Spanish Utility Says Europe’s Energy Crisis Isn’t Over Yet
The energy crisis in Europe isn’t over yet, as only the mild weather has helped the continent avoid gas shortages so far this winter, Ignacio Galan, executive chairman of Spanish energy giant Iberdrola, said on Monday.
“As long as energy markets are over-reliant on fossil fuels and exposed to geopolitical events, they will remain fragile,” Galan said, as carried by Bloomberg.
“We should not think that the energy crisis is over for good.”
At the end of last year, the top executives at other European majors, including BP’s Bernard Looney and Eni’s Claudio Descalzi, said that Europe was more or less prepared to face this winter with nearly full gas storage sites and a steady flow of LNG imports.
“But as we said, the issue is not this winter. It will be the next one, because we are not going to have Russian gas – 98% [less] next year, maybe nothing,” Descalzi said at the ADIPEC conference in Abu Dhabi in November.
According to Iberdrola’s Galan, “It is both disturbing and ironic that only unusual winter temperatures driven by climate change saved large parts of the Northern Hemisphere from much more serious threats to energy security and affordability this winter.”
The mild weather at the start of 2023, comfortable gas inventory levels, and still weak demand in Asia dragged European benchmark gas prices down to a 16-month low on Monday.
That was due to “ample supply and on reports Chinese importers are trying to divert February and March shipments to Europe amid weak prices at home and high inventories,” according to Ole Hansen, Head of Commodity Strategy at Saxo Bank.
Still, with the plunge in Russian pipeline gas deliveries, Europe will need “huge volumes” of LNG this year, commodity trader Trafigura said in December.
“While Europe should avoid a blackout this winter by drawing on inventories and cutting demand, it will need to import huge volumes of LNG in 2023 given the massive reduction in flows from Russia,” Trafigura said in its annual report for the year to September 30.
Source:Oilprice.com
Francesco La Camera Appointed As IRENA Director-General For Second Term
The International Renewable Energy Agency’s global membership of 168 countries has reappointed the incumbent Director-General for a second term of four years.
Francesco La Camera has served as Director-General of IRENA since 4 April 2019.
Furthermore, IRENA Members have agreed on the Agency’s Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) for the coming five years.
The new work strategy for 2023-2027 sets out a new direction for the Agency focused on urgent and targeted action, unparalleled international cooperation, and continuous innovation.
Against the backdrop of a rapidly shrinking timeline to deliver on global climate and developments goals by 2030, this MTS is the last full five-year cycle before 2030 that outlines IRENA’s contribution to global energy efforts.
It focuses on systemic changes in energy and beyond with greater focus on access and equality, on interaction between renewables and energy security and resilience and an additional pillar on regional and country level work.
Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA said: “We must build a new energy system with the tools and systems of the future, not the past. Just as we innovate to improve technologies, we must innovate to reimagine international cooperation for the new energy era.”
He added: “A renewables-based transition is a vehicle for climate-proof energy systems, improved energy security, reduced inequality and long-overdue universal access. I am deeply humbled to have been appointed for a new term as Director-General. I will continue to work tirelessly to realise IRENA’s new global mission.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: We Have Not Overpriced Fuel—AOMC Cautions
The Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMVs) in the Republic of Ghana has rejected claims by some persons that the oil marketing companies overpriced fuel at the pumps during the first pricing window in January 2023, as reported by some media outlets in the West African nation.
According to the Association, overpricing pertains to regulated markets so for people to perceive overpricing in a deregulated market is ironic.
During the second pricing window in December 2023, petrol was sold at Gh¢13.40 per litre while diesel was sold at Gh¢15.85 per litre.
However, oil marketing companies adjusted pump prices down during the first pricing window in January, with leading OMCs selling petrol at Gh¢12.40 per litre while diesel was sold at Gh¢14.60 per litre.
Despite the reduction in fuel prices, some persons in the industry accused OMCs of overpricing fuel.
In a statement issued by Kwaku Agyeman-Duah, CEO of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies and Industry Coordinator, he said the Association found it very disheartening and a setback that some pseudo and self-acclaimed experts who have been through this journey in the industry continue to malign the OMCs/LPGMCs or use this process to, as a subterfuge, to misinform the public and turn them against the well-meaning OMCs/LPGMCs who are handling their business well.
Though Ghana’s petroleum downstream industry is deregulated, Mr Agyeman-Duah said there is a formula ( Petroleum Price Build-up) that serves as a guide for all Oil and LPG Marketing Companies in determining their ex-pump prices.
Among the guide is the determination of the forex (the relationship between the Cedi and the Dollar).
Mr. Agyeman-Duah said players in the downstream resort to the forex from the Bank of Ghana and not that of the regulator (NPA) as the self-acclaimed experts in the industry would want the general public to believe.
Unhappy about the development, Mr. Agyeman-Duah said the attitude of antagonising the OMCs/LPGMCs in the 21st century is not only primitive but also non-supportive of the toils that the OMCs/LPGMCs bear in the economy.
“Trying to incite the general public against genuine business people is very counter-productive and tantamount to killing the industry, especially without facts,” he said.
He appealed that anyone seeking some education or clarification on the price build-up can contact the offices of their regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) or the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC) at any time, and not be misled by unguided statements by certain individuals with truncated objectives.
“Additionally, an educational forum on petroleum pricing would be organised for the general public, and the schedule thereof would be communicated in due course,” the statement ended.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Breaking News: PURC Increases Electricity Tariffs By 29.96%, Water 8.3% Effective February 1
Ghana’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has announced a 29.96 per cent and 8.3 per cent increment in electricity and water tariffs effective 1st February 2023.
The announcement follows the conclusion of regulatory process for the quarterly adjustment of tariffs by the PURC.
The quarterly tariffs review mechanism seeks to track and incorporate changes in key factors used in determining natural gas, electricity and water tariff.
In deciding on the end user electricity tariffs, the Commission said it took into consideration four key factors before arriving at the approved tariff for electricity.
It said it considered the Ghana Cedi/US Dollar exchange rate, inflation, generation mix and weighted cost of average cost of natural gas.
A statement issued by the PURC and signed by its Executive Secretary Dr. Ishmael Ackah on Monday said since the announcement of the major tariff in August 2022, these key variables underlying the rate setting have changed significantly.
The Commission therefore decided to increase the average end-user tariffs for electricity to 29.96% across the board for all consumer groups.”
“The average end-user tarrif for water for water has also been increased by 8.3% .The Commission, however approved varying rate adjustment including some reductions for selected industrial and commercial consumers as part of the ongoing restructuring of the existing water structure,” the PURC statement said.
Below is the full statement by PURC
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has concluded its regulatory process for the quarterly adjustment of utility tariffs covering the first quarter of 2023.
The process is in conformity with the Quarterly Tariff Review Mechanism and Guidelines as communicated in the Commission’s August, 2022 major tariff review decision.
The Quarterly Tariff Review Mechanism seeks to track and incorporate changes in key factors used in determining natural gas, electricity, and water tariffs. The objective is to maintain the real value of cost of supply of these utility services and ensure that utility companies do not under- or over-recover.
Under-recovery has negative implications for the ability of the companies to supply service to consumers, and has the potential of causing outages of electricity (DUMSOR) and water supply. Over-recovery unnecessarily overburdens consumers of electricity and water.
The Quarterly Tariff Review Mechanism is meant to ensure that none of these happens.
For the end-user electricity tariffs payable by consumers, the Commission considered four key factors in arriving at its decision. These were the Ghana Cedi/US Dollar exchange rate, inflation, generation mix and the weighted average cost of natural gas.
Since the announcement of the major tariff in August 2022, these key variables underlying the rate setting have changed significantly. For example, the weighted average Ghana Cedi US Dollar exchange rate used for the major tariff review was GHC7.5165 to the US Dollar. Since then, we have witnessed the depreciation of the Cedi against the US Dollar and other major currencies. The projected weighted average Ghana Cedi US Dollar exchange rate used in First Quarter 2023 Tariff Analysis is GHS10.5421/USD.
Additionally, the weighted average inflation figure used for the major tariff has seen a four-fold increase. Together with exchange rate movements this has negatively affected the ability of the utilities to purchase critical inputs required for their operations. The Commission used a projected inflation rate of 42.63% in its tariff analysis for the First Quarter of 2023.
The Weighted Average Cost of Gas (WACOG) used for First Quarter of 2023 is USD6.0952/MMBtu. In the major tariff review in September 2022, the WACOG was USD5.9060/MMBtu. With respect to electricity generation mix, a hydro-thermal mix of 26.11% for hydro and 73.89% for thermal was used for First Quarter of 2023.
The combined effect of the Cedi/US Dollar exchange rate, inflation and WACOG is that the utility companies are significantly under-recovering and require an upward adjustment of their tariffs in order to keep the lights on and water flowing.
The PURC is equally mindful of the current difficult economic circumstances, but notes that the potential for outages would be catastrophic for Ghana and has to be avoided. The PURC therefore sought to balance prevention of extended power outages and its deleterious implications on jobs and livelihoods with minimising the impact of rate increases on consumers.
The Commission therefore decided to increase the average end-user tariff for electricity by 29.96% across the board for all consumer groups (Table 1). The average end-user tariff for water has also been increased by 8.3% (Table 2). The Commission, however, approved varying rate adjustments including some reductions for selected industrial and commercial consumers as part of the ongoing restructuring of the existing water rate structure.
The PURC is grateful to all stakeholders for their support as it continues to implement quarterly tariff reviews in accordance with its Rate Setting Guidelines for Quarterly Review of Natural Gas, Electricity and Water Tariffs. In doing so, the Commission will continue to equitably balance the interests of the Utility Service Providers and Consumers and hold service providers to strict adherence to regulatory standards and benchmarks.
The Commission’s decision will be published in the Gazette in due course and will be available on the Commission’s website: www.purc.com.gh
Dr. Ishmael Ackah
Executive Secretary
Below is the full statement by PURC
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has concluded its regulatory process for the quarterly adjustment of utility tariffs covering the first quarter of 2023.
The process is in conformity with the Quarterly Tariff Review Mechanism and Guidelines as communicated in the Commission’s August, 2022 major tariff review decision.
The Quarterly Tariff Review Mechanism seeks to track and incorporate changes in key factors used in determining natural gas, electricity, and water tariffs. The objective is to maintain the real value of cost of supply of these utility services and ensure that utility companies do not under- or over-recover.
Under-recovery has negative implications for the ability of the companies to supply service to consumers, and has the potential of causing outages of electricity (DUMSOR) and water supply. Over-recovery unnecessarily overburdens consumers of electricity and water.
The Quarterly Tariff Review Mechanism is meant to ensure that none of these happens.
For the end-user electricity tariffs payable by consumers, the Commission considered four key factors in arriving at its decision. These were the Ghana Cedi/US Dollar exchange rate, inflation, generation mix and the weighted average cost of natural gas.
Since the announcement of the major tariff in August 2022, these key variables underlying the rate setting have changed significantly. For example, the weighted average Ghana Cedi US Dollar exchange rate used for the major tariff review was GHC7.5165 to the US Dollar. Since then, we have witnessed the depreciation of the Cedi against the US Dollar and other major currencies. The projected weighted average Ghana Cedi US Dollar exchange rate used in First Quarter 2023 Tariff Analysis is GHS10.5421/USD.
Additionally, the weighted average inflation figure used for the major tariff has seen a four-fold increase. Together with exchange rate movements this has negatively affected the ability of the utilities to purchase critical inputs required for their operations. The Commission used a projected inflation rate of 42.63% in its tariff analysis for the First Quarter of 2023.
The Weighted Average Cost of Gas (WACOG) used for First Quarter of 2023 is USD6.0952/MMBtu. In the major tariff review in September 2022, the WACOG was USD5.9060/MMBtu. With respect to electricity generation mix, a hydro-thermal mix of 26.11% for hydro and 73.89% for thermal was used for First Quarter of 2023.
The combined effect of the Cedi/US Dollar exchange rate, inflation and WACOG is that the utility companies are significantly under-recovering and require an upward adjustment of their tariffs in order to keep the lights on and water flowing.
The PURC is equally mindful of the current difficult economic circumstances, but notes that the potential for outages would be catastrophic for Ghana and has to be avoided. The PURC therefore sought to balance prevention of extended power outages and its deleterious implications on jobs and livelihoods with minimising the impact of rate increases on consumers.
The Commission therefore decided to increase the average end-user tariff for electricity by 29.96% across the board for all consumer groups (Table 1). The average end-user tariff for water has also been increased by 8.3% (Table 2). The Commission, however, approved varying rate adjustments including some reductions for selected industrial and commercial consumers as part of the ongoing restructuring of the existing water rate structure.
The PURC is grateful to all stakeholders for their support as it continues to implement quarterly tariff reviews in accordance with its Rate Setting Guidelines for Quarterly Review of Natural Gas, Electricity and Water Tariffs. In doing so, the Commission will continue to equitably balance the interests of the Utility Service Providers and Consumers and hold service providers to strict adherence to regulatory standards and benchmarks.
The Commission’s decision will be published in the Gazette in due course and will be available on the Commission’s website: www.purc.com.gh
Dr. Ishmael Ackah
Executive Secretary
Ghana: GRIDCo Restores Power Supply To All Areas Earlier Affected By Outage
Ghana’s power transmission company, GRIDCo, has restored power supply to all areas earlier affected by the outage on its transmission lines.
“GRIDCo’s National Interconnected Transmission System has also been fully restored and is stable,” the company said in a statement to update Ghanaians.
Parts of the West African nation experienced power outage when a raging bush fire under the high voltage lines of GRIDCo, near Tarkwa in the West Region, caused its 330kV Aboadze-Anwomaso line to trip, thereby, resulting in several lines in the western corridor of the grid triggering a system disturbance, causing all thermal plants and the Bui generators and customer loads to trip.
The company said a fire tender from Tarkwa Goldfields was immediately mobilised to the site to bring the fire under control.
It said restoration of the grid commenced immediately.
In a statement issued by the corporate communication section, it said the power supply was restored at about 17:57 GMT
“GRIDCo extends its appreciation to the Ghanaian public for its patience as efforts were made to restore the NITS and power to Ghanaians,” the statement noted.
GRIDCo went on to apologise to its customers for the inconvenience caused by the incident.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: NPA Ladies Donate To Village Of Hope Orphanage
The Female workforce of the National Petroleum Authority in the Republic of Ghana has donated food items and undisclosed amount of money to inmates of Village of Hope at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region.
The support to the orphanage is part of the corporate social responsibility of the Authority.
The items, including food stuff such as meat, fish, tomatoes, rice, oil, four burner gas stove, exercise books, T.rolls, soft drinks, biscuits and hand sanitizers and nose masks, are part of the workers’ contribution to the home, especially at a time of merrymaking.
The outgoing Chairman of the Association, Madam Ayi Yakubu Zakariah, told newsmen they recognized the hardwork operators of the home are putting in to shape the future of the children, most of whom were rescued from the hands of human traffickers on the Volta Lake.
She was optimistic that the items would be put to good use, and expressed the Authority’s desire to do the best it could to ensure the children are given adequate support and care.
The Deputy Managing Director at the Village of Hope, Mr Kweku Sarkodie, who received the items on behalf of the orphanage, assured the NPA that the students would be given the needed support to ensure they become good citizens.
He said most of the students are educated to the level of university and this year alone, 15 of them have been admitted into various Universities in the country bringing the number to university from the Centre to 60.
Mr. Sarkodie was grateful to NPA for the continuous support over the years.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Mr. Sarkodie was grateful to NPA for the continuous support over the years.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: Raging Bush Fire Cause Of Saturday Power Outage—GRIDCo
Ghana’s power transmission company, GRIDCo, has blamed the power outage being experienced in some parts of the West African nation on system disturbances that occurred at about 11:57 on Saturday 14th January 2023.
According to GRIDCo, a raging bush fire under its high voltage lines near Tarkwa in the Western Region has been identified as what caused its 330kV Aboadze—Anwomaso line to trip, thereby, resulting in several lines in the western corridor of the grid triggering a system disturbance, causing all thermal plants and Bui generators and customer loads to trip.
GRIDCo, in a statement, said a fire tender from Tarkwa Goldfields is on-site to bring the fire under control.
Meanwhile, restoration of the grid commenced immediately, and efforts are ongoing to restore power to all affected areas and customers.
“GRIDCo sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused by this incident and is working to restore normal power supply,” the statement concluded.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
UK’s $1.15 Bln Funding For Mozambique LNG Project Lawful -Court
The British government’s funding of up to $1.15 billion for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Mozambique is lawful, a London court ruled on Friday, dismissing an appeal by Friends of the Earth.
The environmental campaign group had asked London’s Court of Appeal to rule the British government wrongly decided funding the project, led by French energy company TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), was compatible with the Paris Agreement on climate change.
UK Export Finance (UKEF) has committed to provide direct loans and guarantees to banks to support the design, build and operation of the $20 billion project.
Friends of the Earth’s legal action over the decision failed in a lower court and was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in a written ruling on Friday.
Judge Geoffrey Vos said the Paris Agreement was “only one of a range of factors” UKEF took into account when reaching the decision to fund the project.
The judge added that UKEF’s view that funding the project was aligned with the UK’s obligations under the Paris Agreement was “tenable” and that there was no requirement for it to be “certain that the decision complied with those obligations”.
Friends of the Earth described the ruling as “extremely disappointing” and said it is considering an appeal to the UK Supreme Court.
“This extremely disappointing judgment doesn’t alter our firm belief that the UK government should not be supporting the Mozambique gas project, or any fossil fuel project at home or abroad,” Rachel Kennerley, an international climate campaigner with the group, said in a statement.
UKEF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A spokesperson for TotalEnergies welcomed the ruling, saying the project “will deliver a range of social and economic benefits to Mozambique and is a key part of Mozambique’s aim to diversify its economy”.
“TotalEnergies supports the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the context of sustainable development and the fight against poverty,” the spokesperson added.
Source: Reuters
Nigeria: Kaduna Electric Apologises For Epileptic Power Supply
The Kaduna Electric Distribution Company, one of the power distribution companies has apologized for the epileptic power supply in some communities in Kaduna, urging customers to be patient as the problem would be resolved soon.
“The management of Kaduna Electric wishes to apologize to residents of Kinkinau, Zango, Kinkinau GRA, Musabaqa and Yantukwane under Tudun Wada Area Office for the epileptic power supply in their communities.
“Similarly, we extend the same wishes to our esteemed customers in Asikolaye, Unguwan Muazu, Sabon Gari, Unguwan Sanusi and Rigasa under Rigasa Area Office and customers in Mando”, the company said in a statement issued by Abdulazeez Abdullahi, the Head Corporate of Communications of the company.
He explained that the inadequate supply was to maintain the right frequency that will stabilise the national grid by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
According to him, to avoid a collapse of the national grid, the TCN has shut down the 33KV Kinkinau injection substation that feeds two 11KV feeders supplying electricity to the affected areas.
Abdullah added that the challenge of inadequate power generation nationwide accentuated the problem.
He said that the company’s team of engineers were working closely with TCN to find lasting solution to the problem and improve supply to the affected communities.
“We are confident that the supply situation will improve as soon as possible.
“We appeal to our customers to channel all complaints and inquiries with regards these challenges to their respective area offices where they will be attended to by our customer care representatives”, he added.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africans To Pay 18% More For Electricity In April Amidst Power Crisis
South Africans will, from April this year, pay about 18 per cent more for electricity despite the rolling power supply crisis in the country.
This is because the country’s electricity regulator, NERSA, has agreed to an 18.65 per cent increase in electricity tariffs as requested by Eskom.
According to a report filed by News24, Eskom had applied for a 32 per cent tariff increase for the 2023/24 year, which is expected to start in April.
The report said in the same tariff application, the cash-strapped power utility applied for a further 22.52 per cent increase for 2024/25.
The report said NERSA granted Eskom a 12.74 per cent tariff increase for 2024/2025.
The regulator said the “extremely difficult decision” sought to balance the needs of Eskom and consumers.
A court order required NERSA to make a final decision on the tariff by 24th December, but the regulator was granted an extension to Thursday, 12th January after its Electricity Subcommittee required more time to deliberate on 14 areas of concern.
Eskom, which implemented continuous Stage 6 load shedding this week, was motivated by large tariff hikes on the back of rising diesel costs.
The utility spent R15 billion on diesel in the 2021/22 financial year–some R9 billion more than what NERSA would allow it to recover through electricity tariffs for that year.
Eskom recently reported a loss of R12.3 billion for the year ended in March 2022.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Angry Workers Of Ghana Gas Draw ‘Daggers’ At Energy Ministry For Accusing Their CEO
The battle between the Ghana Gas Senior Staff Association and the Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh who supervises all the energy sector agencies, is not likely to end anytime soon if President Akufo-Addo fails to act.
In an attempt to absorb the West African nation’s Energy Minister of the blame for allegedly approving a deal for a private firm, Genser Energy, to construct a gas processing plant to compete with state-owned Ghana National Gas Company, the Energy Ministry, in a press statement issued by the Communications & Public Affairs Unit, dogged the issues raised by the Ghana Gas Senior Staff Association and rather accused the CEO of Ghana Gas of misleading the workers.
The statement claimed that the Minister had not signed any contract with Genser Energy noting that “the only contract signed with Genser on record is by Ghana National Gas Company and GNPC.
“The contract between GENSER & GNGC predates the Minister’s tenure at the Ministry of Energy and was signed on behalf of the GNGC by Dr Ben Asante, its CEO and the Ministry duly informed,” the Ministry said.
However, the response of the Ministry appears to be introducing an issue that is not the subject matter of the statement by the Ghana Gas Senior Staff Association.
While the Ministry’s response was on the Gas Sale agreement signed by GNGC and GNPC with Genser Energy, the Senior Staff Association of Ghana was rather talking about the Minister approving a deal for Genser Energy to construct a new gas processing plant to compete with Ghana Gas.
In a statement with the heading: ‘Rejoinder-Re: Overturn Napo’s Approval of Genser Deal—Ghana Gas Workers Urge Akufo-Addo’, it said the attention of the Ghana Gas Senior Staff Association (GGSSA) has been drawn to a rather surreptitious response to our press release with a wrong subject title.
Referring to their earlier press release, the Association said, “Nowhere did we accuse the Ministry of Energy of signing any contract between Ghana Gas and Genser, but rather, as the head of supervising authority, approved a deal that puts the nation’s energy security primary asset (which is a national security issue) to 100 per cent control of the private entity, without recourse to industry players consultation, let alone CSO and Parliament.
“We challenge the Ministry of Energy to publish the report to the Presidency on this matter which is of public interest, and also indicate when Parliament will complete the investigation referenced,’’ the Association demanded.
They called on Parliament to set up an Expert Advisory Committee including IMANI Africa, ACEP and the Utility agencies to vet their position on the matter.
Stating the innocence of Dr. Benjamin Asante, the Ghana Gas Senior Staff Association asserted that “GGSSA is an independent body from the Board and the Management of Ghana Gas.”
According to the Association, “Our press release was not directed from the CEO neither was it influenced by the CEO. The SSA of Ghana Gas humbly wants the Ministry of Energy to stick to the issues raised. We entreat the general public and the media particularly to take this matter seriously, just like ‘Dumsor’, for the implications are far worse.”
The Association said it is ever ready to have a civil discussion to ensure the country’s primary energy asset is not compromised.
“We are not against private entity engagement, but to hand over a juicy primary asset, 100 per cent to the private entity is too much of sovereign risk and operational risk to the country and Utility agencies,’’ they said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GRIDCo Management Engages Executives Of Staff Association
The leadership of Ghana Grid Company Limited, (GRIDCo) has engaged newly elected National Executives of the company’s Senior Staff Association and Divisional Union at the head office in Tema.
This forms part of a series of stakeholder engagements led by Chief Executive Officer, Ing Ebenezer Kofi Essienyi.
According to a post on GRIDCo’s Facebook page sighted by energynewsafrica.com, Ing Essienyi congratulated the newly elected leaders and noted that both staff groups and management need to stand up peacefully to succeed in building a sustainable work environment for GRIDCo.
Present at the meeting was the Senior Staff Association and Divisional Union chairmen, Mr Wisdom Adenyo and Mr Francis Adjartey.
GRIDCo operates the National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS).
Meanwhile, the Management of GRIDCo has paid a visit to Accra and Akosombo area offices to interact with staff as part of the company’s annual Operational Area tour.
The GRIDCo Management, led by the Chief Executive, Ing Ebenezer Essienyi, was received at the Achimota-substation by the Area Manager, Ing Benjamin Ahunu, and his team of engineers.
Ing. Ebenezer Essienyi commended the staff for their punctuality and encouraged them to work harder for a better GRIDCo.
During a visit to the Akosombo Area, Ing Job Aziaku, the Akosombo Area Manager, and the staff of the area received the Management.
Ing. Essienyi commended the Akosombo Area for using only internal technical and engineering expertise on the nearly completed Asiekpe Substation Project.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Meanwhile, the Management of GRIDCo has paid a visit to Accra and Akosombo area offices to interact with staff as part of the company’s annual Operational Area tour.
The GRIDCo Management, led by the Chief Executive, Ing Ebenezer Essienyi, was received at the Achimota-substation by the Area Manager, Ing Benjamin Ahunu, and his team of engineers.
Ing. Ebenezer Essienyi commended the staff for their punctuality and encouraged them to work harder for a better GRIDCo.
During a visit to the Akosombo Area, Ing Job Aziaku, the Akosombo Area Manager, and the staff of the area received the Management.
Ing. Essienyi commended the Akosombo Area for using only internal technical and engineering expertise on the nearly completed Asiekpe Substation Project.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Breaking News: NPA Revokes Licenses Of 30 Oil Companies
Ghana’s downstream petroleum regulator, National Petroleum Authority NPA has revoked the licenses of about thirty oil marketing companies for non-compliance with the rules and regulations of the Authority on acquisition and maintenance of their licenses.
The move is part of efforts of the regulator to sanitise the downstream petroleum sector.
The affected companies are Abagurugu Oil Company Limited; Apex Petroleum Ghana Limited; Avos Oil Company Limited; Best Petroleum Limited; Bisvel Petroleum Services; Capstone Oil Limited; Deep Petroleum Limited; Deliman & Company Ltd.; Glee Oil Limited, and Golden Petroleum Limited.
Others are Green Petroleum Limited; Hak Oil Company Limited; Havilah Oil Ghana Limited; Hossana Oil Company Limited; Jas Petroleum Limited; Lilygold Energy Resources Limited; M3 Global Company Limited; Maiga & Hhm Company Limited; Mba Global Petroleum Limited, and Peta Energy Limited.
The rest are Petro Afrique Ghana Limited; Precious Energy Ghana Limited; Q8 Oil (Gh.) Company Limited; Rigworld Petroleum Services Limited; Royal Roses Oil Company Limited; Titan Petroleum Limited; Union Oil Ghana Limited; Universal Oil Company Limited; Warren Oil Company Limited, and Zoe Petroleum Limited.
At an earlier meeting with the Board members of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs), the Chief Executive of the NPA, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, cautioned that the Authority would not hesitate to revoke the licenses of industry players who continually flout the rules.
He indicated that over the years, the NPA had been lenient with industry players who flout the rules, which had given opportunity for many more to flout the rules with impunity.
“We cannot all be in a conspiracy to run down our country and yet turn round to and blame the government for what goes wrong”, Dr. Abdul-Hamid was quoted as saying at the meeting with Board members.
He told the oil marketers that it was in their own interest that the market was regulated properly, because if the industry collapsed their businesses would also collapse.
Below is the list of companies whose licenses have been revoked.
Sweden Makes Regulatory Push To Allow New Nuclear Reactors
Sweden is preparing legislation to allow the construction of more nuclear power stations to boost electricity production in the Nordic country and bolster energy security, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday.
Kristersson has made expanding nuclear power generation a key goal for his right-wing government, seeking to reverse a process of gradual closures of several reactors in the past couple of decades that has left the country relying more heavily on renewable but sometimes less predictable energy.
Sweden’s energy mix consists mainly of nuclear, hydro and renewables and while it so far has been less affected by the turmoil surrounding gas supplies due to Russia’s standoff with the West, electricity prices have been high and volatile since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.
The proposed new legislation, which still needs to be passed by parliament, would allow new reactors to be constructed at additional locations across Sweden and was seen being in place in March next year.
“We have an obvious need for more electricity production in Sweden,” Kristersson told a news conference.
“What we are doing today is changing legislation to allow for the construction of more nuclear reactors at more places.”
The new legislation would scrap existing rules that caps the total number of reactors at ten and prohibits reactor construction in other locations than where they currently exist, opening the door to building smaller reactors that many see as the most cost-effective nuclear option.
Any expansion of nuclear power in Sweden could take many years given the complexity of such projects while energy demand is expected to rise sharply in coming years.
Sweden currently has six operational reactors, half of what it once had, and temporary closures for maintenance of some of them have contributed to push up electricity prices in the Nordic country in recent months.
Source: Reuters