Nigeria: Nationwide Blackout As Electricity Workers Union Deliberately Shuts Down National Grid
Electricity workers in the Federal Republic of Nigeria have shut down the country’s grid, thereby triggering blackout across Africa’s most populous nation.
The national grid shutdown occurred at about 2.19 this morning, 3rd June 2024, according to a statement issued by Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager of Public Affairs Manager for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
Mbah said at about 1:15 a.m., the Benin Transmission Operator, under the Independent System Operations unit of TCN, reported that all operators were driven away from the control room and that staff members that resisted were beaten, while some were wounded in the course of forcing them out of the control room, and without any form of control or supervision, the Benin Area Control Centre was brought to zero.
Other transmission substations that were shut down by the labour union include the Ganmo, Benin, Ayede, Olorunsogo, Akangba and Osogbo transmission substations.
Some transmission lines were equally opened due to the ongoing activities of the labour union, she said.
On the power generating side, power generating units from different generating stations were forced to shut down some units of their generating plants, the Jebba Generating Station was forced to shut down one of its generating units, while three others in the same substation subsequently shut down on very high frequency.
The sudden forced load cuts led to high frequency and system instability, which eventually shut down the national grid at 2:19 a.m.
At about 3.23 a.m., however, TCN commenced grid recovery, using the Shiroro Substation to attempt to feed the transmission lines supplying bulk electricity to the Katampe Transmission Substation.
The situation is such that the labour union is still obstructing grid recovery nationwide.
“We will continue to make efforts to recover and stabilize the grid to enable the restoration of normal bulk transmission of electricity to distribution load centres nationwide,” she assured Nigerians.
The electricity workers union issued a notice of strike during the weekend over the failure of Federal Government to implement new minimum wage and non-reversal of hike in electricity tariff.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: PURC Holds Third Regulatory Conversation Series On Water Supply
Ghana’s technical regulator for electricity and water utilities, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), has held its third regulatory conversation series at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
The ‘Regulatory Conversation Series’ presents insights on contemporary utility regulatory matters to a high-level audience of policymakers, development partners, other African utility regulators, utility executives, industry, academia and regulatory professionals.
The format is a lecture followed by an in-depth panel discussion facilitated by a knowledgeable moderator about the sector.
This year’s event which was under the theme: ‘Confronting the Status Quo of Ghana’s Drinking Water Supply: Best Practices in Resilience, Sustainability, and Investment’, attracted participants from the water and electricity supply sectors, consumer advocacy groups, and academia.
The Special Guest Speaker for the public lecture was Jeanne-Astrid Ngako De Foki, Manager in -charge of Water Coordination and Partnership at AfDB.
The panel members were Ing. Clifford Braimah, Managing Director for Ghana Water Company Limited, Ing. Bertha Darteh, Water and Sanitation Governance Expert, and Ing. Kwabena Britwim Nyarko, Provost College of Engineering, KNUST.
Delivering a welcome address, the Board Chairman of PURC, Mr Ebo B. Quagrainie, said that even though PURC’s water mandate is limited to urban areas, the Commission, from its vantage position as the sole regulator of energy and water utility service, has acquired deep insights into cross-cutting structural and operational bottlenecks that exist between urban and rural structures.
It is worth noting that despite significant progress in the water sector in Ghana, obstacles persist that impede universal access to safe drinking water.
He said, “These circumstances have prompted us to question whether, after several years of implementing the aforementioned reforms, is it not time to reassess the situation?”
He raised concerns about low investment in water infrastructure despite the critical nature of the sector.
He said, “We have long been conditioned to accept perennial water rationing attributed to ageing infrastructure and high water losses.
“How can we attract sustainable investment to address water infrastructure needs and supply security, while at the same time keeping tariffs affordable?”
Touching on the need to invest in technology, Mr. Ebo B. Quagrainie noted that much investment should focus on cost-effective systems, leak detection technologies, modern mapping technologies and database systems.
He said the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources has been actively collaborating with the PURC to address the sustainable development and management of Ghana’s water resources and supply and regulatory structures.
He noted that the new National Water Policy developed by the Ministry and approved by Cabinet in 2024, accurately acknowledges these imperatives.
He said the Commission sees the regulatory conversation as an important step on a journey which it hopes would remove the persistent bottlenecks which have made it too comfortable with a status quo that fails to address resilience, sustainability and investment in Ghana’s water sector
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The panel members were Ing. Clifford Braimah, Managing Director for Ghana Water Company Limited, Ing. Bertha Darteh, Water and Sanitation Governance Expert, and Ing. Kwabena Britwim Nyarko, Provost College of Engineering, KNUST.
Delivering a welcome address, the Board Chairman of PURC, Mr Ebo B. Quagrainie, said that even though PURC’s water mandate is limited to urban areas, the Commission, from its vantage position as the sole regulator of energy and water utility service, has acquired deep insights into cross-cutting structural and operational bottlenecks that exist between urban and rural structures.
It is worth noting that despite significant progress in the water sector in Ghana, obstacles persist that impede universal access to safe drinking water.
He said, “These circumstances have prompted us to question whether, after several years of implementing the aforementioned reforms, is it not time to reassess the situation?”
He raised concerns about low investment in water infrastructure despite the critical nature of the sector.
He said, “We have long been conditioned to accept perennial water rationing attributed to ageing infrastructure and high water losses.
“How can we attract sustainable investment to address water infrastructure needs and supply security, while at the same time keeping tariffs affordable?”
Touching on the need to invest in technology, Mr. Ebo B. Quagrainie noted that much investment should focus on cost-effective systems, leak detection technologies, modern mapping technologies and database systems.
He said the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources has been actively collaborating with the PURC to address the sustainable development and management of Ghana’s water resources and supply and regulatory structures.
He noted that the new National Water Policy developed by the Ministry and approved by Cabinet in 2024, accurately acknowledges these imperatives.
He said the Commission sees the regulatory conversation as an important step on a journey which it hopes would remove the persistent bottlenecks which have made it too comfortable with a status quo that fails to address resilience, sustainability and investment in Ghana’s water sector
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: Irrigation Development Authority, Minority MPs Clash Over State Of Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam Project
The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), the agency responsible for the construction of Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam in the Upper East Region of Ghana, has provided detailed explanation on the project, but the explanation has sparked further concerns by the Minority Members of Parliament (MPs), who are accusing GIDA of deceiving the public.
Last Monday, the Minority MPs claimed that their visit to the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam site showed that there was no activity on the land despite the government sinking $12 million into the project.
The Minority claimed that the contractor had abandoned the site, compelling some locals of the area to turn part of the site into farming.
Led by John Jinapor, a former deputy minister for power and Ranking Member on Mines and Energy Committee in Parliament, the group served notice to use all possible means to ensure that the $12 million spent on the project was accounted for.
However, in a statement issued by GIDA on Tuesday, the agency clarified that the $11.9 million payment to the contractor – Messrs Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA) – was designated as mobilisation funds.
GIDA emphasised that the payment to POWERCHINA was made in accordance with the terms of the contract, which stipulated a mobilisation fee.
This fee was intended to facilitate initial project activities, including the submission of preconstruction documents and the commencement of certain physical works.
The EPC contract consisted of a detailed feasibility study (engineering designs, social and environmental impact assessment, soil and agronomic studies) and engineering construction (working drawings and setting out of works). It is important to note that these are all preconstruction activities that are required before actual construction works can commence.
GIDA said Messrs POWERCHINA commenced mobilisation to the site on April 2021, and completed the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Topographic Survey and Mapping, Geology and Geotechnical Studies and Drawing, Soil and Land Sustainability for PIP, Design Report and Drawings in Parts 1-3, Resettlement Action Plan and Cadastral Survey.
Touching on physical activities on the land, GIDA detailed the establishment of a contractor’s camp and site offices at Sariba, which includes 10 buildings with 100 rooms, as well as the completion of auxiliary facilities such as a wood processing factory, a steel bar factory and 5.2-kilometre (km) access road off the main Sariba-K… road to the contractor’s camp and 4 km onsite in and around the camp.
According to GIDA, the project was originally scheduled to be financed under the $2 billion Master Project Support Agreement (MPSA) with the Chinese state-run Sinohydro Corporation Limited in September 2018.
Unfortunately, this arrangement stalled and government had to fall on its regular budget to finance it.
GIDA mentioned that given the constraints with the national budget, government is working on an alternative dedicated funding source to ensure that all components of the project can be executed without any hiccups.
It assured that no frivolous payments had been made and the $11.9 million paid to the contractor was fully covered by a Bank Guarantee valued at US$60.7 million.
However, the Minority MPs appear not to be satisfied with the explanation by GIDA.
The MP for Bongo, Edward Bawa, and Godfred Seidu Jasaw, MP for Wa East and Deputy Ranking Member on Agric Committee in Parliament, in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, described the explanation by GIDA as misleading.
They stated that the current state of the project site does not match the description by GIDA.
Hon. Seidu Jasaw indicated that the containers and other structures mentioned in the statement are no longer present at the site.
“What Edward Bawa and his team went to see is the same site but what we are seeing now is that the containers have actually disappeared and this is rational. No contractor will leave his containers and go to construct new containers at another site, they don’t do that.
“So, as we speak, the current state of the project is that the camp doesn’t exist anymore; what you see is the relic of a camp that existed. And villagers I’m told came to vandalise the place when they knew the contractors were gone.
“My quick reaction is that the statement by GIDA from my hazy perusal appears to be misleading because the wrong impression is being given, particularly showing committee pictures with camp. These were pictures taken in October 2021,” he stated.
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo cut the sod in November 2019 for the $993 project which consisted of a hydro-solar hybrid system with 60 megawatts hydropower and 50 megawatts solar power.
The project was to be completed in the second half of 2024.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Electricity Tariff Up By 3.45%, 5.84%, Water Tariff Up By 5.16 %
Electricity and water consumers in the Republic of Ghana will be paying more for water and electricity with effect from July 1, 2024 to September 30, the country’s economic regulator for electricity and water utilities announced on Saturday, June 1, 2024.
According to a statement issued by the regulator and signed by its Executive Secretary Dr Ishmael Ackah, lifeline consumers (0-30 kWh) will pay 3.45 per cent more for electricity, while all other consumers who are not part of the lifeline category (31kWh and above), as well as non-residential, will pay an increase of 5.84 per cent.
Industries will experience an increase of about 4.92 per cent.
Water consumers will also pay 5.16 per cent more for three months between July and September.
The increases were based on the Quarterly Tariff Review Mechanism which tracks and incorporates movement in key uncontrollable factors, namely exchange rate between US dollar and Ghana cedi, domestic inflation rate, electricity generation mix and cost of fuel mainly natural gas.
During the first Quarter Tariff Review which took effect from April 1, the exchange rate was GH¢12.1349 to US$1, while the Weighted Average Cost of Natural Gas (WACOG) was $7.64 MMBtu.
For the second quarter, the Commission pegged the exchange rate at GH¢14.6584 to a US$1, while the Weighted Average Cost of Natural Gas (WACOG) was pegged at US$8.0422 MMBtu.
For the revenue requirement, the Commission noted that the revenue requirement for the second quarter is projected to GH¢6.81 billion from
GH¢5.67 billion in the first quarter.
This means the revenue requirement has increased by GH¢1.14 billion.
The Commission said it had decided to let the utilities recover only GH¢5.90 billion because the continuous increases in tariffs have not yielded corresponding increase in revenue collection.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Nigeria: MD Of IBEDC Sacked
The Board of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has terminated the contract of the company’s Managing Director, Engr Kingsley Achief, a source within the company has said.
The source failed to give details on why the Board took the decision but quickly said the company will soon state that effect.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Engr Francis Agoha, who is a senior executive of the company, has been appointed as acting Managing Director with immediate effect.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Oil, Gas Reforms ‘Ll Make Nigeria Globally Competitive – Tinubu
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu says the three Executive Orders on oil and gas reforms, which he signed recently will make the West African nation’s petroleum sector globally competitive.
He made the affirmation during a meeting with a delegation from ExxonMobil Upstream Company, led by its President, Liam Mallon.
Tinubu emphasized that these reforms will ensure that no oil company faces undue challenges in the country.
The three Executive Orders, which became effective from February 28, 2024, are: Oil and Gas Companies (Tax Incentives, Exemption, Remission, etc.) Order, 2024; Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements, 2024; and the Presidential Directive on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Costs and Timelines.
President Tinubu also assured the ExxonMobil delegation that the federal government is committed to resolving the divestment issues between the company and Seplat Energy, which are currently under litigation.
“We have been pushing for closure on divestment issues, and I believe the other party, Seplat, is open to this,” the President said.
The President commended the company for its show of commitment to environmental protection in Nigeria, noting its efforts in reducing gas flaring in the country.
“Nigeria is going through a lot of reforms, and we have been navigating the leadership quarters carefully to ensure that we achieve a win-win situation for all parties and attract more investments,” President Tinubu said.
The President described ExxonMobil as a worthy partner in Nigeria’s development over the decades and urged the company to remain committed to contributing to the success of his administration.
“We are close enough to be fair and blunt with you, and we are not afraid to hear from you on better options and recommendations for the growth of the industry in Nigeria,” the President said.
The meeting, also attended by Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), and Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), discussed issues such as divestment, decommissioning, and abandonment as regards the company.
“Mr. President has given a clear directive to the NNPC GCEO and I to resolve the issue of divestment, and we are doing whatever we can to achieve that,” Lokpobiri stated.
On decommissioning and abandonment in the oil industry, Lokpobiri noted that the ministry is addressing the matter in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and global best practices.
“The reforms driven by the three Executive Orders will ensure that companies operating in Nigeria have the best environment to continue making their investments and that no company will seek to leave Nigeria,” the Minister said.
Liam Mallon, the President of ExxonMobil Upstream Company, expressed his appreciation for the support and reassurances provided by the Nigerian government and pledged the company’s long-term commitment to the country’s energy sector.
He also commended President Tinubu for his courage and conviction to undertake bold reforms within his first year in office.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Ekiti Directs BEDC To End Estimated Billing, Provide Meters To Residents
The Ekiti State Government in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has urged electricity distribution companies (DisCos) operating in the state to ensure that all electricity consumers are metered to put an end to incidences of estimated billing.
The state Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Mobolaji Aluko, gave the charge in Ado Ekiti during an engagement with concerned stakeholders on electricity matters, according to a report by premiumtimes.com.
He noted that arbitrary and outrageous electricity bills being imposed on un-metered houses had discouraged many consumers from paying their bills.
He lamented that the ugly trend was also discouraging investors from investing in the state, leading to a loss of revenue.
Mr Aluko, a professor, explained that the meeting was convened to address and put an end to estimated billing practices, and ensure that customers paid for only what they consumed with the provision of smart prepaid or postpaid meters.
Stressing that the DisCos were expected to meter all consumers as soon as possible, Mr Aluko enjoined all DisCos operating in the state to submit their comprehensive metering plans and strategies to the State Electricity Regulatory Bureau.
He said that Meter Asset Provider Companies would be made to register with the Bureau to ensure compliance in supplying standard meters, adding that the meters would also pass through the process of certification before they are acquired to guarantee good quality and reliable products.
The State Head of Service, Sunday Komolafe, in his goodwill message, emphasised that having many companies providing meters should not be an issue.
He stressed that the focus was to make use of certified companies that will deliver standard meter products.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, noted that the ongoing reforms initiated by the Biodun Oyebanji administration had turned Ekiti State into a trailblazer in power sector reform in the country.
He said the current moves of the state government in the power sector would act as a catalyst in improving the ease of doing business, and also allow the shared prosperity agenda of the Oyebanji administration to thrive more in the state.
In his contribution, the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Ekiti State branch, Mr Olusegun Ojo, solicited instalment payments for consumers who were not privileged to pay at once to access the prepaid or postpaid meters.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olumide Ajayi, during his presentation, highlighted some key roles of the Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (EK-SERB) as an independent regulatory body for electricity demand and supply.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (EKSERB), Dare David, said that the establishment of EKSERB was done in accordance with the Ekiti State Electricity Power Sector Law 2023 to regulate electricity matters and operationalise the electricity market in the state to ensure reliable and sustainable power supply.
He solicited the continued support of all stakeholders for the efforts of the state government to improve service delivery in the power sector.
Responding on behalf of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), the General Manager of Ado Ekiti district, Mrs. Moyosola Akin- Afuye pledged its cooperation and readiness to work with the state towards achieving the desired goal.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Fuel Tanker Drivers Laud NPA For Spearheading Discussions On Condition Of Service
Petroleum tanker drivers in the Republic of Ghana have commended the petroleum downstream regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), for spearheading discussions on their condition of service.
They said the framework on the condition of service for more than 5000 of them is expected to be ready by the end of June, 2024, and payment to start in July, 2024.
Last week the drivers, embarked on four days industrial action in protest of the delay in approving the framework for condition of service for drivers and their mates.
However, at an emergency stakeholders’ meeting an agreement was reached and the framework was adopted by all the parties pending implementation in July 2024.
Speaking on behalf of the tanker drivers at a press conference in Accra on last Tuesday, the Deputy General Secretary of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union of Trades Union Congress, Mr. Francis M.K. Sallah, said discussions on the framework convened by the NPA were going smoothly.
The meetings are attended by NPA officials, tanker drivers, tanker owners, oil marketing companies (OMCs), and union leadership.
Mr. Sallah, who was flanked by fuel tanker drivers, particularly commended the UPPF Coordinator of NPA, Mr. Jacob Amuah, for his leadership in chairing the discussions on the condition of service and commitment to seeing to the resolution of the issue.
He, therefore, expressed surprise about the purported call for the removal of Mr. Amuah.
“From us and those who sat in the meeting. The story is strange to us. We don’t know who is pushing the story.
“We don’t have any problem with the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) Coordinator. We are surprised to see the report. It never came up in our discussions”, he said.
The Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union announced an indefinite sit-down strike last week Tuesday demanding improved conditions of service, especially concerning remuneration.
The fuel tanker drivers issued a communique last week Thursday to call off the sit-down strike after a meeting with all stakeholders facilitated by the NPA.
Mr. Sallah said the discussions spearheaded by the NPA led to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which ended the strike action embarked upon by the tanker drivers.
That, he said, paved the way for the discussion on the framework of the condition of service which spells out the responsibilities of tanker owners and tanker drivers and their assistants.
He mentioned remuneration, medicals, safety, and insurance as some of the items in the framework.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Mali Begins Construction Of 200 MW Solar Plant With Russian Support
The Republic of Mali has kicked off the construction of a major solar power plant with the help of Russia.
This project comes after the two countries recently signed a civil nuclear agreement.
Malian Energy Minister Bintou Camara announced the construction of the solar photovoltaic plant, according to a report by Ecofin Agency.
The facility will be the largest in West Africa, she said on national television ORTM.
“This plant, the largest in the country and even in the sub-region, will help reduce the current electricity shortage,” Camara stated.
The 200 MW solar plant will cover 314 hectares in Sanankoroba, near Bamako.
Grigory Nazarov, director of Novawind, a subsidiary of Russian company Rosatom, said the plant will boost Mali’s electricity production by 10%.
The country is currently facing a severe electricity crisis that affects various economic sectors.
In recent weeks, power outages have lasted up to 18 hours a day.
The Director General of the national electricity company said the country needs 500 million litres of fuel to meet its electricity needs for 2024.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GOIL CEO Wins Leadership Excellence Award
The Group Managing Director and CEO of GOIL PLC, Ghana’s leading indigenous oil marketing company, Kwame Osei Prempeh, has been honoured with the CEO Leadership Award at the just-ended 8th edition of the Ghana CEO Summit held in Accra.
The annual event celebrates quality leadership at the corporate level.
It was attended by corporate leaders and professionals.
Ghana’s former President John Dramani Mahama was a Special Guest, with the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia joining the programme via zoom.
Speaking to the media, Mr Osei Prempeh expressed joy for the recognition and praised the management and staff of GOIL for their hard work, and dedicated the award to them.
“It is an honour to be recognised to receive the CEO Leadership Award. My team of Board members, Management and staff in general have made this success possible through their individual effort and hard work,” he noted.
He mentioned that GOIL’s products are the best on the market, stating that the company has now presented options of GOIL’s super fuels to its customers.
This, he said is to give customers choices to choose from.
The company operates over 400 service stations across the country.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Libya: Oil & Gas Minister Mohammed Oun Returns To Work After Two Months’ Suspension Over Legal Violations
Libya’s Minister for Oil and Gas, Mohamed Oun, has returned to work to continue his official duties after being on suspension for two months, pending investigations for legal violations.
He resumed work on Tuesday, the Ministry said in a brief statement.
He was suspended in March by the North African nation’s Administrative Control Agency amid an investigation it said was about “the presence of legal violations.”
The Ministry said that ACA lifted the suspension on May 12 as the investigation had ended.
‘‘Concerning the issuance of Resolution No. 347 of 2024 on 25 March 2024 by the Administrative Control Authority (ACA), which stipulates the suspension of the Minister of Oil and Gas from work in reserve for investigation reasons, and after the completion of the investigation and the issuance of Resolution No. 492 of 2024 on 12 May 2024 to lift the precautionary suspension and the end of the investigation after this date and notify the government of that.
“His Excellency the Minister of Oil and Gas Eng. Mohamed Mohamed Aoun began this morning his duties at the Ministry of Oil and Gas,” the Ministry said in a statement which accompanied a picture of the Minister in his office.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Kenya: Works On 220kV Mariakani-Dogo Kundu Transmission Line Approved
Kenya Electricity Transmission Company has completed talks with the residents of Mombasa, and other state agencies paving way for the works at the 220kV Mariakani-Dogo Kundu power transmission project.
The project had initially raised concerns that it was likely to affect part of the county’s traditional historic sites.
However, in a statement KETRACO said it has been established through ground-truthing and government maps that no part of the Kaya Gandini is impacted by the 220kV Mariakani-Dogo Kundu power transmission project.
Kaya Gandini is a UNESCO-classified and government-gazetted monument of cultural heritage significance.
The exercise was conducted following complaints received by KETRACO from the National Museums of Kenya and subsequently forwarded to NEMA.
This feedback was due to the gazettement done by National Land Commission (NLC) on behalf of KETRACO for the creation of a wayleave for the proposed 220kV Mariakani Dongokundu Transmission Line.
The part of the gazette notice that identified 0.1970 hectares as Kaya forest was due to a mismatch in registry index map compared to the fixed boundary map.
KETRACO and NMK consequently made a joint site visit in May to Mariakani Dongo Kundu Transmission lines where stakeholders including the area chief, Madam Umanzi Mwangolo and 25 elders of Kaya Gandini Kaya led by MwanaMwegga Chigamba, Chairman of Kaya Gandini were present.
While addressing the Kaya members present, Manager Environmental Safeguards and Sustainability at KETRACO, Godana Ramat, said that beyond ensuring that the ecologically and culturally sensitive forest is not affected, stakeholders are invited to monitor the activities along the stretch in question during the construction phase of the project.
“KETRACO will assist in the recovery of any ecosystem that may be degraded due to its project construction activities as well as conserving the ecosystem that are still intact,” said Ramat Godana.
National Focal Point for UNESCO World Heritage Convention, Hosea Wanderi expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the exercise undertaken to confirm that the Kaya Forest will not be affected in any way by the construction of the line.
Chairman of the Kaya elders MwanaMwegga Chigamba echoed Wanderi’s sentiments saying that KETRACO had done its due diligence and used a collaborative approach in putting the matter to rest.
“We the 25 elders of Kaya Gandini were involved from the start of this conversation and we are happy that KETRACO has come back to reassure other stakeholders that Kaya Forest is not under threat of destruction as had earlier been reported,” said Chigamba.
KETRACO has committed to, in collaboration with NLC, degazette the section in question as part of project’s wayleave.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Bulk Energy Storage And Transportation Ltd CEO, Board Chairman Grab Awards At Ghana CEOs Summit 2024
The Managing Director of Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation Company, formerly BOST, Dr Edwin Alfred Nii Obodai Provencal, and the Board Chairman, Mr Ekow Hackman, on Monday, were honoured with special recognition as ‘Outstanding CEO of the Year’ and ‘Board Chairman of the Year’ for 2023 respectively at the CEOs Summit held at the Kempinski Gold Coast City Hotel in Accra, capital of Ghana.
Ghana’s former President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, who was the Guest of Honour at the event, presented the award to Dr Edwin Provencal.
The recognition, according to their respective citations, was for the great transformation the two have led at the company, turning its fortunes around and making it the best-run state-owned enterprise in the country.
Within twelve months, the company moved from number eight to four on the Public Enterprise League Table and is tipped to do better at the next ranking of state-owned enterprises.
Recounting the state of the business by the end of financial year 2016, the company had run three successive years of losses with the highest of GH₵459 million (in 2016) at the back of deteriorating infrastructure which had reduced its revenue earning assets to a paltry 18 per cent.
Among other things, it was also indebted to its suppliers and related parties over US$600 million and heavily indebted to the domestic banks of more than GH₵400 million.
With three out of six depots across the country grounded and all marine assets non-operational, the company was in a tight corner.
Fast forward to 2021, the company made a profit of GH₵163 million and more than doubled the figure to declare a profit after tax of GH₵342 million in the 2022 financial year.
Its revenue assets have improved from the 18 per cent to 95 per cent to date with all six depots, all pipelines and all marine assets in full operation, fetching varied volumes of revenue.
Among other things, the performance of the company was given continent-wide recognition in the year 2023 in Kenya where it was recognised as the ‘most transformed public enterprise in Africa’.
Indeed, this is a tremendous improvement in the company’s situation and the recognition accorded the duo was in order.
Dr Provencal and Mr Hackman praised the company’s management team for their cooperation and all members of staff for their wonderful contributions which have brought the company thus far.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Kenya: Kenya Power’s Prepaid Token System To Undergo Maintenance In June
Kenya’s power utility company, Kenya Power, has announced that there will be interruptions of its prepaid token vending system from June 2 to June 3, 2024.
This, the power utility said would facilitate its system network upgrade.
According to Kenya Power, the token vending system would be unavailable from 10 pm on Sunday until 10 pm on Monday.
Following the scheduled interruptions, all the prepaid services will be disrupted, leading to delays in processing and delivering prepaid tokens.
“We wish to inform our customers that the prepaid token vending system will be unavailable from 10:00 PM, Sunday, June 2 to 10:00 PM, Monday, June 3, 2024, to enable us to upgrade our systems for improved service delivery,” stated Kenya Power.
KPLC said customers will not be able to buy electricity tokens from all vending points, including Kenya Power offices, banking channels and mobile money platforms during this period.
“During this period, customers will not be able to buy electricity tokens from Kenya Power offices, M-PESA Paybill number 888880, Airtel Money, and banking channels,” said Kenya Power.
It, therefore, advised its customers who depend on the pre-paid token vending system to buy enough tokens before then to avoid any inconvenience that would be caused by the interruptions of system maintenance.
Early this year, Kenya Power announced plans to phase out the use of postpaid meters in rural areas in the next three years.
The utility company said the move is aimed at eradicating power theft as well as additional costs that involve hiring meter readers.
Two million and one KPLC customers are currently connected through the postpaid system, while 6.8 million are on prepaid.
Kenya Power recorded Sh319 million in net earnings for the half-year ending December 2023, which was a relief from a net loss of Sh1.1 billion recorded in the previous half-year period ending in December 2022.
The profit was mainly attributed to increased electricity sales, the implementation of a cost-reflective tariff and the deployment of a Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) meant to fast-track meter installation in line with the nationwide connectivity push on increased electricity sales.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com