Zambia: Western Province To Experience Power Supply Interruptions As Zesco Undertakes Three Days Maintenance Works
Zambia’s power utility company, Zesco Limited, on Saturday, started a three-day major maintenance works on the 66kV Sesheke- Senanga transmission line, the main and sole power transportation route to the Western Province of Zambia.
The three-day maintenance work, which began on Saturday, would be continued on the 11th and 15th of October 2023.
A statement from Zesco Limited noted that the power supply would be interrupted in most parts of the Western Province during the exercise.
The areas to be affected include Sioma, Sananga, Mongu, Limulunga, Kalabo, Luampa, Kaoma, TBZ, Sikongo, and Mangango from 6:00 am to 18:00 hours on each day.
Zesco Limited urged electricity users to treat all supply lines to be live at all times as power could be restored before the stated time.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: Deputy President Mashatile To Speak At Africa Oil Week
South African Deputy President, Mr. Paul Mashatile, is scheduled to speak at Africa Oil Week (AOW) on Tuesday 10 October, in Cape Town.
Africa Energy Week is the continent’s leading event in the upstream oil-and-gas energy space, and it sees representatives of more than 25 African governments coming together with energy policymakers, financiers and dealmakers to share insights and to map a sustainable roadmap for the development of Africa’s natural resources.
Deputy President Mashatile’s attendance at the continental showpiece comes at a time when energy is a primary concern of national policymaking in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent.
Announcing Deputy President Mashatile’s participation, Yemi Ibidunni, Event Director of event organiser Hyve Events said that the presence of a government representative as senior as Mr. Mashatile confirmed the importance the South Africa’s government attached to oil and gas planning.
“There have been exciting offshore discoveries in South African territorial waters, which may herald a new dawn for the country’s oil and gas sector,” says Ibidunni.
“At the same time, there have been significant discoveries in Namibia and elsewhere in Africa. This emphasises the importance of Africa’s government and business leaders coming together to discuss partnerships for energy security while enhancing regional economic development.’
Ibidunni said AOW provides the ideal platform to facilitate such discussions, as well as enabling deals, and positioning the continent as a stable destination for international investment.
This year’s AOW takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre 2 in Cape Town, from October 9 – 13, with the theme “Maximising Africa’s Natural Resources”.
AOW will connect more than 50 ministers and government leaders, 125 expert speakers, and 1500 senior delegates across five days of industry-leading insight and elite networking opportunities, designed to drive deals and investments for the betterment of the continent.
Nigeria: CrossBoundary Access And Mobile Power Announce $10 Million Partnership To Scale Battery Swapping Services Across Nigeria
CrossBoundary Access, Africa’s first blended finance platform for mini-grids and Mobile Power, a company that deploys affordable and practical energy infrastructure in Africa have announced a $10 million partnership to deploy MOPO Hubs in Nigeria, providing energy access to 300,000 people using an innovative battery service.
MOPO Batteries – and the supporting hardware and software – are revolutionizing the distribution of electricity.
The group announced this in a joint press statement copied to energynewsafrica.com.
According to the press statement, CrossBoundary Access has committed an initial $2.25 million for the transaction, with the option to extend up to $10 million.
The new partnership with Mobile Power would allow the company to accelerate deployment of its technology in Nigeria.
MOPO Hubs complement CrossBoundary Access’ mini-grid portfolio by allowing faster, lower cost deployment, and extending the service range of CrossBoundary Access’ infrastructure beyond the cost-effective limits of traditional distribution infrastructure that use poles and wires.
CrossBoundary Access would finance the development and construction activities and will own the projects, while Mobile Power will ensure that residents receive clean, reliable electricity for years to come.
MOPO Hubs, powered by solar energy, allow customers to access energy without upfront costs with no consumer debt through secure pay-per-use MOPO batteries distributed by local Mobile Power agents.
An average MOPO Hub creates four full-time jobs for local women and men. MOPO Hubs, designed for rapid, light-touch deployment, are located conveniently within communities without the need for cabling.
This low-cost connection strategy, along with the ability to collect usage data, allows CrossBoundary Access to optimise the locations of its future mini-grid sites and connections. Together, CrossBoundary Access and Mobile Power are committed to increasing socio-economic opportunities and expand energy access to new customers. CrossBoundary Access was advised in the transaction by Foley Hoag LLP.
Mobile Power was advised by Knights PLC. Lynne Wesonga, Associate Director and transaction lead for CrossBoundary Access, says, “This transaction shows the impact of combining innovative financing with innovative technology. CrossBoundary Access will be able to deploy capital more efficiently while delivering electricity to more people at a faster pace. Our agreement with Mobile Power is one more milestone towards closing the gap on the 600 million people in Africa who lack access to electricity.”
Chris Longbottom, CEO, Mobile Power, says, “This deal represents a tipping point for energy infrastructure investment on the continent. Mobile Power and CrossBoundary Access are taking the first step in a revolutionary journey deploying scalable real-life solutions to previously intractable infrastructure problems. This transaction further validates our innovative approach to energy access.”
Gabriel Davies, Managing Director and co-founder of CrossBoundary Access, says, “This is what the grid of the future looks like. Using batteries to distribute electricity is the biggest revolution in the power sector since the invention of the transformer. To be clear – we still believe poles and wires are the best way to get large amounts of power to big energy consumer. But innovations like MOPO’s battery swapping tech allow us to match distribution capex with customer needs.”
Michiel Bakker, CFO, Mobile Power, says, “This partnership is a huge step forward for us in our mission to deploy significant investment capital into affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions to improve economic productivity in communities across Africa. With this partnership we are making a further important step towards connecting millions of households in the coming years.”
Ghana: Electrical Wiring Standards Under Reviewing—Amoono-Neizer
Ghana’s technical regulator for electricity and natural gas, the Energy Commission, says it is collaborating with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to review the electrical wiring standards to meet the changing trends in the industry.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ing. Oscar Amonoo-Neizer, who revealed this, said the review has become necessary due to the increasing adoption of renewable energy systems such as rooftop solar panels in the West African nation.
He further noted that there is an increase in the adoption of smart home technologies including lighting, heating and security systems by homeowners.
Ing. Oscar Amonoo-Neizer said the review of the electrical wiring standards would ensure that homeowners designed and installed electrical systems that were safe, reliable and efficient.
The Executive Secretary, who was speaking at the graduation of Certified Electrical Wiring Professionals at the head office of the Energy Commission, urged the practitioners to keep up with the developments and offer services that cater for the growing demand for smart homes.
In all, 267 electrical wiring practitioners from the Greater Accra, Volta and Eastern Regions graduated and were certified as Electrical Wiring Professionals and Inspectors.
Since 2012 when the Electrical Wiring Regulation 2011, L.I 2008 was enforced, the Commission has trained and certified over 14,000 electricians.
Ing Oscar Amonoo-Neizer hinted that the Commission would, from next year, also undertake a comprehensive review of the Electrical Wiring Regulation, 2011 (L.I 2008).
This, he said would ensure that the regulations are in line with the latest industry advancements and also aligned with international best practices.
While the Commission has been steadfast in focusing on the training and development of electricians, there is a renewed emphasis on ensuring safety within wired premises.
“This collaborative effort underscores our commitment to staying ahead of industry advancements, fostering a culture of safety, and adapting to the evolving needs of the electrical landscape,” he said.
In a speech read for him by Abubakar Suleman, the Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, noted that due to the Certified Electrical Wiring Programme, Ghanaians have become aware of the need to have their electrical installations done by certified Electrical Wiring Professionals and Inspectors.
He said due to the importance and in compliance with the law on wiring regulations, the Ministry of Energy has, since 2012, made it mandatory for its contractors under the National Electrification Scheme and the Self-Help Electrification Programme (SHEP) to engage only CEWPs/CEWIs for certification of household wirings before the connection of rural consumers to the electricity grid.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Benin: Energy Experts Examine Texts To Consolidate ECOWAS Power Market
Energy experts from ECOWAS Member States are meeting in Cotonou, Benin to consider and validate three major legal texts which will help to strengthen the regulatory framework for the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market.
They are the Directive for the Harmonization of the Criteria for the Granting of Licences and Authorization to participate in the Regional Electricity Market; the Regulation on the Surveillance of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market; and the Regulation on the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market Levy.
While the Directive on the Harmonization of the Criteria for Granting Licenses and Authorization for Participation in the Regional Electricity Market is expected to promote a level-playing field for cross-border electricity trade among ECOWAS Member States, the Regional Electricity Market Supervision Regulation will establish rules and procedures for the supervision of participants in cross-border power trade to promote a favourable regional approach to investment and capacity development.
For its part, the Regional Electricity Market Fee Regulation seeks to establish a fee to finance the operation and functioning of the regional power market and ensure its effective supervision and regulation.
Participants at the meeting are being treated to presentations on the ECOWAS Regional Green Hydrogen Strategy and Action Plans 2023-2030 and 2031-2050 as well as the commencement of the implementation of the ECOWAS Updated Energy Policy.
They will also receive briefings on the state of 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).
The energy experts are drawn from the Ministries of Energy and national regulatory bodies in Member States, and ECOWAS institutions including the ECOWAS Commission, the West African Power Pool (WAPP), the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and the West Africa Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA).
The opening of the two-day meeting which began on October 5, 2023, was addressed by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitization, Mr. Sédiko Douka and the Minister of State for Energy of Benin, Mr. Edouard Dahome.
Mr. Dahome recalled the common approach adopted by ECOWAS towards a well-regulated energy market.
He noted that WAPP and ERERA were created to ensure the integration of the national electricity networks into a unified and regulated regional electricity market “to ensure in the medium and long-term a regular, reliable supply of electricity at a competitive cost to the populations”.
In his remarks, Commissioner Douka who was represented by the ECOWAS Resident Representative to Benin, Mr. Amadou Diongue, stated that the legal texts “are major prerequisites to ensure the proper functioning of our electricity market on a clear and fair basis for all participants”.
He observed that the documents were “the subject of the active contribution of Member States and national regulatory bodies of the electricity sector throughout their development process”, adding that “the recommendations made at each stage were integrated to result in these versions which are submitted to you this morning”.
Recommendations from the energy experts will be presented to 15th meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Energy on Saturday, October 7, 2023 in Cotonou, Benin.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Senegal: GE Vernova Secures 25-Years’ Service Contract To Manage 300MW Combined Cycle Power Plant In Dakar
GE Vernova’s Gas Power business has secured a 25-year service agreement from Senegalese Government to manage the country’s 300 megawatt (MW) combined cycle power project located in Cap des Biches, Dakar.
The aim is to help ensure the long-term availability and reliability of the power plant’s gas turbines to meet Senegal’s increasing energy demands.
A statement issued by the company on Thursday, October 5, 2023, said it would also provide its Digital business’ Asset Performance Management (APM) software in the cloud to promote the use of predictive analytics across the power island (gas turbines and generators).
The agreement was signed at a ceremony in Senegal attended by Mr. Samuel Sarr, CEO of West African Energy; and Mr. Papa Toby Gaye, the General Secretary of SENELEC.
The agreement will include the supply of parts, repairs, field services and advanced predictive maintenance for the two GE Vernova 9E.03 gas turbines and accessory equipment.
“We awarded GE Vernova the service agreement because they have the technology expertise and proven gas turbine services track record to help make sure that our power plant operates at the highest levels of reliability,” said Samuel Sarr, CEO of West African Energy.
“We expect that the services and digital technologies provided by the GE Vernova team will help us to increase efficiency and improve performance, which is crucial in powering Senegal reliably.”
GE Vernova was previously awarded the contract to supply two 9E.03 gas turbines, one STF-A200 steam turbine, three A39 generators, two Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG) and additional balance of plant equipment as part of the project scope. GE Vernova’s service agreements are structured to provide predictable maintenance costs while ensuring high availability and reliability, including parts and outage planning. This agreement will better position the new combined cycle plant to benefit from the long-term, high performance of GE Vernova’s latest technology and global experience. With over 1,000,000 installed MW in more than 120 countries, GE Vernova has long-term agreements in place at more than 1000 sites worldwide.
“We are pleased that West African Energy awarded us the agreement to help ensure they meet their energy production and capacity supply goals while supporting the Senegalese Government’s target to increase its generation capacity with a greater utilization of natural gas and renewables,” said Kenneth Oyakhire, Services Managing Director of GE Vernova’s Gas Power business in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“In this day and age, reliability and efficiency are crucial elements of power plant operations, and this service agreement reflects the confidence our customers have in both our technology and our regional services capabilities to help ensure the power plant’s long-term reliability.”
The project also represents the first installation in Senegal of GE Vernova’s APM software.
In the cloud, APM uses advanced predictive analytics from the company’s APM Reliability application to ingest sensor data in order to detect and diagnose equipment problems before they occur.
With the help of artificial intelligence/machine learning-backed Digital Twins with built-in expertise, Senegal can increase asset reliability and availability while reducing operations and maintenance costs by moving to a predictive approach.
The Cap des Biches power plant, which is the first gas-to-power project in Senegal, will be the biggest power plant in the country and is expected to generate more than 25% of the power consumed, providing the equivalent electricity needed to power up to 500,000 Senegalese homes.
The plant is expected to begin operations in phases starting in 2024.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
OPEC+ Leaves Oil Production Levels Unchanged
The OPEC+ panel reviewing the oil market ended a brief meeting on Wednesday without recommending any changes to the current oil production policy, hours after Saudi Arabia and Russia said in separate statements they would stick to their respective voluntary supply cuts by the end of the year.
The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) of the OPEC+ group, which met via videoconference today, affirmed the commitment of the several OPEC+ members and thanked Saudi Arabia and Russia for their voluntary supply cuts and “expressed its full recognition and support for the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aimed at supporting the stability of the oil market.”
The committee will also “stand ready to take additional measures at any time,” OPEC said in a statement.
The next JMMC meeting is scheduled to be held on November 26, 2023.
Earlier today, Saudi Arabia and Russia, the key OPEC+ partners, said they would keep their respective production and export cuts in November, and review the decisions next month to decide if the cuts should be deepened or eased.
Saudi Arabia said early on Wednesday it would continue cutting an extra 1 million barrels per day (bpd) from its crude oil production in November and December, and Russia said in a separate statement it would continue to reduce oil exports by 300,000 bpd until the end of the year.
“This voluntary cut decision will be reviewed next month to consider deepening the cut or increasing production,” Saudi Arabia said.
Both Saudi Arabia and Russia reiterated today that the ongoing oil supply cuts are aimed at keeping “stability and balance on the oil markets.”
After two weeks of rally, oil prices succumbed this week to the wider market sell-off amid fears of higher-for-longer interest rates, with Brent Crude prices dipping below $90 per barrel at $89.50 and WTI Crude at around $87.60 a barrel early on Wednesday.
Source: Oilprice.com
Getting Oil And Gas Working For Africa (Article)
Africa is yet to see anything close to a full return on its massive oil and gas resources. With one-third of the continent – almost 500 million people – still having no access to electricity, ending energy poverty across Africa is among the planet’s most urgent challenges.
To address this, action it is imperative to accelerate upstream investment across Africa and ensure a far wider share of its economic benefits. Giant discoveries in Namibia, FIDs (Final Investment Decision) in Angola and a bumper 2022 for new field start-ups all bode well, but can numerous other major projects across Africa secure the financing needed to move forwards?
Developing Africa’s huge natural gas reserves is essential not only for growing export revenues but also to support domestic economic growth and help the continent unlock its low-carbon energy potential. Can Africa find an economic solution for its gas riches?
As the Majors downsize across Africa, domestic independent operators are stepping up to champion the region’s oil and gas developments. But with mounting challenges around financing, carbon emissions and dominant NOCs (National Oil Companies), can these companies prosper?
Ahead of African Oil Week, which is due to take place between 09 – 13 October 2023 in Cape Town, at the International Convention Centre, Wood Mackenzie considers how to get oil and gas working for Africa.
Financing Africa’s oil and gas development
While African upstream investment is recovering, securing capital to develop the continent’s oil and gas resources remains a monumental challenge. Putting this into perspective, despite the region having the third-largest remaining resource base by region, over the next ten years we expect Africa to account for only 6% of global upstream investment. As a result, Africa’s production will decline from 12.4 million boepd in 2024 to 10.1 million boepd in 2033.
Reversing this needs action on three fronts. First, reducing costs and improving project delivery. There are positive developments here: Angola, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria have led the way, and we expect 2023 to be a significant year for new production start-ups. African greenfield FIDs are also moving forward. Led by Angola, we expect four major greenfield projects reaching FID throughout the year. But more must be done, and cost inflation pressures will weigh on both operators and lenders at African projects that are often more expensive and complex to finance.
Second, the role of government. With high prices, governments’ default position will be to increase tax rates. This is likely to exacerbate the problem. A more enlightened approach would be to ease the tax take on new investment, as Nigeria and Angola have both done. Tax allowances for renewables to power upstream developments would be even bolder, showing a commitment to decarbonise Africa’s upstream industry and diversify into low-carbon technologies.
Third, investments in Africa must respond to the increasing regulations around sustainability. African upstream carbon intensity is amongst the highest globally, deterring buyers looking for low-carbon supply. African countries must tackle the major sources of upstream emissions – flaring, production and processing, and methane leakage – or risk an increasing number of IOCs (International Oil Companies) and lenders walking away.
Finding new avenues to gas resource development
With domestic gas markets non-existent in many countries, Africa’s major gas resource holders have historically looked to onshore LNG export projects for commercialisation. Most have been defined by high costs, low returns and long payback periods.
Alternative development solutions for their gas resource are therefore crucial for gas-rich nations throughout Africa and floating LNG (FLNG) is offering a differentiated pathway to gas monetisation.
The reasons are clear. After a stuttering start, FLNG’s lower capital costs combined with increased demand for quick-to-market LNG has again made FLNG an attractive proposition for developers, investors and off-takers.
Africa is at the centre of the current boom. Cameroon GoFLNG and Mozambique’s Coral Sul FLNG project blazed the trail, with projects in Mauritania/Senegal, Congo and Gabon following. FLNG is also under consideration in Nigeria and Namibia, and offers an alternative option for Mozambique’s troubled onshore Rovuma project.
Despite this bullish outlook, FLNG is not without risks. Concerns over cost blowouts, scheduling delays and security will need to be managed by developers of more than 20 mmtpa of African FLNG either under construction or considering FLNG as a development option.
A bigger challenge for Africa is developing gas for the domestic market. Despite the immense potential for gas to boost power generation and support economic growth, familiar issues around affordability and limited infrastructure continue to hold back capital investment.
The rise of the Africa’s independent operators
It is a sign of the increasing maturity of African independent operators that local players have the confidence to take on the development of their own natural resources. African independents are increasingly active, picking up assets from IOCs divesting non-core African portfolios.
We identify three drivers. First, the maturity of the Majors’ legacy African portfolios. With these companies under increasing pressure to focus on low-carbon, low-cost opportunities, divesting from late-life, carbon-intensive assets in locations including Nigeria, Gabon and Congo fits with their strategies.
Second, African governments are increasingly supportive of local independents accessing the region’s substantial resources. Favourable tax terms for new entrants and marginal assets have helped boost the emergence of African independents. Conducive regulatory environments in turn lead to greater economic diversification, job creation and growth in domestic industries. The Dangote refinery development in Nigeria, which is set to transform the regional oil products sector, is just one example.
Third, while financing remains a significant hurdle, African independents are increasingly demonstrating their ability to navigate above-ground challenges which have deterred IOCs from maximising the potential of their assets. A local “licence to operate” and partnerships with international investors are helping African companies access capital and the technical expertise required to acquire and develop assets.
Source: Wood Mackenzie
AOW 2023 To Welcome Nigerian Delegation And Showcase President Tinubu’s Agenda For Nigeria’s Energy Sector
Organizers of Africa Oil Week have announced that Olu Verheijen, Special Advisor on Energy to His Excellency President Bola A. Tinubu, and Gabriel Aduda, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, will lead a Nigerian delegation to attend this year’s event taking place on 9-13 October in Cape Town, South Africa to showcase investment opportunities within Africa’s largest oil & gas producing market.
The event is a global platform for deals and transactions, bringing together governments, national and international oil companies, independents, investors and service providers to maximise Africa’s natural resources, for the betterment of the continent.
Nigeria’s energy sector is in the middle of a complete overhaul after the passing of landmark reforms such as the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021, the signing of the Electricity Act in 2023, and the removal of gasoline subsidies by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Such initiatives have been well received by the private sector and significantly increased investment appetite across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors.
As investors look to Nigeria, AOW is delighted to provide a platform for dealmaking and investments across the country’s oil, gas, and energy infrastructure.
The coming of Nigerian officials to AOW echoes the pro-business agenda of President Bola A. Tinubu and the openness of the new administration to provide an enabling environment for investors and stakeholders.
Following several consultations with local and international operators, the Special Advisor to President Tinubu on Energy and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) recently announced that $55.2 billion of investments were projected from operators in Nigeria by 2030. About $13.5 billion is expected to be invested within the next 12 months alone.
At AOW 2023, the Nigerian delegation will communicate the country’s agenda to grow oil production to 2.1 million barrels per day by December 2024, expand midstream and downstream infrastructure, and build energy systems that are resilient and affordable.
Nigeria remains Africa’s biggest economy and energy market, with tremendous investment potential in oil production and refining, gas pipelines, gas distribution, and power infrastructure.
To support dealmaking across these segments, officials from Nigeria’s new government will be joined by a growing list of Nigerian companies and delegates, including NNPC, Seplat Energy, Oando Plc, Aradel Holding Plc, ND Western, Green Energy International, LEKOIL, Olaniwun Ajayi, and representatives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Nigeria: Four Family Members Electrocuted In Jalingo
Four members of a family of five in the Dinyavo area of Jalingo, Taraba state, in Nigeria, died tragically on Monday at about 11:00 a.m. after being allegedly electrocuted during a power surge.
The victims included a father, mother and two children, with the last born managing to escape unhurt.
A statement from the Police Command in Taraba, signed by Mr. Abdullahi Usman, PRO of the Command, confirmed the tragic incident.
“At about 11 a.m. on Monday, we were reliably informed that a house located in the Danyivoh area of Jalingo was on fire.
“Detectives from GRA Police Division were quickly deployed to the scene and, on arrival, found the four victims with burns suspected to be from electrocution.
“The victims are Remond Ofonbuk, 44, his wife, Mfonbong Remond, Hevean Remond, 15, and First Remond, 13 years old.
“We have received information indicating that immediately after power was restored, the transformer serving the area blew up.
“We learnt that many houses within the neighbourhood experienced high electric voltage which might have led to the fire outbreak that inflicted burns on the victims.
“Our detectives quickly evacuated the victims to the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, for treatment but they were confirmed dead on arrival,” he said.
Usman said that the corpses had been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary for autopsy while an investigation had commenced to ascertain the real cause of the incident.
A report by Channels Television, whose reporters went to the scene, suggested that a high voltage supply from the national grid triggered the incident.
The report said eyewitnesses who attempted to rescue the victims were unable to save the victims because the door leading to the room was locked from the inside and before they could disconnect the power supply and break through the windows to rescue them, it was too late.
One of the eyewitnesses, Mr Jerry Jonah, said, “This morning, there was a burst from the transformer. Everyone ran out and smoke followed suit. A few seconds later, everyone started shouting and before we knew it, a lot of houses were engulfed in smoke.
“I tried my best to rescue them, all to no avail because they locked themselves in. But when we succeeded in breaking the door, we realised that they were already electrocuted and that their neighbours were also shocked by the electricity supply and rushed them to the hospital.”
A neighbour of the victims, Mrs. Nathan Daniel, narrated that when they realised that there was a spark from the transformer, they were informed to switch off their gas cylinders but never knew their neighbours were inside their rooms.
“I saw the last born outside crying, ‘My mummy, my mummy!’ Then I checked and saw smoke and fire inside the first room and called for assistance,” she said.
“Unfortunately, the door was locked, which prompted us to break the windows to discover that they were already electrocuted with some parts of their body burnt.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has extended condolences to the family members and the community affected by the terrible loss.
The Commission said it had reached out to the licensee, Yola Electricity Distribution Plc, and their executive management is investigating the incident.
Source: https://[email protected]
Ghana: TOR Workers Reject Dubiously Created TOR Workers’ Charity Trust As Partner In TOR-Torentco Deal
There is growing anger by the staff of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) against five of their colleagues and two Board members for secretly registering an entity by the name ‘TOR Workers’ Charity Trust’ to take up shares in the controversial TOR-Torentco deal without the concerns of the over 500 workers.
The workers accused two Board members—Mr Leon Kendon Apenteng and Mrs. Edith Sapara Grant—of conniving with two management staff, two UNICOF executives and one junior staff to register TOR Workers’ Charity Trust on 29 August 2023, in a grand scheme to ensure that the controversial TOR-Torentco deal goes through.
It would be recalled that last week, energynewsafrica.com reported that the Ministry of Energy had written to the Acting Managing Director of TOR, indicating that it had noticed a change in the counterparty from ‘Torentco Asset Management Limited (TAML)’ to Tema Energy and Processing Limited (TEPL)’ as the new lessee for the proposed transaction.
“We wish to indicate a ‘No Objection’ to the change in the counterparty to TEPL for the agreement based on the rationale that this diversifies the investor base and includes the TOR Workers Charity Trust in the new Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for improved transaction transparency.
“We also wish to advise that TOR’s laboratory, the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) and its supporting process unit, utility equipment and other ancillaries deemed vital to the RFCC operations should be added to the Leased assets, and relevant obligations placed on the TEPL to restore and make them fit for purpose during the lease term,” portions of the letter said.
The workers were shocked after noticing that some of their colleagues had joined forces with ‘the proponent’ of the TOR -Torentco deal for their selfish gains.
Armed with the information, the workers, led by some union executives, started digging for information to know those behind the formation of the TOR Workers Charity Trust Fund.
To their amazement, a search at the Registrar General’s Department revealed that Bright Adongo and Abass Abu, both members of UNICOF, Albert Agyei Amoako and Emmanuel Antwi Abankwah, both management staff, and Scoff Tsevia, junior staff, were the brains behind the TOR Workers’ Charity Trust Fund.
This has infuriated the workers and accused their colleagues of engaging in dubious acts.
The workers drew the attention of the Ministry of Energy to the effect that the TOR Workers’ Charity Trust Fund is the creation of greedy and selfish elements and not the creation of the entire workforce.
The Energy Ministry on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, met the Acting Managing Director of TOR, Mr. Daniel Appiah, and the Executives of the General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union on the matter.
After an extensive discussion on the matter, the sector Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, directed the workers to petition the Management of TOR over the dubious act by their colleagues.
He again directed the Acting Managing Director to ensure that the issue was resolved expeditiously to bring industrial harmony to the refinery.
Following Tuesday’s meeting with the Minister for Energy, the Tema Oil Refinery workers held a durbar on Wednesday morning to discuss the issue.
Addressing the workers, the National Chairman of General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union, Brother Bernard Owusu noted that the current board members of TOR were not appointed based on competence.
He said their stay has not helped the refinery and urged President Akufo-Addo to change them.
Checks at the registrar General Department revealed that Michael Darko Obeng, the Managing Director of Toronto Asset Management Limited, Frederick Hesse-Tetteh, Christopher Hesse-Tetteh, and Samuel Sarpong Jnr are Directors of the newly formed Tema Energy and Processing Limited while Samuel Bosiako Antwi is the secretary.
Michael Darko’s Toronto Asset Management Limited hold 40 per cent shares in Tema Energy and Processing Limited while TOR Workers’ Charity Trust Fund holds 20 per cent shares with Cads Investment Holding Limited represented by Christopher Hesse -Tetteh holding the remaining 40 per cent shares.
The group stated capital is Gh¢1,000,000.00.
Under the lease agreement, Torentco Asset Management Group was to pay US$22 million to Tema Oil Refinery for six years.
The company was expected to refine up to eight million barrels annually.
The deal faced opposition from energy think tanks due to a lack of transparency and the fact that the company had no track record in the oil and gas business.
Source: https://[email protected]
South Africa: Fuel Prices Shoot Up More Than R1
Petrol and diesel prices shot up by more than R1 on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, in South Africa, energynewsafrica.com can report.
The increment follows an announcement by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on Tuesday.
The unleaded petrol price (95) went up by R1.14 a litre, while grade 93 went up by R1.08.
Diesel (0.05% sulphur) has been increased by R1.96 a litre, while 0.005% sulphur jumped by R1.96.
A litre of 95 unleaded petrol now costs R25.68 in Gauteng, while the wholesale price of diesel costs R25.01 a litre in Gauteng, a new high for 2023.
In July last year, diesel reached a record high of R25.40.
Illuminating paraffin has been increased by R1.51 a litre.
South African fuel prices are determined mainly by international oil costs and the rand-dollar exchange rate, as oil is priced in dollars.
The department said in its statement that the main reasons behind the increase were crude oil prices, which jumped from US$87.78 to $91.86 in the period, refinery shutdowns in the US, global diesel shortages, and the rand’s depreciation against the dollar, from R18.67 to R19.
Source: https://[email protected]
Climate Target Walk-Backs Highlight ‘Overzealous’ Policy Pledges, OPEC Chief Says
The recent spate of countries postponing or adjusting their climate targets shows that some of the initial pledges were “overzealous,” the head of the OPEC group of oil producers said Monday.
“I hope they are not U-turns, as much as they are a recognition and the realization that some of the policies may have been a bit overzealous: the timelines, the deadlines, the time constraints,” Haitham al-Ghais, head of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said.
Speaking to CNBC on the first day of the Abu Dhabi International Progressive Energy Congress, he added that an efficient energy transition away from fossil fuels needs “the right infrastructure in place,” such as electrical grids, sufficient charging stations for electric vehicles and the availability of critical minerals.
Among such climate policy walk-backs, al-Ghais cited Poland’s move to appeal against European Union policies to ban the sale of fossil fuel cars from 2035; the recent EU agreement on a diluted version of the bloc’s “Euro 7” emissions rules; and the U.K’s shift to delay a prohibition on the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035.
“I think when it comes to consumers feeling a pinch in their pockets, that’s when politicians become aware that it is difficult to implement policies that [are] maybe too aggressive, or a bit overzealous without having the right systems in place, to make sure that whatever new policies are advocated for do not affect the consumers,” al-Ghais said.
Some traders and analysts say a confluence of voluntary and coordinated supply cuts implemented by OPEC and its non-OPEC allies, collectively known as OPEC+, contributed — alongside demand recoveries — to a surge in oil prices that is fueling global inflation.
This is a particular risk in Europe, where sanctions in the wake of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine have cut off buyers from Russia’s crude and oil products.
ICE Brent crude futures with December expiry were trading at $92.67 per barrel at 13:10 London time, up by 47 cents per barrel from the Friday settlement.
Asked about the impact of high oil prices on consumers, al-Ghais said this “depends on the state of the global economy” and noted increases in oil demand.
“I think this in itself answers the points about, are these price levels affecting demand? We’re seeing historically high, phenomenally high growth figures for oil demand,” he said.
Despite this, several European traders and refiners have said that crude prices above $100 per barrel raise the possibility of demand destruction, where — in the case of the oil market — consumers respond to higher prices at the pump with fewer purchases.
The Paris-based International Energy Agency has, meanwhile, projected that demand for fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal will peak before 2030 — a forecast that OPEC rejects.
An OPEC+ technical committee convenes digitally on Wednesday to review market fundamentals and the individual production compliance of member countries.
While in itself unable to tweak OPEC+ policy, this Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee can call for an emergency ministerial meeting of the coalition.
Three OPEC+ delegates, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the discussions, told CNBC it is unlikely this week’s JMMC meeting will lead to policy adjustments.
OPEC at COP28
The good faith of OPEC+ countries in their climate commitments has been questioned given their role as crude producers and because several members, while in the process of diversifying their economies, depend on oil revenues.
OPEC scored an indirect victory with the naming of its third-largest member, the United Arab Emirates, as host of the upcoming COP28 diplomatic gathering on climate change over Nov. 20-Dec. 12.
The controversial appointment — along with that of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. boss Sultan al-Jaber as president of COP28 — has resulted in vocal public backlash, with critics citing the discrepancy between the UAE’s growing oil production capacity and its professed climate commitments.
“I believe it is the right choice for COP to happen in the UAE, in an oil-producing country, to show the world how oil producers can decarbonize, reduce emissions, as well as continue to provide stability and security in terms of world supplies,” al-Ghais said Monday, adding that OPEC will be represented at COP28 with a “nice, big pavilion” to promote the individual climate work of coalition members.
While formally reunited by their common interests in the oil market, some OPEC members have the capacity to produce renewable energy, such as solar, while Saudi Arabia and the UAE have set sights on producing and marketing hydrogen.
Source: CNBC
China’s Power Sector Investments Set To Top $13.9 Trillion By 2060
Investments in the Chinese power sector are set to top $13.9 trillion (100 trillion Chinese yuan) by 2060, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday, quoting the State Grid Corporation of China.
China has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 and to see a peak in its carbon emissions by the end of this decade.
“The development of a new power system will promote the expansion of the scale of both the power industry and the power market,” the Chinese news agency quoted a book published by the State Grid Corporation of China last week.
China is the global leader in renewable energy spending, but it’s also one of just a few major economies still approving and building coal-fired capacity.
Energy security and the need for stable power generation during peak demand to back the growing economy and supply stability precede concerns about emissions.
China has already reached its goal to have more non-fossil fuel installed electricity capacity than fossil fuels earlier than planned, with 50.9% of its power capacity now coming from non-fossil fuel sources.
Back in 2021, the Chinese authorities said they would target renewables to outpace fossil fuel-installed capacity by 2025.
China is globally unmatched in renewable energy spending, investing in raising its solar and wind power capacity.
So far this year, renewables have helped to partially offset the crippled supply from hydropower generation due to droughts, but coal has saved the day.
China is relying on coal to avoid blackouts as the economy reopened after the Covid lockdowns.
During the first half of this year, coal production, coal imports, and coal-fired electricity generation surged and offset a significant decline in power output at China’s massive hydropower capacity due to insufficient rainfall and drought.
During the first half of 2023 alone, China approved more than 50 GW of new coal power, Greenpeace said in a report last month. That’s more than it did in all of 2021, the environmental campaign group added.
Source: Oilprice.com