France Set To Commission New Nuclear Plant
France’s state-owned energy company EDF announced last week that the nuclear supervisory authority had approved final preparatory steps for putting a new reactor into operation.
The plant is now meant to be loaded with nuclear fuel in the coming weeks.
The reactor, in Flamanville on the English Channel, is scheduled to be connected to the grid in mid-2024 — 12 years later than initially planned — and will be the first to be commissioned by France in more than two decades.
Massively over-budget
Construction of the Flamanville reactor started in 2007.
The facility was originally planned to cost €3.3 billion ($3.6 billion), but it is now expected to eat up more than €12 billion.
Work on the reactor has been plagued by delays, with leaking weld seams in the steel shell the most recent cause.
France, the second largest producer of nuclear power in the world after the US, is considering the construction of 14 or even more new plants amid a nuclear revival prompted partly by concerns about global warming.
It is also planning to extend the operating life of 32 of its 56 existing reactors if safety concerns are met.
France’s plans are in stark contrast to those of neighboring Germany, where nuclear power has been phased out amid a planned transition to renewable sources of energy such as wind.
Source : DW
Zambia: Zesco Begins Load-shedding In Parts Of Lusaka
Zambia’s power utility company, Zesco Limited, has announced plans to implement a staggered eight-hour daily load-shedding for some residential areas in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, beginning April 1.
According to the power distribution company, the affected areas will experience two power outages of four hours each, spread throughout the day.
In a statement issued by Matongo Maumbi, spokesperson for Zesco Limited, it said the aim of the load-shedding is to minimise disruption and ensure grid stability due to low generation capacity.
The Southern African nation has an installed generation capacity of 3356.6MW.
This capacity comprises of 83 percent of hydro, nine percent of coal, five percent of heavy fuel oil and three percent solar PV.
The mining sector remains the largest consumer of power at 51 per cent of total generated electricity, followed by the domestic sector at 33 per cent.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: Jubilee Oil Field Partners Commit To Raise US$704 Million Towards Decommissioning In 2036
Ghana has started the processes for the Jubilee Oil Field Decommissioning which is about twelve years away by signing an agreement with all the partners involved in the operation of the field.
The decommissioning of the field is expected to cost about US$704 million and for this reason, Ghana and Jubilee partners have consented to create a Trust Fund where monies could be lodged by the partners based on the Petroleum Agreement covering the field and used for the decommissioning of the field in 2036.
Last Monday, officials of the Ministry of Finance, Bank of Ghana, Petroleum Commission and Jubilee partners namely Tullow Ghana Ltd, Kosmos Energy, Petro SA and the GNPC convened at the Ministry of Energy to sign agreements to that effect.
Speaking before the signing of the agreements, the Chief Director for the Ministry of Energy, Mrs. Wilhelmina Asamoah said despite the several challenges along the way, the relevant stakeholders remained focused and would work hard towards the realisation of the huge landmark ahead.
The sector Minister, Dr. Prempeh noted that the successful establishment of the Fund and the effective discharge of obligations by the contractor parties and trustee would ensure the availability of adequate measures for decommissioning the Jubilee Field upon reaching the end of its operational life.
“This will address environmental, health and safety concerns and facilitate the restoration of lands affected by petroleum operations conducted in the Jubilee Field,” he stated.
The Minister further paid tribute to all who played varying roles on this important journey.
In 2019, Tullow Ghana Limited notified the Ministry of Energy of the necessity to initiate the fulfilment of the Conditions Precedent for establishing the Jubilee Decommissioning Trust Fund, as stipulated in the Unitisation and Unit Operating Agreement (UUOA).
Dr. Prempeh noted that the appointment of the Bank of Ghana as Trustee for the Decommissioning Fund sets a crucial precedent for decommissioning procedures in all other producing fields in Ghana.
“As stewards of state institutions and industry entities, we bear the responsibility to ensure the restoration of affected lands at the conclusion of the exploration and production life of an oil field, and this ceremony marks an important milestone in the realisation of this important duty to the good people of Ghana” the Minister noted.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Russia To Cut Oil Production By 350,000 bpd In April
Russia will be cutting oil production instead of exports in the second quarter of 2024 so that all OPEC+ producers that reduce output contribute equally to the cuts, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday.
“This is a move to ensure an equal contribution of all countries to the production cuts,” Novak was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Interfax.
“The moment has come when we are reducing production instead of exports,” Russia’s top oil official added.
When the OPEC+ members announced in early March their intentions to extend the cuts into the second quarter, Russia changed its production/ export cut plan and said that it in the second quarter it would reduce supply by 471,000 bpd in the form of cuts to oil production and exports.
In April, Russia will reduce production by 350,000 bpd and exports by 121,000 bpd. In May, the 471,000 bpd reduction would be in the form of a 400,000-bpd cut to production and 71,000 bpd cut to exports, and in June the Russian supply cut would be 471,000 bpd entirely from production reductions.
Output cuts will be most of the extra Russian supply cut, and they could be the result of reduced refining capacity with maintenance coming in Q2 and refinery rates estimated to have slumped due to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries. These attacks are estimated to have cut Russia’s crude processing capacity and, in the absence of spare storage capacity, Moscow needs to cut output.
According to Reuters estimates, the amount of Russian oil refining capacity that has been taken offline due to Ukrainian drone strikes is 14% of the total refining capacity.
Calculations show that 900,000 barrels per day of refining capacity have been taken offline by drone strikes, Reuters reported earlier in the week. This includes Lukoil’s Norsi and Volgograd refineries, and Rosneft’s Kuibyshev and Ryazan refineries, among others.
Source: Charles Kennedy
Ghana: Gov’t Suspends Price Stabilisation And Recovery Levy On Fuel For Three Months
The Government of Ghana has directed the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to suspend Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy (PSRL), one of the levies on petroleum products, for three months effective April 1, 2024.
Consequently, the price of petrol will be reduced by 16 pesewas while diesel and LPG will be reduced by 14 pesewas respectively.
This is expected to cushion consumers from paying high costs of fuel at the pumps due to rising global prices.
A letter signed by the Deputy CEO of NPA, Perry Okudzeto, to all the players in the oil and marketing distribution sector said the suspension is effective from 1st April to 30th June 2024.
“The Ministry of Finance, through the Energy Ministry, has directed the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to remove the price stabilisation and recovery levy (PSRL) from price build in accordance with section 2(b) of the Energy Sector Recovery Levies Act 2015(Act 899) amended 2021 Act 1064 for three months.
“In view of the above directive, the NPA, hereby, wishes to inform all Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) that the PSRL has been revised for the period 1st April to 30th June 2024,” the letter said.
Despite the suspension of the PSRL, fuel prices are likely to witness a marginal increase due to the exchange rate and rising cost of finished products on the international market.
Currently, the three major OMCs namely GOIL, Shell and TotalEnergies are selling petrol and diesel at Gh¢13.49 per litre and Gh¢14.49 per litre respectfully.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: Eskom Cuts Off Cape Town School For Failing To Pay R39,000 Bill
A primary school in Delft, Cape Town owed Eskom about R39,000 and has been without electricity since February.
The education department is trying to assist the school but this is not the first time it has been bailed out.
Vergenoegd Primary is a non-fee paying school, which means it is allocated money by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).
But the school is responsible for using that money, including ordering stationery and textbooks, paying water and electricity accounts and undertaking maintenance.
The school has over 1,500 learners.
Despite attempts to make payment arrangements with Eskom, a teacher who asked not to be named, says the power utility has been unwilling to assist the school.
The teacher said the staff were shocked when Eskom cut the school’s power. The teacher said the school had discovered that its bursar office missed payments from August 2023.
By the time the fault was discovered, Eskom said they had accumulated arrears of about R28,000, which the school could not afford to pay.
On 9 March, the school held a food fair on its premises to raise emergency funds to pay their outstanding bill. They raised about R20,500. It was apparently paid to Eskom the next week.
According to the teacher, the school contacted Eskom again after making the payment to ask that their electricity be reconnected, but Eskom refused because the school was still many thousands of rands in arrears.
In email correspondence between Eskom and the school, which GroundUp has seen, Eskom confirmed it had received the school’s payment of R20,500.
But since the school’s account was already R39,000 in arrears, it needed to pay at least R15,000 of the R18,500 that it owes, as well as a R2,070 reconnection fee before electricity could be reconnected.
The teacher said the school is still investigating why its bursar’s office had failed to pay the power utility.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the district office is aware of the issues and is working with the school to resolve this matter.
Hammond said Vergenoegd Primary received more than R1.8-million in 2023 to cover expenses like municipal services and utility accounts. “As a Section 21 school, it receives the total allocation to manage accordingly,” she said.
Hammond said that in the last two years, the WCED has assisted the school with nearly R480,000 to pay its outstanding municipal debt.
Eskom spokesperson Kyle Cookson said that the power utility had notified the department’s district office before disconnecting the school on 27 February.
Cookson confirmed that the school remains without electricity.
“The school ran up arrears and made a short payment on 12 March after they were disconnected. This payment was not sufficient to cover the arrears as well as the reconnection fee,” he said.
Cookson did not comment on the allegation that Eskom was not willing to agree to a payment arrangement with the school.
Source: mybroadband.co.za
Nigeria: National Grid Restored After System Disturbance –TCN
Nigeria’s transmission company, TCN, has successfully restored the national grid after a system disturbance, which occurred on Thursday, March 28, 2024.
The company said that the disturbance occurred at 4:28 pm on Thursday with full recovery of the grid achieved by 10:00 pm same day.
A statement issued by Ndidi Mbah, TCN’S General Manager Public Affairs said that according to a report from the National Control Centre, NCC, in Osogbo, the system disturbance was triggered by a significant reduction in generation capacity, primarily due to gas constraints.
”This reduction led to a rapid decline in system frequency. This created a sudden imbalance in the grid.
”The imbalance in grid stability was exacerbated by the sudden tripping of Egbin generation turbine 3, resulting in an additional loss of 167MW load and the subsequent collapse of the grid,”she said.
She said that the grid had since been recovered and was stable, adding that it was currently transmitting all the generated power to distribution load centres nationwide.
She expressed TCN’s unwavering commitment to addressing grid challenges and actively working to mitigate disruptions.
”In instances where challenges extend beyond TCN’s control, the company collaborates with other stakeholders in the power sector value chain to minimise the impact, and swiftly restore the grid to normal operation,” she said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Nigerians Thrown Into Darkness As National Grid Collapses Again
Nigerians have been thrown into darkness as the country’s national electricity grid, centrally managed from Osogbo, Osun State, collapsed at approximately 4:30 pm on Thursday, leaving millions of homes and businesses without power.
This is the fourth time the grid is collapsing in the first three months of the year, adding to challenges that have long plagued Nigeria’s power sector.
Local media report suggests that feeders of various distribution companies, spanning the nation’s 36 states, were rendered inactive, resulting in widespread blackouts across the country.
The grid’s output, which stood at 2,984 megawatts as of 4 pm, plummeted to zero within the span of an hour, with all 21 plants connected to the grid ceasing operations by 5 pm.
“This incident marks another setback for Nigeria’s electricity sector, which has been marred by persistent issues despite privatisation efforts aimed at revitalisation,” Business Day reported.
Over the past decade since privatisation, the grid has experienced a staggering 141 collapses, underscoring the magnitude of the systemic challenges facing the industry.
As of the time of reporting at 6:00 pm, the Azura Power Plant was the sole facility contributing to the grid, albeit with a modest output of 54 megawatts.
Major power generation plants such as Egbin, Afam, Geregu, Ibom Power, Jebba, Kainji, Odukpani and Olorunsogo, among others, remained dormant, further exacerbating the electricity deficit nationwide.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Uganda: Kenya Finally Expresses Willingness To Issue Oil Import Licence To Uganda’s UNOC
Kenya has finally expressed willingness to issue oil importation licence to the Ugandan National Oil Company (UNOC) to enable the East African nation to import fuel directly through Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC).
The move is likely to end the feud between the two East African nations which has lasted for some months.
Uganda went to the regional court in December last year to fight for the licence that would allow the use of KPC’s infrastructure for oil import.
Uganda’s decision to use UNOC to import fuel directly followed an investigation that showed that Kenyan oil marketers who were selling oil to Uganda were charging exorbitant prices and making huge profits.
The issue infuriated President Yoweri Museveni and he directed that UNOC should import petroleum products directly using KPC.
Kenya refused to issue licence to Uganda, compelling it to file a case at the East African regional court.
Although the case is yet to be determined, Kenya has given indication of its willingness to issue licence to Uganda.
Kenya’s Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir on Wednesday said work was in progress to issue a permit that would allow UNOC to import fuel directly through KPC.
“You will see UNOC getting a licence and then we will see how to work together because usage of our pipeline is an opportunity for us,” Mr Chirchir said.
“They will employ Kenya Pipeline Company’s infrastructure so there will be no loss of opportunity, the transporter will remain to be KPC. We are working closely with Uganda to resolve the challenge,” he added.
Chirchir’s revelations came days after a case filed at the High Court in Machakos to block the licensing of UNOC was withdrawn.
Sources said the licence is likely to be issued next month. The licensing could end the dispute and allow UNOC to buy fuel from Vitol Bahrain.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
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