Namibia: Gov’t Unveils Offshore Drilling Plans, New Licensing Opportunities
Namibia’s offshore oil and gas industry is set for significant growth in 2025, driven by new licensing opportunities and an uptick in drilling activities, Petroleum Commissioner Maggy Shino announced during a webinar hosted by the African Energy Chamber, Wood Mackenzie, and Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The move is expected to attract fresh investment as the country cements its status as one of the world’s most promising oil frontiers.
“We are operating in an open licensing regime and will be receiving applications shortly,” Shino stated, noting that available acreage spans deepwater, ultra-deepwater, and shallow-water environments.
Meanwhile, development is accelerating on two of Namibia’s most significant discoveries.
TotalEnergies’ Venus project in Block 2913B remains on track for a final investment decision (FID) in 2026, with new data confirming better density and permeability compared to surrounding blocks.
On Galp’s Mopane discovery, Shino revealed that 3,500 km² of high-density seismic data were collected this week to refine volume estimates and advance the project toward FID.
Regarding Shell’s PEL 39 discovery – where the company recently wrote down $400 million – the Commissioner said Shell and its partners are analyzing data from the nine wells drilled so far to “ensure we have designed a pathway to development” and to determine the next steps.
Namibia’s offshore basin remains vastly underexplored, despite its enormous scale.
“The scale is enormous – there’s 220,000 km² of offshore license acreage,” said Ian Thom, Research Director for Sub-Saharan Africa Upstream at Wood Mackenzie.
“With just over 20 exploration and appraisal wells drilled, this area is still hugely underexplored.”
“The resources are definitely there,” said Verner Ayukegba, Senior Vice President of the African Energy Chamber.
“The big questions now revolve around sub-surface conditions, gas content, and how best to commercialize these discoveries.”
Drilling activity in Namibia is set to ramp up in 2025, with seven wells expected this year alone. BW Energy plans to drill at the Kharas prospect within the Kudu license, while Rhino Resources awaits results from two high-impact wells in PEL 85.
In South Africa’s Orange Basin, TotalEnergies is expected to drill in Block 3B/4B, and Shell may drill in an ultra-deepwater block near the maritime boundary with Namibia.
On the Kudu license, Shino stated that BW Energy has “identified new targets with upside potential – not only for gas, but also for oil within the main area,” with two wells planned by year-end.
As Namibia advances toward first oil production, the government is committed to ensuring that petroleum discoveries translate into long-term economic benefits for the nation.
“We are offering a sustainable operating environment, ensuring all discoveries are in a race to first oil while making a lasting impact on the local economy,” said Shino.
Namibia’s stable economy, industry alignment, respect for contract sanctity, expansive basins available for exploration, and commitment to delivering sustainable energy resources position it as an attractive destination for investment.
Namibia’s exploration boom and available licensing opportunities will take center stage at African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025, where government leaders, industry executives, and investors will discuss the latest developments firsthand.
With major discoveries advancing toward production and new blocks opening for investment, AEW offers unparalleled access to key decision-makers shaping Namibia’s energy future.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Zimbabwe: Power Supply Suffers Disruption As Unpatriotic Citizens Steal 6,000 Transformers Nationwide
Zimbabwe is facing a severe crisis in its power sector due to the theft of 6,000 transformers nationwide, resulting in disrupted power supply and widespread inconvenience.
Energy and Power Development Minister, July Moyo, has condemned the theft as “unpatriotic,” emphasizing that it hinders efforts to achieve reliable power supply.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Minister July Moyo stated that the main problem facing the power sector is vandalism of infrastructure.
“As we speak, 6,000 transformers have been stolen countrywide. We have no capacity locally to produce enough to replace them timeously,” he said.
Touching on what would be done regarding wooden electric poles, he said the government has decided to replace them with concrete ones.
“For the wooden poles, the policy we now have is that we replace them with concrete ones, which are more durable,” Moyo told lawmakers.
The theft and vandalism of power infrastructure have led to significant losses, with the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) reporting losses of over US$2 million between January and October 2024.
According to the power utility, nearly 30 tonnes of copper conductors valued at US$600,000, along with 10 tonnes of aluminium conductors worth US$103,000, were stolen during this period.
Additionally, 1,543 litres of transformer oil valued at US$7,700 were siphoned off by thieves, while 136 transformers essential components in electricity transmission — were vandalised, costing US$848,558.
Daring vandals also targeted bolts and nuts from high-voltage pylons, causing damage exceeding US$4,300.
In total, ZESA recorded 1,317 cases of theft and vandalism, resulting in losses valued at US$2,163,207.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Heathrow Airport Closed After Fire At Substation
Heathrow Airport will be closed throughout Friday after a fire at an electrical substation halted all flights with local residents evacuated from their homes and schools shut.
Almost 5,000 homes remain without power after two explosions and a fire at the substation in Hayes, west London, and 150 people have been evacuated from surrounding properties.
Emergency services were first called to the scene at 23:23 GMT, and video shared on social media showed tall flames and smoke billowing from the substation overnight.
The airport, which is the UK’s busiest, has warned of “significant disruption” over the coming days and told passengers not to travel “under any circumstances” until it reopens.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said the fire is now under control after a transformer was previously alight. The cause of the blaze is yet to be determined.
National Grid said on X it restored power to 62,000 customers at 06:00, and 4,900 homes remain without power.
Ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters have been sent to tackle the blaze, LFB said. No-one was injured the fire.
The Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme it was an unprecedented event which “appears to have knocked out a back-up generator as well as a substation itself”.
Asked on BBC Breakfast how such a busy transport hub was able to be so severely disrupted by a fire at an electrical substation, he replied: “It’s too early to answer that question. We don’t know the cause of this fire.”
He said the government would want to understand the causes and “what lessons, if any, it can teach us”.
At least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow will be affected on Friday, flight tracking website Flightradar24 said on X, with some 120 affected aircraft already in the air when the closure was announced.
A 200m cordon has been put in place as a precaution, and local residents have been advised to keep doors and windows closed because of a “significant amount of smoke”.
The brigade added it led 29 people to safety from nearby properties.
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said firefighters “have made good progress in containing the fire and preventing further spread”.
“As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible.”
LFB said it had received nearly 200 calls about the fire.
“This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible,” Mr Goulbourne added.
A group of residents who were evacuated from the road gathered at a nearby Premier Inn but said there was little communication overnight, leaving them confused about where to go.
Vaneca Sinclair, 64, said: “I was about 100 yards from the explosion. At about 11.30 I was getting up getting ready to go to bed.
“Suddenly there was this huge bang and the house just shook.
“I thought maybe someone had crashed into the wall or something and then opened the front door and I had a look and there were just these flames everywhere down at the bottom of the road.
“I quickly grabbed my coat and trainers and ran down the road to see what it was… and realised it was the substation on fire.”
She added the scene was “unbelievable – the flames and the smoke and everything… it was just scary”.
Ms Sinclair said police later told them to return home and grab essentials before evacuating, but no-one told them where to gather and eventually they walked to the hotel, which let them in and allowed them to have hot drinks and use toilets while they waited.
“I’m absolutely shattered now,” she said, adding she had not slept since the night before.
Her neighbour Savita Kapur, 51, said: “When the first explosion went off at 11:30, I literally just ran out of the house.”
She said police officers told them to go back inside before eventually telling her she needed to leave.
“I have an elderly mother who is in her eighties and not very well at all – I had to escort her into my car and get her out of the area and drop her off to my sisters.
“When I was driving up my road the second explosion went off and the whole ground shook.”
She said she managed to drop off her mother and make it to the Premier Inn with other residents, but there has been “no communication”.
But she thanked emergency services and said she appreciated the road was not yet safe to return to.
“We were actually standing on our road behind the police line until about 2:30 in the morning,” she explained.
Hillingdon Council said in an update on its website: “Most evacuees have dispersed and have made arrangements themselves, and the council is assisting 12 people with hotel accommodation until it is safe to return to their homes.”
Three schools – Pinkwell Primary, Botwell House and Dr Tripletts – are closed along with Nestles Avenue Early Years Centre.
The council said it would provide updates on whether any more local schools need to close.
A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said: “To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 on 21 March 2025.”
“We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation,” they added.
“Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored.”
The airport has apologised for the disruption and has advised passengers to contact their airlines for further information.
Heathrow is the UK’s largest aviation hub, handling about 1,300 landings and take-offs each day. A record 83.9 million passengers passed through its terminals last year, according to its latest data.
Several airlines with flights due to land at or take off from Heathrow have been cancelled or diverted to other airports.
Passengers have been advised to contact their airlines for the latest updates.
South Africa: Eskom Welcomes NERSA’s Approval Of 11.32 % And 12.74 % Increase In Tariffs For 2025, 2026
South Africa’s power utility company, Eskom, has welcomed the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (NERSA) decision to approve a 12.74% increase in electricity tariffs for customers, effective April 1, and an 11.32% increase for municipal bulk purchases, effective July 1, 2025.
Eskom argued that a well-defined tariff structure ensures equitable cost recovery, eliminates unintended cross-subsidies, and facilitates the responsible integration of alternative energy sources.
According to Eskom, the new approved tariffs will support the transformation of the electricity supply industry by aligning prices for the cost of generation, transmission, and distribution services while promoting affordability and equity for all customers.
The new tariffs will enable Eskom to implement simpler tariffs for low-consumption households and municipal bulk purchases, ensuring that customers pay for the costs they incur. This reinforces a stronger user-pays principle in electricity pricing through the removal of unintended subsidies.
“Our residential customers will no longer have to pay a higher price for consumption above 350kWh and will instead pay the same cent per kilowatt-hour (c/kWh) for all their consumption,” said Monde Bala, Eskom Group Executive for Distribution.
“We encourage Eskom residential customers to purchase legal electricity tokens, and for those in need of increased affordability, to register for Free Basic Electricity (FBE) and enjoy lower electricity prices provided by our government.”
Bala added, “With this NERSA approval, our customers who have registered their solar rooftop electricity generation will be able to export excess energy into the grid. Consequently, customers can reduce their electricity bill by benefiting from energy credits from exported energy once they are on a Homeflex tariff.”
The approved tariff changes do not apply to customers who are not directly supplied or connected to the Eskom grid.
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