From the foregoing, it is only logical for African nations to safeguard the socioeconomic advantages from ongoing oil and gas operations. We can do this by enacting policies that incentivize investment and by building inclusive economic and political institutions. The high costs associated with exploration and production must be reflected in our tax and royalty policies. Additionally, factors like stable economies, transparency, and efficient legal frameworks significantly influence investment decisions. We must be committed to ensuring these conditions are met in our countries.
Namibia exemplifies these efforts in both oil, gas, and mining sectors. We continue to collaborate with investors and industry stakeholders to foster further improvements. Our efforts to create an enabling environment for investors played a significant role in driving the drilling campaigns by Shell, TotalEnergies, Galp, and QatarEnergy. The investments these companies are making in Namibia will play a central role in generating government revenue; building roads, bridges, and dams; creating jobs; and improving standards of living for every Namibian in line with the vision of President Hage Geingob.
However, we must not compromise our own needs and priorities in attracting investment. African nations must always seek investments that are mutually beneficial. This can be achieved through balanced and pragmatic local content policies that offer employment, business opportunities, capacity building, and technology and knowledge transfer.
Imperatives For Our Prosperous Future
African countries’ pursuit of fossil fuel projects, especially natural gas, is in line with global practices. Even countries advanced in renewable energy do not rely solely on these sources. For instance, in the U.S., 60% of electricity is still generated from fossil fuels, predominantly natural gas, while renewables and nuclear energy contribute 21% and 18%, respectively. Natural gas is deemed more reliable, operating at full capacity 65% of the time, compared to solar and wind energy’s 36% and 25% capacity factors, respectively. Asking African nations to disregard natural gas is akin to suggesting we should accept half the power capacity, half the standard of living, and half the safety compared to Western nations. This is not a reasonable expectation.
Capitalizing on Africa’s natural gas resources is about more than just enhancing power capacity or addressing electricity shortages. It is a means to build industrial capacity and revitalize African economies, lifting people from poverty and energy scarcity.
In light of this, there is a clear imperative for African leaders to take immediate actions to foster an environment conducive to oil and gas investments. As for energy companies, we invite you to partner with us. Do not overlook the vast opportunities in Africa. Your investments will not only yield returns but also contribute significantly to eradicating energy poverty, driving economic growth, and paving the way for the development of renewable energy sectors in African countries.
Let’s remember, no nation has achieved industrialization solely through solar or wind power. But those that are industrialized, with financial reserves, are in a better position to finance their energy transitions. For us as Africans, we must be in the position to drive our energy transition initiatives by using what we have now to achieve what we envision for our future. To waiver from this objective is a risky and untenable proposition.
Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has reviewed the mode of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) importation in the West African nation by making it go through open competitive bidding process.
The NPA says the decision to use open competitive tenders for the importation of LPG is to reduce cost and ensure efficiency.
According to the regulator, it held a successful maiden competitive bidding on Monday, 29th January 2024.
NPA said the winning tenderer submitted the lowest premium of USD30.39/MT for the four (4) Lots that were tendered for the period March to June 2024.
This is a significant drop from the current premiums which range between USD67/MT to USD98/MT. Each lot is about 20,000 metric tonnes.
Officials of the NPA at the table during one of the meetings with members of BIDECs.
In a release, NPA said the proposal for the open competitive tenders was approved after consultation with Bulk Import, Distribution and Export Companies (BIDECs) with a majority of them supporting it.
The Authority indicated that the quantity being tendered per month represents about 70 percent of Ghana’s monthly LPG consumption with the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) supplying the remainder.
It is recalled that the NPA proposed the use of Open Competitive Tenders for the importation of LPG in 2021, to among other things, bring efficiency to the importation of LPG into Ghana and ultimately reduce the cost of LPG through competition.
This was one of the measures proposed to help reduce the cost of LPG to aid in the implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM), which has affordability as one of the key tenets to successfully implementing the policy.
The proposal was thoroughly discussed in-house to assess its feasibility, and after it was concluded that it would help reduce the cost of importing LPG, approval was granted to engage with the BIDECs to get their buy-in before its implementation.
There were several engagements with BIDECs throughout 2023.
These engagements resulted in the majority of BIDECs supporting the proposal, despite some reservations from a few of them.
The Authority considered the concerns raised by those with reservations and concluded that they were not strong enough to prevent the implementation of the policy.
Data available to the Authority on LPG imports by BIDECs over the years shows a huge disparity in the premiums paid to the International Oil Trading Companies (IOTCs).
This can be attributed to the smaller parcels of LPG imported by the BIDECs.
The Authority is of the view that importing the LPG in bulk through the tender process will help to reduce the premiums due to economies of scale and further bring efficiency to the importation of LPG.
The high cost of LPG is a major concern to both LPG buyers and retailers.
Checks by this portal indicate that LPG consumption in 2021 was 345, 477,075 kilogrammes while in 2022, consumption was 305,076,209 kilogrammes.
Data sourced from NPA website shows that between January to October 2023, LPG consumption was around 259,375,659 kilograms.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com/
Vehicle owners in Ghana are expected to pay for emissions levy with effect from February 1, 2024.
This is in line with Emissions Levy Act, 2023 (Act 1112) which imposes a levy on carbon dioxide equivalent emissions on internal combustion engine vehicles.
Ghana is seeking to tackle greenhouse gas emissions to promote the use of eco-friendly technology and green energy.
The levy amount varies based on the type of vehicle and its engine capacity.
“Motorcycles and tricycles are required to pay GH¢75 per annum, while motor vehicles, buses, and coaches up to 3000 cubic centimetres are required to pay GH¢150 per annum.
“Motor vehicles, buses, and coaches above 3000 cubic centimetres, cargo trucks, and articulated trucks are required to pay GH¢300 per annum,” the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) said in a public notice.
Some commercial transport operators in the country have declared their intentions to review transport fares to cover the emissions levy.
In an interview with Accra- based “Citi FM”, Abbas Imoro, the Public Relations Officer of GPRTU, said, “We have alerted the whole nation that it is wrong to pay two different [fees] on one item.
If the authorities have failed to heed the awareness we have created, so be it.
It is so fortunate that we haven’t finally come up with our upward adjustment in lorry fares.
“We just have to calculate it in whatever decision we arrive at and share it with the passengers we take,” he said.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com/
The Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC), the gas aggregator in Ghana, has organised a maiden media training programme for journalists to build their capacity and knowledge in the gas industry for effective reporting.
The journalists were selected from the Western Region, where Ghana Gas operates from, with only five joining them from Accra, the capital of Ghana.
The training exposed the journalists to the technicalities in the gas industry, issues in the industry and steps being taken to address them, especially the financial issues.
Mr Albert Mensah Tandoh, who is the Operations Manager of Ghana Gas, made the first presentation; he focused on effective gas industry reporting.
Mr Albert Mensah Tandoh, Operations Manager of Ghana Gas.
He took the journalists through the history of Ghana Gas, starting from 2011, and explained why it became necessary to establish Ghana Gas when the West African nation started commercial oil production in 2010.
He walked the journalists through the process of gathering gas, processing and transportation of gas for power generation.
He said Ghana Gas takes the raw gas from the Jubilee Field offshore and processes it at the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant.
He mentioned that the company processes raw gas into lean gas, LPG and condensate, which is a residual product.
According to him, the lean gas is for power generation while the LPG is sold for domestic use, adding that the condensate goes to the Tema Oil Refinery and blend with other products to produce premix fuel.
Dr. Riverson Oppong, the Commercial Manager of Ghana Gas, also made a presentation on “Commercial Operations” of the company.
Dr. Riverson Oppong, the Commercial Manager of Ghana Gas
He touched on the upstream, midstream and downstream of the oil and gas industry.
He explained that Ghana Gas is a midstream company and serves as a link between the upstream and the downstream.
Touching on the commercial structure of the gas industry, Dr. Oppong noted that there are about three structures, which are integrated, merchant, tolling and hybrid structures.
Besides, he touched on the regulators of the gas industry, stating that Ghana Gas is regulated by PURC, EPA, Energy Commission, Petroleum Commission, among others.
Leonard Akuffo Kwapong, who is the Gas Accountant, also took the media through the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM) and Natural Gas Clearing House (NGC).
Leonard Akuffo Kwapong, Gas Accountant at Ghana Gas.
The Cash Waterfall Mechanism was instituted by the Ministry of Energy to ensure that revenue collected from the regulated electricity market is allocated across the electricity value chain in an equitable and transparent manner.
Mr. Kwapong told the media that the two initiatives were laudable but noted that there were still some challenges as far as the implementation was concerned.
Mr. Stephen Donkor, Manager in charge of Corporate Social Responsibility.
Stephen Donkor, the Manager in charge of Corporate Social Responsibility, said Ghana Gas had initiated about 398 projects across the country since the inception of the company.
The training, which was very interactive, provided the media the opportunity to ask questions concerning the company’s operations in Takoradi.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com/
China will raise retail prices for gasoline and diesel starting today, to reflect the increase in international crude oil prices, Xinhua has reported.
The price hike will be around $28 per ton for both fuels, the state news agency reported, citing a statement by the National Development and Reform Commission.
The price hike is part of China’s standard response to higher international oil prices.
Brent crude topped $80 per barrel earlier this month and both it and WTI posted their first monthly gain in January amid the intensifying crisis in the Red Sea and an escalation between the U.S. and Iran.
The gain comes despite continued concern about China’s economic growth prospects, which deepened after Beijing reported that manufacturing activity in the country shrank for the fourth month in a row in January.
“Economic momentum remained muted as the deflationary pressure persists,” one analyst from Pinpoint Asset Management told Reuters and added that he expected the Chinese central bank to cut rates in the first half of the year in order to boost domestic consumption.
“It is not clear if the latest rise in the PMIs reflects a further improvement in January or simply the easing of sentiment effects that have been weighing on the surveys,” another expert told Reuters.
“Either way, it adds to evidence that growth momentum in China is in the midst of a renewed recovery, albeit one that remains on shaky foundations and is unlikely to be sustained once current policy support is pared back,” Evan Pritchard, head of China economics at Capital Economics, said.
China, along with India, is the biggest driver of oil demand growth in the world and will continue to be so for the observable future.
Because of its status as a demand growth driver, China is the focus of attention for oil traders and investors.
Source: Oilprice.com
The UK government has reportedly extradited business tycoon Yagnesh Mohanlal Devani back to Kenya to face charges over a jet fuel fraud.
The fuel scam, often known as the Triton scandal, was allegedly made through Mr Devani’s company, Triton Petroleum Ltd, in 2008.
Authorities said that Kenya risked losing about $50m (£40m) in the scam.
The Kenyan government has been seeking to bring Mr Devani back to Kenya for years after he fled in the wake of the scandal.
He was last week “quietly” extradited from Britain, charged in a Nairobi court then freed on bond, Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper reports.
In May 2020, the Court of Appeal in the UK dismissed his application seeking asylum in the UK, effectively allowing his extradition to Kenya to face 19 charges of fraud.
The case will be mentioned on 12 February for pre-trial.
Source: Zambia Observer
The U.S. Department of Energy will provide a loan of $1.5 billion to Holtec, the energy equipment supplier, to reopen the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan.
This is according to a Reuters report citing an unnamed source who said the loan will be made public next month.
This would be the first time ever that a closed nuclear power plant in the United States would be reopened.
A spokesperson for Holtec confirmed the news of the reopening, saying “We hope for a timely approval to bring the plant back to full power operation toward the end of 2025.”
“As we transition away from fossil fuels, nuclear is going to be a critical part of not only reaching our climate goals but doing so in a way that ensures the lights stay on,” Nick Culp also said.
Holtec originally bought the Palisades nuclear plant in 2022 from Entergy with the intention of decommissioning it as federal and state energy policies made it harder for nuclear power to compete with other forms of energy.
However, last year the Biden administration rediscovered nuclear power as a low-carbon option and signaled they would support more nuclear—especially as it emerged the massive buildout in wind and solar that the administration saw as the only way to transition away from oil and gas might not be that easy to do.
As interest in nuclear returned Holtec filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission last October to reopen the facility.
A month later, the company had also signed a deal with a Michigan non-profit energy cooperative to buy up to 66% of the power that Palisades would generate.
The Palisades plant has a capacity of 800 MW, and Holtec last year announced plans to build two new reactors at the site—small modular reactors with a capacity of 300 MW each.
The company, however, said that without federal funding it would not be able to reopen Palisades and would have to instead decommission it.
Source:Oilprice.com
The Saudi state has ordered energy major Aramco to stop work on expanding its maximum sustainable capacity to 13 million barrels daily, instead keeping it at 12 million bpd.
The company said in a statement today that its maximum sustainable capacity is determined by the state under a law from 2017.
Aramco added that it would update its capital spending plans for the year in accordance with the new government directive in March when it announces its 2023 financial results.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil company said it was working to boost its production capacity to 13 million barrels daily back in 2021.
The capacity expansion will come fully online by 2027 and will come on in chunks, chief executive Amin Nasser said at the time.
The Saudi giant, the world’s biggest oil firm and the largest oil exporter globally, was working as fast as it could to reach that production capacity expansion, the executive said, noting that upstream investment has a long lead time.
Aramco’s CEO has often warned the market that the industry is under investing in new oil supply, which, regardless of many scenarios, will continue to be needed for decades.
Even so, the perception of oil demand among traders has failed to match these warnings. Despite extended and sizeable production cuts effected by Saudi Arabia and some of its fellow OPEC+ members, prices have remained stubbornly range-bound.
This may be the reason for the new order. Alternatively, the long-term outlook for oil demand in Riyadh may have changed.
Oil prices inched higher this week, following the latest news from the Middle East, which included a fuel tanker attack by the Yemeni Houthis and a deadly drone attack on U.S. troops.
However, their gains were pared by real estate news from China, believed to affect its oil demand prospects.
Source:Oilprice.com
Ghana’s Ministry of Finance has announced plans to hold extensive dialogue on the proposed imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity consumption, after a cross section of Ghanaians criticized government for seeking to inflict more pain on them.
The aim of the dialogue is to ensure buy-in by all stakeholders.
According to the country’s Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, the imposition of VAT on electricity consumption beyond the lifeline threshold (0-30kwh) forms part of IMF-Supported Post Covid-19 economic recovery programme.
The directive by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to management of the two power distribution companies in the West African nation, ECG and NEDCo to charge VAT on electricity consumption beyond lifeline effective January 1, 2024 had been met with stiff opposition by various interest groups in the country.
Last week Organised labour, issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Finance Minister to withdraw the directive warning that failure to do so would compel them to mobilize themselves to protest.
In a statement issued by the Finance Ministry on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, it said “The Ministry of Finance has noted the concerns of Organised Labour on the implementation of VAT on the consumption of electricity by residential customers.
Extensive dialogue will be held with Organised Labour and other key stakeholders in the coming weeks, to ensure stakeholder buy-in.”
The statement appealed to Organised Labour, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) to exercise restraint to “facilitate constructive dialogue towards a quick resolution of the impasse.”
“The Ministry, therefore, appealed to Organised Labour and all stakeholders, including ECG and NEDCO, to exercise restraint to facilitate a constructive dialogue towards a quick resolution of the impasse.
“We note the progress the country is making in the implementation of the Post COVID-19 Programme for Economic Growth (PC-PEG), including posting higher than programmed growth targets, declining inflation, improvement in fiscal and external positions, a more stable exchange rate, and the declining Monetary Policy Rate,” the statement concluded.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com/
Ghana’s southern power distribution company, Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG) has announced that application for new meters and other services can only be done through its ECG Mobile App from February 1, 2024.
ECG said the migration forms part of its digital transformational agenda as well “as ECG’s quest to provide customers with a more efficient and hassle-free customer service.”
The company in a public notice urged customers to provide accurate and active contact details in the application process, as all corresponding responses will be done through the telephone numbers provided during the application.
“Customers should note that all responses regarding their applications will be communicated to them through their contact telephone numbers provided.
Customers are therefore advised to provide accurate information when applying for the service.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com/
The Government of Mauritania has signed an agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) for two energy sector projects worth a total of US$289.5 million, covering solar power generation, transnational electricity interconnection and rural electrification.
Mauritania’s Minister for Economy and Sustainable Development, Abdessalam Mohamed Saleh, initialed the agreement on behalf of Mauritania while Malinne Blomberg, AfDB’s Deputy Managing Director for North Africa, initialed for the bank.
The financing, made up of loans and grants, is intended to implement the 225 Kv Mauritania-Mali electricity interconnection and associated solar power plants development project (PIEMM) as well as the project to strengthen productive and energy investments for the sustainable development of rural areas (RIMDIR).
The first project, the PIEMM, involves building a 225 kV electricity interconnection to link Mauritania to Mali as part of the Desert to Power Initiative.
The program is aimed at developing solar power plants and a 1,373-kilometer high-voltage power line, with a transit capacity of 600 megawatts (MW) between the two countries.
The medium- and long-term objectives are to boost solar energy production and provide universal access to electricity in both countries.
The project is financed on the Mauritanian side by a $272 million loan from the African Development Fund — the concessional window of the Development Bank Group — and a $1.5 million grant from the Green Climate Fund.
This financing is the largest ever granted by the African Development Bank to Mauritania.
The second project, RIMDIR, is a $16 million grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) and concerns rural electrification for 40 localities in south-eastern Mauritania.
This involves the installation of hybrid mini photovoltaic power plants combining a photovoltaic park and a back-up electricity generator, as well as the construction of connecting lines to link the power plants to villages, in the form of a public-private partnership (PPP).
The project will also support value-creating activities, notably in the cold food chain (meat, milk, and vegetables) and agri-food processing.
The African Development Bank has been active in Mauritania for over fifty years in various strategic development sectors, including agriculture, governance, water and sanitation, energy, mining, private sector, transport and social.
“There can be no sustainable, diversified economic growth without high-quality, reliable electricity that is accessible to all.
Within this framework, the government has drawn up ambitious programs seeking to guarantee access to electricity for all citizens by 2030, and this requires the optimal exploitation of the energy sources available in the country, to which this financing from the African Development Bank will contribute,” Abdelssalam Mohamed Saleh said.
Commenting Mrs. Blomberg said, “Today we are signing financing agreements that pave the way for Mauritania’s energy transition.
The two projects will improve people’s daily lives with new opportunities for green growth, sustainable investment and jobs.
They attest to the excellence of our relations with Mauritania, which they help to strengthen.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com/
The Jigawa State Government, one of the States in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) have signed an innovative partnership that will ensure stable electricity across the state.
Jigawa State in partnering with the new Core Investor in KEDCO (Future Energies Africa) is increasing its shareholding in KEDCO to 10 percent (from 7.5 percent), while also committing KEDCO to an electrification partnership.
The partnership will see KEDCO (and partners) invest to build up to 10MW of Solar Interconnected mini-grids in the key urban hubs of Dutse, Gumel, Hadejia, Kafin Hausa, Kazaure, and Ringim, to augment power supply and ensure stable electricity across the State.
According to the parties, the partnership will also see KEDCO complete the Gagarawa-Taura-Ringim line and connect the communities on the axis to the grid.
“The agreement between the Jigawa State Government and KEDCO will include the two parties partnering on joint electrification plans, to take access levels for electricity in the State to greater than 90 percent by 2030.”
The electrification plans will include grid expansion, embedded generation, solar hybrid mini-grids, and solar home systems across the State.
“This agreement is in line with Governor Umar Namadi’s dynamic agenda for the State dubbed “Greater Jigawa”.
“We believe with stable electricity across the State, the lives of our people will be improved, and we can sustain a consistent double-digit growth rate to exit more and more people from poverty and make Jigawa State a prime destination for investment and jobs in Nigeria,” Namadi said in a statement copied to energynewsafrica.com.
This multi-billion-naira agreement will catalyse the continued transformation of Jigawa into an Agri-Processing and Renewable Energy hub.
Ibrahim Gumel, the chairman of Kano DisCo, said the new Core Investor in KEDCO is focused on ensuring that KEDCO becomes the best DISCO in Nigeria in the next few years.
“We hope to unveil similar partnerships with Kano and Katsina States later this year as part of our broad recapitalisation exercise.
“We will make KEDCO the first Green Electricity Distribution Company in Sub-Saharan Africa while supporting the development agendas of the State Governments in our Franchise Areas,” he added.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com/
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com/ 
