Ethiopia Earns US$1 Billion From Power Export To Neighbours
The Republic of Ethiopia has earned more than US$1 billion from electricity export to neighbouring countries in 18 months, Habtamu Etefa, Minister for Water and Energy, said.
Habtamu, who was speaking to the Ethiopian News Agency, mentioned that the performance underscores the nation’s burgeoning role as a regional energy powerhouse, catalysing regional integration.
“We are successfully supplying energy to Sudan, Djibouti and Kenya,” the Minister noted, lauding the pivotal interconnection between Ethiopia and Kenya’s power grids that extend the possibility of exports as far as South Africa via the East African Power Pool.
He further pointed out that “Ethiopia is blessed and conveniently positioned to provide clean, inexpensive electricity without harming the environment, fueling escalating demand.”
With a staggering 93 per cent of Ethiopia’s electricity derived from hydropower, the country plans to extend exports to South Sudan, it was learned.
The Minister revealed that the nation has also made significant strides domestically, with 4.5 million customers connected to the grid in the past six months alone.
However, challenges persist due to the scattered population with only 52 per cent accessing power at present.
The remaining 48 per cent residing off-grid necessitates a concerted push towards decentralised solutions, the Minister said.
To bridge the gap, the ministry is actively implementing off-grid projects by harnessing solar, wind, biogas and geothermal energy while promoting clean cooking technologies.
Habtamu disclosed that ambitious initiatives have been underway in Oromia and the Somali regions to leverage solar power until grid connectivity is established in remote localities.
As Ethiopia forges ahead in optimising its diverse energy portfolio, the nation’s electricity exports emerge as a resounding testament to its pivotal role in fostering regional cooperation, economic development, and sustainable growth through renewable energy leadership.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: ECG Complies With CWM Order By PURC
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the power distribution company responsible for power supply in southern part of Ghana, has complied with the directive by the regulator, Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) regarding the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM).
In a document sighted by this portal, out of the five tasks given to the power distribution company, three (3) had been completed.
A week ago, the Commission ordered the ECG to distribute funds from the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM) by March 25, 2024.
PURC explained that the order, which was issued under Sections 3 and 24 of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission Act, 1997 (Act 538), was a result of some major observations it had made concerning a general decline in the quality-of-service delivery, including increasing power outages across the ECG service areas from January 1, 2024, to date.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
More Than 20% Of Global Oil Refining Capacity At Risk, Analysis Finds
More than a fifth of global oil refining capacity is at risk of closure, energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie found in analysis published on Thursday, as gasoline margins weaken and the pressure to reduce carbon emissions mounts.
Of 465 refining assets analysed, the consultancy ranked about 21% of 2023 global refining capacity at some risk of closure.
Europe and China house the greatest number of high-risk sites, putting about 3.9 million barrels per day (bpd) of refining capacity in jeopardy, Wood Mac found, based on its estimate of net cash margins, cost of carbon emissions, ownership, environmental investment and strategic value of refineries.
There are 11 European sites that account for 45% of all high-risk plants, the report found.
About 30 European refineries have already shut down since 2009, data from industry body Concawe shows, with nearly 90 still in operation.
This spate of closures have been brought on by competition from newer and more complex plants in the Middle East and Asia as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gasoline margins are expected to weaken by the end of this decade as demand declines and sanctions on Russia ease while expected carbon taxes should also start to bite, the Wood Mac analysis showed.
Operating costs could go up so much that “closure may be the only option”, said Wood Mac senior oils and chemicals analyst Emma Fox.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s huge Dangote oil refinery could bring to an end decades-long gasoline trade from Europe to Africa worth $17 billion a year, heaping pressure on European refineries already at risk of closure from heightened competition.
The Dangote refinery, with capacity of up to 650,000 bpd, began production in January but was not included in Wood Mac’s analysis.
Source: Reuters.com
Nigeria: Rumours Of Reduction In PMS, AGO Prices Are False, Says NNPC
The Nigerian state oil company, NNPC Limited, has denied media reports suggesting a price adjustment for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automative Gas Oil (Diesel) at its retail outlets nationwide.
The company asserts that these reports are false and urged Nigerians to disregard them entirely.
In a statement issued by Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Limited, the company reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the current sufficiency in petroleum products supply across all its retail stations in the country.
There were reports in some sections of the media on Monday that the ex-depot price for PMS had reduced from N640 to N630 for the independent oil marketers, while NNPC Ltd. maintained its N570 price.
The N630 new ex-depot price for independent marketers is just one per cent reduction following decision by the NNPC Ltd. to give product directly to the marketers, while maintaining its N570 ex-depot price.
This was against the former arrangement where the independent marketers get supply from private depots.
The development provoked reactions from Nigerians who assumed that NNPC Ltd. had reduced pump price at their retail outlets from N617 to N570.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Crisis Rocks EKEDC Board Over Attempt To Push MD Out Of Office
Trouble is brewing in Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), one of the power distribution companies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Managing Director and CEO of the company, Dr Tinuade Sanda, was allegedly sacked by the Chairman of the Board, Dere Otubu, in compliance with orders of the regulator, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
However, the board members, in a show of bravado, cancelled the purported termination of the MD’s appointment.
In a statement, the Director and Chairman Legal and Regulatory Committee of EKEDC, Babor Egeregor, described the order as unambiguous, incapable of and unyielding to plural interpretations.
He said there was nowhere in the order where NERC requested the removal of any staff either seconded to or hired by EKEDC except those connected to the alleged fraud and negligence i.e Wola Joseph Condotti, Sheri Adegbenro and Aik Alenkhe.
According to him, NERC’s directives were issued to compel the Board of EKEDC, following picketing by the union and unrelenting staff protests, to act appropriately in the face of a determined position of a majority of the board members to cover up the alleged use of ghost workers together with the alleged fraud and protect Wola Joseph Condotti especially.
“It has come to my notice that by a letter dated 26th of March 2024, the Chairman of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Mr Dere Otubu, purportedly terminated the Contract of Employment of Dr Tinuade Sanda, the MD/CEO of EKEDC, allegedly in compliance with Orders/Directives issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
“The said Order of the NERC, herein displayed, are unambiguous, incapable of and unyielding to plural interpretations. There was nowhere in the Order where NERC requested the removal of any staff either seconded to or hired by EKEDC EXCEPT those connected to the alleged fraud and negligence.
“NERC’s directives were issued to compel the Board of EKEDC, following picketing by the union and unrelenting Staff protests, to act appropriately in the face of a determined position of a majority of the Board members to cover up the alleged use of ghost workers together with the alleged fraud and protect Wola Joseph Condotti especially.
“Mr Dere Otubu’s letter, therefore, was done in bad faith and vengeful revenge against the MD/CEO for escalating the alleged fraud and issuing queries against one of his protégés, whom he has desperately sworn to protect by all means. The Acting DG of the BPE, representing the government on the Board of EKEDC, vehemently rejected the attempt to cover up the alleged crime and insisted on compliance with the punishment prescribed in the Conditions of Service.
“Rather than comply with the Orders of NERC, a recourse to subterfuge was hatched with the purported termination and the publication of different misleading headlines such as “FG Sacks MD of EKEDC.
“Tinuade Sanda relieved of her position as MD, Eko Distribution Company”. There are no doubts about a deliberate agenda and unconcealed mischief to misread the Orders of the NERC to malign Dr. Sanda’s reputation for daring to escalate and issue queries to the suspects for alleged fraud through the use of ghost workers for three years, and continuous payment of salaries to exited staffs despite personally receiving their resignation letters.
“Similar queries were issued to Sheri Adegbenro, the Chief Audit and Compliance Officer and Aik Alenkhe, the Chief Human Resources Officers respectively for their failure and gross negligence to audit and detect fraudulent payments on payroll for over three years.
“We are also aware of a purported press release appointing Mrs Rekiat Momoh as the Acting MD/CEO.
“The Board of EKEDC, on which I sit has neither met nor decided on the purported appointment of Mrs. Rekiah Momoh as Acting MD/CEO, except Mr. Otubu and his close circle of colleagues have transformed themselves into “The Board”. I and all well-meaning members of the EKEDC Board, I believe, should vehemently distance themselves from this contrivance.
“The Board is not a one-man show, and matters are to be collectively deliberated on and approved by Board members. Mrs Momoh is the Chief Commercial Officer of EKEDC and remains so.
“Mr Otubu and his co-travellers have chosen to cherry-pick the exhaustive interaction with NERC where one of the Commissioners wondered why no one was yet to be tried or in prison for these grievous allegations and how to recover lost funds part-owned by the federal government. They are more focused on settling scores with our performance-driven MD/CEO, Mrs Tinu Sanda.
“At EKEDC, we are known for due process and legality, and anything that would take away from our avowed commitment to due process and corporate governance would be resisted.
“Therefore, let it be known that Dr Tinuade Sanda remains the MD/CEO of Eko Electricity Distribution Company and has since her assumption of office as the MD/CEO, turned EKEDC around for good, with very great milestones and achievements which every sector player recognises. She made EKEDC the number-one distribution company in Nigeria.
“The Investors, Board, and Management of EKEDC believe firmly in her leadership and look forward to many more record-setting and breaking moments. This is for the information of the general public and all NESI stakeholders.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: We Won’t Abandon Coal-Fired Power Plant Anytime Soon – Mantashe Declares
South Africa has indicated that it is not ready to abandon its coal- fired power plant in favour of renewable energy anytime soon, thereby urging those who hold that view to be prepared to be disappointed.
The country’s Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, declared the position of South Africa in an interview with Bloomberg and carried by Oilprice.com
“If you’re expecting that South Africa will make a quick shift away from coal-fired power in favour of green energy, be prepared to be disappointed.
“Expecting South Africa to quickly give up on coal-fired power would be “very wrong,” Mr. Mantashe said.
According to him, South Africa would continue to rely on coal and other fossil fuel-generated power, even as richer nations push the country towards greener forms of energy, because it is less intermittent than green energy.
“This belief that you can leave coal and move to renewables is very wrong; … it will never work,” he stated.
However, South Africa’s coal-fired power is not without problems. Its state-run electric company, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, is already struggling with electricity outages because the country’s coal-fired power stations are not all operating 24 hours a day like they could be. Breakdowns and extended impromptu maintenance have put a serious crimp in the country’s power generation; thanks to load-shedding for as much as 12 hours a day in some cases.
Nevertheless, coal-fired power will have a long life in South Africa, Mantashe has vowed.
He acknowledged the errors the country had made in its power industry, citing delays in building out new power plans and a critical design flaw in the current plants.
“That is one of those mistakes and we are learning from it,” Mantashe pointed out.
South Africa has been reluctant to jump onto the green energy transition train for quite some time, saying last October that the country had no plans to curtail its oil and gas operations in favour of green energy and even announced plans to boost its oil and gas exploration activity in the future as it tries to shore up energy security and reduce its energy imports.
Coal currently accounts for roughly 80 per cent of the country’s energy mix and is the world’s fifth-largest coal exporter.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Energy Minister Inaugurates Reconstituted TOR Board
Ghana’s Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh has inaugurated the reconstituted board of the Tema Oil Refinery.
The eleven-member Board, chaired by Mr Leon Kendon Appenteng, was inaugurated at the Ministry of Energy, Accra, on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
Other members of the Board are Dr. Antoinette Tsiboe-Darko, Mrs Edith Sapara Grant and Nana Akua Bakoma Prempeh.
The rest are Mrs Loraine Crabbe Ababio, Mr Alfred Thompson, Mr Joseph Mensah Browne, Mr Kwame Baffoe, Mr Herbert Ato Morrisson and Kofi Mocumbi Tagoe, the new Managing Director of TOR.
Inaugurating the Board, Energy Minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh charged the members to use their good offices to champion the drive to bring in new strategic partners to help make the company viable and responsive to the challenges and opportunities of the time.
“The Tema Oil Refinery has a longstanding and chequered history that I am sure we are all familiar with. Indeed, two years ago this month, I had the duty of inaugurating a substantive board after and Interim Management Committee had replaced an earlier substantive board. In spite of several interventions in the past, TOR seems to remain in distress. This cannot, and must not continue,” the Minister said.
He continued, “There is enough demand in the country for what TOR’s core mandate stands for, and I urge you to see new entrants into the market more as your collaborators than your competitors per se.”
He urged TOR to make it a deliberate effort to ensure that it becomes a modern day 21st century organisation centered on profit-making as a state-owned company supporting the government of the day.
“I urge you to be mindful that demand is not stagnant, and TOR must work hard towards becoming a viable player in this industry and to take advantage of the demand for your services,” he concluded.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: ECG Board Chairman Keli Gadzekpo Resigns
The Board Chairman of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mr Keli Gadzekpo, has resigned from his position.
According to Accra-based Asaase Radio owned by a cousin of the Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, the ECG chair tendered his resignation letter to the office of the President on Tuesday, March 2024.
Keli cited personal reasons for his decision to resign, the report said.
This portal understands that officials of ECG met the Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, at the Ministry on Tuesday morning to discuss the recent power outages and other pertinent issues.
It is believed that Mr Gadzekpo sent his resignation letter to the President after the meeting.
Keli Gadzekpo was appointed Board Chairman of ECG in 2017.
He currently serves as the Board Chairman for Enterprise Group PLC.
A few days ago, this portal picked pieces of information from the industry that the ECG Board chair or MD was likely to leave office.
It was not clear whether it was the President who was going to relieve one of them or one of them was going to exit by himself.
Mr Keli Gadzekpo’s exit does not come as a surprise to this portal given the fact that it picked the hint a few days ago.
The ECG which is a power distribution company responsible for power supply in southern Ghana has come under criticism for refusing to publish a load-shedding timetable to guide electricity consumers.
Power supply in the West African nation has been erratic since last year.
Recent calls by a section of Ghanaians for a load-shedding timetable irked the sector Minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh and called those making such demands as wishing evil for their country.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Ghanaians Draw Dagger At Energy Minister Over Insulting Comment…But Minister Claims Comment Distorted
Ghana’s Minister for Energy Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh has come under a barrage of criticisms from Ghanaians over a comment he made that was deemed insulting.
The Minister’s comments have attracted criticism from a section of Ghanaians and some industry players in the country, with some describing his comment as very disappointing.
Last Saturday, Minister Opoku Prempeh challenged Ghanaians who were demanding a load-shedding timetable from the power distribution companies, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NedCo) to enable them to plan to publish their timetable if they thought the country had returned to the era of erratic power supply, popularly known in the Ghanaian parlance as ‘Dumsor’, which was experienced between 2012 and 2016 under the previous administration.
He told a section of the Ghanaian media in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region, that those calling for a load-shedding timetable were wishing evil for the West African nation.
“Ask those who want it to bring it if there is. I haven’t seen any timetable. The ECG says that there’s no timetable coming. Why do you want to bring a timetable…for what purpose? Why would somebody wake up and wish evil and wish bad for the country? When it is not planned, you can’t tell the person,” the Minister who is also a Member of Parliament for South Manhyia in the Ashanti Region stated when quizzed by some journalists in the Ashanti Region during the launching of the campaign team of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Since last year, Ghanaians have been experiencing power outages, with some areas experiencing outages either the whole day or hourly.
Earlier this month, the ECG issued a statement informing consumers that about 630 distribution transformers within communities across its operational areas have been identified to be full due to increased power demand.
“This situation may result in blown fuses and broken conductors causing outages, especially during the peak load period (7pm-11pm),” the company said.
This development compelled the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), the regulator for electricity and water utility, to demand among other things load-shedding timetable from the ECG.
While the ECG is yet to comply with the regulatory order, Ghanaians especially some players in the industry, have been alarmed by the Minister’s comment.
Many Ghanaians took to social media to respond to the Minister’s comment.
Reacting to the Minister’s comment, the Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Security (IES) wondered why the Minister chose to call out those demanding a load-shedding timetable.
“It is very unfortunate but we are not surprised because the ECG boss said electricity was a privilege and so it has influenced the Minister’s comments and it tells us about what our leaders think of the power issues. They have already told us that there will be no timetable,” Nana Amoasi VII said on Accra-based Citi FM on Tuesday morning.
Nana Amoasi VII also attributed the ongoing power cuts to a liquidity challenge which he indicated runs through the power generation and distribution chain.
He said, “The issue with the power situation is a liquidity challenge and the challenge runs through all the power value chain and they [ECG] could not maintain their plants so they had to go through a shutdown. And the monies we generate is not enough to cover the maintenance of the value chain and that is why we owe the IPPs, WAPCO and others.”
On his part, Mr Edward Bawa, a former communication specialist at the Ministry of Energy and Member of Parliament for Bongo, said the Minister’s comments demonstrated the government’s lack of concern for Ghanaians.
He also suggested that the Minister’s remarks revealed his anger and disrespect towards the Ghanaians who have contributed to his current position.
“First and foremost, let me state that the comment by Honourable Matthew Opoku Prempeh is very unfortunate. It is a sign that we have a group of people who simply cannot care about how people feel. You can feel arrogance in his comments. You can feel disrespect for even the people who made you, who by their grace made you who you are in terms of being a Minister of State,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Energy Ministry, in a statement issued on Tuesday, clarified the Minister’s comment.
“The Ministry of Energy has taken notice of the spin around an interview granted to Joy News by Energy Minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh on the margins of the inauguration of the New Patriotic Party’s Ashanti Regional campaign team last Sunday.
“The rather innocuous statements of the Minister as captured by the interview have been distorted to portray him as being insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians and, thus, we wish to avert the minds of Ghanaians to the context of the interview and clarify as follows..,” the statement said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: SAP Ordered To Pay R500 Million Over Corrupt Eskom Contracts
South Africa’s Special Tribunal has ordered software giant, SAP to pay R500 million to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) within seven days concerning corrupt contracts at Eskom.
The fine pertains to two contracts SAP engaged in with the power utility from 2013 to 2016, according to report filed by SABC.
The spokesperson for SIU Kaizer Kganyago said SAP entered into an agreement to supply Eskom with software licences and support.
He added that millions of rands were disbursed to a company associated with the Gupta family.
Kganyago said “The Special Tribunal order dated the 20th of March has declared the two contracts to be invalid and were set aside. The order of the tribunal is part of the SIU investigation outcome and consequence management to recover financial losses suffered by the state.”
He added the settlement does not absolve SAP or any other party from prosecution. The investigation found that Eskom entered into an enabling agreement with SAP to the value of over a billion rand.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Australia’s Energy Transition in Jeopardy Amid Natural Gas Supply Shortages
Australia’s transition to net zero is being threatened by the limited availability of local natural gas supply, one of the country’s biggest energy infrastructure operators.
“Without gas, we’re going to see major disruptions to energy security and costs will increase. Without gas, we’ll be keeping the coal and diesel generators going for a long, long time,” the chief executive of APA Group said at an industry conference this week in a stark warning that Australia had a “desperate need” for new gas supply.
Adam Watson went on to point out that several provinces are extending the lives of their coal power plants instead of switching to gas because there is not enough gas—betraying the purpose of the energy transition.
He also criticized the idea of building import terminals for liquefied natural gas in Australia, when there is an abundance of local gas supply.
It is this gas supply that has made Australia one of the world’s largest LNG exporters.
Ironically, it was this focus on gas exports that led to shortages of gas on the domestic market, forcing the previous government to pass emergency legislation a few years ago obliging gas companies to allocate a certain portion of their output for the domestic market before they exported the rest.
APA’s Watson was not the only one to sound the alarm on future gas supply sufficiency and its implications.
Exxon’s Australia commercial director warned that natural gas supply for the southern states of the country could slump by as much as 44% by 2030 without fresh investment and political support.
“Chasing sizably lower domestic gas prices requires significantly shorter regulatory timelines because one third of the gas that will be required by consumers on the east coast between 2025 and 2030 is not in production,” David Berman said at the same industry event, as quoted by Reuters.
Source: Oilprice.com
Nigeria: IBEDC, SIPTEO Partner To Crack Down On Energy Theft, Prosecutes Two In Osun
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc, one of the power distribution companies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has intensified its campaign against energy theft within its network area.
In collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences (SIPTEO), IBEDC is actively pursuing investigations and legal actions against individuals and businesses involved in energy theft.
In a statement issued and copied energynewsafrica.com, Mr. Johnson Tinuoye, the Chief Key Accounts Officer of IBEDC said the company has identified and recorded over 1,459 cases of energy theft between January and February 2024.
These cases include offenses such as meter bypass and illegal meter tampering, resulting in significant financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira for the company.
The escalating figures have prompted a strategic partnership with the Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences, a federal government agency dedicated to expediting the investigation and prosecution of offenders within IBEDC’s franchise.
Mr. Tinuoye emphasized that under the Electricity Act, energy theft is now recognized as a criminal offense, carrying severe penalties including imprisonment.
The company mentioned that in Osun region, two individuals were apprehended for stealing energy through meter bypass and illegal connections.
The cases have been formally charged in court for prosecution.
“We want to send a clear message to our customers that energy theft will not be tolerated. Our collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences underscores our commitment to ensuring a fair and just electricity distribution system. Energy theft not only undermines the integrity of our operations but also deprives IBEDC of the revenue necessary to provide quality services to our customers.” Mr. Tinuoye stated.
IBEDC urged customers to refrain from engaging in any form of energy theft, emphasizing that the consequences can be severe, as there is no room for negotiation with the SIPTEO Task Force team which is actively patrolling and investigating instances of energy theft for prosecution.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Nsawam Prison Officers, Inmates Acquire Certified Electrical Wiring Professional Certificates
Ghana’s technical regulator for electricity and Natural Gas, the Energy Commission, in collaboration with the Ghana Prison Service, trained 30 prison inmates and officers at Nsawam Prison in electrical wiring as part of efforts to reform the inmates and also make them employable after serving their prison term.
Last Friday, the Commission and Ghana Prison Service held a graduation ceremony after three months of completing the Certified Electrical Wiring Professional training programme.
Delivering the keynote address, Executive Secretary for Energy Commission, Ing Oscar Amoono-Neizer, observed that to reduce avoidable fires in the country, over 15,000 electricians have been trained and certified under the Certified Electrical Wiring Professional programme nationwide since 2013.
All these measures, he said are steps to reduce incidences of fires in homes, businesses and communities.
According to him, formal education and vocational training would help to resource the inmates to acquire the right skills which would be useful to society.
“The training will not only help the beneficiaries to become useful in the job market but also contribute their quota to the socioeconomic development of this nation,” he said.
He affirmed that the Energy Commission paid all the cost of training and certification and also resourced the trainees with tools to get them started in their businesses after serving their prison terms.
He also urged the trained officers to train inmates to help in resourcing interested inmates with the skills in that profession.
In his remarks, the Board Chairman of the Energy Commission, Prof Ebenezer Oduro-Owusu, tasked the beneficiaries of the programme to uphold the professional ethics in electrical wiring and advised other inmates to join the trade, arguing that acquiring knowledge in the field would be significant in their lives and Ghanaian.
The Deputy Director General in Charge of Operations of the Ghana Prison Service, who delivered a speech on behalf of the substantive Head, Dr Francis Omane-Addo, said the service has started registering inmates to write the Basic Education Certificate Exams (BECE), West African Senior Secondary Certificate Exams (WASSCE) and university courses to upgrade the educational skills of the inmates to become resourceful after their term of sentences.
He also expressed appreciation to the Energy Commission for building and furnishing a centre for inmates to use for their skills development and training.
The Energy Commission is tasked to regulate and manage the development and utilisation of energy resources in Ghana to ensure the provision of an efficient and secure manner to promote, the social and economic well-being of the people of Ghana, and enhance environmental quality and public safety.
It is in respect of this that the Ghana Electrical Wiring Regulations 2012L.I 2008 were passed into law by Parliament in February 2012.
The theme of the programme was ensuring the safety of life and property through the promotion of standardised cables and accessories.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Energy Minister Fumes…Calls Out Ghanaians Demanding Load Shedding Timetable To Publish Their Own
Ghana’s Minister for Energy Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh is upset with Ghanaians who are demanding a load shedding timetable from the power distribution companies, Electricity Company of Ghana and Northern Electricity Distribution Company, to enable them to plan.
Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who claimed the West African nation had not returned to the era of erratic power supply, popularly known in the Ghanaian parlance as ‘Dumsor’, which was experienced between 2012 and 2016 under the previous administration, challenged those who think the country had returned to that era to publish their own load shedding timetable.
“Ask those who want it to bring it if there is. I haven’t seen any timetable. The ECG says that there’s no timetable coming. Why do you want to bring a timetable…for what purpose? Why would somebody wake up and wish evil and wish bad for the country? When it is not planned, you can’t tell the person,” the Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for South Manhyia in the Ashanti Region stated when quizzed by some journalists in Ashanti Region during the launching of the campaign team of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Since last year, Ghanaians have been experiencing power outages, with some areas experiencing outage either the whole day or hourly.
Earlier this month, the ECG issued a statement informing consumers that about 630 distribution transformers within communities across its operational areas have been identified to be full to capacity due to increased power demand.
“This situation may result in blown fuses and broken conductors causing outages especially during the peak load period (7pm-11pm),” the company said.
This development compelled the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), the regulator for electricity and water utility, to demand among other things load shedding timetable from the ECG.
While ECG is yet to comply with the regulatory order, Ghanaians especially some players in the industry, have been alarmed by the Minister’s comment.
The Minister, however, assured the public that efforts are being made to address the challenges being faced in the power sector.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com