Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, commissioned a 10 Megawatts solar power plant in Kano to spur industrial activities.
The $16 million project was funded through Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
President Buhari expressed appreciation, saying, “The project will help to revive ailing industries which depend on electricity to power their giant plants in the state.”
In his remark, the Managing Director and the Chief Executive Officer of the NSIA, Aminu Umar Sagir described the project as a progress for the people towards adding value to the economy.
“All the necessary support and funds were provided for the implementation of the project and, hopefully, the impact of the project would be felt via the creation of fresh employment opportunities,” he stated.
He also said that as the project begins to supply power, it would put a smile on the faces of families through employment opportunities to be created for individuals and collective families.
“At the close of the day, peace and security would reign supreme as Nigerian masses would no longer starve over lack of food because they would be paid emoluments at the close of the end of the day.
“The project is to be supervised and managed by the NSIA which is jointly owned by the federal government, Kano State, and the host community, Kumbotso.
“The project is currently the largest grid-connected solar PV plant and is proof of successful mid-sized solar PV deployment in Nigeria.
“This would catalyst growth in the power sector as it shows that renewable projects of this magnitude can be successfully delivered. It also builds Nigeria’s credentials in the fight against climate change and our commitment to attaining net zero carbon emissions by 2060,” he added.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Director General of the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone, Foday B. L. Mansaray, has called on prospective oil and gas investors around the world to take advantage of the favourable fiscal regime in the country and invest in the country’s oil and gas industry.
The West African nation has about 126 oil blocks with 56 blocks covering 63,600sq. km going for licensing round while 70 blocks are going for direct negotiations.
The blocks are 1,360 square kilometres each.
The West African country is home to a working petroleum system that was supported by small-scale oil and gas discoveries, including the Venus-B1, Mercury-1 and Jupiter-1 wells by Anadarko and the Savannah-1X well by Lukoil.
Oil and gas exploration in the country began nearly four decades ago with the drilling of two wildcat exploration wells but was put on pause around 2015/2016.
Sierra Leone’s Petroleum Directorate operates under the mandate to unlock the full potential of its national hydrocarbon resources, regulating the exploration and production of affordable, reliable and cleaner energy across Sierra Leone.
Speaking last Thursday in London during the ‘Invest in Africa’ programme organised by African Energy Chamber,
Mr. Foday Mansaray stated that Sierra Leone offers access to acreage, competitive fiscal conditions, a transparent and stable government, high-quality data with reprocessing and world-class conjugate discoveries.
“The response from investors [to our fifth licensing round] has been excellent and is part of the reason we extended the deadline.
“We like to think of IOCs as partners and not investors. We try to integrate into their operations. We’ve tried to eliminate the red tape. It currently takes 85 days from application to licensing,” Mansaray said.
Sierra Leone’s Petroleum Directorate recently signed a cooperation agreement with Angola’s National Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels, to establish a shared commitment to promoting and intensifying collaboration across the oil and gas sector.
The Memorandum of Understanding served to outline opportunities for bilateral trade and investment; position oil and gas cooperation as mutually beneficial economically, technologically, socially and environmentally for both countries; and reaffirm stronger economic, cultural and social ties between Angola and Sierra Leone.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc. (IBEDC), one of the power distribution companies in the Republic of Nigeria has said that it is working towards improving power supply to residents of underserved communities in Ibadan and its environ.
Speaking to journalists, Managing Director of IBEDC, Kingsley Achife said IBEDC would inject about N14billion into improving service delivery aside from other investments from the Federal Government.
Achife added that over 500 transformers are faulty within its franchise areas, assuring residents that about 300 faulty transformers would be replaced to relieve the suffering of existing customers who could not be served as a result of faulty transformers in their communities.
“Recently, people have been experiencing a lot of disruptions in supply around Ibadan, it is because transmission is retooling some of their lines; from Ayede, Jericho to Eleyele,” Kingsley Achife said as carried by Vanguard.
And we have another one around Ibadan North. So, people around Jericho, Ibadan North to Akobo, would be experiencing disruptions until the Transmission Company finishes their work.
“There is also the aspect of the interface between us and them, which again requires lots of investment, where they need to expand and allow us to take more power because the equipment is old and obsolete. And they are constraining us to take lower than the amount of power that we should. This is affecting people in Ijebu Ode as well. We cannot begin to build until transmission fixes the faulty lines because that is the source of supply.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Fuel prices are likely to go up between 7 per cent and 13 per cent for the first pricing window of February 2023, Institute for Energy Security (IES) has predicted.
Currently, a litre of petrol is sold at around GH¢13.60 while diesel is sold at GH¢15.52 per litre, with LPG selling at around GH¢11.29 per kilo.
Per the projection of IES, a litre of petrol is likely to be sold for over GH¢14 while diesel will be sold for around GH¢16 per litre.
In a statement issued by IES and signed by Adam Yakubu, Research Analyst, it said the projected increase in fuel prices is due to the sharp depreciation of the cedi during the last two weeks and the rising international fuel prices as observed on the global S&P Platts platform.
The energy think tank pointed out that the increase in fuel prices would be occasioned despite the government’s receipt of approximately 41,000 metric tonnes of diesel under its ‘Gold for Oil’ programme.
“Based on the rising international fuel prices as observed on the global S&P Platts platform, linked with the local currency’s value decline against the greenback, the Institute for Energy Security (IES) estimates a 7% to 13% jump in the prices of gasoline [petrol], gasoil [diesel], and LPG over the next two weeks ending February 14, 2023.
“The rise in domestic fuel prices would be occasioned despite the government’s receipt of approximately 41,000 metric tonnes of Gasoil under its ‘Gold for Oil’ programme, and that consumers must be prepared to buy, for instance, a litre of gasoline [petrol] for roughly GH¢15 in the coming days,” it stated.
Although IES believed both petrol and diesel would be going up from Wednesday 1st February 2023, Star Oil, one of the Oil Marketing Companies, in a public notice issued on Monday, informed its customers that it expects petrol prices to go up while diesel prices likely to remain stable or unchanged, citing 41,000 metric tons of diesel brought into the country under the Government gold for oil programme.
The international crude oil benchmark, Brent, increased to about $86.14 per barrel on average terms from a previous average rate of $81.72 per barrel.
This represented a 5.41 per cent increase in average price over the last two weeks.
Following an initial steady grind upwards to $88.16 per barrel at the close of January 23, Brent crude oil price settled lower on Friday, January 26, 2023, making the commodity’s weekly finish flat to lower.
Brent closed Friday’s trading at $86.66 after closing the day before at $87.28 per barrel, up from the year’s low of $72.50.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Tanzanian government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Oil Company (ENOC) for the construction of petroleum receiving and storage infrastructures.
The deal was signed by the Ministry of Energy and representatives of ENOC.
The MoU aims at making Tanzania a petroleum hub in East and Central Africa as well as sustaining the country’s fuel demands for up to six months.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Tanzania’s Minister for Energy, Mr January Makamba said the new infrastructure would reduce delay times for offloading of oil products, especially in transit to neighbouring countries.
“The current Petroleum Act requires the country to have enough petrol for utilization for 15 days, but currently, the storage enables us to sustain for 30 consecutive days. Much should be done to increase the country’s storage capacity,” he said.
Minister Makamba, who doubles as Bumbuli legislator, said oil importation at the port of Dar es Salaam utilizes one pipeline, leading to failure to support the number of imports.
This leads to shipping delays of up to 18 days, which triggers an increase in the price of the product, according to the Minister.
Furthermore, he said in times of world crisis like the ongoing Russia and Ukraine war or case of disasters occurring on the ocean, a storage of up to six months would be required in the stock.
“Hopefully, the two sides will come up with an agreed investment contract worth between $400 million and $500 million in the next two to three months,” he said.
The ENOC Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Saif Humaid Al Falasi promised to cooperate with the government in resolving challenges facing the country’s energy sector.
“The current infrastructure will help us in the estimation and negotiation processes with the government. We have the experience to carry such projects to other countries like Morocco, Djibouti, Malaysia and Dubai,” he said.
The Tanzania Association of Oil Marketing Companies (TAOMAC) Executive Director, Mr Raphael Mgaya said the project would improve the efficiency of the oil business in the country as well as its transit to neighbouring countries.
“Estimation shows that we are losing up to 50 per cent of the business to ports located in neighbouring countries due to excessive delay. The project whose MoU has been signed would provide a solution to the problem,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s Ministry of Energy has terminated negotiations with four oil companies after more than two years of unfruitful negotiations for petroleum agreements over their respective blocks.
The companies are China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), First E&P Development Company/Elandel Energy Ghana, Eni Ghana E&P/Vitol Upstream Tano Ltd. and KOKA Energy Ltd.
First E&P Development Company/Elandel Energy Ghana won block GH -WB-02 while Eni Ghana E&P/Vitol Upstream Tano Ltd won block GH -WB-03 during Ghana’s maiden licensing round in May 2019.
Energynewsafrica.com understands that CNOOC was given five oil blocks in the Keta Basin while KOKA Energy Ltd, a company owned by a Ghanaian, was given block GH-WB-04.
Accordingly, the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) the Ministry signed with all the companies set out the period within which negotiations would be concluded but the MoUs have expired and yet there seems to be no indication that the negotiations would be completed anytime soon.
Therefore, the ministry has decided not to extend the terms of the MoUs for all the aforementioned companies. This means that the blocks are available for licensing again.
The Ministry has, however, informed the affected companies to that they can reapply if they are still interested in the blocks.
Over the last few years, the Ministry has undertaken roadshows to woo more investors for the country’s available oil blocks.
This appears to have attracted favourable response as some oil companies have already expressed interest.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Tullow Oil Plc, Africa focused independent oil and gas firm, plans to invest about US$400 million across its operational areas in 2023.
Out of the US$400 million capital investment, a huge amount of US$300 will be invested in Ghana business, representing about 75 per cent.
A greater part of the funds would be directed towards infrastructure development.
According to Tullow, the capital investment in 2023 in Ghana is expected to support production growth through 2025 and free cash flow generation of $700 to $800 million for the two years–2024 and 2025—at $80 per barrel.
In 2023, Tullow projected to spend US$90 million on decommissioning compared to US$ 72 million in decommissioning expenditure in 2022.
In a statement issued in advance of the Group’s 2022 Full Year Results, Tullow Oil Group Chief Executive, Rahul Dhir described the company’s 2022 performance as strong operational delivery, rigorous, focus on costs and capital discipline.
He said, “Increased equity in our key operated fields in Ghana and higher oil prices drove material, expectation-beating free cash flow generation in 2022, accelerating the Group’s deleveraging towards a net debt to EBITDAX ratio of 1.3 times by the year-end.
“Our capital investment this year, in particular in Ghana, is expected to support production growth through to 2025 and material free cash flow generation,” he added.
The Group’s total revenue for 2022 was pegged at $1.7 billion, including a hedge cost of $313 million, and an average realised oil price was $102 a barrel.
The additional equity in the Jubilee and TEN fields acquired through the pre-emption transaction in Ghana for $126 million had already been paid back by December 31, 2022.
Free cash flow for the full year 2022 was expected to be $267 million, ahead of guidance, with lower oil prices towards the end of the year offset by continued focus on cost control and deferrals of decommissioning costs and capital expenditure.
Jubilee Production 2023
The company announced that it expects daily production from the Jubilee Oilfield to exceed 100,000 barrels a day in 2023.
This will be influenced by new wells drilled in the South-East of the field that will be brought on stream.
The operational update report showed that production from the Jubilee field averaged 83.6 kbopd in 2022.
This, Tullow Oil described as good operational efficiency, supported by four new wells (one producer and three water injectors) brought online in early 2022.
On Jubilee Oilfield
Two wells were drilled in the Jubilee South-East area in the second half of 2022 and a third well is currently being drilled.
The company said primary target reservoir results are in line with expectations with some deeper reservoirs also penetrated that have encountered additional resources for future potential development.
“These wells will commence production in the second half of the year after the installation and tie-in to the Jubilee South-East project subsea infrastructure, scheduled for the middle of the year, in line with the initial project schedule.”
It added that the completion of the Jubilee South-East Project would mark the completion of the major infrastructure spending in the Jubilee area. The majority of future capex is expected to be focused on drilling and completing new wells.
The first oil from the Jubilee South-East project would be a significant milestone, bringing previously undeveloped reserves to production.
Tullow noted that this project is being delivered on budget despite the inflationary environment and challenges associated with COVID-19 during 2020-22, highlighting Tullow’s project management strengths and ability to integrate deliverables across a global team.
TEN Oil Field Operations
Production from the TEN fields averages 23.6,000 barrels per day in 2022. Tullow Oil describes this as a good operational performance in terms of the production target.
No new wells were brought online during the year under review, but pressure support from gas and water injection resulted in steady production.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Eni SpA is set to push ahead a potential investment of $8 billion in two natural gas fields in Libya, according to the North African country’s state energy firm, as Italy steps up efforts to wean itself off Russian supplies.
The Rome-based company will sign a deal with Libya’s National Oil Corp. in Tripoli this weekend, NOC Chairman Farhat Bengdara told a local television channel.
The fields, located offshore in the Mediterranean, will probably be able to pump 850 Mmcfgd, he said.
Eni declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg.
Libya already sends gas to Italy via the Green Stream pipeline, though it’s not at full capacity.
Eni is also looking to invest more in gas in Algeria and Egypt. Its chief executive officer, Claudio Descalzi, traveled to Algiers this week along with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Libya has some of Africa’s biggest oil and gas reserves and its close proximity to Europe could make it one of the continent’s biggest energy suppliers. Yet Libya’s exports have long been hindered by conflict.
Political Strife
The country was thrown into chaos and civil war after Moammar Qaddafi was deposed in 2011. Petroleum production was highly volatile — at time plunging almost to zero — until a ceasefire in mid-2020 led to more stability at oil and gas fields and ports.
The political situation remains tense and two rival governments claim power. One is based in Tripoli, while the other is located in Sirte.
Eni’s investment would be the largest in Libya for years. The company, which has operated in Libya since the 1950s, has said it wants to push ahead with oil, gas and solar investments there.
Libya’s extracting 1.5 Bcfg and plans to increase that to 4 billion, Bengdara said in the TV interview. It aims to boost oil output to 2 MMbpd from 1.26 million within three to five years, he said.
Source: Worldoil.com
A former Deputy Minister for Power and Ranking Member on Mines and Energy Committee in Ghana’s Parliament, John Abdulai Jinapor, has slammed the Minister for Energy Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh for allegedly approving Genser Energy Limited to establish a gas processing plant to compete with Ghana Gas for feedstock.
“We can only have one gas plant in addition to Atuabo Gas Processing Plant.
“So first of all, for the Minister to have approved that Genser Energy should establish a gas processing plant while Ghana Gas also plans to establish another plant is wrong.
“We can’t have two different gas plants concurrently being established…the feedstock is not there,” John Abdulai Jinapor said in an exclusive interview with energynewsafrica.com.
It would be recalled that two weeks ago, the Senior Staff of Ghana Gas Association issued a statement, accusing the energy minister of allegedly approving for Genser Energy to establish a gas processing plant to compete with Ghana National Gas Company.
The workers could not fathom why the sector minister would do that since the President of Ghana, Akufo-Addo, last year, tasked Ghana Gas, which is the West African nation’s national gas aggregator, to establish a second gas processing plant to process more gas for electricity generation and domestic consumption.
Since the President tasked Ghana Gas, the company, under the leadership of Dr Benjamin K.D Asante, has been working tirelessly to realise that dream.
Hon. John Jinapor, Ranking Member Mines and Energy Committee in Parliament and MP for Yapei Kusawgu
In an angry tone, the Energy Ministry responded to a statement by the Senior Staff Association and accused the CEO of Ghana Gas of misleading the workers.
However, John Abdulai Jinapor found the Ministry’s response inappropriate.
“For a Minister of State to accuse the Chief Executive of one of the companies directly under his supervision of undermining his authority…instigating workers against him tells you that the centre cannot hold. This cannot happen under President Mahama,” Mr Jinapor stated.
In the view of Mr. Jinapor, a private company should not be approved to establish a second gas processing plant to compete with a state entity since there is limited feedstock.
He suggested that it is only when Ghana Gas cannot or is not in the position to establish a second gas processing that a private company could be asked to partner with them or form a joint venture.
“I will wish and strongly advocate that Ghana Gas, which is the state-owned entity, ought to be given preference above anybody,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s technical electricity regulator, Energy Commission (EC), has denied claims by Concerned Importers of Used Electrical Appliances against the Commission on the intended imposition of a ban on used appliances.
According to the Energy Commission, claims by the group that their meeting with the Commission ended inconclusively are inaccurate.
The Commission also rejected claims by the group that used appliances are energy efficient and more durable than new ones.
The Commission said it is equally shocked that the group misunderstood what the use of the term ‘dumping’ means.
It would be recalled that last Wednesday, the Concerned Importers of Used Appliances at a press conference, addressed by Daniel Asare accused Energy Commission of trying to throw hundreds of people who engage in the sale of used appliances out of job by its intended imposition of a ban on the importation of used appliances.
“We tried to meet them through the Trade Ministry which the Ministry assured us to hold a meeting between the Energy Commission, the Energy Ministry and us on the same matter but the meeting has not been held,” he said.
However, the Commission, in a statement issued, denied all the claims made by the group.
According to the Commission, it had a very productive and conclusive meeting with the National Executives of GUTA, of which the Concerned Importers of Used Electrical Appliances are members, on October 6, 2021.
The Commission explained that “at the said meeting, the rationale of the ban and the effect of the used appliances on the national economy, consumers, the environment and the appliance market as a whole was explained to them.”
The Commission said the group misconstrued or misunderstood the use of the terminology ‘dumping’ and, therefore, defined ‘dumping as the practice of exporting to another country or territory products that: contain hazardous substances, have environmental performance lower than is in the interest of consumers or that is contrary to the interests of the local and global
commons; and can undermine the ability of the importing country to fulfill international environmental treaty commitments; or are often too inefficient to sell in the appliances markets of the countries of manufacture or their export inflicts economic, social, and environmental costs on vulnerable populations in the receiving countries.’
The Commission said it is disappointed by the attempt by the group to discredit the health implications of used appliances when a recent study at Agbogbloshie a suburb of Accra, Ghana’s capital, revealed that children living in and around the area, which is known for the sale of used appliances, suffer from upper respiratory diseases, have high lead content in their blood and have low life expectancy rate.
It added that recently, a newly published research by the Francis Crick Institute with Cancer Research UK also revealed how air pollution can cause lung cancer in individuals who have never smoked in their lives.
“This is the sad threat we are exposing our citizens to and we must wake up to this global call and safeguard the health of citizens, especially our children, to whom the future belongs,” the commission said.
“Nobody discounts the claim that importation of used appliances provides jobs for a section of Ghanaians. However, the development should be sustainable to ensure socio-economic development while maintaining environmental integrity. Turning one’s country into a junkyard cannot lead to sustainable development, regardless of the jobs that it creates,” the statement explained.
Last year, the Parliament of Ghana passed Energy Efficiency and Standards Regulations 2022 and the Commission gave a one-year moratorium which will expire in November 2023.
This means that after the end of November 2023, it would be illegal for any importer to attempt to import certain used appliances to Ghana.
Among the appliances, as the Commission is banning, are microwaves, rice cookers, air-conditioners, set-top boxes, water heaters, ventilation fans, distribution transformers, industrial fans, watch washing machines, electric kettles and electric motors.
The Energy Commission said Ghanaians must be aware that Europe has passed stringent environmental laws that make the disposal of obsolete appliances expensive and are, therefore, always on the lookout for countries that do not have environmental laws or have weak enforcement of their environmental laws and ship all the junk to them.
The Energy Commission said it has the mandate to fulfill the Act that established it by ensuring the efficient utilization of indigenous energy resources and “that is exactly what we are doing.
“Our intention is a far cry from what the group wants Ghanaians to believe,” it said.
ENERGY COMMISSION PRESS RELEASE – IMPORTATION BAN_012023Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, H.E. Timipre Sylva, has said that the continuous use of Africa’s abundant gas resources would deliver the continent from energy poverty.
Sylva, who made the call when he hosted visiting OPEC President, Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima Tuesday in Abuja, said, with dwindling investment in the oil and gas sector, it was important that the continent’s oil and gas producers create their own market to be able to address the situation.
According to the minister, with an ever increasing population, it is pertinent that the continent looks inward saying local content should play a key role in driving growth in the sector.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I cannot conclude my remarks without alluding to a pertinent challenge that currently threatens the oil and gas industry in Africa. This has to do with dwindling investments. With the fastest growing population in the world, and an unimaginable prevalent energy poverty level across the continent, Africa’s energy needs will continue to grow in leaps and bounds over the foreseeable future.
“It is estimated that about 640 million Africans have no access to electricity, while about 900 million Africans have no access to clean cooking fuels. While taking cognizance of the current global drive towards renewable energy, Africa will undoubtedly need to continue to utilize its abundant oil and gas resources for the continent to be delivered from the shackles of perpetual energy poverty and stunted economic growth.
“Africa has an enormous proven crude oil reserve of over 125 billion barrels, and over 630 trillion cubic foot (TCF) of natural gas reserves. Investment required in the medium term to sustain oil and gas production in the continent was recently estimated at an average of about $40 billion annually.
“I am of the opinion that local content should be at the drivers’ seat for investments in Africa’s oil and gas industry, for the continent to witness a sustainable development. In this context, the on-going move to establish an African Energy Bank is a right move in the right direction,” he explained.
Slyva urged the OPEC President to use the opportunity of his Presidency tenure to promote the cause of Africa and attract more investments into the oil and gas industry in the continent.
He said Nigeria will continue to lend full support to the efforts of both OPEC and GECF in their quest to balance and stabilize the energy market for the benefit of all, as well as strengthening our shared values and protecting our common interest.
“Excellency, be rest assured that Nigeria stands ready to assist you in every way possible to ensure the success of your double tenure as the 2023 President of the OPEC Conference, and the President of the GECF Ministerial Council.”
In his comments, Obiang Lima, who is Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons, and 2023 President of the OPEC/GECF, said there was the need to drive local content in the continent’s oil, gas sector as it key to growing the industry.
The OPEC President explained that local content can only thrive when National Oil Companies (NOCs) start producing their own assets.
He said that with more local content involvement in the sector, the continent would be able to address the energy challenge which continues to hamper growth and development.
According to him, “NOCs should operate assets for their own assets and just for export. Control of resources must be through management and control of assets
“Technology transfer is as important as job creation, he added.
While acknowledging the need for climate action to address the devastating effect of climate change, the OPEC chief insisted that developed countries should do more to mitigate the effect of climate change.
Source: Blueprint.ng
The Ghanaian business community has kicked against the hikes in electricity and water tariffs, arguing that the development will cripple businesses.
The business community, represented by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) said the electricity and water tariffs will dampen hopes of business recovery and employment prospects in the West African nation.
Last Monday, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced a 29.96 per cent and 8.3 per cent increment in electricity and water tariffs respectively. And they are expected to take effect from February 1, 2023.
The announcement has generated discussion on both social and mainstream media platforms.
Reacting to the development, the President of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GNCCI), Clement Osei Amoako noted that the high utility tariffs in the country have forced most businesses to look elsewhere for cheaper tariffs while others have folded up.
He expressed shock that despite the current economic challenges, consumers would be made to pay more for utilities.
“There is a way out to get it [downward review of utility tariffs] done. They would have to look at it.
“If it has to go back to Parliament for them to look at it, we will lobby the Parliament Select Committee and all those that matter to make sure we will not keep the current price. This will ensure ordinary Ghanaians and businesses survive,” Mr. Clement Osei Amoako said during an interview with Accra-based Joy FM.
On their part, the Association of Ghana Industries, in a statement issued by its Chief Executive, Seth Twum-Akwaboah described the level of increments as excessive.
He said businesses were hoping to see signs of recovery this year, having been under pressure from an unstable business environment coupled with so much uncertainty since last year; hence, the recent increase in utility tariffs could spell doom for recovery and employment prospects.
“The level of utility tariff increments for water and electricity as captured in the PURC’s release is too high for industry to bear, particularly at this time,” its Chief Executive Officer said.
While acknowledging that the review is in line with the quarterly automatic adjustment as required of the regulator, he said the timing and level of increments would throw cold water on businesses’ ability to recover from economic downturns of the last few years.
“We reckon that our utility companies need to recover the cost to sustain their operations, but when end-user tariffs get to unbearable levels, the effect could be dire for both industry and the utility companies.
“We, therefore, urge the PURC to expedite action toward full reversal of the tariff structure in support of the government’s industrial transformation agenda,” Mr. Twum-Akwaboah added.
Apart from asking the PURC to address what it believes is a punitive tariff regime, AGI urged the government to ensure efficient utility infrastructure and logistics management to save costs in these difficult times.
“We expect the government to control macroeconomic instability—a major trigger and driver for such sudden changes in tariffs—level and price hikes,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of PURC, Dr Ishmael Ackah, has indicated that nothing can be done about the hikes in utility tariffs for now since the tariffs have already been gazetted to take effect in February 2023.
“The decision has been made and it has been gazetted as a law. For now, nothing can be done on the part of PURC,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s national oil company, GNPC, has handed over a new six-unit classroom block to the Ankaful M.A. Basic School in the Mfantsiman Municipality in the Central Region.
At a gathering of community leaders, school authority, parents and pupils, Nana Kofi Ntsiful V, Chief of Ankaful, thanked GNPC for the assistance with a gesture he deemed historic as it is Ankaful’s first classroom block facility for its children who, hitherto, trekked several kilometres daily to school in adjoining communities.
He, however, made further appeals to the national oil company to provide the school with an additional block to serve its JHS students, as well as a sanitary facility.
Receiving the facility on behalf of the school, the Headteacher, Madam Eunice Okuruw expressed appreciation on behalf of the staff and pupils, saying the school block would enhance teaching and learning and boost attendance records in the area.
“Before now, we resorted to makeshift structures with no shed to keep the kids; exposing them to all kinds of debilitating conditions. With this block, we no longer must dismiss class at the instance of the clouds forming in anticipation of rains,” she added.
Madam Betty Kurentsiwa Smith, the Municipal Director of Education, said the facility would ease the burden of school authority in dealing with pupils.
She encouraged parents to see the structure as an opportunity to send their kids to school.
She reminded all that education remains a credible poverty-alleviating tool.
“The school is open to all children of school-going ages. Send your kids to school as a means to curb teenage pregnancy and other social vices,” she advised the parents.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Isaac Lord Enu lauded GNPC for its social intervention programmes in needy communities across the country.
He described the school block, which comes with ancillary facilities, as an essential provision for the people in the Municipality.
He tasked the school’s authority and pupils to exercise good maintenance practices to ensure its longevity.
Madam Lubaabat, on her part, assured that GNPC, through the Foundation has earmarked additional projects for the community and Saltpond as a whole.
She said GNPC, after a successful decommissioning of the Saltpond Field, would invest proceeds into the construction of a three-unit classroom block for JHS students and a 12-seater sanitary facility at the Ankaful M.A Basic school.
Furthermore, she said a six-unit classroom block with a 12-seater sanitary facility is expected to be constructed for Edumanu Onyaapa M.A Basic school in Saltpond while an Accident & Emergency block would be built at the Saltpond Government Hospital in the aftermath of the decommissioning process.
Source: GNPC Foundation
Ghana’s Energy Ministry has commenced processes to avert the possibility of cyber-attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.
As part of the processes, the Ministry, last Friday, inaugurated an Energy Sector Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) implementation committee in line with the dictates of section 44 of the Cyber Security Act 2020 (Act 1038).
The Committee is chaired by Andrew Egyapa Mercer, Deputy Minister for Energy, and supported by Dr Albert Antwi Boasiako, Director General of the Cyber Security Authority.
Inaugurating the committee, the Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh remarked that Ghana’s energy sector infrastructure within the context of the global energy value chain is not insulated from cyber-attacks, which means there must be deliberate efforts at combating such crimes, as the incapacitation and destruction of this infrastructure would have a devastating impact on the national economy.
The Minister, in a post on the Ministry of Energy’s Facebook page sighted by energynewsafrica.com, further indicated his recognition of the need for effective cyber security control in the energy sector.
“This, I believe, will help us quickly detect and prevent potential cyber incidents and minimise their impacts, even when they occur,” Dr Opoku Prempeh said
The Minister tasked the committee to, among others, harmonise the efforts of all stakeholders to ensure that “we have a firm grip over the cyber security space of our sector.
“As sector Minister, I remain committed to synergizing our efforts with the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) for a smooth implementation process,” he said
He continued: “The cyberspace of the energy sector is very important as far as guarding the sanctity of the work we do is concerned. We are, thus, prioritising it with all the seriousness we can muster.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Madam Betty Kurentsiwa Smith, the Municipal Director of Education, said the facility would ease the burden of school authority in dealing with pupils.
She encouraged parents to see the structure as an opportunity to send their kids to school.
She reminded all that education remains a credible poverty-alleviating tool.
“The school is open to all children of school-going ages. Send your kids to school as a means to curb teenage pregnancy and other social vices,” she advised the parents.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Isaac Lord Enu lauded GNPC for its social intervention programmes in needy communities across the country.
He described the school block, which comes with ancillary facilities, as an essential provision for the people in the Municipality.
He tasked the school’s authority and pupils to exercise good maintenance practices to ensure its longevity.
Madam Lubaabat, on her part, assured that GNPC, through the Foundation has earmarked additional projects for the community and Saltpond as a whole.
She said GNPC, after a successful decommissioning of the Saltpond Field, would invest proceeds into the construction of a three-unit classroom block for JHS students and a 12-seater sanitary facility at the Ankaful M.A Basic school.
Furthermore, she said a six-unit classroom block with a 12-seater sanitary facility is expected to be constructed for Edumanu Onyaapa M.A Basic school in Saltpond while an Accident & Emergency block would be built at the Saltpond Government Hospital in the aftermath of the decommissioning process.
Source: GNPC Foundation