The UK government has imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft, as well as 51 tankers linked to the so-called “shadow fleet,” in what it described as a renewed effort to tighten energy sanctions and cut off Kremlin revenues, according to Reuters.
“We are introducing targeted sanctions against the two biggest oil companies in Russia, Lukoil and Rosneft,” Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, while on a trip to the United States.
“At the same time, we are ramping up pressure on companies in third countries, including India and China, that continue to facilitate the transport of Russian oil onto global markets,” she added.
Reeves emphasized that there was “no place for Russia on global markets” and that Britain would take all necessary steps to prevent Moscow from funding its war in Ukraine.
The new sanctions target 51 ships within the shadow fleet, as well as individuals and entities across sectors including energy and defense.
The shadow fleet has increasingly become the focus of sanctions from Britain, the United States, and the European Union since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The fleet comprises a network of older tankers that officials say are used to evade restrictions on Russian oil exports.
Russia’s embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has inaugurated the newly constituted Board of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCo).
The new Board is chaired by Hon. Cletus Seidu Dapilah.
Other members include Ing. Prof. Felix Kofi Abagale, Dr. Emelia Guo, Ing. Edward Obeng Kenzo (Chief Executive Officer of VRA), Ing. John Okine Yamoah (Ag. Managing Director of NEDCo) and Alhaji Seidu Imoro.
NEDCo is the second-largest power distribution company in Ghana, responsible for electricity distribution across the northern sector of the country.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony held at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, the Sector Minister, John Abdulai Jinapor, urged the Board to take decisive action to address long-standing operational challenges facing the utility provider.
He emphasised the importance of NEDCo’s role in the national energy supply chain and tasked the new Board to focus on three key priorities: improving revenue mobilisation, enhancing customer education, and ensuring consistent power supply across its operational zones.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Kenya Power has announced the completion of an inter-connector project between Kitui and Machakos counties at a cost of KSh 22 million(equivalent of $170,268.64.)
According to the company, the project will strengthen the stability of electricity supply around SEKU University, as well as in the Kwavonza and Katangini areas of Machakos County.
It will also provide an alternative power source to customers in parts of Machakos.
“This project will enhance service delivery and customer experience by improving the quality of power supply. Previously, SEKU University and adjacent customers were served by the Masii power line that runs from Katoloni in Machakos County, which often experienced outages due to its expansiveness,” said John Wanyoike, Kenya Power’s Kitui County Business Manager.
To further expand electricity access in Kitui County and reduce losses caused by overstretched power lines, Kenya Power plans to construct a substation at Mbitini.
The substation will boost power supply and reduce outages in areas such as Zombe, Ikanga, Voo, and Ikutha.
Over the last two years, the company has also completed a major upgrade of its Kitui Substation, doubling its capacity to 10 MVA. This was complemented by the construction of a dedicated power line to the substation — a move that has significantly improved power supply reliability to Kitui town and surrounding communities.
“The demand for electricity has been soaring recently, mainly from upcoming light industries and other customers connected to the grid. To meet this demand, we increased the capacity at the Kitui Substation and dedicated a 33kV line to it, with no other connections on the line. Prior to these upgrades, we frequently experienced power outages because the substation’s capacity was not adequate to serve all customers,” added Mr. Wanyoike.
Currently, more than 94,000 households within Kitui County are connected to the national grid. Under the ongoing Phase IV of the Last Mile Connectivity Project, the company is targeting an additional 7,500 household connections.
To improve infrastructure resilience in Kitui County, Kenya Power has also replaced approximately 1,200 wooden poles affected by termites with concrete poles — investing nearly KSh 140 million in this undertaking during the last financial year.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria’s quest to restore financial stability and investor confidence in the country’s electricity market has received a major boost with the finalization of the implementation framework for the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Plan, this portal can confirm.
This follows a high-powered meeting held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, attended by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; the Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu; and the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen, alongside senior executives of Nigeria’s electricity generation companies (GenCos), to review settlement modalities for the outstanding sectoral debt.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on the way forward, which includes conducting bilateral negotiations to finalize full and final settlement agreements that balance fiscal realities with the financial constraints of the GenCos, according to a statement issued by Senan Murray, Media and Communications Unit, Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy.
The Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Plan, which was approved by President Bola Tinubu and endorsed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in August 2025, authorizes the issuance of up to ₦4 trillion in government-backed bonds to settle verified arrears owed to generation companies and gas suppliers.
This intervention—the largest in over a decade—addresses a legacy debt overhang that has constrained investment, weakened utility balance sheets, and hindered reliable power delivery across the country.
“For the first time in years, we are seeing a credible and systematic effort by government to tackle the root liquidity challenges in the power sector,” said Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Transcorp Power.
“We commend President Tinubu and his economic team for this bold and transformative step,” he added.
Mr. Kola Adesina, Group Managing Director of Sahara Group, echoed this sentiment: “This initiative is significant in every respect. It gives us renewed confidence in the reform process and a clear signal that the government is serious about building a sustainable power sector.”
Beyond clearing arrears, the debt reduction plan signals a strategic reset of Nigeria’s electricity market. By restoring the financial health of power companies, it will enable new investment in generation capacity, modernize grid infrastructure, and deliver more reliable electricity to homes and businesses—creating a stronger foundation for industrialization, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.
“Our focus is on creating the right conditions for investment—from modernizing the grid and improving distribution to scaling embedded generation,” said Mrs. Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to the President on Energy.
“By closing metering gaps, aligning tariffs with efficient costs, improving subsidy targeting to support the poor and vulnerable, and restoring regulatory trust, we are shifting from crisis response to sustained delivery and building the confidence needed to attract large-scale private capital.”
Mr. Edun added: “These reforms go beyond liquidity. They are about rebuilding the fundamentals so that Nigeria’s power sector works for investors, for citizens, and for the next generation. This is how we create the enabling conditions for sustained private investment and transform reliable power into a catalyst for economic growth.”
Complementary efforts to scale renewable energy, leverage domestic gas as a transition fuel, and build local technical and institutional capacity will position Nigeria not just for energy security, but for energy sovereignty—creating one of Africa’s most attractive power markets.
The Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Plan is being jointly implemented by the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry of Power, and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, in collaboration with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc and other key stakeholders.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The energy transition has failed to live up to its promise, and now the pendulum is swinging back to traditional energy, according to a statement by the chief executive of Saudi Aramco, quoted by Zawya.
Speaking at the Energy Intelligence Forum in the UK, Amin Nasser said that “Much of the promised progress has not been delivered, with many unintended consequences. Thankfully, it is finally shifting the narrative in three key ways.”
The shift concerns, first, the fact that alternative energy sources have added to rather than replaced oil and gas, and second, that “every major forecaster is revising scenarios, with oil and gas locked in for decades”, Nasser said, saying he hoped the outlook for long-term oil and gas investment had changed for the better.
The third aspect of the shift in the energy narrative, per Nasser, is the growing number of political U-turns in energy as politicians acknowledge that the realities of the energy transition are very different from the theory.
Global energy demand has grown by 40 million barrels of oil equivalent daily over the last ten years, Nasser also said at the gathering. Some 66% of this new demand has been covered by oil, gas, and coal, he noted, as quoted by Zawya.
To date, total global primary energy consumption translates into 340 million barrels of oil equivalent, of which 80% comes from hydrocarbons – despite some $11 trillion being spent on alternative sources of energy such as wind and solar.
“This is not a phase-down of hydrocarbons, let alone a phase-out,” Nasser noted, with data consistently showing that even coal demand is on the rise despite efforts to curb it in many parts of the world. Aramco’s top executive also issued a warning about energy demand, which is currently experiencing a growth spurt driven by AI.
“By 2030, the entire data centre ecosystem could be consuming up to four times more electricity than the entire global battery EV fleet,” Nasser said.
Source: Oilprice.com
The Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG) has commenced a nationwide revenue mobilization exercise dubbed “Operation All Must Pay.”
The exercise, which began on Monday, 13th October, is expected to end on Friday, 31st October, 2025.
According to ECG, the exercise will focus on all categories of customers with arrears — residential, commercial, industrial, and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
It will include bill distribution, new service connection updates, flat-rate customer regularization, and faulty/foreign meter identification and replacement.
ECG cautioned that it would apprehend and prosecute customers who have connected electricity illegally, interfere with the exercise, or undertake illegal self-reconnection after disconnection.
“Customers with arrears are advised to pay their bills now to avoid disconnection and payment of reconnection fees. Customers who are unable to access their bills should visit the nearest ECG office for assistance,” the statement advised.
The power distribution company also encouraged customers to use regular payment channels, including the ECG Mobile App, to settle their bills.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s power transmission company, GRIDCo, has announced that work on relocating two of its major electricity transmission towers near Osino in the Eastern Region will be completed today, Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
The project, which involves relocating and restringing transmission lines along the Anyinam bypass, became necessary after severe erosion from the ongoing Kumasi–Accra road reconstruction project endangered the stability of the towers.
In a statement, GRIDCo said its Engineering, Technical Services, and Southern Network Departments have been working closely with the Ghana Highway Authority and its contractors to resite the infrastructure safely.
According to the company, Towers 226 and 227, standing 53 and 48 metres tall respectively, have already been erected, and engineers are currently completing the stringing of the power lines.
GRIDCo stated that the relocation is being carried out in strict adherence to safety and technical standards to ensure the stability of the national transmission network.
The company assured the public that it continues to collaborate with the Ghana Highway Authority to prevent future disruptions and safeguard power infrastructure along major national roads.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Liberia’s power generation capacity is expected to expand in the coming months following the signing of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) and Société Générale des Travaux Publics L’Eclair (SGTPL) for the development and deployment of a 40-megawatt (MW) thermal power plant.
The agreement was signed on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the LEC Headquarters in Waterside, Monrovia, by Mr. Mohammed M. Sherif, Managing Director of LEC, alongside Mr. Abdoul Karim Coulibaly, Director General and CEO of SGTPL, and Mr. Alou Badra Diarra, Project Director at SGTPL.
Under the partnership, SGTPL, a reputable Independent Power Producer (IPP) with a proven track record in energy infrastructure, will fully finance, develop, and deploy the 40MW thermal power plant.
The plant will be located at the existing LEC thermal plant site in Point Four, Bushrod Island, and is expected to be completed and become fully operational within seven months.
A statement issued by LEC revealed that detailed planning, site preparation, logistics coordination, and preliminary works are already underway.
Mr. Mohammed M. Sherif (left), Managing Director of LEC, and Mr. Abdoul Karim Coulibaly (right), Director General and CEO of SGTPL, pose for a photograph after signing the contract.
The statement further noted that LEC Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed M. Sherif, who is currently attending the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., will also sign a separate agreement with Release Utilities Africa Holding B.V. for the construction of a 23.75MWp solar power plant with a 10MWh battery storage capacity.
The proposed solar facility will be located near the LEC Schiefflin Substation, along the Roberts International Airport (RIA) corridor.
Once signed, the project will be executed within 64 weeks. Upon completion, it will inject clean, renewable energy into the national grid, significantly reducing Liberia’s reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
“This partnership represents a major leap forward for our power sector. It aligns with our long-term goal of achieving energy sovereignty and building a resilient, diversified energy mix capable of supporting national development,” said Mr. Mohammed M. Sherif, Managing Director of LEC.
Both the thermal and solar plants are expected to play a critical role during Liberia’s dry season, when reduced water levels affect generation at the Mt. Coffee Hydropower Plant. By increasing domestic energy generation capacity, LEC aims to stabilize power supply, minimize seasonal shortages, and meet the growing industrial load demand throughout both the rainy and dry seasons.
“These initiatives mark a significant step in Liberia’s ongoing energy transformation and reaffirm both LEC’s and the Government of Liberia’s commitment to providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to the Liberian people,” he added.
LEC expressed appreciation to all stakeholders and partners involved and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, efficiency, and sustainable development.
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has expressed outrage over the exploitation of consumers by some marketers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas. The marketers are allegedly hoarding the product, creating artificial shortages that have led to long queues and inflated prices.
For some time now, there have been long queues at LPG refilling outlets across several parts of the country. This has caused prices to surge from an average of ₦1,000 per kilogramme to about ₦2,000/kg in some locations.
The situation followed the recent strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over a dispute with the Dangote Refinery.
Almost two weeks after the strike was suspended, the price of cooking gas has continued to rise.
In a statement issued through his spokesman, Louis Ibah, on Monday, Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo expressed deep concern about the situation and appealed for calm and understanding from Nigerians, assuring them that the situation was temporary and would normalise by next week.
According to him, the sharp increase in prices was caused by two main factors — the industrial action by PENGASSAN at the Dangote Refinery and ongoing maintenance activities at the Nigeria LNG Train 4 facility.
The Minister explained that the PENGASSAN strike at the Dangote Refinery temporarily halted LPG loading, while maintenance work at NLNG reduced the volume of gas available in the domestic market. These disruptions, he said, led to a shortfall in supply and a consequent rise in prices due to a demand–supply imbalance.
Ekpo, however, noted that the situation was improving as operations had resumed at the Dangote Refinery, with the loading of LPG for the domestic market already underway.
He added that the Bonny River Terminal, operated by Seplat Energy, had also commenced loading, while NLNG was gradually restoring normal operations as its maintenance neared completion.
“With these developments, supply to the domestic market is expected to stabilise by next week, leading to a gradual reduction in prices,” the minister said.
Ekpo reiterated that the LPG market remains deregulated and urged marketers, distributors, and other stakeholders along the gas value chain to be patriotic in their dealings. He appealed to them to desist from hoarding and refrain from exploiting consumers for profit.
“The LPG market is deregulated, and I appeal to marketers, distributors, and all stakeholders along the value chain to be patriotic in their dealings, desist from hoarding, and refrain from exploiting consumers for profit,” Ekpo stated.
To ensure compliance, the minister has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intensify monitoring of LPG depots across the country to prevent product hoarding and other sharp practices capable of worsening the current situation.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Ghana’s economic regulator for utility services, has undertaken a comprehensive comparative study on the nation’s electricity tariffs.
This analysis, guided by the PURC Act 1997 (Act 538), positions Ghana’s electricity pricing within the broader scope of the African continent, offering evidence-based insights for key stakeholders and the PURC itself.
The study utilized cross-sectional electricity tariff data from selected African countries as of March 2025.
By examining regional and national tariff structures, pricing mechanisms, and influencing factors, the report aims to inform regulatory policy, promote transparency, and support efforts toward achieving cost-reflective and sustainable electricity pricing.
Ghana’s Tariff Framework
Ghana applies a hybrid tariff-setting framework. The PURC determines tariffs based on the actual costs of generation, transmission, and distribution, which ensures financial sustainability for utilities (like ECG, NEDCo, and VRA) while attempting to minimize undue consumer burdens.
This cost-reflective framework places Ghana among the more reform-oriented countries on the continent, similar to Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa. This contrasts sharply with systems in countries like Ethiopia and Sudan, which maintain highly subsidized tariffs, leading to price distortions and long-term investment unsustainability.
In terms of structure, Ghana, like most of the African continent, uses block tariff structures for residential consumers. This system charges different rates based on consumption, with lower “lifeline blocks” for basic use to promote equity and affordability for low-income households, while higher rates ensure cost recovery from high-use customers.
Ghana’s Tariffs Compared to the rest of the African Continent
When situated in the continental context, Ghana’s electricity tariffs sit near the African median, reflecting its balanced regulatory approach.
Central Africa
Central African electricity tariffs are among the highest and most volatile due to low economies of scale, infrastructural challenges, and instability. In comparison, Ghana’s tariffs are considerably lower, and the country benefits from much better electricity access and service reliability, underpinned by regulatory consistency.
Southern Africa
This region includes mature, largely deregulated markets (South Africa, Namibia) with some of the highest electricity tariffs for industrial users, as they incorporate environmental levies and high infrastructure expansion costs.
Ghana’s electricity tariffs are lower than in South Africa and Namibia, but share a similar structural emphasis on cost recovery and financial sustainability over blanket subsidies.
West Africa
The study found that Ghana’s electricity tariffs are moderate within the West African subregion.
They are however higher compared to those in subsidized countries such as Nigeria but lower than in smaller systems with high operational inefficiencies, such as Liberia and Sierra Leone. Ghana’s strong regulatory structure contributes to greater tariff stability and cost recovery compared to its neighbours.
East Africa
East Africa generally maintains lower average electricity tariffs due to its heavy reliance on hydropower and external funding. Compared to the East African region, Ghana’s tariffs seem relatively higher, mainly because Ghana’s energy mix includes a significant thermal generation component, which is exposed to foreign exchange fluctuations in fuel procurement.
North Africa
Electricity tariffs in North Africa (Egypt, Algeria, Morocco) are generally the lowest on the continent due to large-scale government subsidies and reliance on low-cost gas and oil. Relative to these economies, Ghana’s tariffs are significantly higher.
However, the North African model is considered financially unsustainable, as tariffs often fail to reflect the true cost of supply.
Sector Structures and Regulatory Models
Electricity sector governance across Africa is characterized by significant diversity. While many countries are moving away from traditional vertically integrated utilities towards structural separation—unbundling generation, transmission, and distribution—to enhance efficiency and attract private sector investment, no single uniform approach exists.
Countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa exhibit higher levels of structural separation and strong regulatory involvement, with independent regulatory authorities playing a central role in price determination.
This shift reflects a move toward greater transparency and professional oversight.
Tariff-setting methodologies also vary. Most African nations use cost-based approaches to ensure utilities recover efficient costs and earn a fair return.
Cost-Plus/Rate-of-Return: Used in countries like Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, and Mali, allowing utilities to recover costs with an approved margin.
Price-Cap Frameworks: Adopted by Cape Verde, Niger, Senegal, and Kenya, sets upper limits on tariff adjustments to promote efficiency.
Revenue-Cap Model: Implemented by counties including Burkina Faso, Togo, and Tanzania, focuses on total allowable revenues rather than price per unit.
Hybrid Approaches: Employed by advanced markets, including Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, combines elements of cost-of-service and incentive-based regulation to balance affordability and financial sustainability.
Notably, regulators in countries like Ghana, Mali, Niger, Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa explicitly calculate the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) to guide investment remuneration, aligning tariff structures with capital market conditions.
Conclusion
In essence, Ghana’s regulatory commitment to a cost-based framework, coupled with its targeted lifeline subsidy for the poor, successfully positions it as a balanced model for electricity pricing in Africa.
Ghana’s residential electricity tariffs are higher than in heavily subsidized economies (e.g., Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan) but lower than in purely market-based systems (e.g., Namibia and South Africa).
By aligning commercial and industrial electricity tariffs with the continental average, Ghana maintains competitiveness for businesses while ensuring the long-term viability of its utility sector.
The PURC’s mechanism for periodic tariff adjustments is crucial for reflecting currency fluctuations, fuel prices, and efficiency targets—all essential for maintaining sector stability.
Source: PURC
Algeria’s national oil company, SONATRACH, has signed a production-sharing contract with Midad Energy North Africa, a Saudi-based energy firm, for the exploration and development of hydrocarbons in the Illizi South Field, located approximately 100 km south of In Amenas.
The agreement was signed by Mr. Rachid Hachichi, Chairman and CEO of SONATRACH, and Sheikh Abdulelah Bin Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Aiban, Chairman and CEO of Midad Energy North Africa.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Mohamed Arkab, Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines; Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abdullah Al-Busairi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Algeria; as well as the President of the Managing Committee of the National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources and the Chairman of the Hydrocarbon Regulatory Authority.
The contract, signed under the provisions of Hydrocarbon Law No. 19-13, has a duration of 30 years, extendable for an additional 10 years, and includes a 7-year exploration period.
The total investment for the exploration and development of the field is estimated at US$5.4 billion, which will be fully financed by Midad Energy North Africa. Of this amount, US$288 million is allocated for exploration activities.
The hydrocarbon program will be implemented in strict compliance with Algeria’s environmental regulations and will incorporate advanced technological and digital solutions.
Furthermore, the project emphasizes local content development, prioritizing subcontracting and procurement from national suppliers.
At the end of the contractual period, total production from the Illizi South perimeter is projected to reach 993 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), including 125 billion cubic meters of natural gas for marketing and 204 million barrels of liquid hydrocarbons, comprising 103 million barrels of LPG and 101 million barrels of condensate.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian refineries crippled both Russia’s fuel production and exports, with seaborne shipments in September plunging by 17.1% compared to August, according to Reuters estimates based on data from industry sources.
Russia exported by sea 7.58 million metric tons of fuels last month, per the calculations, as shipments from the Russian ports on the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Azov Sea slumped by between 15% and 23%.
Exports of fuels from the Arctic ports inched up by 1.8% in September from August, while fuel shipments from Russia’s ports in the Far East fell by 1.5%.
Last month, Russia extended the ban on gasoline exports and introduced a ban on non-producers to export diesel by the end of the year.
The extension of the gasoline export ban and the introduction of a diesel export ban for trading companies is not surprising, as fuel shortages have emerged amid intensified Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries and other energy infrastructure.
Russia has not commented on the extent of the damage done by Ukrainian drones, but various reports have said that at least 10 refineries have been targeted with drones by Ukraine, and some of them have sustained damages and had to temporarily halt crude intake.
Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian refineries have resulted in a fuel crunch in Russia, where the shortage is estimated at up to 20% of demand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week.
“According to our data, the enemy’s gasoline shortage is up to around 20% of needs. Estimates vary from 13 to 20%, but it is confirmed that the shortage is already significant. In our view, it is about 20% today,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
“Our weapons are delivering tangible results,” the Ukrainian president added, as both Ukraine and Russia have intensified attacks on each other’s critical energy infrastructure ahead of the winter.
Source: oilprice.com
The administration of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has offered to open up Venezuela’s oil and gold projects to U.S. companies in an attempt to appease the Trump Administration and avoid conflict, the New York Times reported on Friday, quoting multiple sources close to the discussions.
Over several months, officials of the Maduro regime have negotiated with U.S. officials offers of Venezuela’s natural resources and proposed to end some deals with Iran and Russia, in an attempt to avoid increased confrontation with the United States.
Maduro has reportedly offered the Trump Administration to open all Venezuelan oil and gold projects to U.S. companies, NYT reports.
The regime in Venezuela was also ready to offer preferential contracts to American firms, re-direct Venezuela’s oil exports from China to the U.S., and reduce energy and mining deals with companies from Iran, China, and Russia.
However, the proposal from Maduro was apparently rebuffed by the U.S. Administration, which was instructed by President Trump to cut off diplomatic efforts with Venezuela, another NYT report said earlier this week.
The cut-off of the diplomatic outreach effectively killed a possible deal, at least for now, according to NYT’s sources close to the discussion.
In recent weeks, the U.S. has sent warships to the Caribbean and has targeted small boats off Venezuela alleging they were transporting drugs.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury authorized this week Shell and the government of Trinidad and Tobago to work on and develop an offshore gas field in Venezuela that is planned to supply gas to Trinidad, whose maritime border with Venezuela is close to the field.
The U.S. authorization is structured in three stages, Trinidad’s attorney general John Jeremie said on Thursday.
The first stage allows Shell and Trinidad to negotiate the project with Venezuela and its state oil and gas firm PDVSA. But the authorization makes the inclusion of U.S. firms in the project development mandatory.
“You have to hit commercial targets for U.S. companies. We don’t think those targets are hard to meet. They are reasonable,” Jeremie said at a press conference, as carried by Reuters.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Africa’s petroleum refining capacity is expanding at a faster rate as Uganda’s long-awaited 60,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery project, estimated at $4 billion, advances steadily, with operations expected to commence between the fourth quarter of 2029 and the first quarter of 2030.
Upon completion, the project will significantly expand Africa’s petroleum refining capacity and become the newest major refinery after the Sentuo Refinery (60,000 barrels per day) in Ghana and Africa’s largest petroleum refinery, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Nigeria.
The project aims to reduce the region’s reliance on imported fuel, strengthen domestic energy security, and position Uganda as a key player in Africa’s downstream oil sector.
Located in Kabaale, Hoima District, the refinery is being jointly developed by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) and UAE-based Alpha MBM Investments under a 60,000-barrel-per-day capacity agreement signed in March 2025. UNOC will hold a 40% stake, while Alpha MBM will provide the remaining 60%.
Speaking at the Invest in Uganda panel discussion during the 2025 African Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa, Mr. Michael Nkambo Mugerwa, General Manager of the Uganda Refinery Holding Company, said the $4 billion facility will anchor the country’s transition from a crude exporter to a refined-product hub — part of Africa’s broader drive to strengthen local refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported fuels.
Mr. Michael Nkambo Mugerwa, General Manager of the Uganda Refinery Holding Company.
“This project goes beyond fuel production. We are looking at petrochemicals, kerosene, fertilizers, and gas processing — the refinery is designed to capture the full value chain,” he said, as reported by Business Insider.
The refinery forms part of a broader industrial ecosystem being developed within the Hoima Industrial Park, supported by $3–4 billion in initial investments, with the potential to attract an additional $1–2 billion.
Last year, the Ugandan government agreed to fund the refinery entirely through equity — contributing 40%, while Alpha MBM Investments LLC provides the remaining 60%. The decision followed challenges in securing international debt financing, as European and American banks increasingly distance themselves from fossil fuel projects.
However, Mugerwa noted that 15 investors have already committed to the project, alongside significant infrastructure works, including new roads, water systems, and a 200 MW high-voltage power supply.
The complex will not only serve Uganda’s domestic market but will also supply Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, creating a cross-border trade corridor for refined fuels and petrochemicals.
Ugandan leaders view the project as more than an energy milestone. Irene Bateebe, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, said the government is expanding its national energy portfolio to 10,000 MW, including hydro, solar, and nuclear sources.
“We have committed $5 billion for power infrastructure. This is about building a sustainable energy base for the future,” she said.
Uganda’s refinery joins a growing list of new African projects aimed at ending the continent’s dependence on imported fuels.
Nigeria’s $20 billion Dangote Refinery, which became operational earlier in 2025, has already reduced Nigeria’s fuel imports by more than half while exporting refined products to the U.S., Europe, and across West Africa.
The success of Dangote’s model — privately financed but nationally strategic — is now serving as a blueprint for emerging refinery projects in Uganda, Angola, and Senegal.
As global energy dynamics shift, Africa’s refining ambitions are no longer just about fuel security but also about economic sovereignty.
For Uganda, the upcoming refinery represents both a national milestone and a step toward a self-sufficient African energy landscape.
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.com
In a statement, GRIDCo said its Engineering, Technical Services, and Southern Network Departments have been working closely with the Ghana Highway Authority and its contractors to resite the infrastructure safely.
According to the company, Towers 226 and 227, standing 53 and 48 metres tall respectively, have already been erected, and engineers are currently completing the stringing of the power lines.
GRIDCo stated that the relocation is being carried out in strict adherence to safety and technical standards to ensure the stability of the national transmission network.
The company assured the public that it continues to collaborate with the Ghana Highway Authority to prevent future disruptions and safeguard power infrastructure along major national roads.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com 
