Oil Spill Detected After Tanker Carrying 1.4 Million Litres Of Fuel Oil Capsizes Off Manila
Philippine-flagged tanker Terra Nova carrying 1.4 million litres of industrial fuel oil capsized and sank off Manila on Thursday (25 July), raising fears of a major oil spill in Manila Bay.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the incident took place 3.6 nautical miles east of Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan, at around 1.10am when it was heading to Iloilo as its port of destination.
CG Rear Admiral Balilo said 16 of the 17 crew on board have been rescued. Four of the 16 rescued individuals received further medical attention.
The Coast Guard Aviation Command also performed an aerial survey as part of the ongoing oil spill response operations.
The deployed aerial asset monitored an oil spill 5.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point with an estimated coverage (length) of two nautical miles carried by strong current heading east to northeast.
Marine environmental protection personnel have also been mobilised to combat the oil spill.
The Coast Guard, in a later update, said three 44-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) were deployed to augment the ongoing oil spill response operations in Bataan.
“These vessels will start the application of oil dispersants to immediately mitigate impact, especially during the period where siphoning is being prepared,” CG Admiral Gavan explained.
“The PCG sets an operational target of seven days to finish siphoning the oil from the sunken tanker to stop further spread,” the Coast Guard Commandant furthered.
“The vessel sunk 34 meters deep which is considerably shallow. Siphoning will not be very technical and can be done quickly to protect the vicinity waters of Bataan and Manila Bay against environmental, social, economic, financial, and political impacts,” CG Rear Admiral Balilo said.
At around 3pm on 25 July, the Coast Guard reported that the body of Terra Nova’s missing crew was found in the vicinity waters off Limay, Bataan.
Source: Manifoldtimes.com
Ghana: Africa’s Largest Single Rooftop Solar Project Commissioned In Tema
Ghana’s renewable energy sector has been boosted with the commissioning of 16.8 megawatts rooftop solar project, which is the largest in Africa in Tema Freezone Enclave.
The $17 million project which is owned by Helios Solar Energy, a subsidiary of LMI Holdings, Ghana, a private firm, is mounted across a rooftop area of 95,754 m² on a Mega Warehouse which is also the largest warehouse in Africa.
The solar system is projected to produce 24,750 MWh of clean, stable, and sustainable electricity annually. It will provide power to businesses operating within the Tema Free Zones.
The project was fully funded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as part of a $30 million clean power and water deal with LMI Holdings.
The project was engineered by Ghanaian -based firms Dutch and Co.(D&C) for the photovoltaic (PV) and Blossom Enbel Ventures Limited (BEVL) led by Engr. Joseph Makinde, who is the Company CEO, and Lead Project Manager responsible for the grid interconnection.
These firms served as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractors. Their combined expertise ensured the project adhered to international standards and significantly advanced Ghana’s renewable energy infrastructure.
The construction, installation and connection of the entire project was done by Ghanaian engineers and technicians.
Currently, Ghana’s total solar projects capacity stands at 186.9 megawatts peak, including those executed by private developers and state agencies.
Speaking at the commissioning of the project on Thursday, July 25, 2024, Mr. Herbert Krapa assured the audience that the government would continue to provide the enabling environment and policies for more private sector participation in renewable energy projects.
He said the project is significant because it underscored the power of the private sector in contributing to the government’s agenda of bringing growth, prosperity and development to Ghanaians.
Mr. Krapa said the government could provide some funding, but the biggest funding must come from the private sector, adding that the project points the private sector in the direction it needs to go to support the government’s vision of achieving 10% renewable energy sources in the nation’s energy generation mix by 2030.
He said the $17 million project, financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the IMF Group which covered an area of one million square metres, was a clear indication that there is room for more private sector players who are interested in supporting the government to meet its target.
These players, Mr. Krapa added, should take a cue from the private sector and reach out and partner the government “to ensure that together we are able to achieve that vision.”
Mr. Krapa indicated that the project would have a positive socio-economic impact, noting that “by this project you are creating greener and sustainable jobs for our people and helping us to meet our nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement.”
He also stated that the project would help to introduce skills and technology to young engineers as part of the development and maintenance.
He added that the solar project would also contribute significantly to improve the standard of living of the workers, adding that “the government is equally proud of you for that contribution.”
Regarding its impact on industry, Mr. Krapa said it would contribute to a reduction in cost of power and position the manufacturing sector in a competitive level since over time, solar energy leads to reduced cost in the mix.
“You are helping to power industry and you are helping industry to also meet their green credentials,” he said.
Mr. Krapa said the project feeds into the government’s overall vision for the power sector and more specifically the renewable energy vision.
“Government is alive to its ethical responsibility that we have to help protect the planet; we have come up with a national energy transition framework which we did consulting across all 16 regions and have concluded that by 2060 we should have walked a net zero pathway,” he added.
He announced that the government had modelled the National Energy Transition Framework into an investment plan which President Akufo-Addo launched on the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly last year.
He said a significant number of projects are required to be executed for the implementation plan to see the light of day.
This project stands as a shining example of how private enterprises can lead the charge in driving environmental stewardship and aligning our operations with international standards for sustainability,” the Chief Executive of the Free Zones Authority, Mike Aaron Oquaye Jnr, said.
Mr Oquaye indicated that in a world increasingly focused on the implications of climate change, investments in renewable energy were not just desirable, they were imperative, adding that “Embracing this forward-thinking approach keeps us in step with our global counterparts and sets a benchmark for others to follow”.
The Managing Director of LMI, Adlai Opoku-Boamah, described the 16.8MW plant as the first step because the company was aiming at a target of 1000 megawatts of solar energy production by 2030 and as a first move, it had secured 200 acres of land for that.
He added that it had secured $110 million from IFC for the development of another 150 megawatts in the interim, and that the purpose was to drive industrialisation and prosperity.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Mr. Krapa indicated that the project would have a positive socio-economic impact, noting that “by this project you are creating greener and sustainable jobs for our people and helping us to meet our nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement.”
He also stated that the project would help to introduce skills and technology to young engineers as part of the development and maintenance.
He added that the solar project would also contribute significantly to improve the standard of living of the workers, adding that “the government is equally proud of you for that contribution.”
Regarding its impact on industry, Mr. Krapa said it would contribute to a reduction in cost of power and position the manufacturing sector in a competitive level since over time, solar energy leads to reduced cost in the mix.
“You are helping to power industry and you are helping industry to also meet their green credentials,” he said.
Mr. Krapa said the project feeds into the government’s overall vision for the power sector and more specifically the renewable energy vision.
“Government is alive to its ethical responsibility that we have to help protect the planet; we have come up with a national energy transition framework which we did consulting across all 16 regions and have concluded that by 2060 we should have walked a net zero pathway,” he added.
He announced that the government had modelled the National Energy Transition Framework into an investment plan which President Akufo-Addo launched on the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly last year.
He said a significant number of projects are required to be executed for the implementation plan to see the light of day.
This project stands as a shining example of how private enterprises can lead the charge in driving environmental stewardship and aligning our operations with international standards for sustainability,” the Chief Executive of the Free Zones Authority, Mike Aaron Oquaye Jnr, said.
Mr Oquaye indicated that in a world increasingly focused on the implications of climate change, investments in renewable energy were not just desirable, they were imperative, adding that “Embracing this forward-thinking approach keeps us in step with our global counterparts and sets a benchmark for others to follow”.
The Managing Director of LMI, Adlai Opoku-Boamah, described the 16.8MW plant as the first step because the company was aiming at a target of 1000 megawatts of solar energy production by 2030 and as a first move, it had secured 200 acres of land for that.
He added that it had secured $110 million from IFC for the development of another 150 megawatts in the interim, and that the purpose was to drive industrialisation and prosperity.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Nigeria: Eni Receives Approval To Sell NAOC To OANDO
Italian oil and gas firm, Eni has received formal consent from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for the sale of NAOC Ltd to Oando Plc.
Having already obtained all other relevant local and regulatory authorities’ authorizations, this achievement will allow Eni to proceed to the completion of the transaction for the sale of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Ltd (NAOC Ltd), Eni’s wholly owned subsidiary focusing on onshore oil & gas exploration and production as well as power generation in Nigeria, to Oando PLC, Nigeria’s leading national energy solutions provider, listed on both the Nigerian and Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
NAOC Ltd participating interest in SPDC JV (Shell Production Development Company Joint Venture – operator Shell 30%, TotalEnergies 10%, NAOC 5%, NNPC 55%) is not included in the perimeter of the transaction and will be retained in Eni’s portfolio.
Eni remains committed to the country through investments in deepwater projects and Nigeria LNG.
Furthermore, the company is developing plans for economic diversification in the country which include assessing the potential production of agri-feedstock for Enilive biorefineries and various nature- and technology-based projects, such as clean cooking initiatives, to offset emissions.
Eni has been operating in Nigeria since 1962, actively engaging in hydrocarbon exploration and production, as well as power generation.
Currently, Eni has a substantial portfolio of assets in exploration and production, with an equity production of approximately 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day net of NAOC contribution.
Eni also holds a 10.4% interest in Nigeria LNG.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Egypt: Gov’t Raises Fuel Prices To Lock In IMF Loan Tranche
Egypt is raising fuel prices for the second time in four months, fulfilling an economic reform condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to unlock hundreds of millions in new loans.
Egypt’s official gazette reported an up to 15 percent price hike for petrol on Thursday, four days before the IMF is to review its $8billion loan programme, the next tranche of which is $820m.
The new prices will take effect on Friday, said Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
Petrol prices jumped about 15 percent and will now range from 12.25-15 pounds ($0.25-$0.31) per litre.
The decision will also make diesel, one of Egypt’s most commonly used fuels, costlier, taking its price from 10 Egyptian pounds ($0.21) to 11.50 pounds ($0.24).
As part of its IMF bailout deal, Egypt agreed to gradually slash fuel subsidies, which take up a chunk of its cash-strapped budget.
Egypt introduced an initial round of price hikes in March to bring domestic prices somewhat in line with those in international markets.
It aims to fully remove fuel subsidies by the end of 2025, according to government spokesperson Mohamed el-Homossan.
The move comes as Egypt battles its worst economic crisis in more than a decade, with ballooning foreign debt driving up inflation and causing several consecutive devaluations of the local currency.
Inflation peaked at nearly 40 percent last year, before winding down to 27.5 percent in June.
Nearly 30 percent of Egyptians live in poverty, according to official figures.
Alongside the economic crisis, Egypt has also been caught in regional tensions, with bloody wars raging in neighbouring Gaza and Sudan.
Attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis on shipping around the Red Sea have also hit revenues from Egypt’s Suez Canal, recording a 23.4 percent drop in the 2023-24 fiscal year compared with the previous one.
The IMF has demanded Egypt implement wide-ranging reforms to reset its economy, including shifting to a liberal exchange regime, reducing government spending and incentivising private investment.
Source: Aljazeera
Ghana: Addressing Energy Supply Security In West Africa Requires Holistic Approach–Krapa
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy in the Republic of Ghana, Herbert Krapa, has highlighted the energy security challenges in the West African sub-region, with a call for a holistic approach that addresses geopolitical dynamics, promotes sustainable development and fosters regional integration.
This, he said, would help the sub-region to harness its energy potential to drive economic growth, enhance regional stability and contribute to global energy security.
Currently, West Africa has a total population of 451,486,444 people, per the United States estimate.
However, out of this, only 42 per cent have access to electricity.
Security of electricity supply is one of the major challenges in the sub-region, despite the region’s vast energy resources, including oil and natural gas, sunshine, wind and hydro.
Speaking on ‘Geopolitical Dynamics and Energy Security: Implications for the West Africa Region’ at the 9th ERERA Regional Electricity Forum in Accra, the capital of Ghana, Mr Krapa mentioned that energy security has become a central theme in all geo-political debates due to its critical role in shaping the economic, political and strategic interests of nations.
He opined that every nation’s energy security is based on the assurance and diversity of fuel supply, reliability of energy infrastructure and financial viability of the energy sector.
He noted that there is a linkage between energy and national security.
“Stability of energy supply is not merely an economic concern but a fundamental pillar of national and regional security,” he said.
Mr Krapa said harnessing West Africa’s energy resources effectively is crucial for domestic development but was of the view that understanding the dynamics of electricity trade security in the ECOWAS region is important for several reasons, particularly in the regional context.
Touching on factors which are essential to attracting investments into the energy sector, Mr Krapa mentioned political stability, robust diplomatic relations and transparent regulatory frameworks as crucial factors that attract international investors.
Conversely, he said geopolitical tensions, inconsistent policies and inadequate infrastructure can deter investments, highlighting the need for cohesive international relations strategies that promote stability, cooperation and sustainable development across the region.
He called on West African nations to prioritise regional integration and multilateral partnerships to enhance energy security and resilience.
“By fostering dialogue and cooperation, countries can collectively address common challenges, leverage shared resources and promote stability and prosperity across the region,” he concluded.
In a welcome address, Chairman of ERERA Mr. Kocou Laurent Rodrigue Tossou said holding the forum after the 23rd CCRO was a continuation of consultations, which is an integral part of ERERA’s approach.
The forum brought together power sector generators and regulators such as the ministries in charge of energy, parliamentarians, the academia and researchers, consumer groups and other civil society organisations, investors and technical and financial partners on the current concerns of the regulation of the electricity sector in West Africa.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Nigeria: Navy Swoops On Illegal Bunkering Site In Private Residence
Nigeria’s Navy has apprehended two suspected oil thieves operating an illegal bunkering site concealed in their private residence in Rivers State.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Navy discovered 200,000 litres of illegally refined diesel stored at a site in the Okwuzi community of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers.
“The operation was conducted based on credible intelligence, leading us to a private compound used solely for illegal refining of petroleum products.
“About 200,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, bagged in sacks, are suspected to be a product of crude oil siphoned from pipelines in the area,” Desmond Igbo, Commander, Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder in Port Harcourt, said on Wednesday, when he took reporters to the site.
Mr Igbo described the operation as timely, adding that the product was already packaged for sale.
“We arrested the owner of the property and one of his workers, while efforts are ongoing to arrest others involved in the criminal act.
“It would be recalled that a few weeks ago, the Nigerian Navy relaunched phase three of Operation Delta Sanity aimed at curbing crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and related illicit activities in the Niger Delta.
“The stealing of crude oil is bad for the economy and so NNS Pathfinder is determined to apprehend those undermining the nation’s economy, whether on land or water,” Mr Igbo said.
He further said the suspects would be handed over to the prosecuting agencies.
According to him, the illegal bunkering site has been sealed while investigation has commenced.
He said the Navy had been challenged to increase the country’s crude oil output to meet the OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day for this year.
Mr Igbo said the Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanual Ogalla, had charged naval forces to enhance surveillance around the oil installations to meet the target.
“Therefore, youths are cautioned to avoid being used as tools for sabotaging the nation’s economy through oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering and other illegal activities,” he said.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: NPA Sensitizes Communities On CRM And Safe Use Of LPG
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has intensified efforts to promote the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a clean cooking energy source in the country.
The Authority is also encouraging LPG consumers to adopt the cylinder recirculation model (CRM) policy to ensure safety and convenience in the distribution and use of LPG.
The activities include one-on-one engagements with traders and drivers, stakeholder meetings and durbars.
In an address read on behalf of Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Chief Executive NPA, by Dr. Joseph Wilson, Director of Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation at NOA, at the Volta Regional Townhall Durbar on Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM), said while the implementation of the CRM was expected to increase accessibility by bringing LPG closer to consumers, challenges related to accessibility and affordability persist.
He expressed concern about the affordability of LPG, citing the 8% taxes and levies on LPG as a potential barrier to achieving the goal of 50% penetration by 2030.
“The NPA is working to address affordability by engaging the government to remove taxes and levies on LPG and educating stakeholders on safe LPG use and the need to transition to the CRM,” he noted.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid emphasized the need for a collective effort to address these challenges and increase household adoption of LPG as the main cooking fuel, which requires a collective effort by all stakeholders.
He gave a statistical breakdown on the use of LPG specifically in the Volta Region.
“According to the Ghana Statistical Service, the use of charcoal or wood fuel declined from 89% in 2010 to 62.1% in 2021.
“Then, the use of LPG increased from 11.5% to 33.7%. This means that out of 10 households in the Volta Region, four use LPG. In urban areas, 51.3% of households use LPG, which translates to five households out of 10.
“In rural areas, 20.2% of households use LPG, which means one household out of five uses LPG”, he said.
The Chairman for the occasion, Yushau Bashiru Turawah, Ho Zango Chief and President of the Regional Council of Zango Chiefs, acknowledged that the programme fostered a culture of safety and responsibility.
“We are committed to educating citizens on safe cylinder use and handling. This will ensure every home has knowledge to prevent accidents and promote wellbeing.
“I extend our gratitude to partners, stakeholders, and the government for their unwavering support in making this collaboration a reality.
“Together, you have paved the way for a brighter, safer, and more sustainable future for the region”, he said.
The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, in his welcome remarks, called on participants to take the education seriously.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are here to discuss a very important issue, which is the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM).
“I appeal to everyone to participate in the discussions today. This is a townhall meeting, so at the end of the day, we will understand the issues and bring our suggestions and questions for NPA officials to address.”
Dr. Archibald Letsa expressed excitement about the gathering.
“I am happy that religious bodies, women, and all of you are here. We welcome people from Accra to our region.”
He noted that promoting the CRM would ensure safety and protect lives and properties.
The NPA team continues to sensitize people in the Volta Region, including Keta, Afloa, Hohoe, Jasikan, Kadjebi, and surrounding areas, to adopt LPG as a clean cooking energy source, ensuring a safer and healthier environment for all.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GOIL Wins Oil Marketing Company Of The Year At Ghana Downstream Awards – 2024
Ghana’s premium Oil Marketing Company, GOIL PLC has been crowned Ghana’s Oil Marketing Company of the Year at the just-ended maiden edition of the Ghana Downstream Awards and Gala Night held in Accra.
On the same night, GOIL PLC was honored for its outstanding contributions to the petroleum downstream sector and as a pioneer in the retail of petroleum products across the country.
GO Energy was also recognized as the Bulk Import Distribution and Export Company of the Year
The awards reflect the company’s leadership qualities and dedication to providing quality fuel services for the petroleum industry countrywide and also for being a highly respected company advocating for best business practices in the sector.
The Downstream Gala and Awards Night is a pioneering awards scheme designed to promote compliance within the petroleum industry and to acknowledge both individual and institutional contributions to the growth and sustainability of the sector.
By recognizing excellence across the downstream value chain, the event aims to inspire higher standards and continuous improvement within the industry.
The 2024 Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GHiPCon) was organized by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) in collaboration with the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distribution (CBOD) and the Association of Oil and Marketing Companies (AOMC), under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy.
It brought together all the industry stakeholders to synergies and promotes a high level of ethics within the sector.
Key officials who retired from GOIL were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Petroleum downstream chain at the Ghana Downstream Awards.
Mr Yaw Agyeman Duah, former MD was honored for his major contribution to the industry and the formation and growth of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC) while Mr. Patrick Akorli, the immediate past MD was also recognized for his outstanding contribution and leadership in the transformation of GOIL.
The Current MD of GO Energy, Mr. Gyamfi Amanquah was honored for his outstanding contribution in Ghana’s Petroleum Downstream sector while the former Chief Operating Officer of GOIL, the late Mr. Alex Josiah Adzew, was posthumously honored with a special recognition award for his outstanding contribution and transformational leadership as the first Chief Operating Officer of GOIL.
Speaking to the Media after receiving the awards and honours, the Public Relations Manager of GOIL, Robert Kyere was extremely grateful for the recognitions adding the awards reflect the company’s unwavering focus on exceeding customer expectations while adhering to rigorous quality standards.
‘We dedicate the awards to our valued customers for their unflinching support and to the entire staff and frontline workers of GOIL’, he added.
GOIL, he said, will continue to work hard to distribute quality choices of fuel for all and always set the benchmark as the leader in the industry with credibility and reputation.
The 2024 Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GHiPCon) was organized by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) in collaboration with the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distribution (CBOD) and the Association of Oil and Marketing Companies (AOMC), under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy.
It brought together all the industry stakeholders to synergies and promotes a high level of ethics within the sector.
Key officials who retired from GOIL were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Petroleum downstream chain at the Ghana Downstream Awards.
Mr Yaw Agyeman Duah, former MD was honored for his major contribution to the industry and the formation and growth of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC) while Mr. Patrick Akorli, the immediate past MD was also recognized for his outstanding contribution and leadership in the transformation of GOIL.
The Current MD of GO Energy, Mr. Gyamfi Amanquah was honored for his outstanding contribution in Ghana’s Petroleum Downstream sector while the former Chief Operating Officer of GOIL, the late Mr. Alex Josiah Adzew, was posthumously honored with a special recognition award for his outstanding contribution and transformational leadership as the first Chief Operating Officer of GOIL.
Speaking to the Media after receiving the awards and honours, the Public Relations Manager of GOIL, Robert Kyere was extremely grateful for the recognitions adding the awards reflect the company’s unwavering focus on exceeding customer expectations while adhering to rigorous quality standards.
‘We dedicate the awards to our valued customers for their unflinching support and to the entire staff and frontline workers of GOIL’, he added.
GOIL, he said, will continue to work hard to distribute quality choices of fuel for all and always set the benchmark as the leader in the industry with credibility and reputation.
Integrating New Energy Capacity Into Africa’s Grid: Challenges And Opportunities (Article)
As Africa welcomes more independent power producers, one of its biggest challenges is how to integrate that power into a finite grid system, writes Globeleq general counsel Marlise Schmidt. But that complexity offers room for great innovation.
There has been much excitement around Eskom’s recent changes to grid connection requirements for energy projects.
Demands on South Africa’s grid have escalated with each public power-procurement process under the REIPPP (Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement) programme.
This is likely to become more of an issue with the opening up of the energy market for Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
Eskom will now require that developers demonstrate that their projects are shovel-ready and will be able to add generation capacity before any grid allocations are made. This is to avoid the earlier “first come, first served” situation, where projects that applied first for grid capacity got allocations.
But such complexities are not confined to South Africa. Across the continent, infrastructure faces massive capacity challenges.
In many cases, national grids are not set up for mega projects. There is no doubt that Africa has an almost insatiable demand for power to drive growth. The challenge is not just generation, but getting that power to end consumers.
South Africa, though, has a more developed energy market. However, we are reaching a point where there will be no more grid offtake available. In other countries, that has been a challenge from day one.
A case in point was the Globeleq experience in Mozambique. The Temane project was a competitive tender, and part of what secured us the contract to build the power project was that we also undertook to support state-owned energy company EDM and the government in building a 50km transmission line.
The transmission line will belong to the Mozambican government, but Globeleq was able to contribute its expertise in securing finance.
This is an exciting example of public-private partnerships to solve Africa’s grid limitations. Such collaboration requires trust between host governments and utilities, which takes time to build up.
It also takes a measure of openness on the part of host governments.
Another encouraging case study is the example of the 120MW Namaacha wind project, also in Mozambique – the country’s first grid-scale wind farm.
Wind energy is an attractive energy source. It can meet evening peak demand, although it is intermittent. This intermittency creates grid-stability issues. We therefore worked with the government to explore and implement a battery solution.
There are many opportunities for transmission innovation, but each must be tailored to the needs of the customer. Power producers must be willing to walk a long road to build up trust with the governments and their utilities.
Globeleq also has a standalone battery project in South Africa, which can unlock more renewable projects in the region, with the country’s next procurement round pending.
There is definitely a recognition from governments and utilities that more needs to be done to unlock renewable-energy potential. But it’s not an easy fix.
The unbundling of Eskom may open up such opportunities. We may even see privately owned – and leased – transmission lines. There are challenges, certainly, but also massive possibilities.
A growing aspect of the energy space is private generators selling privately to mines and other business users. This has implications for the public procurement process, as it also requires connection and wheeling agreements, and grid access – which is finite.
As the market opens up in South Africa, there will be a need to balance grid access fairly, between public and private needs.
One solution to optimising grids is curtailment, where a grid operator curtails the amount of power particular power producers can put into the grid at certain times of day.
This stabilises the grid at peak hours, and ultimately allows more generators to plug in.
South Africa offers some learnings for developing jurisdictions to look to as they expand. We are seeing Mozambican and Zambian utilities carve out the option to split in future. Regional governments can learn a lot from each other policywise, but each jurisdiction has its own unique pinch points.
Grid access remains a critical waystation on Africa’s route out of energy poverty to prosperity. Mapping the best path will require policy evolution, multiple partnerships, as well as technical and policy innovation, if we are to reach our ultimate destination – a better life for Africa’s people.
Source: Marlise Schmidt. She is the General Counsel for Globeleq
Integrals Power Launches UK’s First Zero Emission Pilot Plant To Accelerate LFP Battery Manufacturing Industry
United Kingdom-based firm, Integrals Power, has started production of high-performance Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LMFP) cathode active materials at its pioneering new UK pilot plant.
This milestone for the UK battery industry will help to accelerate the development of the domestic battery industry and achieve net zero ambitions.
Following successful laboratory trials, Integrals Power is now launching the UK’s first pilot plants producing the company’s proprietary high-performance LFP and LMFP nanomaterials. The new facility has an annual capacity of 20 tonnes, the equivalent to 250 electric cars, which will primarily be used for evaluation by cell suppliers, battery and vehicle manufacturers worldwide.
Establishing manufacturing in the UK is also a boost for the domestic battery industry by reducing its carbon footprint, enhancing supply chain security and transparency, and mitigating geopolitical issues such as import tariffs on EVs and their components.
Quality is equally important: Integrals Power’s LFP materials have been assessed as ultra-high purity in a third-party analysis using cutting-edge X-ray diffusion technology to study attributes such as chemical composition and lattice structure of the molecules – these are key to the performance of the material when built into battery cells.
Integrals Power Founder and CEO, Behnam Hormozi, said: “Start of production in our new pilot plant is a key milestone because it enables us to produce our high-performance LFP and LMFP cathode active materials at volume. We believe this is one of the first facilities of its kind in the UK and is exactly the kind of state-of-the-art resource the UK battery industry needs in order to support the sustainable future growth of electromobility.
“The flexibility and scalability we’ve designed into the pilot plant from day one enables us to manufacture different grades of Lithium Iron Phosphate nanomaterials to suit different applications – from long-range electric vehicles through to off-grid energy storage – and to increase capacity to meet demand from customers in the UK and from around the world.”
Developed in-house, Integrals Power has created a modular production facility which can be readily scaled to higher volumes in the future to meet growing customer demand, and also to enable a range of different chemistries to be made.
The process takes place over seven stages, and from raw materials to packaged samples ready for customers takes up to 48 hours.
Ghana: Expert Calls For Diversification Of Energy Sources
The Chairperson of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) Consultative Committee of Operators has called for diversification of energy sources to ensure power security.
Dr. Ali Bukar Ahmad said the continent was heavily dependent on gas and needed to explore renewable energy sources such as hydro, coal, and others to address sector challenges.
“The idea is to pool all these resources together and distribute electricity to areas without power and export the rest to West Africa,” he said at the opening of 23rd meeting of ERERA’S Consultative Committees of Regulators and Operators in Accra.
The forum was on the theme, “Electricity Trade Security in the ECOWAS Region: the Interplay between National Policies and Free Market Principles.”
Dr Ahmad said that there was an increasing demand for energy transition across Africa and that authorities needed to implement strategies to meet the demand of rising populations.
He predicted that as the population grows and industrialization advances, so would the demand for gas-powered thermal plants.
Dr Ahmad expressed optimism that diversifying energy sources would result in cheaper electricity for both domestic and industrial sectors.
He called for effective harmonisation of energy policies throughout the continent to address the challenges in the sector.
Dr. Ishmael Ackah, the Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, pushed for the injection of private capital into the energy sector to complement government efforts.
“The presence of ERERA will set guidelines to harmonise the regulations within countries so that if you have excess power in the country “A,” you can export to country “B,” he said, adding that that would stabilise or make the prices of electricity uniform and address areas where there were shortages.
Mr Kocou Rodrigue Laurent Tossou, Chairman of ERERA, said the forum would strengthen the role of key players, to develop a regional framework for electricity trade that balances the need for the security of the power supply of states with the principles of free market competition.
He said the forum would encourage cooperation among ECOWAS Member States to harmonise national policies and regulations related to electricity trading.
Discussions would focus on promoting investment in cross-border electricity infrastructure to facilitate efficient trade and ensure supply security.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: TOR Will Start Refining Crude In Three Months–New MD
The newly-appointed Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery Kofi Mocumbi Tagoe is hopeful the refinery will resume refining crude in the next three months.
The 45,000 barrel per stream day facility has been idle for several years and an attempt by the government to revive it has failed multiple times due to a lack of transparency in the selection process of a strategic partner.
It is not yet clear the strategy the new Managing Director will be adopting to turn the refinery around, however, speaking to the press on Tuesday, during the visit of the Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy, Herbert Krapa, Mr Mocumbi Tagoe, the TOR MD stated categorically that in the next three months, TOR is going to get a letter.
“We’re going to start our plant. We are going to get the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) started and functional.”
He added that in about a year, the Residual Cataractic Cracker will also start working as well as the PRF.
Mr Mocumbi Tagoe said the new management systematic plan would lead to the expansion of the crude processing capacity of the refinery from 45,000 barrels per stream daily to 100,000 per stream daily.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: Parts Of Cape Town Without Power Due To Vandalism, Theft Of Eskom Infrastructure
South Africa’s power utility company, Eskom, has reported vandalism of its network infrastructure at Gordon’s Bay, Strand, Somerset West and Railways.
The incident which occurred at about at about 03:30, on Tuesday, left several parts of the City of Cape Town without power.
“This act of vandalism and theft affected both the City of Cape Town municipality and Eskom customers,” the power utility said in a statement.
Technicians are trying to restore power but the time of restoration is unknown.
“It will be communicated as soon as possible. Customers are warned to treat all electrical installations as live for the full duration of the interruption,” Eskom added.
Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town took to X (formerly Twitter) to update people affected by the outage.
“It is unfortunately not possible to give a time for restoration at this stage,” it added.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Angola: President João Lourenço Meets Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi
The President of the Republic of Angola João Gonçalves Lourenço has met with the Chief Executive Officer of Eni Claudio Descalzi in Luanda to review activities in the country and discuss new areas of cooperation.
The Minister of Mineral resources, Oil and Gas Diamantino Azevedo also attended the meeting.
During the meeting Mr Descalzi updated the President on the activities of Azule Energy, the JV between Eni and bp and largest equity producer in the country, with a special focus on the West Hub Integrated development of the Agogo and Ndungu discoveries, and the progress of the New Gas Consortium (NGC), which for the first time in Angola will allow to develop non-associated gas fields, boosting the availability of domestic gas as well as LNG production for export, ensuring the country’s ability to contribute to energy security.
NGC will leverage gas from the Quiluma and Maboqueiro discoveries, as well as other discovered resources in future developments.
Also, the two discussed Azule’s ongoing technical support for Luanda refinery, that includes a study to implement a bio-refinery within the existing Luanda Refinery Complex, leveraging Eni’s own processes and technologies.
Additionally, they analyzed the status of the Caraculo Photovoltaic project in the Namibe region, whose first 25MW plant is already operational since May last year while a second one is under development.
Descalzi also illustrated to the President of Angola the company’s effort in the areas of decarbonization and sustainable energy transition and their positive impact on occupation and economic diversification.
Among other initiatives, the two reviewed Eni’s progress in the production of agri-feedstock for bio-refining: the company has a target of 100 thousand tons of vegetable oil from cultivation on degraded land and cover crops over 150,000 hectares, involving over 100 thousand farmers by 2030.
Furthermore, the CEO and the President reviewed the clean cooking project that was recently launched in Angola, aimed at supporting families in accessing more energy efficient, reliable, and sustainable cooking solutions, mostly produced locally.
The project has already involved 50,000 people and targets to reach more than 2 million people by 2030, reducing emissions associated to cooking activities and preventing health risks.
Finally, Descalzi and President Lourenço reviewed initiatives in the areas of health, where capacity building projects are underway targeting approximately 900 health professionals, and sustainable development projects in the areas of access to water, health promotion, education, social inclusion, economic diversification, access to energy and environment protection benefiting 500,000 Angolans.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com