Ghana: WAPCo Resumes Gas Delivery At Tema Facility After System Glitch
The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) has resumed gas delivery at its Regulating and Metering Station at Tema, Accra, after a system shutdown.
A statement issued by the company mentioned that at about 10.30pm on Friday WAPCo’s Tema facility completely shut down due to a system glitch.
“our engineers worked assiduously through the night, and we resumed gas delivery to our customers in Tema at around 6.30am this morning,” the company said.
WAPCo said it is committed to delivering safe and reliable services and is investigating the root cause of the problem to prevent a recurrence.
“WAPCo is grateful to its key stakeholders for their patience while the system was being fixed and regrets any inconvenience caused, especially to our customers in Tema that rely on WAGP gas for power generation,” the statement concluded.
Kenya: MPs Push For Kenyans To Buy Electricity Meters Directly From Private Firms
Members of Parliament have hatched a plot to end Kenya Power monopoly by giving Kenyans the leeway to connect power without buying electricity meters from the utility firm.
The National Assembly Energy committee said it is developing a Bill that will ensure there are more licensed and authorised entities to sell electricity meters to ensure that consumers do not depend on KPLC for the product.
Committee chairman Vincent Musyoka revealed the plan during a meeting with the management of Kenya Power to discuss a number of queries raised by the Auditor-General for financial year ended June 2022/2023.
Among the issues flagged in the report are 21,000 consumers who have been waiting for KPLC to connect them to the grid but haven’t been successful due to a shortage of meters.
To cure such, the committee says it will remove all barriers that deter other firms from selling the meters directly to Kenyans.
The lawmakers say Kenya Power should not be the only authorised dealer for the meters.
However, the meters that will be sold by other dealers will have to be coded by Kenya Power and certified by the monopoly’s engineers before installation.
“We will have shops across the country selling meters to Kenyans, so that you just walk into a shop, buy the meters and call an authorised Kenya Power engineer to connect the electricity for you without necessarily going to Kenya Power offices,” Mr Musyoka said.
“This will not only increase Kenya Power revenues as they will have more people to collect power from but also reduce the time Kenyans have to wait to have electricity. For instance, we are now dealing with people who have waited for power for 11 years yet they have already paid,” the chairman said.
“We are working on a Bill as a committee and will soon be introduced to the House. It will contain all these changes,” Mr Musyoka said.
The committee dismissed assertions by Kenya Power that it’s the shortage of meters causing connection delays.
Source: Business Daily
Angola: Saurimo Photovoltaic Plant To Commence Power Generation
Angola’s 26.13 megawatts photovoltaic plant located in Saurimo, Lunda-Sul Province, is expected to commence operation by the end of March, 2024, the secretary of State for Energy, Arlindo Carlos has said
The project is being built on an area of 65 hectares, under the responsibility of the South African and Angolan company, ‘Sun África’ and ‘MCA’, respectively.
Budgeted at €38.839.000 the project includes a total of 44,850 solar panels, which will benefit 171,565 people in the city of Saurimo.
According to the director, who was speaking to the press at the end of a visit to the city of Saurimo, the photovoltaic plant is currently in the testing phase and will be fully operational within a few more days.
Arlindo Carlos assured that the Ministry of Energy and Water will expand the supply of electricity in other locations, such as Cacolo and Muconda, with a view to overcoming the deficit that still exists in that province.
The visit by the secretary of State for Energy, accompanied by by the deputy-governor for Technical Services and Infrastructure, Cláudio Pemessa, and the ENDE and PRODEL’s CEO, covered the photovoltaic plant in Saurimo, Nhama, Txicumina and the construction of “UPS 01”.
With an estimated population of more than 534,000 inhabitants, the city of Saurimo is supplied with a variable power of 19/25 megawatts of energy, supplied by the Nhama and Txicumina thermal plants.
Currently, the National Energy Distribution Company (ENDE), in Lunda-Sul, has a number of 30,600 registered customers, of which 1,700 are on the prepaid system.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: We Will Use Gas To Trigger Nigeria’s Industrialisation, Economic Dev’t. —NNPC Limited
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. has reiterated its commitment towards utilising Nigeria’s abundant gas resources to trigger Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic development.
NNPC Ltd.’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed this during a Panel Session at the ongoing 2024 CERAWeek Conference in Houston, the United States, on Tuesday.
Eyesan, whose session addressed the theme “What are the Choices for Upstream Strategies?” said Nigeria is a predominantly gas-rich country which boasts over 200TCF of gas that can be leveraged for the country’s industrialisation and economic development.
She noted that NNPC Ltd. plans to deepen gas utilisation domestically for industrialization and, ensuring that the entire country feels and optimises the use of the resource.
She said the Company is vigorously opening avenues for infrastructural gas development through various gas projects spread across the country.
“Our focus is how do we move from a predominantly oil player to a gas player and, not just for gas for the sake of gas but gas for power generation, and for industrialisation, “she stated.
Eyesan observed that NNPC Ltd. is also focused on emission reduction and gas flare-out. “We want to capture all gas flared, utilise it and for domestic use and ultimately increase our energy transition footprint,” she said.
“NNPC Ltd. is keying into the government agenda of using gas as a transition fuel, and for us, we want to ensure not only the domestic gas market but we also expand that to the region and internationally,” she said.
While calling on African countries to collaborate with one another in order to ensure even distribution of energy resources, Eyesan said collaboration is key as not all countries within the sub-region are endowed with equal proportions of energy resources.
“For us to ensure that we continue to subsist within the sub-region, we must be willing to work collaboratively and ensure that there is an even distribution of the energy resources we have across the sub-region.”
On energy transition, Eyesan stated that the subject has evolved over the years, adding that for Sub-Saharan Africa, the narrative has been on how to address the energy poverty issue, while for Nigeria, the NNPC Ltd. will continue to look at areas where it has the competitive advantage to define the strategy.
Other energy experts on the panel are the Chief Upstream Strategist, Energy, S&P Global Commodity Insights, Bob Fryklund; the President of Pathways Alliance, Kendall Dilling; and the Executive Vice President, Exploration and Production International, Equinor, Philippe Mathieu.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: Paul Sinclair Joins African Energy Chamber’s Advisory Board
The former Vice President of Energy for the Africa region at Hyve Group, organizers of African Oil Week (AOW), Mr Paul Sinclair has joined the Advisory Board
of African Energy Chamber.
With over 20 years of experience and having led several large-scale events since 2002, Sinclair brings a wealth of commercial expertise to the Board.
Sinclair was CEO of AOW for seven years and stepped down in mid-June 2023.
The African energy sector needs support from target driven and commercially and strategically focused leaders and experts to attract confidence from investors and sponsors seeking to participate in a transparent and dedicated industry, and the AEC welcomes his insights and expertise.
Representing the voice of the African energy sector, the Chamber steers the direction of Africa’s oil and gas industry and navigates the complexities of the energy transition with a transparent, ethical and focused approach.
As AOW continues to misguide African stakeholders and create a negative impression of Africa’s oil and gas industry, the Chamber will continue to promote best practices that support the interests of Africans with support from within the continent.
In his newly appointed position, Sinclair will be tasked to attract investment into the African continent. As a member on the Advisory Board, he will be well positioned to map a sustainable and realistic strategy for the Chamber to ensure Africa retains control and ownership of its natural resources sector.
“Investing in our economies here in Africa requires responsible management and best practices and standards. I laud Paul Sinclair’s ascension to the Chamber’s Advisory Board as a win for the sustainable growth of our people and I have no doubt that his participation on the board will chart a new energy course for Africa,” states AEC Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk.
Sinclair’s addition to the Advisory Board strengthens its capabilities, given his expertise in international project management.
The Board plays a vital role within the AEC, providing advice on Africa’s regulatory frameworks while advocating for a competitive energy market and driving sustainable growth and investment.
As such, Sinclair’s expertise in contract negotiation, management and delivery aligns seamlessly with the group’s objectives.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Israel’s Gas Exports To Egypt Soar Despite Political Tensions
Israel’s NewMed Energy reoorted on Tuesday that natural gas exports from the Leviathan field to Egypt increased by 28 percent in 2023.
The company reports that the exports jumped from 4.9 billion cubic meters (BCM) in 2022 to 6.3 BCM in 2023.
Israel Katz, former energy minister, approved the increase in exports to Egypt last year. For 2026, he projected an annual production increase of six BCM – about 60 percent over the current volume. “3.5 BCM of which will be directed in favor of Egypt,” the report stated.
“The expansion of the total export quota to Egypt was increased by 38.7 BCM over 11 years,” the Israeli Ministry of Energy’s August announcement read.
“The export permit was granted under the comprehensive framework approved by government decisions … and in consultation with the Director of the Natural Gas Authority. In addition, an additional increase of 0.5 BCM per year is being considered.”
The ministry noted that, in addition to enabling production expansion, the new exports are expected to derive billions of dollars in bonus revenues for Israel, increase energy ties with Egypt and other regional players, and strengthen Israel’s geopolitical status.
Furthermore, the report adds that “on December 14, 2023, the partners in the Tamar reservoir announced that the Ministry of Energy approved them to increase the export permit of the reservoir from 38.7 BCM … to 43 BCM.
This amount will make it possible to increase the maximum amount of additional gas allowed for export to Egypt from 3.5 BCM per year to 4 BCM per year. As of the valuation date, no agreement has yet been signed. The export is subject to the aforementioned export permit.”
NewMed reported that Leviathan’s partners, including Chevron, will invest $568 million to upgrade the field. In the latter half of 2025, annual production will increase from 12 BCM to 14 BCM. The company reported a fourth-quarter profit of $102 million, down significantly from $141 million the previous year.
Egypt–Israel tensions have been on the rise in recent months over Tel Aviv’s plan to push Gazans into the Sinai Peninsula to continue with their plan of invading Rafah.
Cairo has called on Washington, which has previously condemned the plan, to send a clear message to its regional ally not to move forward with the Rafah invasion.
It says that “it is not enough to state opposition; it is also important to indicate what if that position is circumvented, what if that position is not respected.”
However, following multiple investment deals into Egypt by other regional allies of Israel and a boost in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan to be granted to Egypt, the North African nation is constructing an “isolated security zone, “something which local rights groups are calling Cairo’s preparation for an influx of Palestinian refugees.
Source:Oilprice.com
If Oil Disappeared Tomorrow (Article)
By: H.E Haitham Al Ghais, OPEC Secretary General
If oil disappeared tomorrow, there would be no more jet fuel, gasoline or diesel. Internal combustion engine automobiles, buses, trucks, lorries and coaches would be stranded. Airplanes powered by jet fuel would be grounded. Freight and passenger rail powered by diesel would halt. People could not get to work; children could not get to school. The shipping industry, transporting both freight and passengers, would be devastated. There would be no point calling emergency services. The majority of ambulances, fire engines, police cars, rescue helicopters and other emergency vehicles would be stationary. Most phones and computers would also vanish as their plastic components derive from oil, so it would be a struggle to find a way of communicating with the emergency services anyway. The construction sector would halt, as diesel powered vehicles would be stranded: excavators, bulldozers, dump trucks, cranes, cement mixers, rollers and compact loaders would remain stationary. New homes or buildings could not be built or receive vital maintenance work. If oil disappeared tomorrow, petroleum based-products would vanish with it. This would impact the production of electric vehicles (EVs). Aside from the supply chains disruption, the structure of lithium-ion batteries would be affected. A lithium-ion battery has four parts: an anode, cathode, electrolyte and a separator. Separators are engineered microporous membranes, typically made of polyethylene or polypropylene petroleum-based products. The petroleum-derived synthetic rubber used on car and bicycle tyres would cease to exist. If oil disappeared tomorrow, food production would be devastated. Many of the vehicles necessary in agriculture ̶ tractors, mowers, combine harvesters, balers, sprayers and seeders ̶ would stop working. Food packaging necessary for storage and preservation would not be available. Petroleum coke, a by-product in oil refining, is used as a feedstock in manufacturing synthetic fertilizers, which are important in increasing crop yields. Food shortages and the knock on impacts would likely ensue. If oil disappeared tomorrow, it would be catastrophic for health services everywhere. Staff would lack mobility, and essential supplies would be stranded. Beyond transportation, petroleum is an essential feedstock for pharmaceuticals, plastics and medical supplies. Latex gloves, medical tubes, medical syringes, adhesives, some bandages, disinfectants, hand sanitizers, cleaning agents, prosthetics, artificial heart valves, resuscitation masks, stethoscopes, MRI scanners, insulin pens, infusion bags, medication packaging, face-masks, and Personal Protection Equipment are largely derived from petroleum-based materials. The equipment used in medical research such as microscopes, test tubes and goggles usually contain petroleum-derived components. The chemical synthesis that creates aspirin begins with benzene, which is derived from petroleum. The benzene is converted to phenol, which in turn is converted to salicylic acid. This is then transformed into acetylsalicylic acid, which the world knows as aspirin. It is difficult to conceive of a modern hospital without this range of essential petroleum-based products. If oil disappeared tomorrow, the renewables industry would be impacted. The fibreglass, resin or plastic necessary for the construction of most wind turbines, would disappear. The ethylene used in the production of solar panels would vanish. Most of the mining vehicles ̶ large trucks, rotary drill rigs and rock drills ̶ necessary to extract the critical minerals upon which the production of solar photovoltaic plants, wind farms and EVs depend, would become stationary. If oil disappeared tomorrow, homes would be transformed beyond recognition. There is the possibility roofs would collapse, for example, if bitumen was a key product. Other materials used in insulating homes would disappear. If you relied on heating oil to keep warm, that would go. The linoleum flooring and tiling would be impacted. Painting the walls would be a challenge. Furniture, pillows, rugs, curtains, dishes, cups and non-stick pans all are likely to be made from petroleum-derived products too. It would be a challenge to stay clean or keep homes clean, if oil disappeared tomorrow. Laundry detergent and dish detergents usually derive from petroleum-based products. Soap, toothpaste, hand-lotion, deodorant, shampoo, shaving cream, eyeglasses, contact lenses, combs, brushes; all normally contain petroleum-derived products. It would be a struggle to get anywhere, as the asphalt that paves roads and footpaths would vanish. If oil disappeared tomorrow, millions of jobs would be lost. Tax revenues would be depleted. Industrial production would crimp. Economic growth would go into reverse. The plight of the fuel poor would be worsened. This is not even the full list of everything that would be impacted, in such an unthinkable scenario. Yet, despite these realities, there are calls saying ‘Just stop oil,’ ‘Keep it in the ground,’ or ‘don’t invest in new oil and gas projects.’ Of course, everybody wants to see greenhouse gas emissions reduced. OPEC believes that technological solutions and efficiency improvements can play a vital role. The oil industry is already proactive in this regard. We need to be cautious of endangering the present, in the name of saving the future. It is important we all fully understand the immense benefits that oil, and the petroleum products derived from it, continue to provide to people and nations across the world.UNFCCC And IEA launch New Phase Of Cooperation On Tackling Climate Change
In an important step forward for collaboration among international organisations to address the climate crisis, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) today announced a new phase of cooperation to drive progress on the energy commitments made at the recent COP28 climate summit in Dubai with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C.
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol made the announcement at the start of the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial, where nearly 30 ministers and climate leaders from around the world are meeting to discuss the implementation of the COP28 result and key topics for COP29 in Azerbaijan.
Under the new phase of cooperation, the UNFCCC and IEA will focus on three key areas – tracking and reporting on the energy-related outcomes of the first Global Stocktake at COP28; building consensus on actions to deliver 1.5 °C-aligned energy transitions; and supporting the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
In addition, the two organisations will deepen their existing cooperation on data and capacity building.
The first Global Stocktake decision agreed by nearly 200 countries at COP28, also referred to as the UAE Consensus, included significant commitments on energy that the IEA had called for ahead of the summit, such as the new global 2030 goals of tripling renewable energy capacity, doubling energy efficiency progress and substantially reducing methane emissions.
COP28 also delivered a recognition of the need to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just and equitable way, including phasing down unabated coal power.
The UNFCCC and IEA will work together to identify appropriate metrics for tracking global progress toward these goals and provide updates that inform and motivate global action to achieve international climate commitments.
As part of this, the IEA will produce a report that takes stock of international progress against the energy commitments made at COP28, to be published ahead of the COP29 summit.
“Following the COP28 outcome, we now need to make sure commitments are delivered upon – where we make the text of agreements, a reality,” said Mr Stiell, the UNFCCC Executive Secretary.
“I am looking forward to enhancing the cooperation between IEA and UNFCCC on tracking progress regarding the achievement of new pledges on energy transition, data exchange and capacity building for new NDCs, while supporting governments to implement existing policies and measures during this critical decade.
“Now is when countries will have to double down to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors while transitioning away from fossil fuels in an orderly, just and equitable manner.”
“This new era of cooperation will bring together the UNFCCC’s international convening power and deep technical expertise on climate change with the IEA’s unparalleled energy data, analysis and policy expertise,” said Dr Birol, the IEA Executive Director.
“COP28 delivered the first ever global agreement on energy transitions aligned with the 1.5 °C goal – a watershed moment. The UNFCCC and IEA are joining forces to ensure that these commitments are turned into action at the pace and scale needed to ensure just, equitable and affordable energy transitions that achieve the world’s shared climate goals.”
Mr Stiell and Dr Birol also said they will work together to support positive outcomes from the new series of COP-IEA High-Level Energy Transition Dialogues, to be held over the course of 2024 to prepare for the COP29 summit in Baku.
Initiated last year under the United Arab Emirates’ Presidency of COP28, the High-Level Dialogues were co-chaired by the IEA, with the support of the UNFCCC and IRENA, and will continue this year in partnership with Azerbaijan’s Presidency of COP29.
These roundtable discussions will provide an important forum for international climate and energy leaders to discuss and establish priorities ahead of COP29 in November – and to share experiences and expertise as they develop transition plans and new NDCs.
To support the next round of NDCs, the UNFCCC and IEA will also work together to provide policy advice and technical support on the development of energy-related targets that are in line with the Global Stocktake outcome and the goals of the Paris Agreement.
This will include the IEA contributing to the UNFCCC’s newly announced NDC 3.0 Navigator initiative.
The UNFCCC and IEA will build on their existing Memorandum of Understanding to broaden and deepen cooperation on greenhouse gas emissions data and national data capacity building.
This will include joint delivery of workshops with countries to improve national energy data, and to enhance the effectiveness and transparency of energy and climate decision making.
The two organisations will coordinate their activities more closely to facilitate better engagement and alignment of the ambitions and actions of climate and energy decision makers.
Source: IEA
Ghana: ECG Lauds Residents Of Odumase Krobo For Preventing Destruction Of Transformer
The Krobo District of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has lauded some residents of Odumase Krobo for their proactive effort in preventing what could have been a possible destruction of an ECG transformer within the locality.
Narrating an incident that occurred on Wednesday, 13th March 2024, the District Manager for ECG Krobo District, Ing. Christopher Apawu, said “some personnel who are actually third party contractors of ECG were removing wire mesh around one transformer when they were accosted by the residents who thought they were there to destroy the equipment.
“They then handed them over to the police who informed the ECG district of the development.”
“The district team then went to the police station and identified the personnel, based on which they were released.”
It was later explained to the residents that they were, indeed, subcontractors of the company and had been contracted to replace all such wire mesh around the company’s installations with actual block walls.
Ing. Apawu lauded the proactiveness of the residents and their swiftness in handing them over to the police, rather than taking the law into their own hands.
“ECG always says that we are working with the public and we need the public support to help us keep watch over our installations which are all over and in public spaces.
“So this comes as a very welcoming development as it indicates that our educational engagement programmes are being received well enough,” he added.
According to him, the third party contractor has been informed of the incident and has been instructed to ensure that all his workers have the district management contacts so that in case of any such incident, they can give these contacts for verification purposes.
“However, should residents still have doubts, reporting to the police is always welcome,” he added.
The manager urged residents not to take the law into their own hands in such instances; they should rather inform the police always.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Sudan: Oil Exports Under Force Majeure As Pipeline Ruptures In War Zone
Sudan has declared force majeure on crude oil exports from landlocked neighbor South Sudan, following a major rupture in the pipeline carrying crude from South Sudan to a port in Sudan in an area with active military activity.
The latest conflict in Sudan erupted in April last year, when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, took up arms against the Sudanese army in the capital Khartoum.
Sudan is the only conduit for crude oil exports out of landlocked South Sudan.
South Sudan broke from Sudan in 2011 and took with it around 350,000 bpd in oil production. However, the only export oil pipeline out of landlocked South Sudan passes through its neighbor to the north, Sudan.
The two countries export primarily the Nile and Dar blends to markets in Asia from Port Sudan via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. While most of the oil belongs to South Sudan, the two countries together exported some 132,000 bpd of crude oil in 2021.
Now the force majeure, issued in recent days, was the result of a rupture of the pipeline in a “military operations area” close to a pumping station, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing a letter from Sudan’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mohieldin Naim, which it had seen.
Damage to the pipeline, on which South Sudan’s crude oil exports depend, was first detected nearly two weeks ago when a blockage on the pipe was detected and later cleared. But several days later, the pipeline lost pressure and a leak was detected.
Repair works are being impeded by the “current war conditions in Sudan,” according to the minister’s letter seen by Bloomberg.
Since the Sudan war broke out nearly a year ago, analysts have been warning that it could threaten South Sudan’s crude oil exports at any moment. Last month, the main refinery in Sudan was shelled and damaged.
Source: Oilprice.com
Nigeria: Controversy As Power Minister Ignores Nigerian Firms In N40bn Mass Metering Contract
Nigeria’s Minister for Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has stirred controversy as the Federal Government awarded a N40 billion mass metering contract to a greenhorn and foreign firm, De Haryor Global, ignoring indigenous local meter manufacturers.
Recall that on Sunday, Adelabu flagged off mass metering projects in Army formations across the country.
According to a statement by Media Aide to the minister, Bolaji Tunji, the project aims to end estimated billing in the sector.
The government said N12.7 billion has been released for the project.
However, stakeholders in the sector had faulted the government’s decision to ignore local meter manufacturers for a foreign firm with a relatively unknown record in implementing such a project.
Adetayo Adegbemle, Executive Director and Convener, PowerUp Nigeria, said the government erred in awarding a contract of that magnitude to an unknown firm.
He asked the contract be reviewed and reversed immediately for the benefit of Nigerians.
“Before this announcement, the company, De Haryor Global Services Limited, is not known to have handled any installation of this magnitude.
“De Haryor Global Services Limited is not a registered Meter Manufacturing/Assemblers Company, nor is it on the list of Manufacturers/Assemblers at the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Trades.
“The Company, De Haryor Global Services Limited, is not on the first schedule of NERC Approved MAPs.
“There’s no evidence of public tender/bid for this N40bn worth of contract, neither is there any evidence of meeting the Procurement Act procedures”, he said.
Similarly, the Coalition of Professional Women in Politics and Convener, Atinuke Owolabi, said the move would further worsen Nigeria’s foreign exchange crisis and hinder progress.
“We cannot afford to hinder the progress of our nation by neglecting our local businesses as represented by the call for inclusive growth and upscaling of the local content in the entire gamut of metering deployment to strategic military formations/barracks nationwide.
“There is a vast pool of engineering graduates waiting to be employed, and it is disheartening to see them overlooked due to lack of support from the Federal Ministry of Power.
“De Haryor Global Services is just a business name or one of the newly incorporated entities registered specifically as an SPV for mass-metering military formations/barracks nationwide. It has no factory/meter assembling plant in Nigeria.
“By implication, De Haryor Global Services will import N40 billion worth of meters from Asian countries and export jobs meant for Nigerians to other countries, further increasing the demand for forex.
“It’s high time we prioritised the Nation’s collective and overall primary interests over primordial interests,” he stated.
However, reacting to the development, Adelabu, through his aide, insisted that due process was followed in the contract award.
He said the contract was awarded under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration but was not funded.
“The previous administration awarded the contract, but it was not funded then. There were three bidders for it, and the best bid was from De Haryor Global.
“Also, De Haryor was not an SPV; it is a company that has existed since 2009. So, due process was followed for this project. Also, the project value is N12.7 billion.
“Yes. We have about 40 billion for mass metering, but not all are going for the Army formations metering”, he said.
Source: Daily Trust
Ghana: PETROSOL Ghana Commended For Investing In Women Empowerment
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has commended PETROSOL Ghana Ltd, a leading Ghanaian Oil Marketing Company (OMC), for investing in building the capacity of women working in the company and also empowering them to take up leadership roles in the organisation.
The Deputy Chief Executive of NPA, Mrs. Linda Boamah Asante, expressed the Authority’s commendation when she addressed the Women in Leadership Conference, organised by the PETROSOL Women Network, a female leadership empowerment initiative of PETROSOL Ghana Ltd, aimed at developing the leadership capabilities of their female staff as well as equipping them with the skills to nurture responsible families alongside building enduring careers.
The event, which was held to commemorate the International Women’s Day, was on the theme: ‘Investing in Women; Energizing for the Future.’
Mrs. Asante, who was the Guest of Honour for the occasion, used the opportunity to admonish the female staff of PETROSOL to take advantage of the PETROSOL Women Network as well as other women networks by subjecting themselves under the guidance and mentoring of senior women corporate leaders who have made it to the top through diligence and ethical conduct.
According to Mrs. Asante, they should disabuse their minds of the perception that women are their own enemies because she continuous to mentor several young career women and also knows several other senior corporate women leaders who invest their time and energy mentoring several young women in the corporate world.
In a related development, the Chief Executive Officer of Cirrus Oil Services Ltd, who is also the Board Chairperson of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (CBOD), Mrs. Ivy Apea Owusu, lauded PETROSOL for its PETROSOL Women Network initiative, indicating it is a trailblazer as for as women empowerment in the industry is concerned and congratulated the company for winning the Employer of the Year Championing Diversity and Inclusion in the energy sector during the 2023 Wowen in Mining and Energy Awards (WIMEA).
She urged young female executives to strive for excellence and also to be ready to take up roles in the energy sector that are perceived to be the preserve of men since a number of women have excelled in such roles.
She shared her personal experiences of taking up challenging career assignments both in and outside Ghana and having to find ways of combining the demands of the roles with the demands of the family and excelling.
Mrs. Owusu also made a passionate appeal to companies to invest in the wellbeing of their staff, especially the female staff, because some of them go through a lot of psychological challenges which tend to affect their productivity and career growth.
The Chairperson of the occasion, Dr. Mrs Stella Agyenim-Boateng, who is the Vice Chairman of the Public Services Commission and also the former Deputy CEO of the Volta River Authority (VRA), also commended PETROSOL for its strong commitment to women empowerment.
She was delighted to know that 46% of PETROSOL’s staff are women, especially given that this is happening in the energy sector, which is generally male-dominated.
She urged the company to work towards achieving 50% or even higher.
Dr. Agyenim-Boateng also shared her personal experience working in large organisations in the telecom and energy sectors, where she had to apply diligence and tenacity as well as humility to seek the support of her family, when she needed it, in order to excel in her career.
She therefore encouraged participants to aim at excelling in their assigned roles and not to be giving excuses for mediocre performance since the survival of businesses depend on high productivity of staff.
The following senior business leaders, who were panel members, also shared their experiences with the participants: Dr. Gillian Hammah, the Group Chief Marketing Officer of the Databank Group and also the Founder, Fairbanks Consulting; Fatoumata Doro, the Managing Director, Tex Styles Ghana Ltd; and Israel Laryea, Executive Head, Influencer Africa and Ace Broadcast Journalist.
The Chief Executive Officer of PETROSOL Ghana Ltd, Michael Bozumbil, expressed his delight at the great contribution of PETROSOL’s female staff to the growth of the company and used the occasion to honour 10 female staff of PETROSOL for excelling in their roles.
The Chief Finance Officer of PETROSOL, Lawrencia Himans, received the Outstanding Female Leadership award.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: ARDA To Discuss Africa’s Downstream Transition, Financial Options For Projects In April
The African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) will converge in Cape Town, South Africa, between Monday 22nd and Friday 26th April 2024 over key industry issues and financing solutions for sustainable infrastructure projects on the continent, especially in the oil and gas downstream segment.
The event is coming on the backdrop of the push for energy security for Africa amidst dwindling financial options for fossil fuel due to net-zero concerns.
Speaking in Nigeria recently, the President of ARDA, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, stressed the critical role that the African downstream sector would play in meeting the continent’s future energy requirements and lauded the Dangote Refinery in Nigeria and Sentuo Refinery in Ghana, which recently came on stream.
“Africa’s significant future energy demands will require major investments across the downstream value chain to deliver cleaner fuels and value-added petroleum products to our growing population. Projects spanning infrastructure upgrades and logistics efficiency improvements must be pursued alongside cleaner fuel and vehicle initiatives,” Dr Abdul-Hamid said as reported by Vanguard Nigeria.
Abdul-Hamid said ARDA is ready to collaborate with the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the African Petroleum Producing Organisation (APPO), the African Union Commission and other stakeholders to pursue a robust, intra-African oil and gas industry supported by innovative financing solutions like the African Energy Bank that is due to take off later this year.
Executive Secretary of ARDA, Anibor Kragha said ARDA would continue to promote a targeted, unique African Downstream Energy Transition Plan supported by innovative financing solutions which would be showcased during the first-ever ARDA Investment Forum.
Kragha said: “Africa needs to be very intentional as we follow a coordinated strategy to execute bankable, energy infrastructure projects focused on balancing our continent’s energy security requirements with the global energy transition agenda.
“Our first ARDA Investment Forum will focus on fleshing out the key best practices–robust regulatory frameworks to support investments, effective project preparation to determine the scope, cost, and schedule for economic projects, fulfillment of critical ESG requirements, and targeted human capacity development objectives–are emplaced to attract the necessary project financing solutions to ensure that investments are made as envisioned to deliver Africa’s Energy Transition Plan.
“We must harness our critical human and mineral resources to target critical pools of capital to eradicate energy poverty and unleash the cleaner energy required to enable the continent’s transition to a low-carbon economy.”
At the conference, Kragha said sessions would discuss pan-African challenges and opportunities regarding the Post COP 28 to ensure a coordinated, robust intra-African oil & gas industry alongside the implementation of energy transition aspirations.
The conference would also look at the future of cleaner fuels in Africa, especially LPG, Biofuels, and Hydrogen while prioritising Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
ARDA Week
ARDA Week 2024, the meeting place for the downstream oil industry in Africa, will be held from Monday 22nd to Friday 26th April 2024 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.
Join us in solving the challenges for the future of the African downstream oil industry
Meet with key players of the North and Sub-Saharan African and International downstream oil industry all in one place
Listen to industry professionals talk about the latest trends and innovations
Share experiences with pan-African and international companies
Review new technology developments and services
Join representatives from African refineries, government ministries, banks, regulators, importers, distributors, traders, storage companies, marketing companies and refinery equipment & technology suppliers
During ARDA WEEK 2024, participate in the first-ever ARDA Investment forum dedicated to the development of a consolidated register of bankable, sustainable pan-African energy infrastructure projects
ARDA WEEK 2024
Cape Town, South Africa.
22nd – 26th April