Ghana: Vivo Energy Ghana Empowers Female Employees Through The ShePower Programme
Vivo Energy Ghana, the Shell licensee, has proudly hosted its inaugural ShePower training session at its head office in Accra.
The event, targeted at female employees of the company, was held under the theme: ‘The Power of Positive Self Talk: Cultivating Confidence and Resilience’.
The ShePower training programme encapsulates Vivo Energy Ghana’s commitment to empowering female employees at Vivo Energy Ghana, providing them with the tools and confidence needed to excel in their careers and personal lives.
This programme will help Vivo Energy Ghana foster a supportive and inclusive workplace where every individual can thrive.
Stirring up conversations under the theme for the training, Mrs Rita Krampah, a seasoned corporate trainer, in her address, emphasised the importance of developing self-confidence through positive self-talk.
She shared various affirmative phrases and initiatives that could inspire individuals, ultimately fostering steady growth in their confidence and abilities.
Drawing from her personal experiences with positive self-talk, Mrs Krampah stated: “My crucible transformed me. It will transform you if you leverage the opportunities it presents to build confidence in yourself. Don’t personalise negative perceptions.”
She went on to outline nine ways to identify and mitigate negative thought patterns that trouble female employees, especially at workplaces and homes where they spend most of their time.
The Managing Director of Vivo Energy Ghana, Mr Jean-Michel Arlandis, in his remark, inspired female participants to confidently embrace their potential, overcome challenges and reassure them of the company’s support.
“This initiative is more than just a training programme. As a company committed to the promotion of female diversity and inclusion, will continue to provide support and create an enabling environment for women to take charge of their growth and drive positive change within our organisation and beyond,” he said.
To foster individual involvement, the session included a group discussion in which employees were actively engaged in exploring and practising positive self-talk techniques.
This interactive segment allowed participants to share their experiences, learn from one another and strengthen the day’s lessons.
Ghana: Bui Power Authority Records $80M Net Profit Despite Challenges In 2023
Ghana’s second largest state-owned power generation company – Bui Power Authority (BPA) – has recorded a net profit of $80 million in the 2023 Financial Year compared with the $79.2 million recorded in 2022.
Although the company’s total revenue for the year 2023 stood at US$157,100,000 which was lower than the previous year’s revenue of US$158,800,000 representing a decrease of 1.0%, stringent cost containment over the period impacted positively on the company’s net profit.
In 2023, the Bui Power Generation Station generated a total of 1,519 GWh of energy but 3 GWh was lost, while the remaining 1516 GWh was supplied to the National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS).
This represents 2% lower than the all-time-high of 1,547 GWh generated in 2022.
These figures were disclosed by the Board Chairman of BPA, Hon. Kwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Dr. Mrs. Rebecca Acquaah-Arhin.
Hon. Ameyaw-Cheremeh described the company’s overall performance for 2023 as remarkable.
Touching on the challenges facing the company, he said ECG’s inability to pay for power supplied to them continued to have adverse effects on the company, thereby limiting its ability to purchase critical spare parts for the maintenance of the plants and lack of funds to execute renewable energy projects.
In order to stay financially viable, Hon. Ameyaw-Cheremeh said the company was exploring the possibility of engaging other off-takers.
He complimented the board members, management and staff of the company for their commitment and dedication.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of BPA, Mr. Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi, said the company was going to intensify efforts to expand its renewable energy portfolio in the area of windpower, solar, and other sustainable energy sources to meet the growing demand for clean energy.
“We will continue our pursuit of leadership in the renewable energy industry within our sub-region guided by our vision to be at the forefront of the transition to clean energy,” he said.
Mr. Dzamesi, who praised the workers for their hard work, charged them, saying “let us resolve to work together to make 2024 another great success.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
IAEA Director-General To Visit Ukraine Next Week To Assess Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant
The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, has expressed worry about the continuous explosions at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) where nuclear safety and security remains precarious.
In a statement on Friday, the IAEA said Mr Rafael Grossi will, next week, travel to Ukraine to hold high-level talks and assess developments at the facility.
This visit will be the fifth time that the Director-General crosses the frontline to access the ZNPP after he established a permanent IAEA presence at the site two years ago, on 1st September 2022, to monitor nuclear safety and security.
It is the tenth time he is in Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022.
“The IAEA acts promptly and decisively whenever and wherever there are threats to nuclear safety and security. Our pro-active presence is of paramount importance to help stabilize the situation.
“My message has been loud and clear throughout this tragic war: a nuclear accident must be avoided at all costs, and a nuclear power plant must never be attacked.
“The consequences could be disastrous, and no one stands to benefit from it. I remain determined to do everything in my power to protect nuclear safety and security as long as the fighting continues,” he said.
According to the IAEA, its team stationed at the site has continued to hear explosions and other indications of military activities at times near the plant itself.
“Due to reported drone threats in the area, the team was told to shelter indoors on 20 August and had to reschedule their planned walkdown on 26 August,” IAEA said
Since the Director-General last went to the ZNPP site in February, it has been hit by drone strikes, experienced loss of power lines and, earlier this month, a fire caused significant damage to one of its two cooling towers.
“Two years after I launched our mission at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, it is needed more than ever.
“As these recent deeply concerning incidents make all too clear, the nuclear safety and security situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant remains extremely challenging.
“Our teams there and elsewhere in Ukraine are carrying out indispensable work on behalf of the wider international community in very difficult circumstances,” he said.
Over the past week, the IAEA team at the ZNPP has continued to conduct regular walkdowns across the site as part of their on-going nuclear safety and security assessment.
Among other activities, they went to the turbine halls of reactor units five and six but were again not allowed to access the western parts of the buildings, as was also the case when they visited the turbine halls of units three and four in mid-August, and unit two earlier in the month.
The IAEA team is also continuing to closely monitor the cooling water situation at the site.
Following the destruction of the downstream Kakhovka dam last year, the ZNPP dug eleven new wells in order to obtain the water needed for reactor cooling and other essential nuclear safety functions.
“While none of the plants lost all their access to the national electricity grid, which has happened repeatedly at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant over the past two years, I’m increasingly concerned about the growing vulnerability of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and the potential impact this is having on the safety of all Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants,” Director-General Grossi said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Kenya Hopes To Have First Nuclear Power Plant By 2034
Kenya is considering establishing its first nuclear power plant by 2034, The Star of Kenya has reported, citing Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
According to Mudavadi, a research reactor will also be commissioned by the early 2030s.
He said the initiative will start in 2027 and aims to increase energy capacity, reduce Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as well as create significant job opportunities to boost economic growth.
“Kenya is committed to leading in clean energy and advancing nuclear technology as part of sustainable energy strategy,” Mudavadi said during a meeting with the Director-General of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), William D. Magwood IV.
During the meeting, the PCS and Magwood’s discussion focused on advancing nuclear technology as part of Kenya’s sustainable energy strategy, which aligns with NEA’s leadership goals to integrate atomic energy into our clean energy mix.
Key areas include deploying Small Modular Reactor technology, enhancing research, and building institutional sustainability.
Mudavadi said the government is keen to strengthen its partnership with NEA for Kenya’s long-term energy and development goals.
“As we move forward, this collaboration will play a vital role in the successful implementation of our nuclear energy programme, contributing to the nation’s prosperity and sustainability.”
Interest in nuclear power development is growing in Africa, with Ghana, Uganda, Guinea and Nigeria currently in the advanced stages of developing the first nuclear power plant in some years to come.
Egypt, in partnership with Rosatom, is currently constructing a nuclear power plant at El Dabaa with a total capacity of 4.8 Gigawatts at the cost of US$30 billion.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria Exports LNG To Japan And China
Nigeria’s National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Ltd has commenced shipment of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cargoes to Japan and China on Delivered Ex-Ship (DES) basis, thus, expanding its market globally.
This is in line with the company’s strategic vision to be a dynamic and reliable global energy supplier of choice.
NNPC Ltd achieved the milestone through the collaboration of two of its Downstream subsidiaries–NNPC LNG Ltd and NNPC Shipping Ltd–which delivered its first DES LNG cargo from the 174,000m³ LNG vessel Grazyna Gesicka at Futtsu, Japan, on 27th June 2024.
Since then, it has expanded its footprint to China with the delivery of one LNG cargo on DES basis.
Delivered Ex-Ship (DES) is an international commercial term that requires the seller to deliver the products/goods at a specific port.
The seller takes responsibility for the shipping and insurance for the products/goods until they get to the specified port of delivery.
It requires expertise and a higher level of efficiency to execute than the Free on Board (FOB) system.
NNPC Ltd has been involved in LNG trading since 2021, with its first LNG cargo sale in November of that year.
It has since traded over 20 cargoes into the European and Asian markets on FOB basis.
Speaking on the development, the Executive President for the Downstream at the NNPC Limited, Mr Dapo Segun, said: “The DES system, apart from being more financially rewarding, allows NNPC Ltd inroads into the downstream segment of the LNG sector and positions it to capture more market shares while building in-house capacity and ensuring that global customers are familiar with the NNPC Ltd brand.”
The collaboration between NNPC LNG Ltd and NNPC Shipping Ltd in executing the LNG supplies on DES basis has strengthened the latter’s position as a world-class shipping provider in the LNG sector.
“NNPC Shipping intends to build a shipping portfolio (including owned vessels) so that we can provide our sister company and other clients all the shipping flexibilities they need,” Managing Director of NNPC Shipping, Panos Gliatis said.
NNPC LNG Ltd, in collaboration with NNPC Shipping Ltd, is scheduled to deliver, at least, two more LNG cargoes to the Asian market on DES basis by November. Many more orders are expected before the end of year.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Association Advises Dangote, Refiners to Sell In Naria
Nigeria’s Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association (NOGASA), has advised the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals and other modular refineries in the country to sell refined products to oil marketers in Naira.
The association said that “this is imperative as the refiners will also be getting the crude in Naira”.
Its National President Benneth Korie made this appeal while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu recently directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) to sell crude oil to Dangote and other modular refineries in the country’s currency.
“I also want to express our support for the president’s directive to sell crude oil in naira.
“We hope that our refineries will reciprocate by selling refined products in naira, thus stabilising the market”, he said.
Korie said that to ensure a balanced distribution, the Dangote’s refined products should be made available to a broader range of stakeholders.
He listed the stakeholders as the NNPC Trading, NNPC Retail, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).
He included others as the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) and NOGASA.
This inclusivity, according to him, would facilitate sustainable and widespread distribution across the country.
He urged the Federal Government to expedite the commencement of the Port Harcourt Refinery slated for September to alleviate the current shortages and ensure that the products were distributed among the same stakeholders.
He called for the reduction in the price of Automotive Gas Oil – diesel – to lower transportation costs and reduce the price of petroleum products.
“With Dangote’s refinery production and crude oil transactions in naira, we expect a reduction in diesel price.
“NNPC Ltd. should leverage its shares in Dangote’s refinery to drive down these costs, which will lower transportation expenses and reduce market prices”, he said.
On issue of smuggling, he said, there was the need to redesign distribution channels to prevent illegal exportation of petroleum products.
Korie, while explaining that “road constitutes 45 per cent of the delay in the delivery of the petroleum products”, urged the government to improve transportation network.
He advised the government to expand and revamp railways for bulk cargo to enhance logistics.
He also urged the federal, states and local governments to discourage the multiple taxation on the nation’s highways.
On inflation, he urged the government at all levels to prioritise agriculture by making farming more attractive, profitable.
According to him, this can be done by subsidising agricultural inputs and equipment to address public apprehension over rising costs.
“Extension workers should also be deployed to educate farmers on modern techniques such as irrigation and fumigation,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: Eskom Invites Bids For 30 MWp Solar PV Plant At Komati Power Station
Eskom Holdings SOC Limited has announced the initial selection process for the design, supply, installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of a Solar PV plant with a capacity of up to 30 MWp at the Komati Power Station.
This initiative is part of the Eskom Just Energy Transition Project (EJETP), which aims to promote sustainable energy solutions and reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.
The project, supported by financing from the World Bank marks a significant step towards South Africa’s transition to cleaner energy.
The Solar PV plant will be constructed on a turnkey basis, ensuring a seamless integration of design, procurement, and construction processes.
The proposed contract is expected to last for three years, during which the successful contractor will be responsible for the complete lifecycle of the solar plant, including its design, installation, and ongoing operation and maintenance.
Eskom has outlined a comprehensive plan to ensure that the project adheres to international best practices and is in line with the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, Fifth Edition, and September 2023.
The initial selection of applicants will be conducted according to the procedures specified in the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations.
Interested and eligible applicants are encouraged to participate in this process by downloading the Initial Selection Document (ISD) from the Eskom tender bulletin, the National Treasury e-tender portal, the CIDB website, UNDB online, and the World Bank website.
Applications must be submitted by 10:00 AM South African Standard Time (SAST) on October 29, 2024.
Late applications will not be considered. Prospective bidders are invited to submit their applications to Eskom Holdings SOC Limited, Attn: Hellen Lebjane, Senior Advisor Procurement, at the provided address in Sandton, South Africa.
The announcement of this project is a key component of Eskom’s broader strategy to transition to renewable energy sources.
With an anticipated Request for Proposals (RFP) set to be issued in December 2024, this project is expected to contribute significantly to South Africa’s energy sector, aligning with the country’s goals for sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions.
Source: SolarQuater.com
South Africa: Eskom Hopeful That Power Will Be Restored In NMB By Sunday
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says work is under way to restore power to several areas affected by a power outage in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
Eskom along with the municipality aim to restore power to all affected areas by Sunday.
Electricity Minister Ramokgopa gave this assurance after assessing damage caused by the collapse of four transmission towers last Friday, which plunged at least 14 areas into darkness.
According to the Minister, they are doing everything they can to restore the electricity as fast as possible.
“The target of reconnecting everyone by the 1st of September is doable. Of course, the only headway that we are confronted with is the inclement weather, the precipitation and also the wind speeds which is derailing the work that the contractors and Eskom are doing on site to ensure that we are able to get the work going.
“But from the briefing that we got this morning, I think we are relatively comfortable that, that timeline will be met.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: NEDCo Cautions Public Against Fake Meters In Northern Ghana
The Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) has cautioned the public against the purchase of fake and substandard electric meters that have been brought to its operational areas by some unscrupulous people.
According to NEDCo, the fake meters are brought from neighbouring countries like Togo and La Cote d’Ivoire.
Over 200 pieces of such substandard meters were confiscated on the Kenyase-Atronie road in the Sunyani metropolis during a snap inspection by the Ghana Police Service at a checkpoint.
“These meters are not tested and calibrated by NEDCo to meet the requirements set by regulatory bodies, such as the Energy Commission and the Ghana Standards Authority.
“They, therefore, pose dangers such as fire outbreaks as well as overloading of and damage to transformers, resulting in prolonged outages and increased distribution losses to NEDCo; the negative consequences touch both the consumer and NEDCo,” a statement, which was issued by NEDCo’s Communications Manager Maxwell Kotoka, said.
The statement reminded the general public that it is illegal for individuals and/or organisations to import meters into the country without necessary approvals from the Energy Commission and other regulatory bodies.
The statement added that it is also illegal for potential or existing electricity consumers to acquire meters from sources other than licensed distribution companies (i.e. NEDCo, ECG, etc).
“NEDCo will take all necessary legal actions against individuals and/or organisations engaged in the distribution (sale, purchase and transportation inclusive) of these fake meters.
“A special surprise operation will be rolled out soon to detect and arrest perpetrators and beneficiaries of the distribution of these fake meters.
“All those who have acquired these meters are advised to take them to the nearest NEDCo office to avoid arrests and prosecution,” the statement added.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: AMCON Considers Sale Of IBEDC
Nigeria’s Assets Management Corporation is considering the sale of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to viable investors to make the company more efficient and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.
Gbenga Alade, the Managing Director of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, expressed the belief that looking for viable investors to take over IBEDC is the right way to go.
To him, since assumption of office five months ago, his outfit has tried to resolve the issues affecting the IBEDC, but the process has yet to be concluded.
Alade believes that no economy can grow and move forward without a stable power supply.
“In the power sector, we have Ibadan DisCo, which is under AMCON. We’ve tried as much as possible to get that resolved. And we’re in the process.
“We are yet to conclude the sale, but we are making very good headway in resolving Ibadan DisCo,” Alade said during an interaction with media executives in Lagos as quoted by The Punch.
Alade expressed optimism that the IBEDC would be profitable if sold, saying it covers different states, including Ogun industrial areas.
”I believe that Ibadan Disco is the largest disco that we have because it goes across so many states like Ogun, including all the industrial areas of Ogun State.
“We believe that it can be made more efficient if sold to people with deep pockets who can invest, not people who just buy and not invest. They don’t have money to invest.
“With people who have deep pockets to invest in making that company more efficient and more effective, it will go a long way to helping the power sector,” he noted.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
China: Former Chairman Of China National Petroleum Corp. Arrested For Bribery
The former chairman of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Wang Yilin, has been arrested on suspicion of bribery, Xinhua reported on Wednesday, citing a statement from Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP).
Wang was expelled from the Communist Party of China, according to an official statement released in late July.
The case of Wang, who is also a former secretary of the leading Party members group of the CNPC, was handed over to prosecutors for examination and prosecution following the conclusion of an investigation carried out by the National Commission of Supervision, the SPP said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Russia: Atoms Empowering Africa Winners Visit Russia To See Nuclear Innovations
Twenty talented young individuals from across Africa who emerged as winners of Rosatom’s Atoms Empowering Africa competition have visited Russia to familiarise themselves with nuclear power development.
This transformative trip, organised by ROSATOM, is a part of the initiative aimed at fostering curiosity and enthusiasm for science and technology among African youth.
The competition, in this round, challenges participants to create captivating videos on the topic: ‘Benefits of Nuclear Energy in Africa’.
This year’s winners, hailing from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt and Sudan have demonstrated exceptional creativity and dedication in showcasing the potential of nuclear energy on the African continent.
“This part of the competition is always the most thrilling. Seeing the excitement and wonder in the eyes of these young individuals as they explore the heart of nuclear technology in Russia is incredibly rewarding.
“It’s not just about the technical knowledge they gain, but also the cultural exchange and the inspiration they draw from experiencing a different part of the world.
“We believe that these experiences will ignite a lifelong passion for science and technology.
“As we look forward to next year’s competition, we are eager to see even more innovative and creative entries. We hope to continue expanding the reach of the competition, engaging more young minds across the African continent, and fostering a deeper understanding of the pivotal role that nuclear energy can play in sustainable development,” Ryan Collyer, CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa noted.
One of the highlights of the winners’ itinerary was Obninsk City, renowned as the birthplace of the nuclear industry and Russia’s premier nuclear technology hub, which has celebrated, this year, the 70th anniversary of the launch of the world’s first nuclear power plant.
“We toured the Rosatom Technical Academy and received a first-hand tour of Russia’s first Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).
“It was truly a privilege to witness the behind-the-scenes operation of an NPP and to see the amount of effort channeled into operational safety and security at the NPPs.
“But more than that, it was a lovely drive through the beautiful city of Moscow,” Munachimso Oguine, a young participant from Nigeria, stated.
“This trip has been a life-changing experience for me. Visiting the birthplace of the nuclear industry in Obninsk and seeing the real-world applications of nuclear technology has broadened my understanding and fueled my aspirations to contribute to Africa’s energy future,” said Yasmin Ehab from Egypt.
Participants also explored the Atom Pavilion, a remarkable venue dedicated to showcasing the advancements and prospects of nuclear technology, and the Cosmos Pavilion, which offers a deep dive into the history and achievements of space exploration; both in VDNH park.
“It is very insightful to see everything, starting from history, because it leads you right through where it started in terms of nuclear energy and its application across the world, and it brings you to what it is today.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to see this; I have a little something to take with me back home,” Kamogelo Sehoole, a participant from South Africa, mentioned.
The cultural immersion continued with visits to iconic landmarks such as Red Square and the Kremlin, providing a backdrop for understanding Russia’s cultural heritage, as well as offering insights into the country’s political and historical narrative.
“This trip has been nothing short of exciting, fascinating and eye-opening. I’m especially grateful for the warm and wonderful welcome we received from the Rosatom team. They’re amazing! I can’t wait to learn and explore more of Moscow with them,” Munachimso Oguine added.
“Sharing this experience with other winners from Africa, was the most exciting part as we get to exchange a lot of life experiences and laughter,” said Ahmed Abdel Rahman from Sudan.
Since its inception in 2015, Rosatom’s Atoms Empowering Africa competition has been a driving force in empowering young individuals to delve into the realm of nuclear energy.
By encouraging African youth to explore and present the benefits of nuclear energy, the competition is not only fostering scientific curiosity but also paving the way for a sustainable energy future in Africa.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Angola: Police Arrest Eleven Fuel Smugglers… Seizes Quantities Of Fuel Destined To Namibia
Angolan national police, on Monday, seized at least 2.455 liters of fuel (petrol and diesel), which were to be sold in the Republic of Namibia.
The quantities of the petroleum products were seized in Namacunde, Angola’s southern province of Cunene.
The seizure occurred in homes and on public roads, as well as fuel pumps, mainly in the border area of Santa Clara municipality of Namacunde.
Chief Superintendent Nicolau Tuvecalela, local director for communication and press for Angolan national police, explained that the fuel was packed in 25 and 200-liter drums destined for Namibia, passing through illegal routes, which constitutes a crime.
Following the anti-smuggling operation, eleven citizens were arrested, including two Namibians.
The province of Cunene shares 460 kilometers of border with Namibia, 340 of which are land and 120 on river.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Nungua ECG Applauds Customer Compliance
The Nungua District of the Electricity Company of Ghana, which operates under its Tema Region, has commended its customers for their compliance and for allowing the staff to work in comfort.
This was shared by the District Manager, Ing James Teye who was giving an overview of their revenue mobilization activity, which is currently ongoing.
There have been previous reports where some customers had prevented ECG officials from accessing the meters.
This time around, however, Ing Teye said that “there has been a generally good and welcoming stance of our customers as we are on this revenue mobilization agenda.”
He added that “as part of this activity, we are also checking on the integrity of meters to ensure they are working well.”
Ing Teye called on the customers and the public to “continue to be supportive of ECG, to enable us to work and should there be issues of staff misconduct, please inform ECG via our customer service center or on social media and the issue will be addressed.”
The ECG is currently undertaking a revenue mobilisation exercise across its operational areas as part of measures to get customers to pay for the electricity they have consumed.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com