The United Arab Emirates and Oman signed on Tuesday $35 billion worth of investment partnerships in renewable energy, green metals, railways, and digital infrastructure and technology during the state visit of Oman’s Sultan to the UAE.
The memorandums of understanding establish investment partnerships between the UAE and Oman worth a combined $35 billion (129 billion UAE dirhams) to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors, the UAE’s Ministry of Investment said in a statement.
Under the deals, several UAE and Omani companies entered into investment and collaboration agreements across various sectors to boost “economic cooperation aimed at driving economic development through strategic investments,” the ministry added.
The single-largest investment agreement was for an industrial and energy megaproject valued at $31 billion (117 billion dirhams), encompassing renewable energy initiatives, including solar and wind projects, alongside green metals production facilities.
The signatories included Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (MASDAR), Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), Emirates Steel Arkan (ESA), OQ Alternative Energy, and Oman Electricity Transmission Company.
“The agreements represent a major milestone in our bilateral ties, as they pave the way for us to leverage our collective strength to realize our shared vision of advancement and prosperity,” said Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment of the UAE.
Both the UAE and Oman, large oil-producing countries in the Middle East and part of the OPEC+ agreement, have intensified efforts to boost renewable energy, hydrogen, and carbon capture projects in recent years.
Oman is looking to become a green hydrogen hub, while UAE-based companies Masdar and TAQA are expanding their renewable energy installations and footprint globally.
The UAE has plans to generate most of its electrical energy by 2050 from solar power, according to its Ministry of Economy. Major opportunities exist in solar energy, waste-to-energy, wind energy, and water treatment, the ministry notes.
Source: Oilprice.com
Bui Power Authority has paid a visit to the University of Energy and Natural Resources (URNR) to commiserate with the management and students of the institution after a robbery incident that led to the death of Abdul Aziz Issah, a renewable energy engineering student of the school.
The deceased, a level 400 student, and other colleagues were returning to their campus in Sunyani after a study tour of the
Bui Generating Station, when they encountered armed robbers, resulting in his untimely death.
Consequently, the BPA CEO, Ing. Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi, delegated some of the senior officers led by the Director of Estates, Mr Wumbilla Salifu, to commiserate with the Vice Chancellor of the UENR.
In a letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor of UENR, the CEO of BPA, Ing. Dzamesi, conveyed his condolences to the family of the deceased and extended his sympathies to the affected students and wished them a speedy recovery on behalf of the management and staff of Bui Power Authority.
On his part, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of UENR, Prof. John Kuwornu, who received the BPA delegation on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of UENR, thanked Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi for showing care and affection to the deceased, the affected students and the entire university community.
In addition, he appealed for support for the bereaved family and the other students who sustained various degrees of injury.
Other members of the BPA delegation included the Deputy Director of Renewables, Maxmillan Kwarteng, and Senior Corporate Affairs Officer, Mawuli Fui Kwadzovia
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Globeleq, the leading independent power and energy transition company in Africa, has acquired a 48.3% equity stake in the 25 MWp Winnergy solar PV plant (Winnergy) in Egypt from Enerray, Enerray Global Solar Opportunities and Desert Technologies.
The company announced this in a statement copied to energynewsafrica.com on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
The plant, which is in operation, is located within Egypt’s flagship Benban Solar complex, near Aswan, and is adjacent to Globeleq’s 66 MWp ARC solar plant.
GILA Altawakol Electric (Altawakol), a leading Egyptian group in electrical engineering, equipment manufacturing and services, remains the co-shareholder and operations and maintenance contractor.
Globeleq and Altawakol have worked together since 2019 and will continue to cooperate on the asset management and operation of the plant.
The Winnergy plant was originally developed as part of the second round of the Egyptian government’s Feed-in-Tariff program.
Commencing operations in 2019, it provides approximately 58 GWh per year of clean electricity to the Egyptian Electricity and Transmission Company (EETC), under a 25-year power purchase agreement. This is sufficient to power around 13,600 residential consumers annually, thereby avoiding 30,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Winnergy was financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), British International Investment (BII), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Europe Arab Bank.
Mike Scholey, Chief Executive Officer of Globeleq, commented: “This transaction confirms Globeleq’s long-term commitment to Egypt where the company has been investing for 20 years. The addition of Winnergy is a good fit with our existing portfolio as we pursue additional opportunities in Egypt across green hydrogen and ammonia, solar, wind and desalination. Egypt is committed to an ambitious energy transition programme and we look forward to playing our part.”
Gareth Bayley OBE, British Ambassador to Egypt, added:
“Globeleq’s ongoing commitment to the Egyptian renewable energy market demonstrates how British companies continue to support Egypt’s ambitious energy strategy through investment in the renewable energy sector and the energy transition.”
Amr Tawakol, Chairman of GILA Altawakol Electric, said: “It gives us great pleasure to partner with a highly regarded company such as Globeleq. We look forward to leveraging their extensive experience to optimize the performance of the Winnergy asset. Gila continues to be committed to Egypt’s, and the global mission, of decarbonization.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The United Arab Emirates is aiming to become self-sufficient in gas supply by 2030 following the discovery of more onshore hydrocarbon reserves, latest report by GlobalData suggests.
Currently, the country is dependent on gas imports for power plants and water desalination plants.
As of 2023, thermal power generation comprised around 77.7% of the total power generation mix of the country.
GlobalData’s latest report, “UAE Power Market Size, Trends, Regulations, Competitive Landscape and Forecast, 2024-2035,” reveals that the installed capacity share of thermal power in the UAE was around 80.4% in 2023, where gas-based thermal power capacity dominated the power capacity mix with a share of 80.2%.
Sudeshna Sarmah, Power Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “With the discovery of new hydrocarbon reserves, the UAE is planning to invest heavily in hydrocarbon infrastructure and seek to develop new production techniques. At present, the country is in the process of choosing new locations to set up new infrastructure and seeking unconventional methods for hydrocarbon production.”
By 2035, it is anticipated that the cumulative thermal power capacity will expand to 46.1 GW, up from 41.2 GW in 2023, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.9% during the forecast period.
Correspondingly, annual generation from thermal power sources is projected to increase from 135.5 TWh in 2023 to 155.9 TWh in 2035, at a CAGR of 1.2%.
Sarmah adds: “Most of the increase in capacity is expected in gas-based thermal power rather than oil, whose capacity is expected to remain almost unchanged. The increase in gas capacity provides a potential opportunity to industry stakeholders which include gas turbine manufacturers, ancillary equipment suppliers, developers, operators, and EPC contractors.”
Sarmah concludes: “Since 1971, the UAE has relied on its large oil and natural gas resources to support its economy. Rapid economic and demographic growth over the past decade has pushed the UAE’s electricity grid to its limits. The UAE is planning to add nuclear, renewable, and coal–fired electricity generating capacity to accommodate rising demand.
Despite the UAE’s vast resource potential for renewables (particularly solar), only small progress has been made in the direction of harnessing renewable energy resources.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Kenya’s power utility company, Kenya Power, has announced a plan to invest up to KShs.258 million in the next three years to drive the uptake of electric vehicles in the East African nation.
This investment will include the cost of setting up charging stations at various locations across the country and the purchase of electric vehicles and motorbikes to aid company operations.
In a statement issued on Monday, April 22, 2024, the company revealed that it had launched an electric vehicle (EV) charging station located at Stima Plaza at a cost of KShs.6.5 million as part of the planned investments in e-mobility.
“The charging station comprises two chargers; a 50kW DC (one hour charging time) and a 22kW AC (two hours charging time) charger.
“It is the second EV charging station that is owned by Kenya Power after a similar one that is located at the Ruaraka Depot which hosts the company’s transport section,’’ the statement explained.
In addition to the EV charging station located at Stima Plaza, Kenya Power will install nine other charging stations by the end of July 2024 at the company’s various offices across the country including; Donholm, Nakuru, Mombasa, Mtito Andei, Kisumu, Eldoret, Roysambu, Electricity House Nairobi and Ragati.
Commenting on the initiative, the Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Power, Eng Joseph Siror said, “The future of transport is electricity and as a company, we are very excited to be leading the conversations around E-mobility.
Alongside our need to charge our electric vehicles, we intend to use our EV charging stations to collect data that will inform the next steps of our support to the growing E-mobility industry.
“We have set aside an annual budget of KShs20 million to set up EV charging stations at all our offices across the country. Beyond the additional charging stations that we intend to put up in the current financial year, we intend to install 10 additional facilities annually in 2025 and 2026,” Dr Siror further said.
Alongside the EV charging station, Kenya Power has also launched two electric heavy-duty vehicles that would be deployed for routine operations.
The vehicles were purchased for KShs18 million.
The company intends to scale the number of electric vehicles in its fleet through the purchase of additional non-electric vehicles (heavy and light duty) and 25 electric motorcycles by the end of December 2024.
In 2021, Kenya Power completed the pilot of 13 electric motorcycles in its fleet in partnership with UNEP, an exercise that offered invaluable lessons on E-mobility.
Before this exercise, the company piloted the use of electric-powered forklifts and pallet stackers at its warehouses for two years between the year 2016 and 2018.
The company is now implementing the E-mobility tariff that was approved by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority during the recent electricity tariff review as part of its initiatives to drive the uptake of electric vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles.
To further accelerate the uptake of E-mobility, the company has championed the annual E-mobility Conference that brings together players in the industry to deliberate on a framework that would promote the growth of the sector.
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.com
The Gambian National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) with funding from the World Bank has laid a foundation stone for a US$66 million electricity project called ECOREAP, which will electrify over 298 communities in the West African nation.
The ceremony was held in Jarra Soma at the OMVG substation on Friday, April 19, 2024.
The Point Newspaper reported that The World Bank Task Team Leader Ms Elise Massan Akitani, speaking at the ceremony stated that there is no development in the dark.
“We have come together with the government to put this project together which is a series of projects and the Gambia is one of the pioneers,” she said.
She thanked the project implementation unit for the additional communities.
“The project will cover almost all parts of the country. We hope that by the end of the year, all the identified communities will receive the energy as promised.”
The Managing Director of NAWEC, Gallo Saidy, described the project as something that would set a legacy for NAWEC for the next generation.
He urged for both timely and quality implementation of the project to make it long lasting.
He called for collective collaboration of all and sundry for the development of The Gambia.
The Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Rohey John Manjang, revealed that the project was supposed to be completed in December 2023, but has been extended to October 31st 2024.
She thus called on the contractor not to kill the hopes of Gambians.
“We hope this is the last extension, and the work be completed before October 31st because the people have been waiting for far too long,” she stressed.
ECOWAS Director of Energy and Mines, Mr. Bayaornibe Dabire, said in line with the ECOWAS vision 2050, it is the ECOWAS of the people; shared prosperity for all.
“This means we have to do our best to contribute to socioecomic development of the regions and in line with this socioeconomic development we should know that electricity is very important for economic development.”
He highlighted that electricity access is a huge challenge in the ECOWAS region since 56% among the region do not have access to energy.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Gambian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Neo Themis, a Morocco-based leading renewable energy project developer in sub-Saharan Africa to develop a 10.5 solar project in rural areas of the West African nation.
The project is in line with the government and the Ministry’s goal of universal energy access to all The Gambians by 2025.
The MoU was signed last week at the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.
The project is expected to connect over 22,600 people to the grid.
It also aims to mitigate approximately 39,600 metric tons per year of CO2 emissions, contributing significantly to global efforts in combating climate change.
Hon. Nani Juwara (middle) Minister for Petroleum and Energy (MoPE)
Speaking at the signing ceremony, attended by government officials and the management team of Themis, the Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Hon. Nani Juwara expressed his confidence in Neo Themis’ abilities to deliver, and emphasised the pivotal role of renewable energy in achieving The Gambian 2030 vision and ensuring universal clean and affordable energy access for all The Gambians.
Mrs Tas Anvaripour, CEO of Neo Themis, thanked the Minister and all teams involved for their continuous support in achieving this milestone in the country’s renewable energy journey.
“Neo Themis is honored to partner with The Gambian Government on this innovative and pioneer project for the country. The MoU is committing Neo Themis to bring its expertise and fast-track the project implementation to make it a visible success.
“This partnership underscores the confidence placed in Themis’ effectiveness in implementing strategic energy infrastructure solutions in Africa. Themis is proud to be at the forefront of sustainable development in The Gambia and looks forward to delivering tangible, lasting benefits to the country,” she said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, inaugurate a 15MW peak solar plant at Kaleo in the Upper West Region.
It is the second phase (II) of the first phase of the 13MW peak solar project executed by the Volta River Authority, which was inaugurated in August 2022 by President Akufo-Addo.
This second phase brings the total capacity of solar projects executed in the area to 28MW.
The project was funded by the German Development Bank (KFW).
The project adds to the company’s 6.5MW peak solar power plant at Lawra, 2.5MW peak at Navrongo, and 80kW rooftop solar at its headquarters in Accra.
Since 1961 when the nation started commercial production of electricity, almost all the generation assets, except the Bui Hydropower plant, have been located in the middle and southern parts of the country.
The Volta River Authority has been one of Ghana’s main vehicles for improving access to electricity and related developments, particularly in the northern parts of the country.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, says the implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) policy will improve safety in the distribution of LPG and bring it closer to the people.
Besides, he said the policy would remove barriers in the distribution of LPG and make it more efficient and less costly in the delivery of LPG to homes.
Dr Abdul-Hamid made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by Dr Joseph Wilson, Director of Research Monitoring and Evaluation of the NPA, at a consumer sensitisation programme on the (CRM) at the Catholic Social Center in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, Wednesday.
Chaired by the Upper East Regional Chairman of GPRTU, Mr Fatau Atinga, the programme brought together key stakeholders and experts to share valuable insights.
The Director of Gas at the NPA, Mrs Akua Ntiwaa Kwakye, who gave the welcome address, set the tone for the event and highlighted the significance of the LPG industry in Ghana.
In a presentation on CRM, the Head of Gas and Commercial Regulation Department of the NPA, Mr Obed Kraine, gave comprehensive insights into CRM and shed more light on the policy and how it is going to be run.
Participants inquired about the assurance of receiving the exact amount of gas they pay for when exchanging their cylinders.
Mr Kraine said: ‘The CRM policy includes robust measures to ensure transparency and accuracy in the exchange process. Cylinder exchange points will have mechanisms in place to verify the weight of the cylinders, preventing any discrepancies and ensuring that consumers receive the full value of their purchase.”
Again, concerns were raised about potential unemployment due to the implementation of CRM but Mr Kraine debunked that assertion, saying, “It is important to note that the transition to the CRM model aims to create new job opportunities in the LPG value chain.
“Additional personnel will be required for cylinder distribution, maintenance and related services,” he noted.
To further emphasise safety measures, the Ghana National Fire Service conducted a demonstration to showcase the appropriate actions to take in the event of an LPG-related incident.
Participants were provided with crucial safety tips to ensure the safe handling and usage of LPG.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Monday $7 billion in grants to help more than 900,000 low-income households to install residential solar power, the White House said.
President Biden marked the Earth Day by traveling to Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia, and highlighted the Administration’s progress “in tackling the climate crisis, cutting costs for everyday Americans, and creating good-paying jobs,” the White House said.
The $7 billion in grants will come from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All grant competition, a key component of the Inflation Reduction Act’s $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
The selectees under the competition are expected to deliver residential power to more than 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities, saving households more than $350 million in electricity costs annually, or about $400 per household, according to the White House.
The rooftop solar program will also help avoid more than 30 million metric tons of carbon pollution over the next 25 years.
EPA has received 150 applications, and 60 applicants were selected through a robust multistage review, Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe said in a call with reporters.
U.S. solar installations surged in 2023, as solar accounted for over 50% of new electricity capacity added to the grid, for the first time in history, the annual solar market review of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie showed earlier this year.
However, the biggest residential solar market in the U.S., California, has seen major policy changes in the way the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will compensate rooftop solar customers for the excess energy they generate. This decision moved the state from retail rate “net metering” to a new “net billing” structure that cuts the value of rooftop solar credits by about 75%.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has been a subject of debate regarding its privatisation for years or otherwise.
Proponents argue that privatization could improve efficiency and service delivery, while critics express concerns about potential drawbacks.
Truth be told, privatisation of ECG will not be the optimal solution and advocates for sustainable public ownership.
History in focus
Before the privatisation of ECG to Power Distribution Services (PDS), ECG was honoring over 80% of the monthly invoices owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and has kept our operations fluid.
However, following the privatisation, a drastic shift occurred: ECG ceased receiving any revenue, leaving it unable to fulfill its financial commitments to the IPPs, and accumulated debt to over US$1.8 billion at the time.
The calls for the privatisation of the ECG must be driven not by some imaginary ideal type organisation that will overcome all of its challenges just because it is privatised.
As a country, we have gone that path many times in the past, but what has been the effect on those organisations??
The debate over the privatisation or otherwise of the ECG should take into consideration the following facts;Importance of Reliable Electricity:
Electricity is a vital component of economic development, powering industries, homes, and essential services. In Ghana, ensuring reliable electricity supply is crucial for achieving sustainable development goals and improving living standards.Challenges of Privatisation:Profit Maximization vs. Public Service: Privatisation often prioritizes profit maximisation over public service. Private companies may focus on affluent areas, neglecting rural and low-income communities.
Tariff Increases: Privatisation can lead to tariff hikes, burdening consumers, especially those with limited purchasing power.
Job Losses: Private ownership may result in workforce reduction, exacerbating unemployment and social challenges.
Infrastructure Neglect: Private investors may prioritize short-term gains, neglecting long-term infrastructure investments necessary for national development.
Lessons from Other Privatisations:Water Privatisation in Ghana: Previous attempts to privatise water utilities in Ghana led to service deterioration, tariff hikes, and public backlash, ultimately resulting in re-municipalization.
Global Examples: International experiences with utility privatization have shown mixed results, with instances of failure and renationalization due to service quality concerns.
Alternative Solutions:Efficiency Improvements: Enhancing ECG’s operational efficiency through modernization, technology adoption, and capacity building can improve service delivery without privatization.
Regulatory Reforms: Strengthening regulatory frameworks to ensure accountability, transparency, and consumer protection is crucial for enhancing utility performance.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Collaborative models that combine public ownership with private sector expertise can harness efficiency gains while safeguarding public interests.
Sustainable Public Ownership:Community Engagement: Empowering communities in decision-making processes ensures that electricity provision aligns with local needs and priorities.
Investment in Human Capital: Investing in ECG’s workforce and equipping them with necessary skills enhances service quality and fosters organizational resilience.
Long-Term Planning: Adopting a strategic approach to infrastructure development and service provision ensures sustainable electricity access for future generations.
Privatisation of ECG may seem appealing, but it poses significant risks to equitable access, affordability, and service quality.
Instead of pursuing privatisation, Ghana should focus on strengthening the governance structure of ECG and the sector as a whole (an all inclusive representation on the board of ECG), public ownership, regulatory oversight, and community engagement for responsible consumption( as a patriotic duty to pay for energy used), to achieve sustainable electricity provision.
Learning from the past experiences and embracing innovative solutions, Ghana can overcome the challenges of energy delivery while fostering inclusive development for all its citizens.
Recommendation to maintain public ownership of ECG
Your Excellency,
I humbly recommend maintaining public ownership of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) amidst calls for privatization.
Privatisation may risk the accessibility, affordability, and stability of electricity services, crucial for national development.
By retaining public ownership, we ensure accountability, equitable access, and strategic governance control over a vital national asset.
This decision aligns with the commitment to serving the best interests of all citizens and safeguarding Ghana’s energy future. If the conditions that were given to PDS at the time can be made available to the current state of ECG, with a reformed board composition, there will turn around in 3 months.
Source: Dr. Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor CEO, Independent Power Generators, Ghana.
Huawei, the globally acclaimed digital, technological and innovations solutions company, held its maiden Fusionsolar Channel Partner Summit in Accra, the capital of Ghana, West Africa, on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
The tech giant has held similar summit in Tanzania, Nigeria and South Africa, all in Africa.
Delivering a welcome address, the Managing Director of Huawei for the Ghana Office, Mr Tommy Liang, said his outfit would use its partnership in Ghana to help solve the energy challenges confronting consumers of energy in the country.
According to him, Huawei would adopt efficient but workable and internationally recognisable strategies to infuse high standardised solar products to solve Ghana’s energy problems.
“We are committed to the use of technologically driven solutions to improve lives, businesses and the general well-being of the Ghanaian economy,” Lian assured Ghana.
The Director in-charge of Sub-Saharan Africa Digital Power for Smarter PV Development at Huawei, David Brian, assured that their Fusionsolar products thrive on safety, efficiency, cost effectiveness and high performance standards.
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to patronise their products to solve the erratic power supply in their various homes.
The Vice President of Huawei Digital Power, in-charge of Eastern African Region, Nick Lusson, was of the view that in the last five years, the prices of diesel and national grid keep increasing, whilst that of solar keep decreasing, thus, making it the convenient alternative for all categories of energy users.
Among the advantages of their solar products, he mentioned that they are cheap, easy to use and maintain high performance standards, among others.
The programme was attended by solar industry players in Ghana and other stakeholders.
At the end of the summit, Verve Energy was rewarded with Gold Partnership certificate and Soi Power received the Silver Partnership award.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has commended the Management of the Volta River Authority (VRA) and their engineers for successfully relocating and re-installing the six units of the Ameri Power Plant with a total generation capacity of 150MW at Anwomaso near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
The Ameri Power Plant, which is on wheels, was located at Aboadze in the Western Region, but GRIDCo recommended that it should be relocated to the middle belt of the West African nation to ensure the stability of the grid since most of the power plants were located in southern Ghana, thus, posing transmission challenges.
Genser Energy, a wholly Ghanaian-owned company, was engaged to construct gas pipeline infrastructure from the Western Region to Anwomaso for the power plant to utilise the domestic natural gas process from the Western Region.
The Volta River Authority started ground preparation and installation of the components of the plant and completed the exercise few weeks ago.
On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, President Akufo-Addo inaugurated the plant amidst jubilation by residents of Kumasi and surrounding towns.
President Nana Akufo-Addo commended engineers of VRA who worked tirelessly to install the plant.
“They have demonstrated that Ghanaian engineers, from a publicly-owned institution, can rise up to the task of finding engineering solutions to build our nation,” he said.
Congratulating GRIDCO, ECG and GNPC for the respective roles they played in bringing the project to fruition, the President found it even more gratifying to note that “the gas transmission infrastructure for this power station was constructed from Prestea to Anwomaso through a collaboration between the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) and Genser Energy Ghana Limited, a dynamic Ghanaian-owned energy company.”
He concluded with an appeal to the investor community to take advantage of the improved electricity supply and put up viable commercial structures that would utilise the resources within the middle and northern belts to ramp up the government’s industrialisation agenda, thereby, accelerating the growth and development of the country.
On his part, the Board Chairman of VRA, Kofi Tutu Agyare, said the Authority is aware that the nation’s industrialisation agenda is directly tied to affordable and reliable electricity supply.
According to him, the Anwomaso Thermal Power Station, which is the first power plant in the region, would spur industrialisation and economic growth in the middle and northern parts of the country.
While acknowledging the hard work of the staff of VRA, Mr Tutu Agyare mentioned that the staff of the Authority worked day and night including weekends, to make sure that the project was completed on time.
“Through our financial recovery and sustainable management practices, we managed to internally raise millions of dollars required to fund the various stages of the project,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Governing Board of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is contesting the Gh¢5,868, 000 fine imposed on them by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), a body regulating electricity and water utilities in the Republic of Ghana.
The Board mounted a spirited rejection of the fine in a statement issued by their lawyers, S.K. Boafo&Co.
The lawyers contended that the PURC overstepped its bounds by targeting the board members.
They argued that the Commission’s legal mandate allows it to impose fines on the company itself (ECG) as a public utility, not on its board members.
The lawyers argued further that since the board members are not directly involved in the day-to-day operations, they cannot be held responsible for the company’s actions.
“It is patently clear that under the said provision, the Commission can only impose a regulatory charge on a public utility. The Commission does not have the power/authority to purport to impose any regulatory charge on officers of the public utility.
“The Commission in purporting to impose the said regulatory charges on the Board Members of ECG exceeded their jurisdiction as it is not within their powers/authority to do so.
“It must also be stated that the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited as a corporate body has a legal personality that is distinct from its Board Members. This is the very foundation of Company Law. The officers of the company cannot be held liable for the acts of the company.
“Lifting the veil of incorporation to go after the officers of the company can only be done in exceptional cases and can only done by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“The Commission’s lack of jurisdiction, power and/or authority to lift the veil of incorporation in the instant matter to purport to impose regulatory charges personally on the Board Members of ECG is strengthened by the provisions of Sections 38 & 42 of The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission Act, Act 538,1997.
“The Commission’s basis for holding the Board Members personally liable is because “These Board Members were at all material times responsible for providing strategic direction to ensure the provision of safe, adequate, efficient, reasonable and non-discriminatory service to consumers.
“As stated above, under Section 38 of Act 538 a default on the part of a public utility in the payment of a penalty may lead to the personal liability of a principal officer of the public utility. Under Section 49 of Act 538, a principal officer is the person responsible for the day-to-day administration of the affairs of the public utility.
“Board members of ECG are not responsible for the day-to-day administration of ECG and, therefore, are not principal officers within the intendment of Act 538 to be able to be held liable for a default on the part of the public utility ECG.
“The Commission’s Order imposing regulatory charges on the members of the Boards is unlawful, null and void as same is without jurisdiction. By this Order, the Commission has unlawfully clothed itself with the powers of the High Court, and imposed a sentence on the Board Members, without having been allowed to be heard which amounts to a breach of the rules of natural justice. Our clients, therefore, reject the contents of the regulatory order relative to any personal liability on their part,” the lawyers contended.
Background
It would be recalled that the regulator made three requests to the ECG with the timelines of March 25, March 27, and April 2, 2024.
The request from ECG by PURC followed the anger from the public demanding that ECG issue a load-shedding timetable for them to know when they would have power to plan due to power outages.
The information requested related to the tariff revenue allocation under the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM), the provision of regulatory audit data and the submission of information related to operational matters, as well as the provision of other regulatory audit data.
ECG responded to the Commission’s request.
However, the PURC letter said, “The Commission established from its analysis of data submitted by ECG that there were 4142 outages to consumers within ECG’s operational areas between January and March 2024. Out of this number, 165, representing 3.98 per cent of the total outages, were ECG-planned outages.
“Further analysis showed that of the 165 ECG planned outages, 40 were supported by public notices, while there were no notices for the remaining 125 outages.
“Further, 38 of the 40 notices did not comply with the requisite three-day statutory notice prescribed under Regulation 39 of L.I. 2413.
“This indicates that in 163 instances of planned outages, ECG did not comply with the law.”
Each of the nine-member board of ECG including the Managing Director, is to pay about GH¢652,000 per a calculation by this portal.
The fine was originally slapped on ECG, but the Commission, in a letter, explained that it could not allow the company to bear the cost due to the nature of its business and the likely impact on service delivery.
It thus passed on the fine to the company’s board members which failed to provide strategic direction to ensure the provision of safe, adequate, efficient, reasonable and non-discriminatory service to consumers.
“For failure to comply with the three-day statutory notice on notification and publication of planned outages required under Regulation 39 of L.I. 2413, the Commission by Regulation 45 of L.I. 2413, also imposed a regulatory charge of 3,000 penalty units on ECG for each of the 163 breaches, amounting to GH¢ 5,868,000.”
“The Commission has determined that having regard to the nature of ECG’s ownership and business, the imposition of the penalty of GH¢5,868,000 on ECG would be counterproductive, as payment from ECG’s revenue would have a rebounding adverse effect on quality of service and consumers who pay tariffs to the company.
“For that reason, in the interest of justice and to protect the interests of consumers, the Commission shall hold the Board Members of ECG who were in office from 1 January to 18 March 2024 liable for the payment of the GH¢5,868,000,” a portion of the letter said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.com 
Again, concerns were raised about potential unemployment due to the implementation of CRM but Mr Kraine debunked that assertion, saying, “It is important to note that the transition to the CRM model aims to create new job opportunities in the LPG value chain.
“Additional personnel will be required for cylinder distribution, maintenance and related services,” he noted.
To further emphasise safety measures, the Ghana National Fire Service conducted a demonstration to showcase the appropriate actions to take in the event of an LPG-related incident.
Participants were provided with crucial safety tips to ensure the safe handling and usage of LPG.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com 
