Iran and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding pertaining to oil and gas on the sidelines of the 6th Russian Energy Week International Forum.
The MoU was signed by the chief of Iran’s Institute for International Studies and the CEO of Russia’s Roscongress Foundation, SHANA reported.
The two organizations—sharing similar footing over Western sanctions of its oil and gas exports—will team up to study proposed projects for energy cooperation between the two countries.
The groups will also form a think tank to study and pursue joint collaborations in terms of energy.
Iran’s Minister of Petroleum Javad Owji was visiting Moscow this week for Russian Energy Week on an invitation from Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.
On Wednesday, Owji disclosed that the two countries both had access to significant reserves of hydrocarbons and said that MoUs had been signed with upstream and downstream companies in Russia, adding that oil and gas cooperation between the two countries was one of the primary reasons for the visit to Moscow.
This week’s visit follows Alexander Novak’s visit to Iran back in May, where he highlighted the benefits of increased cooperation between Iran and Russia in the areas of oil and gas.
At the time, Novak visited several oil and gas equipment manufacturers and discussed plans to work together with Owji.
The two countries would benefit from cooperation in the fossil fuels segments, with both countries’ industries being squeezed by Western sanctions.
Cooperation between the two could undermine the effectiveness of the sanctions, which has already been called into question.
The two countries rely heavily on their oil and gas riches to finance their state budgets, and even current sanctions have failed to strip the two of their fossil fuel-derived revenues.
China remains a large buyer of sanctioned Iranian and Russian crude oil.
Source: Oilprice.com
Managing South Africa’s transmission network more strategically could unlock significant amounts of renewable energy capacity, to make more power available to the country, its people and its economy.
This view was expressed by Segomoco Scheepers, Managing Director of the transmission division for Eskom during a presentation at the Green Energy Africa Summit on Tuesday.
According to him, by using a system called curtailment, the transmission network can be capacitated to host more renewable generators, and up to 4GW of additional capacity can be connected.
Current Eskom peak daily generation is around 28GW.
Energynewsafrica.com gathered that curtailment involves reducing output from renewables plants to release immediate grid capacity.
“Curtailment is a technique applied by utilities in parts of the world that have a far larger penetration of renewables than we have,” said Scheepers.
“We are engaging with our customer base who might be affected by the curtailment plan, and so far the feedback has been very positive.”
The curtailment approach could unlock scarce grid capacity in high-potential renewables regions like the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape, and would allow for additional generation capacity to be built at points on the grid that had previously been fully committed.
“In general terms, for the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape. With less than 10% curtailment, we can add an additional 4GW of generation capacity. But clearly, it’s something that needs to be properly discussed with the regulator and other stakeholders,” said Scheepers.
“We will then be able to communicate who can be connected to specific nodes on the grid. Getting approval for this strategy is already part of our workflow process.”
Scheepers said the proposed framework requires the approval of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and an outline by the Independent Power Producer Office.
“Without curtailment, it’s almost like you are wasting energy,” explained Scheepers.
“Curtailment ensures we don’t destabilise the system by getting too much generation when the demand is actually low.”
Scheepers also said Eskom planned to be more systematic in how it dealt with its connection obligations.
“From a generation perspective, as we increase the level of renewables into the system, it’s important that we assess the cumulative impact of all the allocations before they are approved. Because if you over-commit in your approval of renewables, you potentially could be putting the system at risk, which is something we totally must avoid.’
“We are living in exciting times,” said Scheepers. “We continue working to decarbonise and to improve energy security. The transmission grid is critical to enabling that.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) has cut power supply to Sogakope and surrounding towns due to flooding of its substation in the area.
The action is as a result of the ongoing controlled spilling of Akosombo Dam by Volta River Authority.
A statement jointly issued by GRIDCo and VRA on Wednesday October 11,2023, noted that the shutdown of the substation was based on safety reasons to mitigate the risk of electrocution, loss of life and related dangers.
Areas affected are Sogakpe, Akatsi, Adidome, Anloga, Abor, Keta and surrounding areas.
The statement assured that power supply would be restored as soon as the situation improves.
“GRIDCo and VRA deeply regret any inconvenience caused by this exercise,” the statement concluded.
When energynewsafrica.com reporter visited Sogakope and some areas in Central Tongu District, some houses were seen submerged.
Some residents told this portal that power supply to the area had been cut because the Substation had been flooded.
Owners of the said houses had relocated to higher grounds for their safety as a result of a sensitisation exercise carried out in the area by VRA and NADMO.
The VRA commenced controlled spilling of Akosombo and Kpong hydroelectric dams on September 15, 2023, due to consistent rise in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo reservoir.
On Monday, October 9, 2023, the power generation issued an update on the spillage.
VRA informed Ghanaians especially those living around the dams that they have increased the rate of the spillage.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Volta River Authority (VRA), managers of the Akosombo and Kpong hydroelectric power dams in the Republic of Ghana has presented relief items to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) for onward distribution to communities affected by the ongoing spilling of water from the two dams.
The relief items which included mattresses, blankets, various food items, clothes and toiletries were presented by Ing. Ken Arthur, the Deputy Chief Executive in-charge of Services of VRA to the Director General of NADMO, Mr. Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh at a short ceremony at the Central Tongu District Assembly in Adidome.
The Districts affected by the spilling are South Tongu, Central Tongu , North Tongu and Anlo all the Volta Region and Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region and Ada East and Shai Osudoku in the Greater Accra Region.
Energynewsafrica.com team joined officials of VRA and NADMO to visit some of the affected areas in Central Tongu.
Communities hardly hit by the spilling in the Central Tongu included Mafi Dugame, Atsemkofe, Avadinoekowe, Akpokofe, Siamekofe and Devine.
In the North Tongu District, energynewsafrica.com understands Mepe is one the worse affected areas as most houses have been submerged.
Speaking to Nana Agyemang Prempeh, Director General of NADMO, he said it is their responsibility as disaster management organization to ensure that people affected by the disaster are given some relief items to minimize their pain and rescue people to safe areas.
Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh, Director General of National Disaster Management Organisation
He said the items from the Volta River Authority is the first consignment of relief items to be distributed to the affected communities adding that “from tomorrow going more relief items would be despatched to the affected communities.”
He said a team from NADMO and VRA have been in the communities to sensitise them.
He said it has become necessary for VRA to spill the dam and urged residents at the downstream of the Akosombo and Kpong hydroelectric dams to move to higher grounds.
Mr. Agyemang Prempeh could not immediately provide the number of residents who have been impacted by the spilling so far.
The District Chief Executive for Central Tongu Assembly, Thomas Moore Zonyrah told this portal that they have evacuated about 320 people from the two Islands in the District to a safe haven adding that steps are being taken to evacuate the remaining people.
Mr Thomas Moore, DCE for Central Tongu
He also appealed to residents in low areas to avoid being threatened by by the spillage.
The VRA commenced the controlled spillage on September 15 , 2023, due to consistent rise in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo reservoir.
In line with its emergency preparedness plan and standard operating procedures, the authority notified its stakeholders, including the downstream communities.
The Authority reiterated that it would continue to work with NADMO and other stakeholders to monitor the situation and provide regular updates to the general public accordingly.
Some of the residents of the Island communities in Central Tongu District evacuated to safe ground.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Volta River Authority (VRA), managers of the Akosombo and Kpong hydroelectric dams in the Republic of Ghana, have reiterated calls for residents in communities in the downstream of the Akosombo Dam to relocate to higher ground to ensure their safety.
The Authority made the call in the latest update regarding the ongoing spilling of the Akosombo Dam due to increasing inflow into the dam.
A statement issued by VRA, on Monday, October 9, 2023, informed Ghanaians especially those living around the dam that it has intensified the spill rate.
The statement further noted that VRA is collaborating with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Metropolitan, Municipal & District
Administrations (MMDAs) and all the relevant stakeholders to educate inform and support the downstream communities to minimise any adverse impact.
“The Authority will continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates to the general public, accordingly,” the statement concluded.
It would be recalled that VRA, on Friday, September 15, 2023, began spilling at the Akosombo and Kpong Hydroelectric Dams as a result of increasing inflows into the Dam.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Chairperson of South Africa’s power utility company, Eskom, Mr. Mpho Makwana has resigned.
His resignation was announced in a press statement by the Minister for Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan on Monday, October 9, 2023.
According to the Minister, Makwana would step down at the Eskom AGM scheduled for the end of October.
Mpho Makwana was appointed only a year ago and is the shortest-serving chairperson of Eskom to date.
The Minister’s statement indicated that Non-executive director Mteto Nyati would be appointed chairperson of the board.
Nyati, who previously was a CEO of Altron and MTN South Africa, stepped down from the board of Nedbank last week due to “increased capacity constraints”.
While Gordhan did not provide the reason for Makwana’s sudden departure, Makwana said in the statement that the matter had been “amicably settled”.
“I am grateful for the opportunity afforded me by the government to serve a second term as chairperson of the board of directors of Eskom. I wish Eskom and its people success and thank its committed stewards for their unstinting efforts to revive the utility. I thank the Minister for the positive, amicable manner upon which we conclude my tenure,” he stated.
Gordhan said that he wished Makwana well in his endeavours.
Speaking about the way forward, Mr. Gordhan hinted that the work to restructure Eskom and appoint new leadership was ongoing.
“Our efforts to stabilise Eskom and restructure it into three subsidiaries – generation, transmission, and distribution – remain on track. As a government, we are committed to ensuring that Eskom has the right skills, talent, and experience to support our pursuit of a more secure energy future for South Africans,” he said.
The relationship between Gordhan and Makwana deteriorated sharply in recent months.
Among the disagreements between the two has been the selection of a new CEO for Eskom.
Energy Ministers in ECOWAS Member States gathered in Cotonou in the Republic of Benin last week and validated three key documents which will be presented to the regional Council of Ministers at its next session in December 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria.
The documents, which will form part of the legal texts already approved for the development and regulation of the power Market, are the Directive for the Harmonization of Licensing Criteria and Authorisation to Participate in the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market; the Rules on the Surveillance of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market; as well as the Rules on the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market Levy.
The Directive for the Harmonization of Licensing Criteria and Authorisation to participate in the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market seeks to align the framework and procedures for issuing import and export licences and authorisations for participation in the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market.
Its application is expected to put all participants in the power market on a level playing field, guaranteeing fairness and consistency throughout the ECOWAS region.
Also, it will help to ensure compliance with the best technical, financial and commercial practices for the sustainability of the market.
The Directive consists of 12 articles which essentially deal with the distinct roles of ERERA and the regional regulator and the National Regulatory Authorities.
In addition, the articles cover documents to be issued to participate in the market, the principles governing the issuance of licences, the alignment of the import and export licensing procedure, the terms and conditions of import and export licences, the procedure for issuing the market participation authorisation, the obligations of Member States as well as the monitoring of the implementation of the Directive, among others.
The Rules on the Surveillance of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market are intended to establish a regulatory framework for the operation of the electricity market, with specific provisions for the collection, validation, analysis and conservation of data, as well as for investigations and sanctions in the event of breaches of the market rules.
It is centred on 21 articles which deal in particular with the rules for surveillance of the technical and commercial activities of the market; obligations, prohibitions and sanctions; and data management and the Framework for coordination of key stakeholders including ERERA, the National Regulatory Authorities, the Transmission System Operators and System Operators to ensure consistent application of the rules and resolution of disputes.
The Rules on the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market Levy, the third validated document, aims to introduce a levy to finance the operation of the electricity market and to ensure the financial autonomy of ERERA as regulator of the market and of the System Market Operator.
It is made up of 16 articles which basically deal with the components and method of calculating the levy, its payment and collection and notification of payment. Other areas include exemptions and rebates, allocation of the levy, obligations of participants and penalties in the event of non-payment.
The ministers, whose meeting was preceded by a two-day meeting of regional energy experts, were treated to presentations on the progress of the studies for the development of a single gas pipeline project for the ECOWAS region, involving the merger of the West Africa Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP) and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP).
They reaffirmed their support for the development of the project, indicating their readiness to provide the necessary support for its success.
In addition, they requested ECOWAS and its partners to accelerate the preparation of the single project and to take into consideration the region’s food needs in development strategies.
The ministers were also briefed on the ECOWAS Regional Green Hydrogen Strategy and its 2023-2030 and 2031-2050 action plans. The ECOWAS Green Hydrogen Policy and Strategy Framework are aligned with the ECOWAS Energy Policies and the Regional Climate Strategy (RCS) and Action Plan.
They endorsed the regional strategy on green hydrogen and its action plan and urged the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) to mobilize technical and financial partners, to provide all the necessary support to ensure its implementation.
The regional strategy on green hydrogen and its action plan are envisioned to position the ECOWAS region as one of the most competitive producers and suppliers of green hydrogen and its derivatives while addressing socio-economic growth and sustainable development of all ECOWAS Member States.
The Green Hydrogen Policy and Strategy Framework were developed through consultations with ECOWAS Member States and regional institutions and agencies such as the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Energy and Mines, the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA).
Following a presentation on the implementation of the updated ECOWAS Energy Policy, the ministers pledged to facilitate the process of translating the said Policy into national action plans.
Also, they directed the ECOWAS Commission to develop a Regional Policy on Energy Transition and present the text at their next session.
In consideration of Cape Verde’s status as an island country, the ministers recommended that the ECOWAS Commission and WAPP take into account the specificity of Cape Verde, so as to strengthen the capacities of the national electricity company and assist the country interconnect all its islands electrically.
The ministerial meeting was addressed by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization, Mr. Sédiko Douka and the Minister of Energy, Water and Mines of Benin, Mr. Samou Seidou Adambi.
Africa’s energy transition needs to be managed in partnership between Africa’s energy stakeholders in a way that benefits all Africans. This will require collaboration across the public and private sector, between financial institutions and between African governments.
This message of continental solidarity was a key theme emerging from a high-powered panel discussion AOW50 on the eve of AOW 23, which runs from October 10-13 in Cape Town.
The event was held under Chatham House rules which preclude speakers from being directly quoted.
The frank discussion featured energy ministers from major African economies, leaders of financial institutions, as well as representatives of major private-sector energy organisations.
“By competing with each other, African nations become caught in a race to the bottom,” said one of the keynote speakers. “We must break out of this pattern. Development is not a beauty contest. We must not compete – we must complement each other.”
The AOW50 pre-launch event featured an onstage panel discussion, as well as a series of breakaway roundtables involving an exclusive group of energy sector leaders and opinion-makers.
Speakers noted that every African economy had different resources, and therefore their energy transitions would look different.
However, by collaborating on developing policy, African nations could achieve a goal shared by all African nations: the liberation of Africa’s people from energy poverty.
Another notable theme was the importance of natural gas as a transition fuel. One speaker noted that financing of new projects was easier when projects involved gas and renewables, as opposed to the more established model of gas and oil.
“Capital follows sustainability,” said another speaker. “But we must consider that Africa will take time to build a renewal energy portfolio. Therefore, there will remain a place for oil and gas for many years to come. Gas projects are far more attractive to investors when they are part of a wider energy mix involving renewables.’’
It was also emphasised that African economies needed to build stability in order to attract the financing that is the lifeblood of all energy projects.
“There needs to be stability to attract finance,” said another speaker. “African nations should also look to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to build a coherent policy for capital and investment that will help move projects forward across African regions and regardless of regime change in any one country.”
Many country representatives noted challenges unlocking the value of their energy resources for their people due to anti-hydrocarbons activism, poor credit ratings and challenges in raising capital to fund infrastructure.
There was also an assertion that African countries had the right to continue exploration, development and production of their own resources.
“We retain the right to explore the responsible development of our own natural resources for the benefit of our people,” said a speaker.
“That is what we are here to discuss – how we can use our energy assets to create wealth for Africa.”
These discussions set the tone for the conference taking place in Cape Town this week, AOW is a premium forum for stimulating deals in the African energy sector. It is being held at the Cape Town International Conference Centre 2, with the theme “Maximising Africa’s Natural Resources”.
Source: Africa Oil Week
The Israeli government has ordered its state-run electricity company to halt power supply to the Gaza Strip days after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country.
The Israeli prime minister’s office has revealed that the security cabinet has approved several steps to destroy military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad “for many years,” including cutting fuel and electricity supplies as well as entry of goods into the Israel-occupied landlocked territory.
“I have signed an order instructing (Israel) Electric Company to stop the electricity supply to Gaza,” AFP quoted Energy Minister Israel Katz saying in a statement.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has said that Israel has the right to defend itself and warned against hostile nations taking advantage of the latest attacks.
“This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching,” Biden said on national television.”
A senior Biden administration has revealed that the United States is currently engrossed in intense talks with Israel about its particular needs, noting that Washington always shares timely intelligence.
Israel has launched retaliatory attacks against Gaza and Lebanon after suffering its worst security and intelligence failure since the Yom Kippur war half a century ago.
Both sides have suffered heavy casualties with 1,200 dead, including nine Americans, and many more injured.
Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group have claimed to have taken captive more than 130 people from inside Israel and brought them into Gaza.
It’s going to be interesting to see how the region’s energy situation will unfold after this catastrophe.
Back in August, French energy group TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) set the first drilling rig at its location in the Mediterranean Sea off Lebanon’s coast near Israel’s border with the country looking to commence operations in search for gas.
The cash-strapped nation hopes that future gas sales could help the country pull out of its deep financial crisis that has seen the local currency lose more than 98% of its value.
“The arrival of the equipment marks an important step in the preparation of the drilling of the exploration well in Block 9, which will begin towards the end of August 2023,” TotalEnergies said in a statement.
TotalEnergies leads a consortium of energy companies working on the offshore project, which includes Italian oil and gas giant Eni S.p.A.(NYSE:E) as well as state-owned QatarEnergy.
The drilling operations come after a landmark U.S.-brokered agreement last year that saw Lebanon and Israel establish a maritime border for the first time ever.
Back in May, Lebanon’s Energy Minister Walid Fayad said they hope to determine whether the exploratory block has recoverable gas reserves by the end of the current year.
Source: Oilprice.com
The West African Power Pool (WAPP) is finalising arrangements to commence day-ahead electricity trading in the West African regional market, after the successful completion of the construction and equipping of its Information and Coordination Centre.
This was revealed in a statement issued by Mrs. Ndidi Mba, General Manager of Public Affairs at Transportation Company of Nigeria, after WAPP’s 59th Executive Board Meeting held at Calavi, Cotonou, Benin Republic, on Friday, 6th October 2023.
The day-ahead energy market is a system that allows transactions for the buying and selling of electrical power one day before the delivery day.
The Executive Board Chairman and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, Engr Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, in his remark at the at the meeting stated that the regulatory document for activation of the next phase of the market is undergoing an approval process at the ECOWAS Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA).
Dr Abdulaziz disclosed that in preparation for the new phase of the electricity market in West Africa, operators are, currently, undergoing training on the working of live trading systems to ensure that once approval is granted, the transition would be seamless.
The WAPP henchman added that with support from the World Bank, the organisation is recruiting eleven new engineers to bolster the capacity of the Information and Coordination Centre, even as the study for the restructuring of the secretariat, in fulfillment of legal requirements for an independent system and market operator, had kicked off.
While intimating that the collective actions of members would determine what the market turns out to be, he noted that “building and equipping of infrastructure alone does not guarantee the success of the market, adding that equally important is the behaviour of the market participants.”
The advent of the market, he noted required discipline and competence in operations and management as well as in financial reporting.
Speaking on the new WAPP secretariat, which has been scheduled for inauguration in November this year, he said, “This will be a unique occasion for WAPP to announce itself to the world at large. Let us make maximum use of this opportunity to not only inform the global audience about what WAPP is doing but also about the tremendous opportunities that our sector offers to private investors.”
Earlier, the Secretary General of the organisation, Mr. Siengui A. Ki, in his address, commended member utilities who paid their contributions to WAPP despite the COVID-19 pandemic and regional security crisis, urging those who were yet to pay to do so.
Ki said that the agenda for the 59th session was for the board to, among others, look into the status of contributions by member utilities and the budget of the WAPP secretariat, review the consolidated 2022 financial statement, validate the programme of activities and 2024 budget, as well as the WAPP business plan for 2024-2027.
Chairman, of the Strategic Planning, and Environmental Committee of WAPP, Engr Kabiru M. Adamu, who is also the General Manager of System Planning at TCN, presented the WAPP Business Plan of the POOL for the next four years to the Executive Board for consideration and adoption.
The 59th session witnessed the admission of two new heads of utilities; the Director General of SONABEL, Mr. Suleiman Ouedraogo, and the new Managing Director of SBEE, Mr. Gabriel Degbegni, who are to serve as members of the WAPP Board.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Electricity Company of Ghana in Tema Region, last Friday, embarked on a float across all the districts under it to educate customers about its cashless system and ECG Mobile App as part of the Customer Week celebration.
The floats witnessed staff from all the nine districts of the Region, stepping out of their offices with music, walking through some principal streets and prominent places in their operational areas, sharing flyers, interacting with customers and educating them on ECG’s operations, with particular attention on cashless and the use of the mobile app.
The power distribution company, recently, went on a cashless drive, encouraging digital payments for transactions, using their mobile app, telecom mobile money wallets and credit cards.
The nine districts under the Tema Region of ECG are North and South Tema, Nungua, Ashaiman, Juapong, Krobo, Prampram and Afienya.
“The Ada District, for instance, visited Ada Foah, Big Ada, Kasseh, Sege, Aveyime, Battor and Mepe,’ said the ECG Tema Region PRO, Ms Sakyiwaa Mensah.
She added that “the Juapong District visited Volo, Akwamufie, Asikuma, Anum Boso and the Juapong Township while the Nungua District visited Sakumono, Nungua Market, Maritime University and Lashibi.”
Ms. Mensah also added that “the Tema metropolis had the ECG staff visiting Communities One to twelve, stopping at various vantage points such as Community One and Nine markets to interact and educate customers on the app and what it means for ECG to go cashless.”
The North and South Tema and Nungua Districts’ floats were joined by the General Manager for ECG Tema, Ing Ankomah Emmanuel.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Bangladesh has held a ceremony to officially receive the first Russian shipment of uranium fuel for its $12.65 billion nuclear power plant project which is expected to start operations next year.
The South Asian country would be the 33rd country in the world to produce nuclear power.
“Today is a day of pride and joy for the people of Bangladesh,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said during a video conference with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, at the project site where the ceremony was held.
President Vladimir Putin thanked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for supervising the project, which resulted from a bilateral agreement in 2011.
“Bangladesh stands as a success story for newcomer countries in nuclear power development, advancing its programme under the [IAEA’s] guidance,” IAEA head, Rafael Grossi, said in a post on social media.
Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, Architect Yeafesh Osman, the Minister for Science and Technology of Bangladesh, and other top officials of Bangladesh were present at the ceremony.
Bangladesh is building two nuclear power plants, with the first unit of the plant having a total generation capacity of 2,400 Megawatts.
The country is collaborating with the Russian state-owned atomic company, Rosatom.
Ninety per cent of the project is financed through a Russian loan repayable within 28 years with a 10-year grace period.
Alexey Likhachev, Rosatom Director General, gave a certificate to Architect Yeafesh Osman, the Minister for Science and Technology of Bangladesh, confirming the delivery of the fuel in compliance with all the safety standards and requirements.
The fuel for Rooppur NPP was manufactured in Russia at Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (NCCP), an enterprise of Rosatom’s Fuel Division. The fuel manufacture and transportation were performed under the active guidance and supervision of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA).
“This day marks a new stage in the development of Russian-Bangladeshi relations. After the delivery of nuclear fuel, Rooppur NPP becomes a nuclear facility, and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh gets the status of a country that possesses peaceful nuclear technologies.
“For Rosatom, it is a great honour to implement a project which will ensure a stable power supply and help preserve the unique nature of Bangladesh for future generations,” said Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom State Corporation, during the ceremony.
“We’ve been waiting for this special moment for a long time. It is a celebration not only for the people of Pabna district but also for the entire nation. On October 5 we received the fuel delivery certificate, which speaks about our achievements as a nation. Bangladeshi people are vibrant and colourful and we are going to celebrate it in a very colourful manner. The entire nation is in a festive mood,” said Architect Yeafesh Osman, Minister for Science and Technology, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s national gas aggregator, Ghana National Gas Company, has commissioned a modern sports complex at its head office at Dzorwulu, a suburb of Accra, the capital of Ghana, to promote.
The complex comprises an AstroTurf and a clubhouse that is fully equipped with a gym and a restaurant.
The facility is designed to offer a space where the staff can relax, engage in social interactions and actively support a healthy lifestyle.
During the inauguration ceremony, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Board Chair of Ghana National Gas Company, expressed his excitement for the Sports Complex.
Mr. Agyapong reaffirmed the project’s alignment with the board’s unwavering commitment to promoting the holistic development of employees.
Dr. Ben Asante, CEO of the Ghana National Gas Company, emphasised that the Sports Complex is more than just a fitness facility as it has a space for fostering connections, teamwork and a strong sense of community among the company’s staff.
He stressed the importance of cultivating a culture of maintenance among Ghana Gas employees to ensure the long-term sustainability of the valuable facility.
Elvis Morris Donkoh, Vice Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy, commended the Board, CEO and Management for the initiative.
He noted that the venture would significantly contribute to the overall welfare and job satisfaction of Ghana Gas staff.
Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Member of Parliament for West Ayawaso Wugon, also encouraged Ghana Gas to continue their social intervention projects within the constituency and throughout the nation.
The Sports Complex underscores Ghana Gas’ unwavering commitment to employee well-being, setting a remarkable standard for corporate culture.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Zambia’s power utility company, ZESCO Limited, has restored power supply to Sioma, Senanga, Mongu, Limulunga, Kalabo, Luampa, Kaoma, TBZ, Nalolo, Sikongo, and Mangango, following scheduled annual maintenance works on the 66kV Sesheke-Senanga transmission line, the main and sole transportation route to the Western Province of Zambia.
The power distribution company announced last Tuesday, October 3, 2023, that it would undertake three-day maintenance works, from 7th, 11th and 15th of October 2023.
Zesco Limited noted that the power supply would be interrupted in most parts of the Western Province during the exercise.
In a post on Facebook on Saturday sighted by energynewsafrica.com, Zesco wrote: “Day one of three has ended with ZESCO erecting a steel lattice structure in place of a 3 H-Pole wooded structures.”
“ZESCO Limited wishes to thank its esteemed customers for their patience and cooperation during today’s maintenance works,” the company said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
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Source: https://energynewsafrica.com 