The incident has caused significant damage, with several communities plunging into darkness due to destroyed cables. This is the second time in four months that cable thieves have invaded the premises.
Ing. Fletcher expressed concerns about the cost associated with cable cuts, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures.
“The cost of replacement can be very high, especially when customers are off, and we’re not selling,” he said.
Meanwhile, police have conveyed the body of the unidentified man to the mortuary while investigations continue.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: Cable Thief Electrocuted At Kumasi Substation
A shocking incident occurred at the Adoato Substation ‘B’ of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in Kumasi, Ashanti region, as the lifeless body of a middle-aged man, suspected of being a cable thief, was discovered on Saturday morning.
Reports suggest that the suspect had one hand clinging to a high-voltage copper cable and a pair of pliers in the other.
Briefing the media, Ing. Peter Kofi Fletcher, General Manager of Ashanti Sub-Station, narrated that the deceased gained access to the substation undetected by security personnel.
The incident has caused significant damage, with several communities plunging into darkness due to destroyed cables. This is the second time in four months that cable thieves have invaded the premises.
Ing. Fletcher expressed concerns about the cost associated with cable cuts, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures.
“The cost of replacement can be very high, especially when customers are off, and we’re not selling,” he said.
Meanwhile, police have conveyed the body of the unidentified man to the mortuary while investigations continue.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
The incident has caused significant damage, with several communities plunging into darkness due to destroyed cables. This is the second time in four months that cable thieves have invaded the premises.
Ing. Fletcher expressed concerns about the cost associated with cable cuts, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures.
“The cost of replacement can be very high, especially when customers are off, and we’re not selling,” he said.
Meanwhile, police have conveyed the body of the unidentified man to the mortuary while investigations continue.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: Petrosol Rewards Loyal Customers In Northern Sector With Suzuki S-Presso, Other Gifts
Petrosol Platinum Energy Ltd, one of the leading energy companies in the Republic of Ghana, has concluded the Northern Sector Edition of its highly successful “Energizing Dreams” promo.
The grand finale event saw 29 lucky customers win exciting prizes, including a brand new Suzuki S-Presso, tricycles, motorcycles, fridges, TVs, microwaves, and fuel coupons.
The Energizing Dreams promo, which began in October 2024, is part of PETROSOL’s 10th-anniversary celebration aimed at showing appreciation to customers for their loyalty and support over the past decade. The promo featured an assortment of prizes carefully selected to excite and empower customers.
A customer from the PETROSOL Akom Fuel Station won the grand prize, a brand new Suzuki S-Presso.
Upon hearing the news, Popular was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.
Guest of Honour, Mr. Duncan Amoah, Executive Secretary of COPEC, expressed gratitude to PETROSOL for providing clean fuel and rewarding customers.
“It is heartwarming to see a company go above and beyond to show appreciation to its customers,” he said.
PETROSOL’s CEO, Michael Bozumbil, assured customers that the company is committed to delivering great products and services, as well as rewarding loyalty. “We value our customers’ trust and loyalty, and we’re excited about the future of energy in Ghana,” he said.
The promo was conducted in partnership with the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to ensure transparency. Duncan Amoah praised the manner in which the promo was conducted, saying it was worth emulating.
The grand finale for the southern sector will take place on April 29, 2025, at PETROSOL’s ISO-certified Spintex Fuel Station.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
A customer from the PETROSOL Akom Fuel Station won the grand prize, a brand new Suzuki S-Presso.
Upon hearing the news, Popular was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.
Guest of Honour, Mr. Duncan Amoah, Executive Secretary of COPEC, expressed gratitude to PETROSOL for providing clean fuel and rewarding customers.
“It is heartwarming to see a company go above and beyond to show appreciation to its customers,” he said.
PETROSOL’s CEO, Michael Bozumbil, assured customers that the company is committed to delivering great products and services, as well as rewarding loyalty. “We value our customers’ trust and loyalty, and we’re excited about the future of energy in Ghana,” he said.
The promo was conducted in partnership with the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to ensure transparency. Duncan Amoah praised the manner in which the promo was conducted, saying it was worth emulating.
The grand finale for the southern sector will take place on April 29, 2025, at PETROSOL’s ISO-certified Spintex Fuel Station.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: Power Outage In Parts Of Kumasi Will Be Resolved Soon -ECG Assures
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has attributed the power outage in parts of Kumasi to multiple cable faults at the Ridge Bulk Supply Point in Kumasi near Georgia Hotel.
The power distributor made this known in a statement on Friday, April 18, 2025.
ECG assured affected customers that its engineers are working diligently to rectify the fault and restore power supply.
“ECG regrets the inconvenience caused to the affected customers,” the company said.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Walcot Group, Angola’s ANPG Sign MoU To Bolster Trade
Nigeria-based energy company, Walcot Group, and Angolan National Agency for Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels, ANPG, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU), on Production Sharing Contract, to bolster Nigeria-Angola bilateral cooperation.
The agreement was signed in Luanda, Angola by the founder and president of Walcot Group, Christopher Nwuabueze and the ANPG’s Executive Administrator, Alcides Andrade.
The deal is expected boost trade relations between the two countries in the oil and gas sector, according to Suleman Mohammed, Managing Director of Walcot Group in a statement issued on Sunday, April 13, 2025.
According to Mohammed, the agreement resulted from the company’s successful bid for three oil blocks within a competitive international licensing round.
He said the step would expand the organisation’s footprint across Africa’s high-potential energy basins.
Commenting President of Walcot Group, Christopher Nwabueze described the move as a transformative moment for Walcot Group, “As we deepen our presence in Africa’s energy landscape.
“We are excited to partner Angola’s government and the ANPG, to unlock the potential of these blocks, driving value for stakeholders and supporting regional energy security.
“The PSC entails Walcot Group will secure full operator-ship of Block CON-3 and Block CON-7 in the Lower Congo Basins with 100 per cent participation interest in both blocks.
“CON-3 spanned 723.37 km² with estimated prospective oil resources of 1.25 billion barrels, featuring Pre-salt and Post-salt structures.
“CON-7 covered 744.77 km² with estimated prospective oil resources that range from 710 million to 1.15 billion barrels, supported by rich source rocks and nearby commercial discoveries.”
Mr Nwabueze added that for block KON-13, Walcot Group would take a 10 per cent stake in the Kwanza Onshore Basin.
“This is alongside Angola National Oil Company Sonangol, Effimax Energy and Oando Energy Resources as operators with prospective resources ranging from 770 million to 1.1 billion barrels,” he said.
The Walcot boss said that Angola aimed to maintain its oil output at 1.1 million barrels per day by 2027 and double it in the long term.
He added that ANPG viewed Walcot partnership as a boost to its upstream ambitions.
“The Lower Congo and Kwanza Basins, known for their prolific geology, offer Walcot a prime opportunity to apply its technical expertise and sustainable practices.
“This will align with the company’s broader goal of fostering economic growth across the continent,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Congo-Brazzaville: Gov’t Postpones $9.4B Sounda Hydropower Project Amid Energy Crisis
Congo-Brazzaville has suspended the launch of its largest energy infrastructure project, the 600 MW Sounda hydroelectric dam, initially set to begin construction in January 2025.
According to a report by Daba Finance, citing Government spokesperson Thierry Moungalla, the $9.4 billion project has been put on hold indefinitely.
The dam was expected to nearly double Congo’s generation capacity, currently at 720 MW, much of which is lost due to outdated infrastructure.
According to reports, cities like Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire experience frequent power outages. The government has not disclosed the cause of the postponement.
Observers cite potential issues including funding delays, technical disagreements, and logistical hurdles.
The silence has fueled public concern amid worsening electricity shortages. The project, if completed, could reshape the country’s power sector and meet growing energy demand in urban areas.
For now, the delay underscores deeper governance challenges in major infrastructure execution.
Source:https://energynewsfrica.com
Ghana: PURC Board Chairman, Prof. Thomas Akabzaa, Passes Away
The Board Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Prof. Thomas Akabzaa, has passed away, according to sources close to him.
Reports indicate that he died on Thursday, although the cause of his death is not yet known.
Prof. Akabzaa was appointed as the PURC Board chairman, along with seven other board members.
However, he was absent when Chief of Staff Julius Debrah inaugurated the board on Friday, March 28, 2025.
Throughout his career, Prof. Akabzaa held various roles, including Chief Director at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum. He was well known for championing transparency, sustainable development, and reforms in Ghana’s natural resource governance.
Reacting to the news, Dr. Steve Manteaw, policy analyst and co-chair of the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), paid a heartfelt tribute.
“Sad to hear about your demise this morning,” Dr. Manteaw wrote. “You’ve been a formidable pillar in the extractive industry space as an academic, activist, and a technocrat. May the good Lord guide you back to His bosom and grant you eternal rest. Farewell, Prof. Thomas Akabzaa.”
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
US Strikes On Yemen Oil Terminal Kill At Least 58, Houthis Say
US air strikes on a key oil terminal on Yemen’s Red Sea coast controlled by the Houthi movement have killed at least 58 people and wounded 126 others, Houthi-run media say.
The US military said it had destroyed Ras Issa “to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue”.
The Houthi-led government that runs north-western Yemen said the terminal was a civilian facility and that attack constituted a “full-fledged war crime”.
It was one of the deadliest incidents since President Donald Trump ordered US forces to intensify their bombing campaign last month in response to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and Israel linked to the Gaza war.
Several hours after the strikes on Ras Issa, the Israeli military said it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen.
Sirens sounded in several Israeli areas but there were no reports of any casualties or damage.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that 14 air strikes hit Ras Issa late on Thursday.
Videos posted online purportedly showed several explosions, large fires and destroyed fuel tankers at the facility, which is about 60km (35 miles) north of the Red Sea city of Hudaydah.
Al-Masirah cited local health authorities as saying many of the dead were workers at the facility. It also reported that five paramedics were killed in secondary US strikes as they arrived at the scene.
The casualty reports could not be immediately verified, but footage from Al-Masirah appeared to show at least 10 charred bodies near the burning tankers, including one driver, as well as men being treated for serious burns in hospital.
“We affirm that the targeting of the Ras Issa oil port is a full-fledged war crime, as the port is a civilian facility and not a military one,” the Houthi-run government said in a statement.
“We hold the US administration fully responsible for the consequences resulting from its escalation in the Red Sea,” it warned.
The US military’s Central Command said in a statement that the “objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen”.
“The Houthis, their Iranian masters, and those who knowingly aid and abet their terrorist actions should be put on notice that the world will not accept illicit smuggling of fuel and war material to a terrorist organisation,” it added.
Iran’s foreign ministry said it strongly condemned the strikes as “barbaric”.
On Thursday, the Houthis’ leader gave a defiant speech in which he claimed the recent US strikes failed to stop their attacks.
Abdul Malik al-Houthi said the group’s forces had carried out almost 80 operations involving around 170 missiles and drones since mid-March, including 30 attacks targeting the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman and 26 attacks on Israel.
Yemen has been devastated by a civil war that escalated 10 years ago, when the Houthis seized control of the country’s north-west from the internationally-recognised government and a Saudi-led coalition supported by the US intervened in an effort to restore its rule.
The fighting has reportedly left more than 150,000 people dead and triggered a humanitarian disaster, with 4.8 million people displaced and 19.5 million – half of the population – in need of some form of aid.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted dozens of merchant vessels with missiles, drones and small boat attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They have sunk two vessels, seized a third, and killed four crew members.
The Houthis have said they are acting in support of the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and have claimed – often falsely – that they are targeting ships only linked to Israel, the US or the UK.
The Houthis were not deterred by the deployment of Western warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to protect merchant vessels last year, or by multiple rounds of US strikes on military targets ordered by former President Joe Biden.
After taking office in January, Trump redesignated the Houthis as a “Foreign Terrorist Organisation” – something the Biden administration had removed due to what it said was the need to mitigate the country’s humanitarian crisis.
Last month, Trump ordered large-scale strikes on areas controlled by the Houthis and threatened that they would be “completely annihilated”. He has also warned Iran not to arm the group – something it has repeatedly denied doing.
Israel has also carried out air strikes against the Houthis since last July in retaliation for the hundreds of missiles and drones that the Israeli military says have been launched at the country from Yemen, most of which have been shot down.
Source: BBC.com
Al-Masirah cited local health authorities as saying many of the dead were workers at the facility. It also reported that five paramedics were killed in secondary US strikes as they arrived at the scene.
The casualty reports could not be immediately verified, but footage from Al-Masirah appeared to show at least 10 charred bodies near the burning tankers, including one driver, as well as men being treated for serious burns in hospital.
“We affirm that the targeting of the Ras Issa oil port is a full-fledged war crime, as the port is a civilian facility and not a military one,” the Houthi-run government said in a statement.
“We hold the US administration fully responsible for the consequences resulting from its escalation in the Red Sea,” it warned.
The US military’s Central Command said in a statement that the “objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen”.
“The Houthis, their Iranian masters, and those who knowingly aid and abet their terrorist actions should be put on notice that the world will not accept illicit smuggling of fuel and war material to a terrorist organisation,” it added.
Iran’s foreign ministry said it strongly condemned the strikes as “barbaric”.
On Thursday, the Houthis’ leader gave a defiant speech in which he claimed the recent US strikes failed to stop their attacks.
Abdul Malik al-Houthi said the group’s forces had carried out almost 80 operations involving around 170 missiles and drones since mid-March, including 30 attacks targeting the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman and 26 attacks on Israel.
Yemen has been devastated by a civil war that escalated 10 years ago, when the Houthis seized control of the country’s north-west from the internationally-recognised government and a Saudi-led coalition supported by the US intervened in an effort to restore its rule.
The fighting has reportedly left more than 150,000 people dead and triggered a humanitarian disaster, with 4.8 million people displaced and 19.5 million – half of the population – in need of some form of aid.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted dozens of merchant vessels with missiles, drones and small boat attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They have sunk two vessels, seized a third, and killed four crew members.
The Houthis have said they are acting in support of the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and have claimed – often falsely – that they are targeting ships only linked to Israel, the US or the UK.
The Houthis were not deterred by the deployment of Western warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to protect merchant vessels last year, or by multiple rounds of US strikes on military targets ordered by former President Joe Biden.
After taking office in January, Trump redesignated the Houthis as a “Foreign Terrorist Organisation” – something the Biden administration had removed due to what it said was the need to mitigate the country’s humanitarian crisis.
Last month, Trump ordered large-scale strikes on areas controlled by the Houthis and threatened that they would be “completely annihilated”. He has also warned Iran not to arm the group – something it has repeatedly denied doing.
Israel has also carried out air strikes against the Houthis since last July in retaliation for the hundreds of missiles and drones that the Israeli military says have been launched at the country from Yemen, most of which have been shot down.
Source: BBC.com Ghana: PURC Executive Secretary Meets ECG Western Region Management To Strengthen Collaboration
The Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Dr. Shafic Suleman, on April 14, 2025, visited the Western Regional office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in Takoradi to deepen collaboration between the Commission and the service provider.
The meeting aimed to familiarize themselves with ECG’s operations in the region and strengthen the relationship between PURC and ECG at the regional level.
Dr. Suleman commended ECG’s regional team for their hard work but expressed concerns about maintaining stable power in the region.
“We need to find a way to ensure that we improve our network to have stable power. I have to push ECG because consumer payment is based on performance (Quality of Service), and that is the only way to satisfy the consumer,” he added.
The Regional General Manager of ECG, Ing. Ofori, raised critical points, including Revenue Mobilization, Network Improvement, and Stable Power Supply. Ing. Ofori highlighted challenges such as power theft, illegal connections, proliferation of fake meters, and aging infrastructure.
He assured PURC and Dr. Suleman of ECG’s commitment to improve performance and recognize the importance of stable power for consumers.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Suleman emphasized the importance of quality service and directed ECG to put in place measures to achieve targets and promote closer collaboration with PURC.
He expressed appreciation to the entire management of the ECG Western Regional office for their time and efforts.
Source:https://energynewsfrica.com
Ghana: ACEP Urges Government To Reverse Decision On Abosso Goldfields Lease Renewal
The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has criticised the Ghanaian government’s decision not to renew the mining lease of Abosso Goldfields Limited (AGL) at Damang, describing it as unlawful and premature.
The government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has announced a takeover of the mine today, 18th April 2025.
Reacting to the government’s decision during a press conference in Accra yesterday to express disagreement, the Executive Director of ACEP, Mr. Benjamin Boakye, emphasised that government’s approach should reflect diligence, legal compliance, and a genuine commitment to Ghana’s long-term mineral wealth.
“When remedies are provided in the law, the hearts and minds of the implementers cannot be at variance with the prescribed remedies,” he pointed out.
Mr. Boakye described the action as a rushed one and a disputed decision which would not only risk international litigation and reputational damage, but also undermine investor confidence and the rule of law.
He stated that though ACEP agrees that government deserves to benefit fully from its mineral resources, he was of the view that any stakeholder that truly aligns with this national goal must be transparent and factual in demonstrating how their decisions maximise public benefit.
“Government needs to exercise restraint, renew dialogue, and pursue a legally guided resolution that protects the interest of both the state and investors,” he stressed.
Touching on the undercurrents for the rejection, he mentioned that industry enthusiasts may be aware that in recent years, AGL has been exploring options, including a divestiture of the Damang mine, as it indicated in its 2024 report that the reserve does not meet its conservative Mineral Reserve Economic Criteria (MREC), explaining that it does not mean there is no gold reserve in the mines as being interpreted.
“The MREC is just a decision tool which turns to be based on changing economic variables around operations of the mine. Therefore, the state and its agencies cannot pretend not to understand this economic decision tool in the industry,” he said.
According to him, news portals have already captured state officials and also implied the minister’s statement that this is all in an effort to nationalise the mine.
The ACEP boss also expressed the view that if government wants to revisit the 1970s policy resource nationalisation efforts, which collapsed the mining industry, then it needs to be clarified by the government on what will be different this time to leave no doubts in the minds of investors, especially when the required actions per the law are clear but the actions of implementers differ.
Touching on the reasons cited by government to reject the renewal, such as the company’s refusal to declare its mineral reserves, absence of technical programme and the lack of the company’s budgetary allocations for exploring, he said they are all matters known by the Minerals Commission so it does not justify grounds for the decision.
“As a responsible policy think-tank, ACEP has seen similar cases where public officials are convinced that their decisions were in the interest of the state but were proven wrong.
“Consequently, these decisions have escalated into costly outcomes for the state. Examples of such include the attempted novation of the Ameri Power contract, the Agyapa royalty transaction, the GPGC power contract and the GNPC’s attempted acquisition of the Aker Deep Water Tano/Cape Three Points (DWT/CTP) which was later acquired by AFC for $1) among many others”, the ACEP boss cited.
Abosso Goldfields Limited (AGL) is a Ghanaian gold mining company that owns and operates the Damang Gold Mine. AGL is a joint venture, with Gold Fields Ghana Holdings Limited holding 71.1% and Gold holding 18.9%.
The company focuses on extracting gold from various types of mineralisation, including oxide and fresh hydrothermal mineralisation, and many more.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GRIDCo Repairs Damaged Section Of Akwatia–New Obuasi Transmission Line
The Ghana Grid Company LTD. (GRIDCo) is carrying out repair work on a section of its 161kV Transmission Line from Akwatia to New Obuasi.
According to a statement issued by Dzifa Bampoh, Manager of Corporate Communications, the section of the line being worked on was faulted when illegal chainsaw operators felled a tall tree, damaging a critical tower section on the line.
GRIDCo said the line is one of the key lines that supplies power to Kumasi and portions of the middle belt of Ghana. The incident, which occurred on March 17 at 9:30 am, has significantly affected the quality of supply to Kumasi and its surroundings.
According to GRIDCo, their maintenance engineers quickly moved in on the same day as the outage and started work to restore the line. However, their assessment showed extensive damage such that it required moving heavy-duty equipment to widen access to the point of fault, dismantle the damaged tower and conductors, and reconstruct a new tower in its place.
“Our engineers have worked expeditiously around the clock, and as of Thursday, April 17, 2025, the reconstruction of the new tower has been completed,” GRIDCo said. The company added that the remaining conductor stringing works are projected to be completed by Sunday, April 20, 2025, for the line to be restored to service.
GRIDCo drew attention to the negative effects of illegal chainsaw operators (and sometimes ‘galamsey’ operations), whose activities often damage the company’s electricity transmission infrastructure across the country. The company urged the public to assist in curbing these illegal activities to safeguard Ghana’s transmission infrastructure.
“GRIDCo apologizes to the public, especially residents of Kumasi and its surroundings, for the power challenges brought on as a result of the damage to the line,” the statement concluded.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
According to GRIDCo, their maintenance engineers quickly moved in on the same day as the outage and started work to restore the line. However, their assessment showed extensive damage such that it required moving heavy-duty equipment to widen access to the point of fault, dismantle the damaged tower and conductors, and reconstruct a new tower in its place.
“Our engineers have worked expeditiously around the clock, and as of Thursday, April 17, 2025, the reconstruction of the new tower has been completed,” GRIDCo said. The company added that the remaining conductor stringing works are projected to be completed by Sunday, April 20, 2025, for the line to be restored to service.
GRIDCo drew attention to the negative effects of illegal chainsaw operators (and sometimes ‘galamsey’ operations), whose activities often damage the company’s electricity transmission infrastructure across the country. The company urged the public to assist in curbing these illegal activities to safeguard Ghana’s transmission infrastructure.
“GRIDCo apologizes to the public, especially residents of Kumasi and its surroundings, for the power challenges brought on as a result of the damage to the line,” the statement concluded.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Is Ghana’s Electricity Spending Paying Off?
By Albert Ayirebi-Acquah – FCCA, FMVA
Introduction
Over the past decade, Ghana has poured billions of cedis into keeping the power sector running. From bailing out utilities to paying independent power producers (IPPs) for unused capacity, the government has averaged 1.7% of GDP annually to cover electricity shortfalls. But with electricity contributing just 1.5–1.8% of GDP, the question is simple: Is the economic return worth the fiscal outlay?
Why This Matters
Electricity powers industry, supports services, and drives productivity.But the fiscal burden of sustaining Ghana’s electricity sector has become unsustainable. We must ask: are we spending smartly—or just plugging leaks?Key Insights
- Electricity contributes less than 2% of GDP but has an outsized ripple effect.
- The 2012–2015 power crisis (dumsor) cost Ghana an estimated 5.6% of GDP.
- The government spends GH¢30–40 billion over a decade (1.7% of GDP yearly) to stabilize the sector.
- Blackouts have largely ended, but tariffs remain high, and the sector still needs bailouts.
How Ghana Compares to Peers
Ghana spends more to keep power flowing but gets less return per cedi spent than its peers.
Fiscal Efficiency of Electricity (FEE)
This metric shows how much GDP return a country gets per 1% of GDP spent on electricity. Ghana spends more to keep power flowing but gets less return per cedi spent than its peers.
What Needs to Change
Ghana’s electricity spending helped avoid collapse—but it must now deliver productivity.Recommendations:
- Make tariffs cost-reflective, while protecting the vulnerable.
- Renegotiate IPP contracts to avoid paying for unused capacity.
- Channel fiscal space into grid reliability, access, and industrial power use.
- Use FEE and GDP/kWh to track whether electricity is driving real growth.
- And most urgently, tackle ECG’s ~28% distribution losses—the single largest driver of sector cash shortfalls—by bringing in private sector participation in procurement, billing, and revenue collection.
Czech Republic Ends 60-Year Dependence On Russian Oil
The Czech Republic has ended its 60-year-long dependence on Russian oil supply after capacity upgrades on a pipeline from the west.
For the first time ever, the Czech Republic is now independent from Russian oil pipeline deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline.
The Druzhba pipeline carries Russian crude to Central Europe. The pipeline is a key artery of oil supply from Russia to Europe, with two branches – a northern one via Belarus that supplies Belarus, Poland, Germany, Latvia, and Lithuania, and a southern one passing through Ukraine and sending oil to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Croatia.
Flows through the Druzhba pipeline were exempted from the EU embargo on imports of Russian crude oil by sea that came into effect on December 5, 2022. The EU has exempted pipeline oil flows to landlocked EU member states from the ban.
The Czech Republic, however, decided in 2022 to work to free itself of Russian oil supply and began a project to expand the capacity of the Trans Alpine (TAL) pipeline in a project called TAL PLUS. The plan is to boost oil supply to the Czech Republic from Italy.
The upgrade of the TAL pipeline and the project to link the Italian port of Trieste with central Europe have made it possible for the Czech Republic to stop relying on Russia for its oil supply.
The first batch of increased volumes from the west has reached the central oil depot in the country, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Thursday.
“For the first time in history, the Czech Republic is completely supplied by non-Russian oil, and fully supplied through western routes,” Fiala was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Czech pipeline operator MERO will now transport the crude to Orlen Unipetrol for processing at the Litvinov refinery, one of the country’s two processing facilities, MERO chief executive Jaroslav Pantucek said today.
Source: Oilprice.com
Kenya:Tullow Offers Kenya Assets To Gulf Energy For $120 Million
Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tullow Overseas Holdings BV, has signed a heads of terms agreement with Gulf Energy Ltd (the “Buyer”) to sell Tullow Kenya BV, which holds Tullow’s entire working interests in Kenya, for a total consideration of at least $120 million.
In a statement, Tullow said the sale will be split into a $40 million payment due on completion, $40 million payable at the earlier of Field Development Plan (FDP) approval or June 30, 2026, and $40 million payable over five years from the third quarter of 2028 onwards.
Additionally, Tullow will be entitled to royalty payments subject to certain conditions. Tullow will also retain a back-in right for a 30% participation in potential future development phases at no cost.
The transaction is accretive to both equity and leverage and further accelerates Tullow’s deleveraging process.
This transaction will constitute a significant transaction for the purposes of UKLR 7 of the UK Listing Rules (effective as of July 29, 2024). Richard Miller, Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Tullow, commented: “Today’s announcement marks another step forward in Tullow’s accelerated deleveraging journey, with near-term cash receipts of $80 million and mitigating significant capital exposure, while retaining a material option on the future development of the project. I am confident that the proceeds from this transaction, coupled with the $300 million from the disposal of our assets in Gabon, position the business strongly for a successful refinancing.
“We look forward to working with Gulf Energy, who have the requisite financing to complete the transaction and are a strong and credible counterparty, and by doing so, unlock material value for the people of Kenya.”
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria Curtails Electricity Supply To Niger, Causing Power Outage In Niamey
Nigeria has reduced electricity export to the military junta-led Niger Republic from 80 megawatts to 46 megawatts, Sahara Reporters has reported, citing Niger’s Energy Minister Haoua Amadou.
According to Amadou, Nigeria’s decision has resulted in power cuts in Niger’s capital, Niamey.
Local report suggests that the Nigerien electricity production had fallen by 30 to 50 per cent, forcing the state-owned power company, Nigelec, to impose planned outages that can last several days, especially in Niamey.
Nigeria had suspended much of its electricity exports to the West African nation as part of regional sanctions against the military junta that ousted civilian President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023.
“Nigeria has since resumed electricity delivery but only providing 46 megawatts instead of the usual 80 megawatts,” Amadou said.
Earlier this week, the Association of Power Generation Companies in Nigeria (GenCos) raised the alarm over a looming shutdown of electricity plants nationwide due to a staggering N4trillion debt owed by the Nigerian government.
In a statement issued by Colonel Sani Bello, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), on Monday, the GenCos revealed that they are currently owed N2 trillion for electricity supplied in 2024, along with an additional N1.9 trillion in legacy debts.
The companies lamented that they receive less than 30 per cent of their monthly invoices for power supplied to the national grid, which severely hampers their ability to sustain operations.
“The power generation companies have continued to bear the brunt of the liquidity crisis in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
“Despite significant investments and efforts to ramp up capacity, GenCos faces systemic constraints, unfriendly policies, and mounting debts without a clear repayment plan. The absence of firm contracts and a securitized market has further complicated financial planning,” the statement read.
The GenCos warned that the liquidity crisis could lead to a total collapse of the electricity value chain, resulting in widespread blackouts.
“The 2024 collection rate has dropped below 30%, and 2025 is not any better, severely affecting GenCos’ ability to meet financial obligations,” the statement added.
According to the statement, other challenges include high corporate taxes, regulatory fees, and foreign exchange volatility, all of which have further strained revenues.
The companies noted that despite fully supplying electricity, they are not being fully paid— even after the Partial Activation of Contracts in NESI since July 2022.
The GenCos urged the Nigerian government to take immediate action to prevent a total shutdown, warning that such a scenario could escalate into a national security crisis.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com