Trump Orders U.S. Waters Open To Oil Drilling, Reversing Biden
U.S. President Donald Trump revoked offshore oil and gas leasing bans that effectively blocked drilling in most U.S. coastal waters as he made sweeping moves his first hours in office to unleash American energy development.
Trump’s move came as part of a broad assault on executive orders issued by former President Joe Biden, including revoking his recent decision to bar drilling rigs in some 625 million acres of coastal waters.
The shift wouldn’t immediately trigger new offshore lease sales — and environmentalists are vowing to fight it in federal court. Oil companies have also displayed little interest in tapping most of the areas Trump moved to put back in play for leasing.
Even so, congressional Republicans are eyeing new offshore oil auctions as a way to raise federal revenue that can help offset the cost of extending the 2017 tax cuts.
It could take years — if ever — for Trump’s move to result in new oil and gas development, and it’s not clear it will survive legal challenges. Nevertheless, the effort underscores the new president’s commitment to a frequent campaign pledge: to unlock more of America’s vast stories of energy.
Trump’s action also responds to the wishes of one of his top constituencies: the oil and gas industry that’s long sought more drilling opportunities on federal lands and waters.
Industry leaders argue oil and gas will be needed for decades, especially given the predicted surge in electricity demand from artificial intelligence. When American resources are developed, energy executives say they come with a smaller carbon footprint than fossil fuels from elsewhere around the world.
Trump is “moving swiftly to chart a new path where U.S. oil and natural gas are embraced, not restricted,” said Mike Sommers, head of the American Petroleum Institute.
Source: World Oil
Ghana: GTPCWU Demands Full Scale Investigation Of Immediate Past TOR Board
The General Transport Petroleum Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU) is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to establish an independent committee to investigate the activities of the immediate-past board of directors of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).
The union alleges that the former TOR board, comprising Mr. Apenteng, Mrs. Sapara Grant and Mr. Ato Morisson, made decisions driven by personal interests that had adverse financial consequences.
The GTPCWU claims that the board engaged in non-transparent transactions with affiliates of the previous government.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, 22nd January 2024, the National Chairman of GTPCWU and Chairman of TUC, Brother Bernard Owusu, highlighted the offences of the board members.
He indicated that the board was negligent by engaging Decimal Capital-VITOL in a joint partnership with TOR, even when VITOL had written to the Energy Ministry about not having such an arrangement (financial and technical support) with Decimal Capital.
Continuing, he said the board also engineered the incorporation of a special purpose vehicle – Torentco Asset Management Limited – by the shareholders of Decimal Capital to cover up all its structural irregularities and flaws identified by the union executives.
“With the above-failed attempts, TOR BOD colluded with the shareholder of Torentco Asset Management Limited, Mr. Michael Darko, and Mr. Christopher Hesse-Tetteh, including some compromised workers of TOR, to incorporate the Tema Energy and Processing Limited in August 2023. These TOR workers were made to incorporate a company limited by guarantee named TOR Workers Charity Trust for 20% shares in Tema Energy and Processing Limited without the knowledge or approval of TOR Management and Workers,” he said.
Brother Bernard Owusu also called for investigation into the removal and resignation of all objective and astute general managers and the subsequent reassignments of incorruptible managers and officers for those whom the TOR BOD could easily manipulate.
He further called for review of promotions of all five workers involved in the incorporation of TOR.
Concluding, Mr. Owusu also demanded an investigation into the processes leading to the TOR BOD issuance of Request For-Proposal (RFP) and the supposed signed agreement with NETOIL.
“As a UNION with an oversight responsibility over the workers of TOR, GTPCWU has written to key stakeholders, including the Attorney General’s Office, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Energy in respect of TOR’S partnership with all the above entities, raising every identified irregularities,” he said.
“Notably, the response from the Attorney General to GTPCWU substantiated our concerns about the lack of capacity and transparency in the transaction. Additionally, findings by the Special Prosecutor raised significant irregularities that necessitated instructions to halt the Tema Energy and Processing transaction. While we acknowledge the importance of private participation or the dilution of the ownership structure of TOR for private participation in TOR’s transformational agenda, we believe it should not be a ruse for state asset exploitation and misappropriation,” he added.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Parliament Approves John Jinapor As Energy Minister
Ghana’s Parliament has approved Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor as the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, following a successful vetting process by the Appointments Committee.
Jinapor, who represents the Yapei-Kusawgu Constituency in Savannah Region, was approved alongside Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson as Minister for Finance and Dr. Dominic Ayine as Attorney General and Minister for Justice.
The approval came after a unanimous recommendation by the Appointments Committee, and a thorough debate by Parliament on Tuesday, January 21.
Both the Majority and Minority caucuses acknowledged the nominees’ competence and ability to lead their respective ministries, based on their past performances.
Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, the newly approved Minister for Energy and Green Transition, will oversee about 12 agencies under the Ministry.
The agencies are Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation (BEST)Company, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
The rest are Ghana National Gas Company, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Energy Commission and Volta River Authority (VRA).
As Minister, Jinapor will be responsible for guiding these agencies to achieve the Ministry’s goals and objectives.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Trump Vows To Leave Paris Climate Agreement And ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’
President Donald Trump has once again vowed to withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement, the world’s most important effort to tackle rising temperatures.
The first Trump administration made a similar move in 2017, but that step was promptly reversed on President Joe Biden’s first day in office in 2021.
The US will now have to wait a year before it will be officially out of the pact. The White House announced a “national energy emergency”, outlining a raft of changes that will reverse US climate regulations and boost oil and gas production.
It comes after global temperatures in 2024 rose more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels for the first time in a calendar year.
While the Paris agreement is not a legally binding treaty, it is the document that drives global co-operation to limit the causes of global warming.
President Trump’s antipathy to this co-operative approach was echoed in his statement in 2017 that he had been elected to “represent the people of Pittsburgh and not Paris”.
This temperature threshold was established in the Paris agreement as a level beyond which the world would face extremely dangerous impacts.
The US will now join Iran, Yemen and Libya as the only countries to currently stand outside the agreement, which was signed 10 years ago in the French capital.
At the White House on Monday evening, Trump signed the order to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, including a letter to the United Nations explaining the decision.
He also announced a “national energy emergency” to reverse many of the Biden-era environmental regulations.
Trump called the Paris agreement a “ripoff” during a speech at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, following his swearing-in.
“We will drill, baby, drill,” he said earlier in his inaugural address.
The new president also vowed the US would embark on a new age of oil and gas exploration.
“We will bring prices down, fill our strategic reserves up again, right to the top, and export American energy all over the world,” he told the audience.
“We will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.”
Source: BBC
Portugal To Import More US, Nigerian LNG, Aims To End Russian Supply
Portugal plans to increase purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States and Nigeria as it aims to end already dwindling supplies from Russia, Environment Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho said on Tuesday.
Portugal imported 49,141 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of natural gas in 2024, of which around 96% was LNG, data from electricity and gas grids operator REN shows.
Nigeria accounted for 51% of those LNG deliveries, about 40% came from the United States and around 4.4% from Russia.
In 2021, Russia accounted for 15% of Portugal’s LNG supply.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union has implemented targeted sanctions on Russian oil and gas imported through pipelines, but has not prevented the import of LNG transported by ship into Europe.
“Portugal is now practically independent of Russian gas but we want to reduce this figure further by importing more gas from Nigeria and the United States,” Graca Carvalho told a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, according to economic website ECO.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened the European Union with tariffs if countries do not increase their purchases of U.S. energy.
ECO reported the minister urged greater cooperation within the 27-nation European Union to ensure energy independence and security, saying Iberia was still an “energy island” as it had “been difficult to build interconnections with France”.
Source: Natural Gas World
Trump Urges EU To Buy More U.S. LNG
President Donald Trump has urged the European Union to step up its purchases of crude oil and liquefied natural gas from the U.S. if it wants to avoid tariffs on all imports.
“The one thing they can do quickly is buy our oil and gas,” Trump told media on Monday, as quoted by Bloomberg. “We will straighten that out with tariffs, or they have to buy our oil and gas.”
On his first day in office, the president lifted a so-called pause on new LNG export terminal construction that the Biden administration imposed on the industry following one study that claimed LNG exports had a higher carbon footprint than coal.
The United States has become the largest LNG exporter in the world in a few short years and it also became the biggest supplier to the European after 2022 and the suspension of most Russian pipeline flows.
Before 2022, U.S. LNG exports to the continent averaged 15 million tons per year, but they jumped to 55 million tons in both 2022 and 2023.
Last year was more challenging because Europe started feeling the effect of higher-price energy, namely, problematic economic growth and reduced competitiveness for European industries.
Europe’s job is made harder by long-term contracts. Europe generally prefers to buy its LNG from the spot market with EU officials arguing greater independence—despite the price premium on the spot market.
Yet U.S. LNG exporters have committed significant volumes to buyers with long-term contracts and don’t really have a lot to spare for spot market loving European buyers, according to Bloomberg’s Stephen Stapczynski.
This means it would be difficult for Europe to respond to Trump’s calls for rebalancing the trade deficit that the U.S. is running with one of its top trade partners, even if it really wanted to, which it obviously does.
Source: Oilprice.com
Nigeria: NNPC Ltd. Blames Vandals For Buguma Wellhead Fire
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd., has alleged that the fire incident at its Buguma Wellhead 008, operated by its subsidiary, NNPC Eighteen Operating Ltd., NEOL, was caused by pipeline vandals.
Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd. in a statement on said the fire was caused by the activities of vandals who were attempting to compromise the Christmas Tree and steal crude oil.
Buguma Wellhead 008 is located in Buguma community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Soneye said the unfortunate act of sabotage, which also resulted in severe damage to the well’s back pressure valve, reflected a disturbing pattern of repeated attacks on wellheads in the zone.
He said since March 2023, crude oil theft on the asset had been persistent, with criminals who were resorting to extreme measures, including the use of dynamite to destroy installations and illegally access hydrocarbons.
“The NNPC Ltd. remains committed to combating these fires and mitigating the financial losses associated with these criminal activities, which place a significant burden on the nation’s economy.
“The company is working closely with relevant security agencies to put an end to these acts of vandalism.
“Additionally, NNPC Ltd reaffirms its commitment to supporting communities affected by these destructive activities and will continue to provide necessary relief efforts to mitigate the impact on those affected,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GTPCWU Congratulates New BOST MD
The General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union has congratulated Afetsi Awoonor on his appointment as the newly appointed Acting Managing Director of Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation (BEST) Company, formerly known as BOST.
Afetsi Awoonor was appointed by President John Dramani Mahama last Friday and he officially assumed post on Monday, 20th January 2025.
In a statement issued and signed by Edmund Agyei Domfreh, Secretary, PMSU, and Abdul Samadu Hamidu, AG. Divisional Secretary, JSU, it said it is a great pleasure to receive such welcoming news at this moment.
It continued that “we hope that this incredible opportunity given to you would help the growth of BOST and affect positively the staff as well.
“We believe that you have worked tirelessly to earn such a position; therefore, we shall put in all our efforts to help your administration to succeed.
“We wish you good luck in your new position,” the statement concluded.
Afetsi Awoonor will be the 7th Managing Director and also the second youngest person to manage the company after Dr Edwin Alfred Provençal.
Afetsi Awoonor was introduced to the staff at the company’s head office at a short but impressive durbar.
Mr Afetse thanked the outgoing MD for his service to the company and promised to take BOST to the “next level.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: Eskom Named Top Employer In South Africa
South Africa’s national power utility, Eskom, has been recognised as a Top Employer in South Africa for 2025 by a global HR body.
This prestigious accolade is a testament to Eskom’s commitment to creating an exceptional workplace environment, developing and embedding cutting-edge Human Resources (HR) policies, and people practices.
The recognition was announced by the Top Employers Institute, the global authority on HR strategies and certification, after a rigorous benchmarking process.
Eskom excelled in six key HR domains, covering 20 topics, including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Wellbeing.
Eskom’s Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, expressed his pride and gratitude, saying, “This recognition reinforces our dedication to our employees’ growth, well-being, and empowerment. It’s a testament to the collective effort and commitment of every member of our Eskom team.”
Marokane emphasized that Eskom’s high-performance culture, built on six cornerstones – People Prioritisation, Operational Excellence, Financial Prudency, Accountability, Customer Centricity, and Values-driven – has been instrumental in achieving this recognition.
As one of the certified Top Employers, Eskom joins an elite group of over 2,300 organisations across 121 countries/regions.
This achievement not only enhances Eskom’s reputation as an employer of choice but also underscores its commitment to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, connected, and empowered to succeed.
Eskom’s recognition as a Top Employer for 2025 is a milestone achievement, reflecting the organisation’s dedication to its people and its pursuit of excellence.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Gambia: Ministry Of Petroleum And Energy Renamed
The President of The Gambia has approved the renaming of the country’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy to the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines (MOPEM).
A statement issued by the Ministry said the inclusion of mining is part of a broader strategy to enhance the Ministry’s capacity to oversee and support the growing importance of the mining sector alongside its longstanding responsibilities in the Petroleum and Energy sectors.
By this notice, the general public is also notified that the name change has been gazetted by the Ministry of Justice.
“We thank the general public for their continued support. As we move forward under our new name, we remain dedicated to serving the nation with transparency and dedication to our mandate,” it said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Afetsi Awoonor Assumes Post As MD Of BOST
The newly-appointed Managing Director of Bulk Energy Storage and and Transportation (BEST) Company, formerly Known as BOST, Mr Afetsi Awoonor, has assumed post, this portal can confirm.
Afetsi Awoonor was appointed by President John Dramani Mahama last Friday.
Earlier today, Monday, the new Managing Director received a handing over document from the outgoing Managing Director, Dr Edwin Alfred Nii Obodai Provençal, who managed the company from 2019 till date under the previous government.
Under the outgoing Managing Director, BOST witnessed a massive transformation from a loss-making company to a profit-making entity.
After 12 consecutive years of losses, the Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation Company (BEST) achieved a remarkable turnaround, recording profits of Gh¢161 million in 2021, Gh¢342 million in 2022 and Gh¢208 million in 2023.
The company estimates to make a minimum of Gh¢300million profit for 2024.
As of 17th January 2025, BOST’s books looked good with over GH¢85,000,000 sitting in the company’s account.
Afetsi Awoonor will be the 7th Managing Director and also the second youngest person to manage the company after Dr Edwin Alfred Provençal.
Afetsi Awoonor was introduced to the staff at the company’s head office at a short but impressive durbar.
Mr Afetse thanked the outgoing MD for his service to the company and promised to take BOST to the “next level.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Nigeria: Vandals Destroy Over 18 Transmission Towers In January—TCN
The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has reported that more than 18 of its transmission towers were vandalised between January 9-14, 2025, across Rivers, Abia and Kano states.
A statement issued by Ndidi Mbah, the Public Affairs Manager at TCN, on Sunday, giving a breakdown of the unfortunate incidents, said that Emmanuel Okpa, the General Manager of TCN’s Port Harcourt Region, reported that routine patrols by linesmen on January 10, uncovered damage to towers 171 through towers 181 and 184.
Continuing, she said that on January 14, vandals targeted towers 146, 147 and 149 along the Owerri/Ahoada 132Kilo Volt kV line in Rivers, removing base brackets and compromising the stability of the towers.
“In Abia State, Mr Azuh Lucky, the Head of the Lines Department for the region, reported the theft of bolts, nuts and structural members from towers 160 to 162 on the Alaoji/Umuahia 132kV line.
”Meanwhile, in Kano, towers 105, 106 and 107 along the Katsina-Gazoua 132/33kV transmission line were critically damaged by vandals on January 9, compromising their structural integrity and risking collapse.
”In the early hours of January 17, vandalised 132kV underground transmission cables were discovered by TCN engineers near Millennium Park in Abuja. This affected the power supply to the central area and its environs.
”These incidents pose a significant challenge to TCN’S operations as a company,” she said.
She said that the company had bolstered security measures, increased lines patrol and the number of vigilante groups, and is also collaborating with security operatives.
Ms Mbah appealed for the full support of every Nigerian, particularly those in communities hosting TCN’s installations.
“Nigerians must collectively recognise that the transmission network is our collective asset and essential for our socioeconomic development.
”The vandals and those who buy stolen materials are sabotaging the nation. All hands must be on deck to ensure the growth of the country’s power sector, which is critical to the development of our country
”TCN’s grid expansion plans are under tremendous strain due to the persistent vandalism of its installations,” she said.
She said that the financial implications of constant repairs to vandalised transmission installations, along with the stress on the grid, were having adverse effects on the TCN grid expansion drive.
”This is a clarion call for everyone to join forces with TCN to put an end to this menace and safeguard our electricity network,” Ms Mbah said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Libya Aims To Boost Oil Production To 2 Million Barrels Per Day
Libya is gearing up to boost its oil production to two million barrels per day (bpd) within the next two to three years.
To achieve this, the country is focusing on brownfield development and local investment.
The Minister for Oil and Gas, Dr Khalifa Abdulsadek, outlined the plan to reach 1.6 million bpd by the end of 2025 and laid the groundwork for a longer-term growth at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) in Tripoli on Saturday.
“There are massive opportunities here, massive fields that have been discovered, but a lot of fields have fallen between the cracks,” stated Minister Abdulsadek during the Ministerial Panel, Global Energy Alliance–Uniting for a Secure and Sustainable Energy Future.
“We want to make sure local oil companies take part. We also want to leverage the upcoming licensing round to support our planned growth in the oil sector.”
The Minister’s remarks were complemented by a strong call for international participation in Libya’s upcoming licensing round, signaling the government’s commitment to fostering collaboration and maximising the potential of its energy sector.
Highlighting Libya’s vast natural gas potential–with reserves of 1.5 trillion cubic meters–Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, stressed the need for enhanced investment in gas projects.
He pointed to ongoing initiatives like the $600 million El Sharara Refinery as opportunities to stimulate economic diversification.
“Natural gas is available,” Hamel stated, adding, “It is the greenest of hydrocarbons and we see natural gas continuing to grow until 2050.”
The panel also tackled the global energy transition, emphasising Africa’s unique challenges and the need for the continent to harness its resources to achieve energy security.
Dr Omar Farouk Ibrahim, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO), underscored the critical need for finance, technology and reliable markets to drive progress.
“At APPO, we have noted three specific challenges for the African continent. Finance, technology and reliable markets,” he stated, questioning whether Africa can continue to depend on external forces to develop its resources.
As one of Africa’s top oil producers, Libya holds an estimated 48 billion barrels of proven oil reserves.
The country’s efforts to expand production, attract investment and drive innovation are central to the discussions at LEES 2025.
Endorsed by the Ministry of Oil and Gas and National Oil Corporation, the summit has established itself as the leading platform for driving Libya’s energy transformation and exploring its impact on global markets.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Afetsi Awoonor Named As Acting Managing Director Of BOST
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Afetsi Awoonor as the acting Managing Director of Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BEST), formerly known as BOST.
Afetsi, who is the son of renowned poet and novelist, late Prof. Kofi Awoonor, will be the second youngest person to be appointed as the managing director of BOST after Dr. Edwin Alfred Provencal.
This portal knows that Afetsi Awoonor has a track record of transformative leadership in sub-Saharan Africa’s energy, oil, gas, and mining industries.
Besides, this portal has gathered that Afetsi Awoonor’s career spans 20 African countries, where he has spearheaded landmark projects that have significantly impacted national economies.
As acting Managing Director of BOST, Afetsi Awoonor is expected to leverage his deep industrial knowledge and experience to drive operational excellence at the state-owned enterprise.
Afetsi Awoonor expressed his gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for appointing him as the managing director of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) on Facebook.
He acknowledged the trust and confidence placed in him and committed to serving with excellence, integrity, and a vision for sustainable growth in Ghana’s energy sector.¹
Awoonor also thanked his well-wishers, friends, and colleagues for their kind words and support, stating that their belief in him strengthens his resolve to make a meaningful impact in his new role.
He concluded by thanking President Mahama for his leadership and belief in his capacity to contribute to Ghana’s development.
BOST has the mandate to develop a network of storage tanks; pipelines and other bulk transportation infrastructure throughout the country and rent or lease out part of the storage facilities to enable it generate income as well keep Strategic Reserve Stocks for Ghana.
Profile
Afetsi Awoonor is a Ghanaian entrepreneur, writer, and petroleum trader.
Born on August 31, 1982, in Accra, Ghana, he is the son of renowned Ghanaian poet and novelist, Professor Kofi Awoonor.
Afetsi’s educational background is impressive, with a degree in Marketing from Central University College in Accra.
He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a dual Executive Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in International Oil and Gas Leadership from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, and the IFP School in Rueil-Malmaison, France.
Currently, he is pursuing a PhD in Business Administration from the Geneva Business School, Switzerland.
As a writer, Afetsi has published poetry pieces, including “Nairobi Calls Again” (2015), a tribute to the victims of the 2013 Westgate mall and the 2015 Garissa University attacks in Nairobi and Garissa, Kenya.
Afetsi’s life took a dramatic turn during the September 2013 terrorist attack at Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, where he was attending the Storymoja Hay Festival with his father.
Unfortunately, his father, Professor Kofi Awoonor, lost his life in the attack.
Afetsi himself was shot twice in the back and suffered grenade shrapnel in the leg but managed to survive.
Today, Afetsi Awoonor is recognised as a business leader and philanthropist, with nearly two decades of experience leading multicultural teams and turnkey projects.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com