Nigeria’s Customs Service has announced the seizure of 280,135 litres of petrol (PMS) valued at N115 million.
The products which were in gallons were seized in the West African nation during a seven-day operation, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this to reporters at a news conference on Monday in Yola, Adamawa.
This feat, Bashir Adeniyi said, was achieved through intensive operations by Operation Whirlwind which seized 105,950 litres while the Federal Operating Units and Marine Commands seized 120,185 litres respectively.
According to him, smuggling is a sabotage to the Nigerian economy, hence, the need for cooperation of security agencies and individuals to curb the menace.
“These activities, if left unchecked, could further deteriorate the country’s economic situation and exacerbate current foreign exchange challenges.
“The influx of unaccounted foreign currency could be channeled into funding illegitimate activities, including the support of non-state actors engaged in criminal activities against the Nigerian state.
“These issues have serious implications for national security, making it imperative to check, curtail and dismantle. Achieving this requires the cooperation and collaboration of patriotic agencies,” he said as carried by News Agency of Nigeria.
Mr Adeniyi said that Operation Whirlwind of the Customs Area Commands remained vigilant against illicit activities of smugglers targeting petroleum products.
The Customs boss said the nationwide operation was aimed at ensuring that Nigerians enjoy the full benefits of fuel price deregulation in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu.
“Defend the national currency and reduce pressures that may be attributed to the activities of smugglers.
“Identify, dismantle and disrupt cartels of smugglers operating within the ecosystem. Raise awareness of the local communities and solicit their support to achieve these objectives,” he said.
Also speaking, Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director, Distribution System, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure (DSSRI) of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), lauded the personnel over the development.
While describing cross border diversion of petrol as economic sabotage, Ukoha reiterated the commitment of the Service to collaborate with security agencies to end smuggling in the country.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Republic of Benin has accused its neighbour, Niger, of sending secret agents to spy its Seme port where a Chinese-built pipeline was supposed to begin exporting Nigerien gas, before it was blocked by Beninese authorities last month.
A report by africanews.com, suggested that the arrest of five Nigerien nationals marked a new escalatory move in the standoff between the two ECOWAS neighbours.
Benin said the arrested individuals were agents of the military junta in Niger who were on a spying mission, while Niger denied a kidnapping attempt of its oil specialists who were inspecting the pipeline at the port.
Benin had conditioned any resumption of Niger’s oil exports through its ports by the reopening of land borders, which Niger closed in retaliation for ECOWAS sanctions following the military coup in the oil and uranium-rich country.
China said it would intercede to ease tensions between the two neighbours. However, no inroads have been made.
China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) invested $4.6 billion in Niger’s petroleum industry, and its subsidiary PetroChina owns two-thirds of the country’s Agadem oilfield.
Niger has obtained a $400 million loan from China that it plans to pay by shipping oil.
The loan is seen as one of the first steps to wean financial dependence on the West, with whom the military rulers are increasingly at odds going as far as breaking military cooperation partnerships.
The pipeline would help Niger increase production to 100,000 barrels, offering the landlocked country an export route.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Bulgaria’s sole nuclear power plant on Monday began using atomic fuel produced by the U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Corporation, a key step as the country shifts away from its reliance on Russian energy, News.Az reports citing AFP.
The state-owned Kozloduy plant on the Danube River supplies more than a third of the country’s electricity and has so far relied on Russian fuel for its two operational Soviet-built 1,000-megawatt reactors.
The oldest reactor was connected to the national electricity grid on Monday morning after “43 fuel assemblies, produced by Westinghouse, were loaded into the reactor,” the plant said in a statement.
The gradual transition process toward the new fuel type is expected to take four years, it added.
In the wake of Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Kozloduy signed nuclear fuel supply agreements with Westinghouse and Framatome — a subsidiary of French energy giant EDF — to replace shipments from Russia.
Before the full-scale invasion, Bulgaria, which is a member of both NATO and the EU, depended almost entirely on Russian energy supplies, but it has since diversified.
The Kozloduy plant’s second reactor is due to be supplied with Framatome’s fuel. In addition, two U.S.-built nuclear reactors are to be installed at Kozloduy by the 2030s.
The Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary have also signed nuclear fuel supply agreements with Westinghouse and Framatome.
Source: New.az
Over 14,000 households and public facilities including schools, hospitals and markets in the Mount Kenya Region in the Republic of Kenya are expected to be connected to the national Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC).
REREC is hoping to spend KSh2.1 billion under the programme.
The counties slated to benefit from the programme include Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Nyeri, Embu, Meru, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi and Marsabit.
In Murang’a, more than 6,000 households in rural areas are set to be connected to electricity in the drive.
“Sh434 million will be used in Murang’a County, where 87 power projects are being implemented to attain last-mile electricity connections.
“The projects are at various stages of completion, and by the next financial year, all the slated 6,000 households will be connected to electricity,” REREC Director Mark Nderitu said during the weekend.
The director underscored the government’s commitment to attaining 100 per cent power connection shortly.
Electricity, he noted, would spur social and economic development in rural areas, saying education would benefit as students would get more time for studies.
“The power connection will go a long way in improving people’s lives, especially those in rural areas. Access to electric power at markets, hospitals and other social amenities will increase working hours,” he added.
Nderitu continued, “Residents will now be able to make use of technology and fit their homes with appliances that will make their lives easier, and children will no longer depend on kerosene lamps to do their homework.”
On the Rugongo Ruraya power project which serves residents in tea-growing areas of Kigumo, the director revealed that 785 households are set to be connected.
“In the first phase of this Kigumo project, 270 households would get connected, and in the second phase, slated to commence the next financial year, 515 homes would be linked to electric power,” he remarked.
Tea farmers, the Director added, would benefit hugely from the power connection as they were unable to sell their green leaf at night, thus, incurring huge losses.
“Tea farmers from this region were unable to sell their produce at the tea buying centre at night and would lose kilos, but with power, they can sell their tea at any time.
The installation of electricity has transformed their lives,” he stated.
Nderitu urged various development partners, including the National-Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) and county governments, to allocate funds and support electrification programmes to accelerate rural electrification in priority areas.
Meanwhile, Nderitu decried increased vandals of power infrastructure, saying they have been a major setback to the government’s bid to improve power connectivity in the last few years.
“Sometimes, we launch a project, and in a week, vandals come in and steal the cables and poles. Luckily, police units have been set up in various areas to stem the vandalism and we appeal to members of the public to guard the infrastructure as their assets because they suffer the most when it is vandalised,” said the Director.
The Training Centre of the Electricity Company of Ghana, in collaboration with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), has organised a one-day seminar on innovative solutions and ideas which are aimed at improving modern trends in power systems for the electricity distribution sector in the sub-region.
Experts and professionals at the seminar held discussions on transformer monitoring and control, microgrid power plant controller application, as well as powerful computing and software for distribution management.
Other areas covered were using travelling waves to locate faults on transmission lines.
The seminar was held on 5th June 2024 at the ECG Training Centre in Tema.
In his keynote address, the Centre’s Director, Ing Godfred Mensah, encouraged participants to “take advantage of the seminar and show enthusiasm towards the knowledge to be shared.”
The SEL team was led by Mr Sthit Sharma who took participants through the various topics of discussion.
He was supported by Mr Vinay Singh and Mr Herbert Martin.
There was an open session where participants shared their experiences, asked questions and made suggestions on the technologies that had been discussed.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana’s state-owned largest power generation company, is envisioning to develop about 3500 Megawatts peak of solar as part of efforts to diversify the company’s energy sources.
Currently, VRA has developed solar project in Kaleo and Lawra in the Upper West and Navrongo in the Upper East Region, with a total capacity of 37.04MWp.
The Director for Water Resources and Renewable Energy, Ing Abdul Noor Wahab, disclosed this at a training programme organised by Energy News Africa Limited for selected journalists in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
According to him, the Authority is looking to developing the 3500MWp in line with its ten years’ development plan.
VRA operates the Akosombo and Kpone Hydro Dams with a total capacity of 1180MW and Thermal Power Plants with a total capacity of 1330MW.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s largest state-owned power generation company, Volta River Authority (VRA), last Friday, June 7, 2024, organised a tree-planting exercise across all its work locations to commemorate this year’s ‘Green Ghana Day’.
Held under the theme: ‘Growing for a Greener Tomorrow’, the initiative saw the planting of 2,500 seedlings, symbolising the Authority’s dedication to sustainable practices and environmental conservation.
Aligned with national efforts to combat deforestation and mitigate climate change, the exercise also sought to amplify the Authority’s commitment to ensuring development.
The Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, in a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Chief Executive (Finance), Dr Ebenezer Tagoe, underscored the significance of the exercise, emphasising the intrinsic link between environmental sustainability and VRA’s core mission of powering national development.
“This undertaking is more than an environmental stewardship; it reflects our unwavering commitment as guardians of national development and proponents of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he remarked.
The exercise also served as a catalyst for environmental education with participants receiving guidance on tree planting and care.
As the seedlings take root and flourish, they stand as tangible reminders of VRA’s pledge to champion sustainability and pave the way for a greener and environmentally sustainable Ghana.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has had a profound impact on the global energy market.
The over reliance of European nations on Russian fossil fuels has posed a significant challenge to supply security.
Italy, as one of the largest importers of natural gas, sourced 40% of its gas from Russia until 2021.
However, in 2022, Italy reduced its dependence on Russian imports to 19% of its total natural gas imports.
Against this backdrop, Italy is projected to achieve a cumulative installed capacity of 162.7GW from renewable sources by 2035, with the share of renewables increasing to 69% in its power capacity mix, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s latest report, “Italy Power Market Size, Trends, Regulations, Competitive Landscape and Forecast, 2024-2035” reveals that Italy is expected to have 107.7GW of renewable capacity by 2030, with the share of renewables in total annual generation reaching around 59% by 2030.
Sudeshna Sarmah, Power Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The severe drought in 2022 significantly impacted Italy’s power market, as hydropower generation decreased from 31.2TWh in 2021 to 13.7TWh in 2022.
In the absence of nuclear power, the country increased its thermal power generation by 8.4%, rising from 163.4TWh in 2021 to 177.1TWh in 2022. Additionally, electricity imports reached a total of 47.4 TWh.”
In 2022, the Italian government introduced the “National Plan for the Containment of Natural Gas,” aimed at reducing the country’s natural gas consumption. As a supplementary measure, Italy has begun importing natural gas from Azerbaijan, Algeria, and Libya.
While this provides temporary relief, the nation must focus on enhancing its renewable energy capacity to achieve self-sufficiency.
In 2023, Italy revised its renewable energy generation objective, setting a new target of achieving 65% by 2030.
Sarmah adds: “The upgrade of renewable targets should also come up with robust measures and a clear roadmap with definitive objectives to achieve them and overcome its dependency on natural gas and electricity imports.”
Sarmah concludes: “Italy remains committed to eliminating coal-powered plants by 2025. The government aims to strengthen its national grid and prioritize the swift development of renewable energy sources. Additionally, the country is expected to revise its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP).
” The current target outlined in the NECP is to reach 93.2GW of renewable power capacity by 2030, with solar PV systems expected to contribute 50GW and wind power slated to provide 19.3GW.”
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.com
South Africa-based lobby group, AfriForum, has hinted about its plans to go to the law court to stop the country’s electricity regulator, NERSA, from increasing its electricity tariff.
Municipalities have applied for an electricity tariff increment and it is scheduled for implementation on the 1st of July.
A High Court order from October 2022 and the Electricity Regulation Act 4 of 2006, both require that mandatory cost studies are undertaken before any increment in tariff. However, it appears that that has not been done.
In a statement, AfriForum accused NERSA of not complying with the court order as they have sent a communication to municipalities where they are now providing municipalities with a new revenue requirement template that they can use when applying for rate increases–instead of the cost of supply study as the court ordered.
“The use of an approved template rather than the cost of supply study is a concern as it could mean that Nersa acts contrary to the court order. We are looking for verifiable figures to indicate what municipalities’ rates should be.
A cost of supply study is the starting point to steer municipalities and Nersa in the right direction,” Morné Mostert, AfriForum Manager of Local Government Affairs, said in a statement.
“For the past decade, there was a responsibility of municipalities to set up what they call or what the act calls a cost of supply studies basically, a study that informs you on what the exact tariff is that the municipality can ask Nersa.
Remember that municipalities make a profit from selling electricity, so it’s very important for us the consumers to understand what tariff they charge you,” he added.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) last Friday contributed to the national effort of restoring the West African nation’s forest cover by planting trees.
In 2021, President of Ghana H.E Nana Akufo-Addo initiated Green Ghana day and has since become an annual event where citizens are rallied to plant trees.
In commemoration of this year’s Green Ghana Day, 50 members and officials of the Chamber participated in a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve near Agomeda in the Eastern Region.
The Chamber’s members planted a diverse range of trees, including acacia, cassia, and mahogany, all of which are well-suited for environmental restoration efforts.
These resilient species not only contribute to increased forest cover but also promote biodiversity and soil health.
Speaking in an interview Chief Executive Officer of CBOD, Dr. Patrick Ofori said: “We are dedicated to ensuring the long-term success of this initiative. We are committed to a “maintenance culture” for the planted trees.
He said CBOD will collaborate with the Forestry Commission and revisit the planting site every quarter to monitor the progress of the trees and implement any necessary maintenance measures.”
The Chamber believes that planting trees aligns perfectly with Ghana’s national goals for environmental sustainability and public well-being.
“Healthy forests provide numerous benefits, including improved air and water quality, reduced soil erosion, and increased habitat for wildlife,” Dr Patrick Ofori said.
Through this initiative and others like it, CBOD strives to be a responsible corporate citizen, contributing to a greener and healthier Ghana for future generations.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The second largest state-owned power generation company in Ghana – Bui Power Authority (BPA) – has called on Chiefs and people in the Bui area to support the company’s climate resilience initiatives that seek to reforest degraded lands in the area to protect the Bui Basin which the Bui Dam is situated.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BPA, Hon. Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi, made the call in a speech read for him by Ing. Samuel Nimako-Boateng, Director for Power Operations, at the commemoration of Green Ghana Day last Friday at the Bui Generation Station (BGS).
In 2012, BPA commenced a pilot Forest Resource Enhancement Programme (FREP) initiative which has seen a significant expansion from a coverage area of 423.67 acres to 1,433acres under the leadership of the current CEO.
“It is significant to note that due to the recurrent bushfires that often characterize the savannah ecological zone, we had to expand our coverage systematically whilst
ensuring we properly safeguard our investments. It is, therefore, remarkable to announce that during
the year 2023/2024 dry season, no single tree was lost through the bushfires as a result of the
implementation of a well-coordinated Bushfire Management Plan,” the BPA CEO disclosed.
He placed emphasis on Goal 13 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: which advocates for Climate Actions .
He therefore calls for a strong political will with an increased investment using available technologies and that BPA on its part, was deploying more renewables such as hydro, solar and others to limit the global mean temperature from rising up to two degrees celsius above the pre-industrial levels.
“We are committed to ensuring the planting of trees and the conservation of the forest through our flagship programme – FREP – to ameliorate the threats of the climate change to our operations,” he stressed.
He further pledged his commitment to expanding the BPA FREP which is in tandem with the Green Ghana Project.
He indicated that aside from the reforestation of the degraded lands, the conservation of some 26 economic indigenous tree species within the area was ongoing backed by a policy approved by the Board of Directors of BPA.
Hon. Dzamesi commended the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for his commitment towards such a great initiative and thanked all the stakeholders who have supported this year’s celebration to be a success.
Delivering a welcome message, the Director of Occupational Health, Safety, Security and Environment, Mr. Chrisentus B. Kuunifaa, indicated that a total of ten million (10 million) seedlings were being planted across the country to mark the 4th edition of Green Ghana Day – 2024 through the Forestry Commission under the auspices of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, of which BPA was planting a total of 16,003 tree species comprising gmelina, teak, mahogany, cedralla and ceiba at the Bui generating station to increase the forest cover.
He further stated that, “climate change is imminent and building climate resilience is crucial to realise an important relationship that is a Water-Energy-Forest nexus to guarantee a sustainable hydro power deployment”.
Mr. Kuunifaa, therefore, envisioned that the trees being planted would go a long way “to create more carbon sinks, improve micro climate, the hydrological cycle and provide ecosystem services.”
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has noted that African countries risk experiencing excess heatwaves if care is not taken.
This, he said, is the reason why Ghana initiated ‘Green Ghana Day’ to grow more trees to mitigate the ripple effects of extreme weather and climate change.
He explained that some 42 million trees have been planted so far, with at least 80 per cent of them surviving.
President Akufo-Addo made these remarks at the commemoration of this year’s ‘Green Ghana’ tree planting initiative, which aims to plant ten million trees across the country.
He called on all Ghanaians to make it a duty to plant a tree and nurture it to maturity.
President Akufo-Addo also called on the private sector to financially support the Green Ghana project, aiming to lessen the burden on the public purse.
Highlighting the alarming impacts of climate change, President Akufo-Addo referenced the dire situation in South Sudan, the horne of Africa, where extreme heatwaves are threatening human habitation.
He noted that air pollution is responsible for approximately 6.7 million deaths annually, and biodiversity loss continues to endanger ecosystems worldwide.
“The science tells us that forests play a crucial role in sustaining life on earth and tackling the triple planetary crises,” the President stated.
He pointed out that Agriculture, Forest and Land Use (AFOLU) activities contribute significantly to Ghana’s greenhouse gas emissions, and maintaining forests is essential for carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation and pollution control.
He noted that since the inception of the Green Ghana Project, over 42 million trees have been planted, and the 2024 goal is to add another 10 million, bringing the total to 52 million trees in just four years.
This ambitious target, he said, aligns with Ghana’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 64 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030.
President Akufo-Addo called on all Ghanaians to embrace the theme of this year’s Green Ghana Day, ‘Growing for a Greener Tomorrow’.
He urged citizens from all walks of life to participate in the national tree planting exercise, emphasising the importance of nurturing the planted trees to maturity to achieve a sustainable future.
He also appealed to the private sector to support this noble venture, emphasising that it should not burden the public treasury.
“Let us go out, not only to plant trees, but grow them for a ‘Green Tomorrow.’ This is a duty we owe not only to the current generation but to generations yet to come,” he declared.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, praised President Akufo-Addo’s unwavering support for the Green Ghana initiative.
He highlighted the President’s leadership in environmental protection and forest restoration since the programme’s inception in 2021.
Minister Jinapor expressed gratitude to the Ghana Armed Forces for their vital role in the programme’s organisational success, particularly in the logistics and distribution of seedlings while announcing their planting of over 1000 tree seedlings as their quota to support the 2024 Green Ghana Day.
The Minister outlined Ghana’s significant strides in global forest management and climate action.
At COP26 in Glasgow, Ghana played a pivotal role in the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030.
This leadership has been recognised globally, leading to Ghana’s co-chairing of the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) alongside the United States.
This partnership aims to balance forest protection with food production and advance nature-based climate solutions.
Highlighting the impact of these initiatives, Mr Jinapor noted that Ghana was the second GDB country in Africa and the third globally to receive results-based payments from the World Bank’s Carbon Fund for reducing emissions.
“The Green Ghana Day has become a cornerstone of these efforts, with the survival rate of planted trees increasing significantly each year, from 67% in 2021 to 81% in 2023. This year’s theme, ‘Growing for a Greener Tomorrow’, reflects the commitment to not just planting trees but ensuring their growth and contribution to the fight against climate change,” he added.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker carrying 29 tonnes of LPG has been involved in an accident at Juaso on the Kumasi-Accra highway.
This was revealed by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in a post on their official Facebook page on Sunday afternoon.
According to the GNFS, the Konongo-Odumase Fire Station received a report about the accident and quickly dispatched a rescue team to the accident scene near a GOIL gas-filling station.
“A rescue team was dispatched to the scene where they found a DAF XF tanker carrying 29 tonnes of LPG involved in an accident.
“The crew monitored and helped prevent any explosion by cooling the LPG tanker,” the GNFS said.
It was unclear what caused the accident.
Images sighted by this portal showed a DAF XF with registration number 11 KN 6636 lying in the bush.
Per the information available so far, no casualty has been reported.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Some selected journalists in Accra, the capital of Ghana, West Africa, on Thursday, were taken through the operations of key power sector players at the Best Western Premier Hotel located in the Airport residential area.
The event which was organised by Energy News Africa Limited, an independent digital publishing firm, brought together journalists from the print, online, radio and television stations.
The Volta River Authority, Ghana’s largest state power generation company, made a presentation on their operations followed by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), West African Gas Pipeline Company and Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
The former CEO of Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Ing. Jonathan Amoako -Baah who was the keynote speaker delivered a speech on the topic: ‘Energy Sector Debt: How To Resolve It To Ensure Reliable And Efficient Electricity Supply.‘
Delivering a welcome speech, Michael Creg Afful, Editor of energynewsafrica.com, emphasised the continuous training of the media to deepen the relationship between players in the power sector value chain and the media.
He said the training programme was to enable the media to understand the industry better to help them report accurately on issues from the industry to cure misinformation that is sometimes spread on social media.
Ing. Jonathan Amoako-Baah, former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Grid Company, GRIDCo.Ing. Kwame Osei Mensah Darkwah, VRA.Engineer Benoni Owusu Ayeh, Operations & Maintenance Superintendent (Western Area), West African Gas Pipeline Company.Mr. Ebenezer Ghunney, Acting Director of Operations, ECG.Dr. Belinda Yeboah Dwamena, ECG.Dr. Eric Obutey, Director of Corporate Affairs, PURC.Mrs. Tandy Chotia, Corporate Affairs Manager, VRA.William Boateng, Director of Communications, ECG.Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.com 
