Ghana Seeks Flexible Payment Plan To Settle $75m Gas Debt To Nigeria
Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has assured the Nigerian Government of Ghana’s commitment to settling the $75 million owed them for the supply of natural gas for power generation in the country.
According to Minister Jinapor, Ghana’s current economic situation would make it difficult to settle the debt at once and has, thus, appealed to Nigeria to give Ghana a flexible payment plan.
Minister Jinapor said he had planned to visit Nigeria to negotiate a payment plan, adding that there has been a meeting between the President of Ghana, the Finance Minister and himself to strategically fashion out a plan to pay the debt to guarantee continuous gas supply after the ongoing maintenance and inspection exercise commonly known as pigging by the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) is completed in the next few days.
Jinapor who was addressing a section of Ghanaian journalists during a visit to WAPCo’s Tema Metering and Regulating Station on Friday, February 21, 2025, said the country could face a serious power situation if gas supply from Nigeria was curtailed because of the debt.
“I want to appeal to our Nigerian counterparts that if we can make a down payment while they give us some payment schedule. Mr President has already met the Finance Minister, and it does appear that the Finance Minister would be able to mobilise some resources, but the truth is that given the situation that we find ourselves in, it will be very difficult to make the entire amount at once, but I’m sure that our Nigerian counterparts are also very, very cooperative. Once I go there, I’m sure we will be able to have some solution because if by the time the pigging is complete and gas is not flowing, we are going to run into a major crisis,” he said.
Minister Jinapor said due to the ongoing maintenance and inspection exercise which is expected to end by March 2, 2025, the Government had to procure alternative fuels to keep the power generation plants in operation.
“So what we have done is to procure some liquid fuels, that is light crude oil and others, and the effect is that we are producing just to meet demand in the power supply chain,” he underscored.
The government has so far spent about $100 million to procure liquid fuels to keep the lights on.
The Energy Minister took the opportunity to express appreciation to the management of WAPCo for their steadfastness in their operations.
The Energy and Green Transition Minister also thanked all the power producers in Ghana for their patience in these trying times for the West African nation.
On her part, the Managing Director of WAPCO, Michelle Burkett, assured the Minister of their collaborative efforts with their Nigerian office to undertake the pigging process on schedule efficiently to secure gas supply to the Ghanaian power generators.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Former Energy Secretary Granholm Joins Boards Of U.S. Utility Giant
Former U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, will join the boards of U.S. utilities Edison International and Southern California Edison, effective April 1, the two companies have said.
Edison International is one of the biggest electric utility holding groups in the United States. Edison International is the parent company of Southern California Edison Company, a utility delivering electricity to 15 million people across Southern, Central, and Coastal California.
Edison International is also the parent company of Trio (formerly Edison Energy), a portfolio of non-regulated competitive businesses providing integrated sustainability and energy advisory services to large commercial, industrial, and institutional organizations in North America and Europe. Granholm, who was President Joe Biden’s Secretary of Energy, “brings extensive experience advancing reliable, resilient, clean energy solutions and deploying zero-carbon technologies from her recent service as U.S. secretary of energy and prior experience as governor of Michigan,” Edison International said in a statement. “Jennifer’s experience as a leader familiar with cybersecurity, physical security and clean energy resources ? and known for working in partnership with utilities and other industries ? will allow her to make important contributions to Edison International, including SCE and Trio,” said Peter J. Taylor, Edison International board chair. As U.S. Energy Secretary, Granholm and the department she led were overseeing billions of dollars of grants and support to U.S. companies, including utilities, to upgrade power system infrastructure. These came from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which the Biden Administration passed to boost clean energy rollout in America. Southern California Edison was part of a consortium, which was awarded last August a $600 million federal grant to upgrade 100 miles of electric transmission lines with grid enhancing technologies to improve reliability and deliver clean, affordable electricity faster. The Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (GRIP) grant was awarded to a consortium that includes the California Energy Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Independent System Operator, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, and Southern California Edison. Source: Oilprice.comUK Power Grid Requires $60 Billion Investment By 2050
The UK could need up to $63 billion of investment in the power distribution network nationally to support additional demand and generation through 2050, double the current pace of additional investment, said the National Infrastructure Commission, the government’s independent infrastructure advisor.
The UK will likely need investments of between $47 billion (£37 billion) and $63 billion (£50 billion) by 2050 as a “step change” is required in investment in Great Britain’s local electricity networks. This investment would be essential to achieve the government’s growth mission and lower long-term energy costs for consumers, the commission said in a report on Friday.
The required investment levels would be at least a doubling of current annual allowances for load related expenditure, on top of business as usual investment, such as end of life asset replacement, the commission added. The National Infrastructure Commission’s report says that with demand for electricity set to double by 2050, the current pace of additional investment in electricity distribution networks must also double to ensure the system can cope with rising demand and connect both new sources of renewable power and new electricity demands to the grid faster. Investments, however, are constrained by legislation. Current regulation by the energy regulator Ofgem “is too complex and doesn’t encourage distribution network operators (DNOs) to make the proactive investments needed to boost network capacity and provide resilience to future climate impacts,” the commission’s analysis found. In the report, the government’s infrastructure advisor calls for “a more proactive approach to both energy regulation and system planning.” Ofgem is currently seeking feedback on proposed changes to the grid connection policy from a first-come first-served approach to prioritizing projects where generation capacity is needed the most and projects are at a more advanced stage of development. The regulator looks to reform the current connections regulation which has become inadequate as some early-queued projects have fallen behind schedule while more advanced projects are waiting for years to connect to the grid. Source: Oilprice.comGhana: Gov’t Is Seeking Private Sector Participation In ECG Not Sale Of ECG
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, has categorically denied reports that the government plans to privatize the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Speaking during a visit to the West African Gas Pipeline Company Station in Tema on February 21, 2025, Hon. Jinapor emphasized that the government is instead seeking private sector participation to enhance ECG’s efficiency and financial sustainability.
Hon. Jinapor noted that the energy sector’s inefficiencies have resulted in significant financial strain, with resources meant for developmental projects being redirected to settle debts owed to energy suppliers like WAPCo and Nigeria (N-Gas).
He reassured that the government is committed to improving ECG’s performance through private sector involvement, aiming to reduce losses, increase revenue, and ensure efficiency.
The Minister’s statement comes amid concerns over the country’s energy sector liabilities, which have surpassed $3 billion, with ECG owing $370 million to Karpowership.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
IAEA Team Concludes Site And External Events Design Review For Ghana’s First Nuclear Power Plant
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts has concluded an eight-day safety review of Ghana’s site selection process for its first nuclear power plant (NPP). Ghana is pursuing the introduction of nuclear power to increase its low carbon power production to meet energy demand, tackle climate change and increase energy security and diversity.
The Site and External Events Design Review Service (SEED) mission, which took place between 14 to 21 February, reviewed Ghana’s adherence to IAEA guidance on site selection. The SEED mission was the first of its kind to Ghana.
Ghana has successfully completed the site selection process and identified the candidate site and an alternative site for its first NPP. The next stage following site selection is the characterization stage of the site evaluation process.
The SEED mission was carried out at the request of the Government of Ghana and hosted by Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), under the purview of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition.
The team comprised four experts from Pakistan, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as one IAEA staff. They reviewed the site selection report, together with the siting process, siting criteria, data collection process and application of the management system for siting activities.
The team also visited and observed the candidate site in the Western Region and the alternative site in the Central Region. In addition to the SEED review mission, the IAEA provided a SEED Capacity Building Workshop to support site evaluation.
During the workshop, external experts and participants engaged in discussions that will contribute to future progress in the site evaluation process.
“We confirmed that both the implementing organization and the management system are well-designed with the support of the government and that the Site Approval Report has been systematically and thoroughly prepared. Ghana followed the IAEA safety standards while performing the site selection process,” said mission team leader Kazuyuki Nagasawa, Senior Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA.
The team provided recommendations to improve the quality and optimize the site selection process, aiming to select the most favourable site.
This optimization seeks to minimize the potential of the selected site being found to be unsuitable during the site characterization stage.
The factors for consideration include the susceptibility to earthquakes, flooding and extreme weather events, as well as the feasibility of the emergency plan.
As a good practice, the team noted that within NPG, leadership and management for safety have been functioning well since the beginning of the siting process.
“We acknowledge with deep appreciation the IAEA SEED mission’s technical assistance in assessing our site selection. This mission is of great importance to our nuclear power programme, as it ensures that our decisions are guided by international best practices for safe and secure development of nuclear power infrastructure.
The relevance of the mission extends beyond technical assessment, reinforcing our commitment to transparency, regulatory preparedness and sustainable nuclear energy development” said Stephen Yamoah, Executive Director of NPG.
NPG will continue to receive ongoing technical assistance from the IAEA, while advancing the site approval process in accordance with the IAEA Specific Safety Guide on Site Survey and Site Selection for Nuclear Installations.
The final SEED mission report will be delivered to the Government of Ghana within three months.
SEED missions are expert review missions that assist countries going through different stages in the development of a nuclear power programme.
The service offers a choice of modules in which to focus the review, such as site selection, site assessment and design of structures, systems and components, taking into consideration site specific external and internal hazards.
In the case of site selection review, SEED missions assess the appropriate consideration of the safety issues in the site selection process.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Gambia: Historic As President Barrow Inaugurates First National High-Voltage Transmission Line
President Adama Barrow of the Republic of The Gambia has inaugurated the country’s first national high-voltage transmission line linked to a national control centre and a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) after 60 years of the country’s independence.
The 225kV high-voltage transmission line was executed by the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines and National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) under the Transmission and Distribution Modernisation Component of The Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernisation.
The project was funded by the World Bank Group, European Union, and the European Investment Bank.
Speaking at the inauguration of the project, President Adama Barrow said his administration recognising the crucial role energy plays in a country’s development and modernisation had, since 2017, strategically prioritised and hugely invested in the energy sector.
He said for the past eight years the commitment and investment in the sector had yielded high dividends, adding that “we now enjoy more stable power supply compared to the past.”
He stated that the investment in the energy sector would continue relentlessly until the whole country has access to uninterrupted, affordable, and sustainable power supply in line with the Strategic Electricity Roadmap (2021-2040) of The Gambia.
“Since attaining independence in 1965, our transmission network was limited to thirty-three (33) Kilo Volts. As I speak, this has been modernised and upgraded to two hundred and twenty-five (225) Kilo Volts.
“This makes the occasion very historic indeed,” he said cheerfully.
President Adama Barrow said the project would transform the country’s power supply system from an analogue system to a digital system.
He added that it would also make the power supply system much more robust and resilient, thus enhancing efficient communications and operation of the network.
As the project lays the foundation for a national electricity grid, it would also facilitate efficient transmission of huge volumes of power from one end of the country to another.
In view of the completion of this project, the President said “the country now has to work on the Eastern backbone to complete the national grid. Already, the feasibility study of this phase is now complete.”
“Another very important benefit of this project is that it will inter-connect the country’s power supply system with the OMVG power transmission network and, eventually, with the larger West African Power Pool network,” he added.
He said the project would enable The Gambia to export or import power from any country within the West African Power Pool.
Touching on other benefits of the project, President Adama Barrow said it would further improve the country’s energy security system and create the opportunity to access the least costly power generation hubs within the ECOWAS subregion.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: NPA Boss Lauds GOIL PLC ‘s Robust Safety Measures At LPG Plant In Tema
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Gordon Kudzo Tamekloe, has praised GOIL PLC for the robust safety measures at its LPG bottling plant in Tema, Greater Accra Region.
During his working visit to the facility, Mr. Tamekloe was impressed by the plant’s operations, which align with the National Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) program.
He commended the facility’s state-of-the-art firefighting system, featuring a one-million-liter capacity water tank that can sustain fire suppression efforts for two hours before needing external assistance.
Mr. Tamekloe assured GOIL PLC of the NPA’s unwavering support for smooth and efficient operations.
The visit was conducted by the terminal Manager, Ing. Kwadwo Takyi, and attended by various GOIL officials, including Ing Denis Amui, Head of Operations, and Dr. Marcus Dake, Head of Corporate Affairs. Other notable attendees included Ing. Joshua Kwabena Duodu, Head of TSP, and Ing. Marian Fordjour, Head of HSSE.
GOIL PLC’s commitment to safety and operational efficiency aligns with the NPA’s goals and the National Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) program, which aims to promote safe and efficient LPG distribution.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
He commended the facility’s state-of-the-art firefighting system, featuring a one-million-liter capacity water tank that can sustain fire suppression efforts for two hours before needing external assistance.
Mr. Tamekloe assured GOIL PLC of the NPA’s unwavering support for smooth and efficient operations.
The visit was conducted by the terminal Manager, Ing. Kwadwo Takyi, and attended by various GOIL officials, including Ing Denis Amui, Head of Operations, and Dr. Marcus Dake, Head of Corporate Affairs. Other notable attendees included Ing. Joshua Kwabena Duodu, Head of TSP, and Ing. Marian Fordjour, Head of HSSE.
GOIL PLC’s commitment to safety and operational efficiency aligns with the NPA’s goals and the National Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) program, which aims to promote safe and efficient LPG distribution.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com ADNOC Closes $2.84 Billion Share Sale In Gas Unit
Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC has completed a share sale in its gas business unit to the tune of $2.84 billion, making the placement the biggest share sale in the Middle East and North Africa after the secondary share offering of Aramco, Reuters reported.
The share placement was launched yesterday, with the size of the offering equal to 4% of ADNOC Gas’ capital. Two years ago, ADNOC raised $2.5 billion from the listing of its gas business unit in what was one of the biggest IPOs in the region in 2023.
The IPO offering was 50 times oversubscribed, with investors placing orders for $124 billion in total.
Commenting on the additional sale of 4%, Khaled Al Zaabi, Group Chief Financial Officer at ADNOC, said, “As a committed, long-term majority shareholder, this Offering aligns with ADNOC’s strategic objectives to enhance the liquidity and free float of ADNOC Gas, while providing a pathway to a more diversified shareholder base and indexation through this secondary placement.”
In addition to the listing of ADNOC Gas, the biggest oil producer in the UAE also recently set up a new investment company focusing on low-carbon business, chemicals, and natural gas.
Dubbed XRG, the company was set up late last year with an enterprise value of some $80 billion. The company was planned to formally commence activities in the first quarter of 2025, focusing on transformational global investments that create value across natural gas, chemicals, and lower-carbon energy solutions, per the parent.
Soon after XRG was set up, ADNOC moved to its some of its natural gas assets in the United States along with alternative energy operations in the country.
The Emirati company is partner of Exxon in what should become the world’s biggest ammonia and hydrogen production hub, in Texas, and an investor in NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG project with an 11.7% stake and a 20-year deal for the supply of 1.9 million tons of liquefied gas annually.
Source: Oilprice.com
Nigeria: NNPC Limited Reports Of Inferno At Hawthorne Channel 1 Barge In Rivers State
A fire outbreak which occurred at the dry crude storage barge BESTAF5 at Cawthorne Channel 1, Rivers State, and spread to other barges had been contained by the NNPC Limited’s emergency teams and industry partners.
According to Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd., “The incident did not impact flow station operations.” He confirmed that there were no casualties, and added that all personnel were safe.
“NNPC Ltd. prioritises safety and remains fully committed to environmental protection and operational integrity,” Soneye emphasised.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: WAPCo Set To Complete Maintenance And Inspection Exercise By March 2
The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) has advanced steadily in the ongoing maintenance and inspection of its 569km offshore pipeline infrastructure that traverses four West African nations.
The second phase of the exercise, which commenced on 5th February 2025, was scheduled to be completed by 2nd March 2025.
Officials of WAPCo told a section of Ghanaian journalists on Thursday, 20th February 2025, during a tour of the Tema Metering and Regulating Station, that the exercise is about 70% complete.
Aside from the pipeline cleaning and inspection exercise and the subsea valve replacement project, WAPCo is undertaking several ancillary works at its facilities in Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo.
The comprehensive cleaning and inspection exercise is a key regulatory requirement that aligns with industry best practices to ensure a safe and efficient operation of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP).
During a presentation at the Tema Metering and Regulating Station today, Dr Isaac Adjei Doku, General Manager for Corporate Affairs at WAPCo, said three Pipeline Inspection Gauses (PIGs), the device for the cleaning of the pipeline which were launched in Nigeria, had already been received at the Takoradi Station with the fourth Pipeline Inspection Gauge (PIG), a calliper pig and currently in transit expected to collect some good data on the state of the internal conditions of the offshore pipeline kilometres, hoping to arrive at Takoradi Station by Saturday, 22nd February 2025.
He said the last pig, known as Intelligent pig, would be launched once the fourth one is received at the Takoradi Metering and Regulating Station.
“We are safety-driven, not schedule-driven, even as we focus on completing these maintenance activities on schedule. The safety of every person on these projects is our priority, and that is what matters to us as leaders,” said Hilary Ojimba, WAPCo’s Operations and Maintenance Superintendent for Eastern Operations, which covers the company’s Nigeria and Benin operational areas.
“We know how critical our infrastructure is to the countries in which we operate, and we do not take this responsibility lightly. We are focused on safely completing these maintenance activities on schedule to resume safe, reliable gas transportation services to our customers in Benin, Ghana, and Togo,” said Ing. Benoni Owusu Ayeh, WAPCo’s Operations and Maintenance Superintendent for Western Operations, who oversees the company’s operations in Togo and Ghana.
“Our focus remains safeguarding the integrity of our assets to sustain safe, reliable and efficient gas transportation in Benin, Togo and Ghana for power generation to support economic growth as envisaged by the sponsors of the WAGP project,” said Afolabi Oladimeji Ogunmefun, WAPCo’s Deputy Manager Asset Integrity.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
“We are safety-driven, not schedule-driven, even as we focus on completing these maintenance activities on schedule. The safety of every person on these projects is our priority, and that is what matters to us as leaders,” said Hilary Ojimba, WAPCo’s Operations and Maintenance Superintendent for Eastern Operations, which covers the company’s Nigeria and Benin operational areas.
“We know how critical our infrastructure is to the countries in which we operate, and we do not take this responsibility lightly. We are focused on safely completing these maintenance activities on schedule to resume safe, reliable gas transportation services to our customers in Benin, Ghana, and Togo,” said Ing. Benoni Owusu Ayeh, WAPCo’s Operations and Maintenance Superintendent for Western Operations, who oversees the company’s operations in Togo and Ghana.
“Our focus remains safeguarding the integrity of our assets to sustain safe, reliable and efficient gas transportation in Benin, Togo and Ghana for power generation to support economic growth as envisaged by the sponsors of the WAGP project,” said Afolabi Oladimeji Ogunmefun, WAPCo’s Deputy Manager Asset Integrity.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Local Content Development In Africa’s Energy Sector: African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 To Outline Challenges, Opportunities And Best Practices(Article)
As Africa’s energy sector expands, the need for productive local content policies has become critical for local job creation and value retention.
Such policies catalyze growth of nationally owned companies while creating revenue-generating opportunities for local service firms by strengthening their contribution to the industry.
African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies – taking place September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town – will show how well-crafted local content policies have the potential to stimulate local participation, job creation and value retention while standing to improve international partnerships that facilitate the transfer of knowledge, skills and technology.
The event unites foreign operators and financiers with local companies, fostering a culture of collaboration across the oil, gas and broader energy industries.
Local Content Set To Maximize Resource Value
As Senegal and Mauritania prepare to solidify their position as a major hydrocarbons hub in West Africa – on the back of first LNG at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project this month – the MSGBC region is well-positioned to leverage its extractive industries and enhance local content development.
Senegal’s Local Content Development Fund and National Local Content Monitoring Committee are set to bolster local capacity for training and support for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with the objective of achieving a 50% local content ratio by 2030.
To enhance local content amid the start of production at the GTA project, Mauritanian authorities are currently crafting a new local content law. As a partner on the GTA project, upstream oil company Kosmos Energy launched the Mauritania Innovation Challenge, which is designed to support entrepreneurs under the age of 40.
Notable beneficiaries from the program include iMauritanie, which works to enhance public administration communication; Sekam, experts in non-GMO vegetable production; Ayadi Amila, which crafts accessories from recycled materials; and FASEI, which leads local salt processing.
On the back of robust local content policies, mature petroleum producers like Nigeria have seen an increase in local participation within the oil and gas industry.
The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act mandates the prioritization of Nigerian products, services and employment.
Central to this effort is the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, which oversees the Act and fosters partnerships with industry and educational institutions, aiming to achieve a 70% local content target by 2027.
Towards Reducing Foreign Dependence
In a significant step for the industry, Namibia recently approved the National Upstream Local Content Policy. The policy is set to play a significant role in reducing the country’s dependence on foreign expertise by focusing on the development of local capacity.
Aimed at strengthening economic sovereignty and empowering Namibians within the country’s hydrocarbons sector, the policy marks a turning point for the country as it sets its sights on achieving first oil production by 2029.
The National Upstream Local Content Policy showcases Namibia’s dedication to empowering local communities while maintaining a welcoming environment for foreign investment.
The policy is designed to balance the interests of local stakeholders with the needs of international oil companies, a model that other African nations can look to replicate as they expand their own oil and gas exploration and production strategies.
Meanwhile, last October, Angolan service company Associação de Empresas Autóctones para a Indústria de Angola (ASSEA) launched an initiative to increase local capacity in the country’s oil and gas sector to 20%.
The “Action for 20%” initiative serves as a strategy to direct foreign investment to focus on local content by integrating Angolan companies and developing human capital in the country.
With an estimated 98% deficit in terms of local companies operating in the country’s oil and gas sector, improved capacity building is expected to result in oil and gas production stability while diminishing an over-reliance on the international community to retain production standards.
Ghana’s energy sector is also benefitting from robust local content initiatives driven by the country’s Petroleum Commission.
Local Content and Local Participation Regulations mandate a minimum 10% equity for Ghanian companies in all projects and establish employment targets for nationals.
Meanwhile, the Local Content Fund provides crucial financial support to enhance the competitiveness of local firms, while the Enterprise Development Center offers essential training, advisory services and market linkages to Ghanaian SMEs in the sector.
Challenges And Opportunities
Local content policies address unique challenges in the African energy sector, including a capital-intensive financing model, a lack of modern technologies and a reliance on high-risk investments over long periods.
Traditionally, the hydrocarbons sector in Africa tends to have a low level of local employment and a heavy reliance on imported goods and services.
To counteract this, resolute local content policies ensure that African businesses and workers are fully integrated across all levels of the value chain, from exploration and production to service delivery and technology provision.
These policies also provide the opportunity to showcase a stable and transparent regulatory environment in the countries where they are implemented.
By ensuring local content requirements are clear and enforceable, such policies are set to attract responsible investment while fostering an atmosphere of trust and cooperation.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Week (AEW).
Source:African Energy Week (AEW)
Nigeria: NMDPRA Announces Ban On Large Petrol Tankers Effective March 1
Nigeria’s Federal Government has banned petrol tankers with a capacity exceeding 60,000 litres from operating on the country’s roads, effective March 1, 2025.
This move aims to mitigate truck-in-transit incidents and reduce road accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum tankers.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced the ban, citing concerns over the growing number of road accidents and fatalities.
The Authority’s Chief Executive, Ahmed Farouk, emphasized that the decision was made in response to the incessant road accidents and fatalities.
“Nigerians are discerning enough to know that energies need to be directed positively. People who make unscientific claims, bogus data expertise are really not helping the situation.
“We’re working very hard in compliance with the presidential mandates to support the local refineries, to build capacity for sufficiency; and not just quality, but pricing is also done in a transparent, competitive and fair way,” he said.
He assured Nigerians that NMDPRA would continue to comply with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021 as well as the specifications set by SON.
He said SON’s specification included parameters such as research obtain number, sulphur content, density, colour, oxygenate level, and many others.
“Before any product is distributed, the regulator ensures that from the load port of the product, whether from a domestic refinery or imported, and as well as at the discharge port, accredited laboratories must test every product.
“The accredited laboratories must duly issue certificates of quality to say that the product that is in the vessel meets those specifications.
“It’s only on that basis that products are then discharged and distributed across the country,” he said.
He further explained that that hydrocarbons were not pure compounds by nature, and as such, the authority regularly specifies a range of acceptable values; and tests results must fall within specified limits to be deemed complaint.
He said the sulphur content must be moderated in products, as higher levels could have corrosive effects and contribute to environmental pollution.
Farouk also said daily Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supply, which averaged 66 million litres before subsidy withdrawal, now hovered around 50 million litres, with local refineries contributing less than 50 per cent of total supply.
“All of us have experienced a yuletide free from any scarcity. Let me reconfirm that from year to year, we saw an increase in the demand of PMS by 2021, 2022 up to 2023.
“And just before the current administration came in, the daily PMS supply sufficiency was always in excess of 60 million, averaging about 66 million a day for PMS.
“Following the withdrawal of subsidy, we immediately saw a steep decline on consumption and between then and as we speak, we’ve continued to do plus or minus 50 million that’s considerable reduction in volumes,” he said.
He added that of the 50 million litres average for each day, less than 50 per cent was contributed by domestic refineries, and so the shortfall, in accordance with the PIA, is sourced by way of imports.
He further said none of the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), that owned refineries in country, had imported any PMS this year.
“The other OMCs are the ones that are importing the shortfall, and if we did nothing to bridge that shortfall, we will have scarcity on our hands. “And that’s something that the regulator is mindful to do, ensuring that there is sufficient supply of petroleum products across the country,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: COMAC Advocates Abolition Of Zonalisation Policy
Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in Ghana have expressed their displeasure at a zonalisation policy in the country’s petroleum downstream sector, calling on the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to abolish it.
They argue that scrapping the policy is essential for efficient distribution and transportation of petroleum products across the country.
In Ghana, zonalisation refers to a policy implemented by the NPA to regulate the transportation of petroleum products, particularly fuel, across the country.
The country has been divided into specific zones, with each zone allocated to a particular OMC.
Each OMC has exclusive rights to distribute fuel within its allocated zone with restriction to specific routes and zones, limiting the movement of fuel across different zones.
This policy was introduced by the immediate-past government and it has been in force for over six years.
According to the OMCs, the policy is one of the factors that cause fuel shortages in some fuel retail outlets in some parts of the country.
Speaking at the just-ended Petroleum Downstream Dialogue 2025, the Industry Co-ordinator and Chief Executive Officer of Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), Dr Riverson Oppong, underscored the need to revisit the policy in order to address emerging concerns.
According to him, it does not make economic sense for a bulk road vehicle (BRV) to lift a product from Tema bypass to a place like Konongo to Kumasi only for another BRV to move product from Kumasi to Konongo when the BRV from Tema can easily discharge the product at Konongo.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Liberia: LERC Weighs JEP’s Request For Tariff Hike Amid Rising Electricity Costs
The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) is reviewing Jungle Energy Power’s (JEP) request to reconsider the recently announced electricity tariff.
This comes after public hearings in Nimba and Bong counties, where stakeholders and citizens voiced their opinions.
JEP’s General Manager, Aleyou Keita, cited the increased price of electricity from Compagnie Ivoirienne d’Electricité (CIE), from $0.15 to $0.16 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), as the reason for the proposed tariff adjustment from $0.22 to $0.24 per kWh.
Keita also suggested eliminating the Liberia Electricity Corporation’s (LEC) 0.1 cent administrative charge to enhance power distribution efficiency.
Additionally, Keita proposed that the government or LEC subsidize the purchase price from CIE to $0.12 per kWh, maintaining the tariff at $0.23 with a fixed charge of $2.00.
LERC’s Chairman, Hon. Claude J. Katta, explained that the public hearings aimed to ensure transparency and allow for public participation in the decision-making process.
The Deputy Minister for Energy, Charles Umehai, commended LERC for facilitating the hearings, emphasizing the Ministry’s commitment to collaboration between the Commission and licensed operators.
LERC is expected to make a decision on JEP’s request in March 2025, with new rates set to take effect from March 2025 to February 2029.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com