Gambia: NAWEC Terminates Services Of Treasury Manager, Suspends Finance Director Over Misconduct
The Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has terminated the services of its Treasury Manager and suspended the Finance Director following allegations of misconduct in a telephone conversation between the Director of Finance and a purported supplier.
A statement issued by NAWEC mentioned that the alleged conversation involved unauthorised financial arrangements in violation of the policies and ethical standards of NAWEC.
The statement said the company has a zero-tolerance stance on unethical practices and a strong commitment to transparency, accountability and the protection of public resources.
According to the statement, The Gambia Police Force and the NAWEC compliance team have been tasked to conduct comprehensive investigations into the matter.
It warned that if the allegations were substantiated, the company would take decisive disciplinary and legal actions in line with its internal policies and national laws.
“We appeal to the public and the media to exercise restraint while investigations are underway. Updates will be communicated promptly,” the statement concluded.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Oil & Gas: Ghana Elects Mr John Mahama As New President
Ghana, an oil producing West African nation, has elected the flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, as the country’s sixth President under its Fourth Republic.
Mr Mahama, who was the fourth President of Ghana between 2012 and 2016, launched a comeback and succeeded in beating the governing party’s flag bearer and Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in an election that was contested by twelve presidential candidates.
Certified results announced by the country’s electoral management body, (Electoral Commission), on Monday, 9th December 2024, showed that Mr Mahama obtained 6,328,397 representing (56.55%) while Dr Mahamudu Bawumia garnered 4,657,304, representing (41.61%).
The 10 remaining presidential candidates polled 205,721, representing (1.84%).
The election which was held on Saturday, 7th December 2024, recorded pockets of violence in some constituencies across the country.
The opposition party secured a commanding majority of 185 seats in Parliament while the governing party secured about 65 seats with three independent seats.
Ghana commenced oil production in 2010 under the National Democratic Congress administration led by the late President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills.
Initial output increased from 24.2 million barrels in 2011 to a peak of 71.44 barrels in 2019.
Production from the basin has since dropped after 2019 by about 32 per cent to 48.25 MMbbl in 2023.
Currently, the country’s daily oil production from the three oil fields is hovering around 120, 242 barrels per day.
The decline in oil production has been a major concern to many industry watchers in the country.
Recently, at the Africa Oil Week (AOW) in Cape Town, South Africa, the Chief Executive Officer of Petroleum Commission, Ghana, Lawyer Egbert Faibille Jnr., told oil and gas investors that his outfit had presented a raft of proposals to the Ministry of Energy seeking a review of Ghana’s fiscal regime to make the upstream sector very attractive.
Subsequently, at the launch of the AOW in Accra last month, the Minister for Energy Herbert Krapa told this portal that the Ministry had received the proposals and is working on them.
Ahead of this year’s election, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) promised in their 2024 Manifesto to increase exploration activities to establish new reserves by rebuilding investor confidence through policy and regulatory clarity, consistency, predictability, transparency, and governance and attract world-class investors.
It also plans to innovate multi-field development systems that optimise the development of infrastructure and allow profitable production of otherwise marginal fields.
Additionally, the NDC plans to fully domesticate the non-revenue benefits of the oil and gas industry for Ghanaians by enhancing technology transfer, supporting local businesses, and increasing local content in procurement. This includes re-establishing the National Oil Company (NOC) as a centre of excellence and reviewing laws and policies to align with these goals.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
World’s Only Nuclear-Powered Icebreaker Fleet Marks 65th Anniversary
65 years ago, the first vessel with a nuclear power plant gave humanity the opportunity to explore hard-to-reach Arctic territories and lay new routes.
65 years ago, the flag was raised on the world’s first nuclear icebreaker – Lenin.
Its launch was a big step for all of humanity as it allowed to transfer through multimetre ice in the northern part of our planet. Lenin led thousands of ships through the Arctic ice, covered 654 thousand nautical miles – 151 times distance from north to south of the African continent – and worked on the Northern Sea Route for 30 years.
Anniversary events dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the country’s icebreaker fleet were held on December 3 in Murmansk, hosted by Atomflot (a part of Rosatom Group).
A meeting of Atomflot employees and an award ceremony for seamen and shore-based personnel was held in celebration of the holiday. Andrei Chibis, Governor of the Murmansk Region, Sergey Dubovoy, Chairman of the Murmansk Regional Duma, Boris Kabakov, Director of the Department of Project Implementation in the NSR and Arctic of the Arctic Directorate of Rosatom State Corporation, and Yakov Antonov, Head of Atomflot, were among guests.
“This is a great year when we can say clearly that transition from icebreakers of the past generation to 22220 icebreakers of a completely new generation has taken place. There is demand for our services. And, most importantly, there is clear support from our partners. When you understand and see the significance of our services and their relevance, it lifts your spirits and strengthens seamen’s confidence in the future,” Yakov Antonov emphasised.
Today, Atomflot’s nuclear icebreaker fleet includes seven nuclear icebreakers.
Three of them are the newest Project 22220 icebreakers with 60 MW shaft power – Arktika, Sibir and Ural.
Project 22220 nuclear icebreakers are based on a nuclear power plant with two RITM-200 reactors with thermal capacity of 175 MW each, thanks to which the period of operation without fuel recharging is increased up to 7 years, and the ice penetration reaches 2.9 metres.
They can change their draft from 10.5 to 9.03, which allows them to operate both at sea and in river mouths. Four more icebreakers of this project and the heavy-duty icebreaker Russia of project 10510 are at different stages of construction.
The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is the shortest shipping route between western Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region. The length of the route is 5.6 thousand kilometres.
One of the strategic goals of Rosatom State Corporation is to make the NSR an efficient transport artery linking Europe, Russia and the Asia-Pacific region. A federal project to develop the Great Northern Sea Route – a transport corridor from St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad to Vladivostok – is currently being developed.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Zambia: ZESCO Hints Of Intense Load-Shedding As 300MW Power Imports Is Lost
Zambians are likely to experience intense load-shedding from now as the country’s power distribution company, ZESCO Limited, has announced the unavailability 300MW of power imports from its neighbour, Mozambique.
This will affect power supply in the Southern African nation.
A statement issued by ZESCO Limited on Sunday attributed the unforeseen development to the shutdown of some of Mozambique’s power generating facilities.
“The power is sourced by ZESCO and independent power traders to cushion our power supply gap arising from the country’s drought induced hydropower generation deficit,” it said.
In view of this unfortunate development, ZESCO said it had instituted emergency load management measures that have affected the supply of the scheduled seven hours of power supply to its residential customers until the situation normalises.
ZESCO said it would monitor the situation and update its customers and the public as more information becomes available.
“The Corporation regrets the impact of this unplanned power import reduction and seeks our customers understanding and cooperation.
“In this period of emergency load management, customers are advised to strictly treat all power supply lines to be live at all times, as power supply schedules may change without prior notice,” the statement concluded.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Equinor Completes Nigeria, Azerbaijan Asset Sales Of Up To $2 Billion
Equinor has closed the planned sale of its assets in Nigeria and Azerbaijan for a total consideration of up to $2 billion, completing exits from the two countries after some 30 years, the Norwegian oil and gas firm said on Monday.
The divestments, first announced in 2023 and completed in recent weeks, will boost cash flow in the fourth quarter and were in line with Equinor’s strategy to optimise its international portfolio, the group said in a statement.
“The exits enable investments to deepen further in countries where Equinor can add the most value and build a more focused and robust international portfolio,” the company said without elaborating.
Equinor has previously said it plans to increase its international output by some 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) by 2030 by bringing on stream new fields in Brazil, Britain and the United States.
In Nigeria, Equinor sold its assets, including a 20.21% stake in the Agbami oil field operated by Chevron , to Chappal Energies for up to $1.2 billion, consisting of $710 million in cash and the remainder in contingent payments.
The company did not say how market prices and other factors could affect contingent payments.
In Azerbaijan it sold a 7.27% stake in the Azeri Chirag Gunashli (ACG) field, a 8.71% stake in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline and a 50% stake in the Karabagh project to Azerbaijan’s SOCAR and India’s ONGC for a total of $745 million.
Equinor’s net production in Azerbaijan and Nigeria averaged 24,600 and 17,700 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed), respectively, during the first three quarters of 2024.
Source: Reuters.com
South Africa: Electricity Minister Promises To Work With Municipalities Regarding Eskom Debt
South Africa’s Minister for Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has promised to work with ailing municipalities in the country to deal with their debt to Eskom.
The minister visited Tokologo Local Municipality in Boshof in the Free State to address municipal debt issues.
The municipality owes the power entity R328 million.
The last time the municipality honoured its debt with Eskom was three years ago.
Eskom intended to reduce electricity supply by the end of January next year but that move has since been averted.
Minister Ramokgopa says the municipality and the provincial government will look into how they resolve the issue.
Source: hhtps://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: High Court Stops New Coal Capacity Plan
South Africa’s High Court has ruled that government plans for new coal-fired power capacity are unlawful as they violate the constitutional right to health.
The Government planned to seek 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired electricity capacity.
However , the plans have been challenged in court by three activists group who argued that new coal plants could lead to damages to public health.
The High Court held that the government plans and decisions to seek the procurement of new coal power are “unlawful and invalid,” Judge C.J. van der Westhuizen wrote in a ruling published on Wednesday and quoted by Bloomberg.
South Africa, one of the world’s largest coal producers and exporters, continues to rely on coal for a large part of its energy mix. Currently, some 85% of South Africa’s electricity is generated via coal-fired power stations.
South Africa could see an additional up to 50,000 deaths due to air pollution and billions of U.S. dollars in health costs if a proposal to delay the decommissioning of coal-fired power plants goes through, a Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said earlier this year.
In a 2023 report, CREA said that if the rate of decommissioning in the 2030s and 2040s is not accelerated from current plans, further delays to the decommissioning of other units would multiply the health impacts of the delay to 32,300 deaths from air pollution and economic costs of $40 billion (721 billion South African rands).
Crippled by an energy crisis for several years, South Africa is struggling to shut down coal plants, while it needs billions of U.S. dollars to boost the share of clean energy sources in its power mix.
South Africa is currently negotiating loan guarantees with its international partners in its $9.3-billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) program for energy investment.
The lack of loan guarantees has so far withheld the disbursement of much of the funds of the multi-billion-dollar partnership aimed at helping South Africa reduce its reliance on coal and cut carbon emissions.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Port Harcourt Refinery Is Running… Doubters Are Invited For Facility Tour…Says NNPC
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has insisted that the old Port Harcourt Refinery is up and running, with loading operations in full swing.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari, gave the confirmation at the inauguration of the NUPENG Towers in Lagos on Wednesday.
In a goodwill message at the event, Kyari extended invitation to human rights activist and lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, and all those in doubt to join the NNPC Ltd on a tour of the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna to verify their status.
He also shed light on the controversy around products blending, stating that blending was not a crime as it is an integral part of the refining process.
“If you don’t blend, you will bring out off-spec products which will destroy your vehicles.
“Every refinery blends because what is on specification in the United States of America will be off-spec in Nigeria and elsewhere. Blending is necessary to bring products to the specification of different countries or regions,” he explained.
Kyari also congratulated NUPENG on the successful completion of the NUPENG Towers and urged the union to continue to prioritise dialogue and co-operation in its relationship with NNPC Ltd and the Federal Government.
He disclosed that the President’s interventions in the oil and gas industry by way of Executive Orders were yielding positive results, with more investments coming in and prospects of more jobs in the industry.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Shell And Equinor To Form UK Oil And Gas Joint Venture
Shell and Norway’s Equinor will merge their British offshore oil and gas assets into an equal joint venture, they announced on Thursday.
The venture, to be based in Aberdeen, Scotland, is expected to produce over 140,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed), with completion of the deal expected by the end of 2025.
“The new company will provide a long-term sustainable future for individual oil and gas fields and platforms, helping extend the life of this crucial sector for the benefit of the UK,” Shell and Equinor said in a statement.
While the new entity would become the British North Sea’s biggest independent producer, there is no intention to conduct an initial public offering, Shell Upstream Director Zoe Yujnovich told reporters.
The ageing British North Sea basin, where production started in the 1970s, has seen a steady exit of oil companies in recent decades as production declined from a peak of 4.4 million boed at the start of the millennium to around 1.3 million boed today.
The British government’s decision to impose a windfall tax on North Sea producers following a surge in energy costs in 2022 has put further pressure on producers to reduce investment and exit the basin.
The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) regulator has forecast output will decline to fewer than 200,000 boed by 2050.
Shell UK’s output stands at over 100,000 boed and Equinor currently produces some 38,000 boed per day in Britain, the companies said.
Equinor is currently developing the Rosebank oilfield, one of the last known major oil reservoirs in Britain, while Shell is developing the Jackdaw gas field.
The new company will include Equinor’s stakes in the Mariner, Rosebank and Buzzard fields, and Shell’s holdings in Shearwater, Penguins, Gannet, Nelson, Pierce, Jackdaw, Victory, Clair and Schiehallion, the Norwegian group said.
A range of exploration licences will also be part of the transaction, it added.
Equinor will retain ownership of the Utgard, Barnacle and Statfjord cross-border assets between Norway and Britain, as well as its offshore wind portfolio including Sheringham Shoal, Dudgeon, Hywind Scotland and Dogger Bank, it said.
It will also retain its hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, power generation, battery storage and gas storage assets, it added.
Shell will keep its interests in the Fife NGL plant, St Fergus Gas Terminal and floating wind projects under development, MarramWind and CampionWind.
Shell UK will also continue as the technical developer of Acorn, Scotland’s largest carbon capture and storage project, Equinor said.
Source: Reuters.com
Ghana: ACEP Punches Holes In NPP, NDC 2024 Manifesto Promises On Upstream Petroleum Sector
The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), an energy think tank in the Republic of Ghana, has punched holes in the 2024 Manifesto promises of the major political parties on the upstream oil and gas sector barely a few days to a general election in the West African country.
In a document titled 2024 Election Playbook, which focused on power and petroleum-downstream and upstream sectors, and funded by OXFAM, the Africa Centre for Energy Policy took time to analyse all the proposed commitment of political parties, including the recently formed New Force and Movement for Change founded by the former Trade and Industries Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanteng.
Ghana began commercial oil and gas production from the offshore Tano Basin in 2010. Initial output increased from 24.2 million barrels in 2011 to a peak of 71.44 barrels in 2019. Production from the basin has since dropped after 2019 by about 32% to 48.25 MMbbl in 2023. To date, the offshore Tano Basin remains the only productive hydrocarbon basin in Ghana.
ACEP’s decision to analyse the manifestos of the four political parties is to see which of the manifestos can address the issues in the upstream sector to increase exploration and production of oil and gas.
In the NPP’s 2024 Manifesto, the party has proposed to simplify approval processes for appraisals and production programmes to re-energise upstream activities and fully implement the Infrastructure -Led Exploration (ILX) strategy to unlock the full potential of Ghana’s offshore reserves.
Additionally, the party proposed to partner the private sector to build and maximise gas processing infrastructure for power generation, ammonia for fertilizer and gas to petrochemical liquids.
Furthermore, the party proposed to review and strengthen the Petroleum Revenue Management Act to streamline government allocation of oil funds and address gaps in the law and introduce a dedicated National Ghanaian Content Fund and National Data Acquisition Fund to help Ghanaian enterprises to enhance their competitiveness and effectively participate in the upstream sector.
In its analysis of the NDC’s manifesto promises, ACEP welcomed the attempt by the NPP to improve regulatory processes in the upstream sector.
However, the think tank said an International Oil Company (IOC) would only seek approval for appraisal or production of a favourable environment for licence acquisition and exploration, and the IOC would find evidence of economic reserves of hydrocarbon.
It underscored that efforts to improve the approval processes for appraisal and production should not be at the expense of enhancing licensing and exploration activities.
Touching on the Infrastructure-Led Exploration (ILX), ACEP stated that this strategy has the potential to boost production and cut development costs if applied fairly and transparently.
However, it said the policy must be standardised and amplified to avoid excessive discretionary application, which has recently favoured or disadvantaged certain industry players.
According to ACEP, the promise to involve the private sector in gas processing remains stalled and shrouded in politics and boardroom disputes.
“A transparent, competitive selection with parliamentary oversight is essential to move it forward,” ACEP suggested.
Also, it indicated that NPP’s manifesto lacks specifics on the aspect that reviews the Petroleum Revenue Management Act. It pointed out that past attempts to review it focusing on the use of the Heritage Fund and oil revenue collateralisation were rejected by stakeholders.
“Voters need clarity on the proposed changes to make informed decisions,” it suggested.
On the issue of National Ghanaian Content Fund and National Data Acquisition Fund, ACEP recalled that the government has implemented a Local Content Fund for the past ten years without results and questioned how different would the proposed National Ghanaian Content Fund be from the existing local Content Fund.
Additionally, it said the manifesto does not clarify the funding sources which has been the major problem of the Local Content Fund.
Turning its attention on the NDC’s 2024 manifesto, ACEP said the NDC plans to increase exploration activities to establish new reserves by rebuilding investor confidence through policy and regulatory clarity, consistency, predictability, transparency, and governance and attract world-class investors. It also plans to innovate multi-field development systems that optimise development of infrastructure and allow profitable production of otherwise marginal fields.
Additionally, the NDC plans to fully domesticate non-revenue benefits of the oil and gas industry for Ghanaians by enhancing technology transfer, supporting local businesses, and increasing local content in procurement. This includes re-establishing the National Oil Company (NOC) as a centre of excellence and reviewing laws and policies to align with these goals.
In its analysis of these commitments, ACEP noted that during the previous NDC administration, several oil blocks were awarded to lesser-known oil companies that ultimately failed their mandate.
It said given this history, the proposed shift towards engaging world-class investors is commendable. It, however, said the party must outline a clear strategy for attracting and securing these world-class investors.
ACEP further noted that optimising development infrastructure for profitable production is essential. It, however, stated that this strategy must be standardised and simplified to avoid excessive discretionary application, which has recently favoured or disadvantaged certain industry players.
Concluding on NDC’s commitment, ACEP pointed out that the NDC’s manifesto failed to clarify the gaps in existing laws that require review. It added that is essential for the NDC to clarify the meaning of establishing the National Oil Company as a centre of excellence as it raises pertinent questions about its current mandate and role.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Rahul Dhir To Step Down As Tullow CEO
Africa focused independent oil and gas firm, Tullow Oil Plc.has announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Rahul Dhir will step down and also resign from the Board during 2025 to pursue other business, academic and family interests.
A statement issued by the company said its board has initiated a process to find his successor.
Rahul will stay in his role until a date to be determined to ensure a smooth transition.
Phuthuma Nhleko, Non-Executive Chairman, said “I would like to thank Rahul for his hard work and dedication to Tullow. Since joining in 2020, Rahul has led a comprehensive turn-around and strategic reset of Tullow, focussed on the delivery of operational and financial performance, debt reduction and positioning the company for future growth.”
Rahul Dhir, Chief Executive Officer, said “It’s been a privilege to serve Tullow during these past four and a half years. During this period, we have achieved a step change in our operating performance, cost structure and capital discipline and delivered over $1.1 billion in free cash flow and reduced our net debt from $2.8 billion to c.$1.4 billion.”
He added “I am also very proud of our team’s strong culture of ownership and commitment to business delivery. With a strong pan-African platform, Tullow is well-positioned as a trusted partner and responsible operator to deliver the next phase of growth.”
Rahul Dhir was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and an Executive Director of Tullow in April 2020.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Gambia: EU Ambassador Visits Ongoing Construction Of Jambur Solar Plant
The European Union (EU) Ambassador and Head of Delegation, Imma Roca i Cortés, has led a delegation to see the ongoing Jambur Solar Plant in The Gambia to assess the progress and impact of this vital renewable energy initiative.
According to a statement issued by the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), the delegation was warmly received by NAWEC’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr Edrissa B. Jarju, and the Project Coordinator of The Gambia Electricity Restoration and Moderniwation Project (GERMP), Mrs Haddy Njie.
This high-level visit underscores the robust partnership between the European Union, the Government of The Gambia and NAWEC in driving sustainable energy development.
The collaboration is pivotal in achieving the country’s ambitious energy goals which include increasing electricity access and transitioning to renewable energy sources.
The Jambur Solar Plant, a flagship initiative under the GERMP, is co-funded by the World Bank, the European Union, the European Investment Bank and other development partners.
It is a cornerstone project aimed at enhancing energy efficiency, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and ensuring reliable electricity for The Gambian communities.
During the visit, Mr Jarju expressed profound gratitude to the European Union and the Government of The Gambia for their unwavering support and reaffirmed NAWEC’s commitment to delivering sustainable energy solutions.
Ambassador Imma Roca Cortés commended the impressive progress achieved and highlighted the importance of continued collaboration among the EU, The Gambian Government and NAWEC to drive transformative energy solutions.
The visit reflects the vital role of strategic partnerships in advancing The Gambia’s energy sector and achieving its sustainable development objectives.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com China Could Approve 100 New Nuclear Reactors By 2035
China could keep the pace of approving at least 10 new nuclear reactors over the next 10 years, a domestic industry group says, as the country has been accelerating the approval and construction of nuclear power plants over the past few years.
China could commit to a “realistic target” of 10 new approvals each year through 2035, Tian Jiashu, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Nuclear Society, said at the BloombergNEF Summit in Shanghai this week.
Air pollution from coal-fired power plants is a major impetus for China to expand its nuclear generation fleet.
China is not giving up coal, but it is betting on nuclear, too, to meet its rising power demand with cleaner energy sources.
Over the past decade, China has added more than 34 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity over the past decade as new installations surged.
Over the past two years, China has approved at least 10 new nuclear reactors for construction.
Earlier this year, China approved the construction of 11 new nuclear reactors, breaking a record and once again demonstrating its all-of-the-above attitude to energy security.
The country is building more nuclear power plants than any other country in the world—just like its coal power plants—and based on those record approvals, it plans to build even more, becoming the world’s biggest nuclear generator by 2030, according to BloombergNEF.
Currently, China has 57 operable reactors with a total capacity of 55.7 GW, as well as 30 reactors under construction with a combined capacity of 32 GW, according to the World Nuclear Association.
Yet, China would need more private investment in nuclear reactors to keep the pace of reactor approvals and construction, Chinese Nuclear Society’s Tian said at the BloombergNEF event.
The United States still has the largest nuclear fleet in the world, with 94 reactors, but it took nearly 40 years to add the same nuclear power capacity as China added in 10 years, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said earlier this year.
Source: Oilprice.com
Ghana: NPA CEO’s Great Journey In Perspective
A great journey is indeed coming to an end at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). A journey of vigour, upliftment, innovation, and growth. That is the journey the NPA Chief Executive, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has embarked upon in the last four years.
It is mostly difficult for academicians and politicians to transition into the technical space or industry but Dr. Abdul-Hamid has belied that notion.
He was appointed NPA Chief Executive in 2021 for a four-year term with a background in academia and political leadership as a Minister.
He transitioned seamlessly into a guru in the country’s downstream petroleum industry.
He is credited for ensuring uninterrupted importation and supply of fuel products in the country in difficult moments when other African countries were experiencing shortages.
His acumen went beyond the borders of Ghana, encouraging downstream petroleum industry players in Africa to elect him as the President of the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA), the first-ever pan-African organization for the downstream oil sector.
In recent interviews with Directors at the NPA and players in the downstream petroleum industry, the unanimity of views is that Dr. Abdul-Hamid has introduced significant policies and brought stability and sanity into the industry.
They all touted his progressive and human-centred leadership style. His impact on the Authority in his four-year journey thus far is enormous. Snippets from the effects can be considered for the sake of brevity.
Relating to innovation and drive, the impact is evident in the implementation of key policy programmes of the Authority. He has implemented the cylinder recirculation model (CRM) policy to cater for the current intricate distribution concept and ensure safety in the distribution chain of LPG.
He has also introduced a tender programme for the importation of LPG. The programme has achieved its intended purpose of eliminating huge jumps in the price of LPG.
It has brought down the cost of LPG premium from about $100 per metric tonne (MT) to about $30 MT, saving the country about $70 MT.
He again supported the implementation of technological systems to ensure fuel integrity, effective monitoring of fuel transportation, and protection of customer interests.
The NPA has witnessed exponential growth in revenue generation for the state and infrastructure development through Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s drive. The collection of levies and margins have shot up from a little over 50 percent to above 90 percent.
The vigour that Dr. Abdul-Hamid introduced to the NPA is visible in the media presence of the Authority. His background as a former Minister of Information might have played a part in how the organization has been receiving the media mileage.
An aspect of Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s vigour is manifest in his ability to crack the whip no matter the supposed political affiliation of the offending party in the industry. With the support of the Board, he revoked the licenses of almost 80 Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) over the past three years due to their failure to meet regulatory requirements. His strong position has brought sanity to the country’s downstream petroleum industry.
On restructuring the Authority, he also led a process by the Corporate Affairs Directorate to rebrand the Authority regarding the look and feel.
Dr Abdul-Hamid believed there was a need to refresh the brand to reflect the positive direction and vision of the Authority, hence, the launch of a new logo, new color schemes, and typography.
The reception area was redesigned to give an exotic ambiance for receiving visitors. He commissioned a call centre for the Authority to increase efficiency and timeous handling of customer complaints and inquiries. The name of the NPA was broadly mounted at the frontages of the Authority for easy identification.
In terms of upliftment, it is an understatement to say Dr. Abdul-Hamid has put smiles on the faces of the staff of the NPA.
He pushed for general promotions, which have been delayed for years.
He also approved several training programmes for the staff to improve their performance in line with corporate goals.
Another significant upliftment drive initiated by Dr. Abdul-Hamid was his encouragement of young managers to be more visible in the media to explain technical issues. That push prepared the young leaders to take up director positions.
Besides, he promoted religious tolerance and cohesion at NPA; he allowed for morning prayer services for Christians and created an opportunity for Muslims to observe their daily and Friday (Jum’a) prayers at a designated place, which was unprecedented.
His modesty is sublime as he introduced a policy of sitting in common buses with his Deputies, Directors, Heads of Department, and officers for external meetings and sporting activities.
An office annex has been constructed at the Authority’s head office in Accra. The new building has a laboratory for testing fuel quality and offices. No wonder he has won many awards from industry watchers, including the 2021 and 2022 CEO for the Year and 2022 Outstanding Public Sector Leader.
As Dr. Abdul-Hamid prepares to end his four-year tenure as NPA CE, the joy is that he has left his footprints in the sands of NPA and the downstream petroleum industry in Ghana and Africa. It is indeed a strong mark and the industry will be better for it.
Source: NPA