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
Ghana: ECG In Hot Water As PURC Gives 7 Days Order To Provide Detailed Incident Report On Power Outages, Other Matters
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), the regulator of water and electricity utilities in Ghana, has ordered the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to furnish it with a detailed incident report on power outages for the period – 1st January 2024 to date – by 27th March 2024.
Besides, the regulator is asking the power distribution company to provide details on the volume of load curtailed for each power outage incident, energy not served and the number of customers affected.
Additionally, the PURC is demanding ECG’s publications informing the general public about power outages from 1st January 2024 to date.
The PURC wants the power distribution company to submit copies of all government directives for the purchase of fuel for power generation from August 2023 to date, the total amount of fuel ECG procured for power generation from August 2023 to date, together with fuel supply contracts, invoices, details of fuel quantities, cost, dates and volumes delivered and all pertinent details, details of all bank accounts and investment account currently operated by ECG, and monthly bank and investment statements corresponding to each account, showing balances from August 2023 to date.
The orders were contained in a statement issued by the Commission on Tuesday, 19th March 2024.
The orders were given based on section (24) (3) of PURC Act, 1997 (Act 538), which states that where required by the Commission on reasonable notice, a public utility shall deliver to the Commission the contracts, reports of engineers, documents, books, accounts and any other records in the possession or control of the public utility and relating to its property or service or affecting its business, or copies verified in the manner specified by the Commission.
The Commission cautioned ECG that failure to comply with orders would attract imposition of sanctions on the power distribution company.
Ghanaians have bemoaned recent power outages, especially ECG’s operational areas.
A section of Ghanaians have appealed to ECG to provide load-shedding management timetable to guide them to plan, but that is yet to be done.
ECG is yet to react to the Commission’s regulatory order.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Russia Promises To Defend Oil Infrastructure With Missiles
Russia’s energy ministry has promised to defend its oil and gas infrastructure against Ukranian strikes with missiles, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
Artyom Verkhov, the director of the energy ministry’s department for gas industry development, has said that a defensive system is already in the works.
“We are jointly working, including with colleagues from the Russian National Guard, to cover objects, on installing, accordingly, protection systems such as Pantsir,” Verkhov said.
Ukrainian strikes have so far taken nearly between 370,000 and 900,000 bpd worth of Russia’s refining capacity offline, depending on which analyst estimates are used.
Ukraine has carried out a string of refinery attacks using drones in the past few weeks, inflicting significant damage –according to Security Services of Ukraine—to 12 oil and gas processing facilities throughout Russia.
With Russia’s refining capacity for Q2 now reduced from missile strikes and seasonal planned and unplanned refinery maintenance expected to take place this quarter, the world’s largest fuel exporter could find its revenues curtailed.
According to Bloomberg, Ukraine has targeted a collection of Russian oil refineries that account for 12% of Russia’s oil-processing capacity.
Russia already said at the last OPEC+ meeting that it was planning to curb oil production by 350,000 bpd in April, resulting in export cuts of 121,000 bpd.
For May, Russia’s production cuts of crude oil are set to climb to 400,000 bpd, with export cuts of 71,000 bpd.
Source: Oilprice.com
Iraq Discusses Nuclear Energy Plans With IAEA
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani and senior government leaders met Grossi in Baghdad for discussions about the country’s plans and the agency’s support for “peaceful, safe and secure use of nuclear technology in Iraq”.
Grossi said: “The IAEA has committed to support the foundations of what should be an entirely peaceful programme here in Iraq. We are living in a world where there is an intense growing interest in nuclear technology… This time we are going to get it right, in strict adherence to the non-proliferation norms and international conventions, which are indispensable.”
Iraq is looking at options such as small modular reactors for energy security and water desalinisation projects and has become a contracting party to the Convention on Nuclear Safety, which seeks to ensure countries operating land-based civil nuclear power maintain a high level of safety by establishing fundamental safety principles.
There was also discussion about collaboration on nuclear medicine, oncology and radiotherapy, with Grossi saying that through its Rays of Hope programme, which aims to boost availability of nuclear medicine-based treatments, the agency would “give more support, more equipment, more training, more capacity” for Iraq to improve cancer outcomes.
Iraq originally joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1969 but, under Saddam Hussein’s leadership, was found in 1990 at the time of the first Gulf War, to be clearly in violation of it.
In response, the UN Security Council asked the IAEA to remove, destroy or render harmless Iraq’s nuclear weapons capability, which it did by 1998.
But a variety of the country’s nuclear facilities were destroyed by military actions between 1981 and 2003 with facilities also damaged or looted.
During the trip Grossi visited the Al Tuwaitha site which was once at the centre of Iraq’s nuclear programme and which is now proposed to become the site of a new low-level radioactive waste repository, designed with IAEA assistance under the European Union’s Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation project.
There is currently an IAEA mission to Iraq seeking to help with the development of a national integrated strategy for radioactive waste management, with Grossi saying: “It’s crucial that we bring to a successful and satisfactory phase, the work of decommissioning, the work of remediation of the remnants from the past.”
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Bui Power Authority Inaugurates Cashew Factory To Boost Economic Life Of Bui Residents
Ghana’s second largest hydroelectric power generation company – Bui Power Authority (BPA) – has inaugurated a cashew nut processing factory established in partnership with a Chinese investor, Cash-U Company Limited.
The factory was inaugurated on Wednesday, 13th March 2024.
The project, which commenced in March 2022, is in line with Government of Ghana’s quest to drive industrialisation through the One District, One Factory (1D1F) policy, which aims at establishing at least one factory in every district of the country.
Besides, the policy aims at adding value to Ghana’s exports and reducing our import dependence, as well as stimulating overall economic development at the district level.
The factory, which was located within the 184,000 hectares of land acquired for the Bui Hydro-power project, was commenced during the time of the former BPA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Fred Oware.
The inauguration of the factory signifies the commitment and support of BPA to leverage local resources for economic development.
The Bui enclave has a strong history in cashew farming, with nearly every household engaged in this agricultural activity.
Speaking at the inauguration, Mr Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi, CEO of BPA, highlighted that the Cash-U factory had already created direct job opportunities for approximately 55 locals.
It is projected that upon achieving full operational capacity, about 250 direct job opportunities will be created for the indigenes .
This initiative is set to improve livelihoods and promote socio-economic empowerment in the region.
Mr Dzamesi also expressed his appreciation to the Government and the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for his leadership through the 1D1F initiative, which aims to industrialise the country.
Mr. Lionel Wu, CEO of Cash-U Company Ltd, in his speech, expressed gratitude to BPA for its continuous support and commitment to the successful completion of the Cashew factory.
He noted that while the factory’s current focus is on processing cashew nuts for export and domestic consumption, future plans include the development and production of cashew oil for local and international markets.
In an address, the traditional councils present expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Ghana, facilitated by BPA, for offering employment opportunities to the communities within the Bui enclave.
They also encouraged the Government to persist in its endeavour to create more job opportunities, especially for the youth, to reduce poverty and enhance economic growth by leveraging the resources and skills of each district.
The inauguration of the factory also aligns with BPA’s Bui City agenda to stimulate economic growth within the communities in the Bui enclave, promote industrialisation, and enhance the economic potential of the area.
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Port Harcourt Receives 450,000 Barrels Of Crude To Begin Operations – Mele Kyari
Port Harcourt Refinery, one of the refineries in Nigeria which has seen a major facelift in recent times, is ready to start operations two weeks from now.
This was said by Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
He said this during an interaction with the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Investigation of Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) in the nation’s refineries last Thursday.
He assured Nigerians that the delivery date of the Port Harcourt and other refineries remains sacrosanct.
“We will make sure that promises that we made about the rehabilitation of these refineries are kept. We did a mechanical completion of PHRC in December. Now, we have crude oil already stocked in it. It is currently undergoing regulatory compliance test before we restream it. I assure you that this refinery will start in next two weeks.
“For Warri, we have also done mechanical work on it. It is undergoing regulatory compliance processes that we are doing with our regulators. Kaduna will be ready by December this year, but we have not reached that stage. We believe that it will also be ready on schedule,” he stated.
Kyari explained that, currently, Port Harcourt Refinery had received 450,000 barrels of crude for processing following the mechanical completion of the plant last December.
He called for the co-operation of all stakeholders in the rehabilitation process, stressing that “we are all serving this country dutifully and loyally. Nigerians must understand that, gradually, we shall get this task done.”
The Senate Ad-hoc Committee is expected to visit the three refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt soon for an on-the-spot assessment of work progress.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com