Kenya’s power utility company, Kenya Power, has increased its customers by connecting 256,206 new customers to the national grid during the second half of 2023.
This represents 13.87 per cent against a half-year target of 225,000 customers.
“The new customer connections increased the total customer base to 9,454,819 customers,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.
According to Kenya Power, the accelerated connectivity was driven by the availability of meters and the deployment of the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) which is meant to fast-track meter installation for new connections across the country.
The company explained that at the beginning of October 2023 when the Rapid Results Initiative was launched, the total pending new connections stood at 236,924.
It said the backlog resulted from protracted court battles that hindered procurement of meters and other materials.
“Following the improvement in meter availability, we recently initiated a metering initiative to accelerate connections.
We have exceeded our target for the half-year period and we are on course towards the attainment of our annual target, which will positively impact the journey towards universal access to electricity by the year 2030,” Dr Joseph Siror, Kenya Power’s Managing Director & CEO, said.
The company targets to connect 400,000 new customers to the national grid by the end of 2024.
To attain universal access to electricity, the company would sustain the connectivity drive, with an additional four million customers targeted to be connected by the year 2030.
Apart from the RRI, the company is also banking on the implementation of other projects such as the Last Mile Connectivity Project (LMCP) to achieve its annual connectivity targets.
So far 1,431,423 customers have been connected to the grid through the Last Mile Connectivity Project which is funded by the Government of Kenya and development partners including; the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), AFD, European Union (EU), European Investment Bank (EIB) and JICA.
Preparations are ongoing for the rollout of Phase ‘4’ of the Last Mile Connectivity Project which is financed by AFD/EU and EIB.
The project targets to connect 280,000 customers across 32 counties within eighteen months.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Exxon has warned the European Union that it will leave and take billions of dollars in climate investment with it unless Brussels makes it easier to spend those billions on transition-related projects.
The Financial Times cited the company today as saying that there was way too much red tape in the EU and it took too long to get a project going, which prompted the supermajor to consider spending its $20 billion in decarbonization investments for 2022-2027 elsewhere.
“When we make investments, we’ve got very long time horizons in mind. I would say that recent developments in Europe have not instilled confidence in long-term, predictable policies,” Karen McKee, president of Exxon Product Solutions, told the FT.
“What we’re experiencing is the deindustrialization of the European economy and we’re concerned,” McKee also said.
The European Union’s leadership has promised time and again it will facilitate transition projects but it seems it has been slow to act on this promise.
According to Exxon—and a lot of other companies involved in the transition—getting a project off the ground in the EU is fraught with regulatory obstacles and “slow and torturous” permitting and funding procedures, per Exxon’s McKee.
The EU’s Green Deal plan features a “predictable and simplified regulatory environment” as one of its four pillars but judging from the reactions of the business world, this has yet to go from theory to practice.
Faster access to funding is the second pillar in the EU’s lineup but that, too, is taking quite long to materialize.
It is these delays in implementation that have prompted business leaders to meet today in Belgium to press the EU leadership into going from words to actions.
There is growing concern that the regulatory burden put on businesses is scaring them away, taking investments elsewhere.
There are also some European leaders, notably France’s Emmanuel Macron and Belgium’s Alexander de Croo, who have blamed red tape for the farmers’ protests.
Source:Oilprice.com
Eskom announced the suspension of load shedding at about 5 o’clock on Tuesday morning, until 4 pm, after which Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented.
The Power utility stated that this alternating pattern will be repeated daily until further notice.
According to Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena, the decision to suspend load shedding in the morning was due to sustained available generation capacity.
However, she emphasized the need to replenish emergency reserves for the upcoming week, which requires an increase in the stage of load shedding.
“While the available generation capacity has been sustained, the need to replenish the emergency reserves for the upcoming week necessitates an increase in the stage of load shedding.
Unplanned outages have further reduced to 13 350 MW of generating capacity,” Mokwena said.
Mokwena assured the public that Eskom’s power station general managers and their teams are diligently working to recover additional generating capacity.
This involves bringing units on planned maintenance and returning units from planned maintenance back into service.
Eskom has committed to closely monitoring the power system and will communicate any changes as necessary.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa’s power utility company, Eskom, has cautioned against building houses and structures under its high-voltage power lines.
Eskom said such practices are very dangerous and wants South Africans to stop it.
In a statement issued Monday, February 19, 2024, by Eskom’s Senior Corporate Manager for Occupational Hygiene and Safety, Miranda Moahlodi, said the power utility company had observed an increase in such structures built within servitudes—the land below and adjacent to power lines.
“This is not only against Eskom regulations but also poses several safety risks,” the power utility said.
“This servitude belongs to the relevant landowner in that area, but Eskom has the sole right to this land since we must maintain and fix that line from time to time.”
Eskom said the “common belief” that power lines were harmless because of their size and distance from the ground must be corrected.
“It is challenging to ensure the safety of those who live within power line servitudes, and residents are prohibited from doing so to protect the safety of communities,” Eskom said.
The utility explained that the electric potential transmitted or distributed through power lines could be up to 765,000 volts.
“A fault anywhere on the power line may cause very high current to flow down to the ground. If somebody is close to the line, the current can flow through the person and kill him or her,” Eskom warned.
“Also, a line may break due to strong winds or bad weather and land on a house or a person, which could kill or seriously hurt the inhabitants.”
Eskom further said there had been incidents in which residents were injured due to metal objects making contact with live electricity.
“Metal is a very good conductor of electricity and there is a possibility of an arc to a shack built within a power line servitude,” it warned.
“If lightning hits the line, as it does in many cases due to the height of a line, a flashover of electricity may occur to the homes in the servitude.”
Eskom also gave specific advice to those in charge of allocating or developing land.
Eskom said chiefs or traditional authorities who wanted to give their people pieces of land close to an Eskom servitude needed to speak to a local Eskom office first.
“The traditional leaders and Eskom can then, together make sure that all the people are allocated land away from the power lines, ensuring their safety,” said Moahlodi.
Developers should also ensure the required clearance is maintained when access roads are built crossing Eskom’s servitudes.
“Beyond the direct safety issues this can cause, building close to and/or under power lines makes it difficult for Eskom to conduct infrastructure inspections, which can affect the supply of power in an area and hinder the early detection of issues that could cause major damage,” the power utility said.
“Eskom uses various types of machinery to maintain its power lines, such as big trucks, which require enough space to access the structure.”
“We also use helicopters to perform live line maintenance, and as such, it becomes risky to the people living under the lines.”
The utility service provider added that Eskom staff often needed to remove or replace pieces of equipment when they maintained or strengthened these lines.
“These pieces of equipment, which are often heavy, could fall on the dwellings or people below the line,” Eskom warned.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s National Oil Company (GNPC) has convened a stakeholder meeting aimed at fostering transparency and collaboration regarding the ongoing Saltpond Field Decommissioning Project (SFDP) in the Central Region.
The corporation’s officials from the Social Performance, Local Content, CSR and Engineering departments, met with paramount chiefs, queen mothers, fisherfolk, canoe owners, the Ghana Police Service and other key stakeholders from the greater Mfantsiman area to provide update on project progress, new timelines, and safety measures while soliciting input and addressing community concerns.
Making a presentation to the gathering on the status of the project, Richard Asmah, Petroleum Engineer at the GNPC, said while the Corporation has completed many milestones, there is still work to be done to ensure its successful completion.
This, he added, requires all stakeholders to continue to uphold the regulations guiding, particularly, fishing activities around the project’s 500-metre exclusive zone to ensure that technical and safety requirements are not compromised on.
Madam Patience Lucinda Azuntaba, on behalf of the Social Performance, Local Content CSR team, re-affirmed GNPC’s unwavering position to continue to partner its host communities for development.
She highlighted several areas of GNPC’s investments in health and education among others and emphasised the importance of the community’s role in the success of the project, stating, “We are all about inclusive decision-making and recognise the significance of involving all stakeholders in our projects to ensure success and sustainability.”
Commending GNPC’s commitment to dialogue and transparency, Okogyeman Okese Essandoh IX, Omanhene of Nkuskum Traditional Area, remarked, “We appreciate GNPC’s sustained engagements with us.
This level of collaboration strengthens our partnership and fosters mutual trust.”
Calling for more development for the communities, he further, and on behalf of all the traditional leaders representing Saltpond, Kuntu, Nankesido, Biriwa, Anomabo, Kormantsir, Hini, Pebi, Egya, Ankaful and Yamoransa, pledged Mfantsiman’s support to help purge the communities of the few recalcitrant fishermen who are willfully flouting safety measures and, thus, exposing life and properties to danger while stifling smooth decommissioning operations.
On his part, however, the Mankessim Divisional Police Commander, ACP Dennis Fiakpui, reminded all stakeholders to adhere to the regulations set out to ensure the successful decommissioning of the project.
“While we understand the call to temper justice with mercy, that’s the duty of the court. Ours is to ensure that lives are safeguarded so we will keep upholding the law so no one person’s recalcitrance affects the entire community,” he stressed.
A Chief fisherman from Abandze, Nana Kwasi Essel V, expressed the importance of safety measures in protecting livelihoods and the environment, saying, “Our livelihoods depend on the sea, and it’s reassuring to know that GNPC continues to communicate steps to ensure the safety of all not only during this decommissioning process but in the aftermath, as well with the planned installation of a marker buoy to aid navigation.”
Dominic Ponu, Deputy Manager of Wells Engineering at GNPC, reiterated the Corporation’s dedication to safety and environmental stewardship and assured them of its full attention to the concerns raised by the community.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for continued dialogue and collaboration throughout the project’s lifecycle.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Fench company TotalEnergies, which recently announced a new oil discovery off-shore Namibia, says it has allocated about N$5.7 billion for exploration and appraisal work in the country’s budding oil sector in 2024.
This was said by chief executive Patrick Pouyanne during the recent presentation of the company’s 2023 financial results and objectives for the year 2024.
“Namibia is at the top of our spending priorities for exploration and appraisal and we will again allocate around 30% of our exploration and appraisal budget to Namibia in 2024, because we need to continue assessing the best approach for development,” he said.
This development comes at a time that Shell, another oil major, told miningandenergy.com it had initiated critical flow tests on its Jonker-2A well in Namibia’s Orange Basin to assess the size and reservoir quality of the oil discovery.
The outcome of the envisaged tests would provide valuable insights that could shape Shell’s future investment decisions in the basin and potentially impact Namibia’s fledgling energy sector.
The company had, however, earlier announced it would adopt a cautious approach in developing its oil discoveries in Namibia, because of the high-cost implication of the process.
“We will take our time and be thorough in the way we look through that because these are significant capital investments, and therefore, we want to make sure we are able to deliver returns for our shareholders,” said Shell chief executive Weal Sawan, when presenting the company’s 2023 fourth quarter results.
Pouyanne said TotalEnergies, which announced a new discovery at its Mangetti1X well, potentially boosting the existing recoverable resource base on Block 2913B, was also exploring another potential well south of Venus called Kokerboom.
“I can tell you, we found hydrocarbons again in Mangetti.
“We also found the hydrocarbon level of Venus extending to the north.
“Through the various appraisal wells and tests, it’s clear that it’s not a homogenous field. We have another potential exploration well south of Venus called Kokerboom, and we can also continue appraising what has been discovered,” Pouyanne said.
He reiterated that they will continue drilling as there is a clear initial, and now it’s a matter of optimisation.
“There is much discussion within the company, because everyone is excited,” he said while also confirming that the drilling of Venus-2A, the fourth appraisal well on the giant Venus discovery, is underway.
“The positive results of the Mangett 1X well present us with a new opportunity, potentially adding to the recoverable resource base on Block 2913B.
“Our involvement in Block 2913B continues to be excising, with further work underway to understand the potential of Mangetti, alongside the Venus-2A appraisal well [we are] currently drilling,” Africa Oil president and chief executive Roger Tucker told miningandenergy.com.
Petroleum Exploration Licence 56, Block 2913B is located offshore southern Namibia and covers approximately 8 215 square kilometres in water depths between 2 450m and 3 250m
Impact Oil and Gas, in which Africa Oil has an interest through its 31,1% shareholding, currently holds a 20% interest in the block.
TotalEnergies, the operator, holds a 40% interest, QatarEnergy holds 30% interest and the Namibian state oil company Namcor, holds a 10% stake.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has joined the call for the complete phasing out of costly fuel and electricity subsidies as part of measures to address Nigeria’s economic challenges.
The IMF and some analysts in Nigeria argue that these subsidies are inefficient and ineffective in reaching intended beneficiaries.
They contend that the subsidies are worsening the nation’s fiscal challenges and hindering efforts to address poverty and food insecurity.
In its report titled: ‘IMF Executive Board Concludes Post Financing Assessment with Nigeria’, the IMF reiterated the importance of eliminating subsidies to redirect resources towards more targeted and impactful social welfare programmes.
Amidst the prevailing cost-of-living crisis, the IMF advocated for targeted social transfers to provide temporary assistance to the most vulnerable segments of the Nigerian population.
“Temporary and targeted support to the most vulnerable in the form of social transfers is needed, given the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Fuel and electricity subsidies are costly, do not reach those that most need government support, and should be phased out completely,” the report said as carried by the premiumtimesng.com.
While the removal of petrol subsidies, implemented in May 2023, was aimed at addressing the nation’s fiscal challenges, it has also exacerbated living standards, with the disposable income of Nigerians experiencing a continuous decline amid inflationary pressures.
The IMF also drew attention to the economic hurdles confronting Nigeria, emphasising the nation’s stalled per-capita growth and mounting poverty levels.
Against the backdrop of these challenges, Nigeria finds itself grappling with a severe cost-of-living crisis, further compounded by low reserves and limited fiscal space that constrain the government’s policy options, the Fund said.
“Nigeria faces a difficult external environment and wide-ranging domestic challenges. External financing (market and official) is scarce, and global food prices have surged, reflecting the repercussions of conflict and geo-economic fragmentation.
“Per-capita growth in Nigeria has stalled, poverty and food insecurity are high, exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis.
“Low reserves and very limited fiscal space constrain the authorities’ option space,” the report said.
The global institution noted that the government’s emphasis on revenue mobilisation and digitalisation could enhance the delivery of public services and ensure fiscal sustainability.
It said the projected reduction in the overall deficit for 2024 is seen as crucial in addressing debt vulnerabilities and reducing dependence on financing from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
The Board Chairman of Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Ambassador. Kabral Blay-Amihere, delivered a keynote address to some selected journalists at a training programme organised by Energy News Africa LTD, a global news portal operated from Accra, capital of Ghana.
The objective of the programme was to build the capacity of reporters on energy because it is a technical and complex area which requires understanding.
Amb. Blay-Amihere’s Keynote was on the theme, “GAS TO POWER: What the media needs to know to drive effective discourse”.
He laid out broad perspectives about the energy sector addressing the ABC OF THEWA SECTOR, THE ENERGY CHAIN, THE GAS FACTOR, CASH MATTERS and THE POLITICS OF ELECTRICITY among other areas.
The training had other speakers from the West African Gas Pipeline (Company WAPCo) and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
Amb. Blay-Amihere expressed hope that the workshop will help enlighten participants about the challenges of the gas sector in particular and the energy sector as a whole because, “a well informed and educated media will not fall prey to the politicisation of electricity.
“When we have this kind of media, they will set the agenda, and educate the public about the real situation”.
He paid tribute to ‘WORKERS IN THE [ENERGY] SECTOR’ saying, “they are the finest you can find anywhere in the world.
They are very professional, well-educated, experienced, and very committed to their core mandate”.
Michael Creg Afful, Editor of Energy News AfricaSource:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana has begun the training of technical staff of its two power distribution companies – Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) – for the installation and commissioning of net metering Solar PV systems in the West African nation.
The country is looking at building the capacity of at least 180 technical staff of ECG and NEDCo for the net metering Solar PV project.
The capacity building programme is expected to be in batches, with the first batch of the training commencing next Monday, February 12, 2024, at the Don Bosco Technical Training School at Ashaiman, a suburb of Greater Accra.
Speaking at the launch of the training, the deputy Director for Power at the Ministry of Energy and deputy Co-ordinator for the Scaling-up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP), Ing. Seth Mahu, on behalf of the Minister of Energy, said the training programme was the third component of SREP.
According to him, the training aims to equip the technical staff of ECG and NEDCo with the requisite skills to support Ghana’s efforts to achieve the target of universal electrification by 2024 and also increase renewable energy penetration to 10% in the generation mix by 2030.
He said the Government, through the Ministry of Energy, had done a lot in the renewable energy space.
“We have developed net metering tariff methodology to encourage prospective renewable energy investors,” he added.
He stated that the country aims to use the net metering project to create market for the renewable industry.
“With the net metering project, if anybody invests in solar systems, you will be able to know how much power you are allowed to export to the grid and how much of energy you can take from the grid,” he explained.
He urged the staffs of ECG and NEDCo who are undergoing the training to pay attention and learn to ensure the success of the net metering project.
The Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the Energy Commission, Kofi Agyarko, noted that the net metering would give Ghanaians an opportunity to sell power to ECG and NEDCo and buy it back when they need it.
“If you have solar PV systems without storage batteries, it means that after 5 p.m. when the sun is set you will not have power generated from your solar system and that would be a good time to buy back what you pushed to ECG or NEDCo,” Mr Agyarko said.
He said PURC had developed a billing system that takes into consideration how much you sold to ECG or NEDCo and how much power you bought from either ECG or NEDCo.
Mr Agyarko said the aim of the net metering Solar PV project is to help Ghanaians to reduce their electricity consumption.
Mr Kofi Agyarko, Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the Energy Commission, Ghana.
He said Ghana was looking at reducing the load on the national grid by 64 megawatts so as to minimise transformer overloads.
The deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Ghana, Dr. Haeberli Simone, said that the Ghana Solar Photovoltaic-based net-metering project has real potential to positively support the economy and the people of Ghana, as Switzerland’s support under the SREP is meant to encourage SMEs and households to invest in solar installations on their premises.
Dr. Haeberli Simone, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Ghana
Also, the project would contribute to lower emissions and make a positive contribution towards reliable energy provision in Ghana.
The Government of Ghana, on 25th May 2022, signed a grant agreement of $69.88 million.
The project is funded by African Development Bank (AfDB), the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) and Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
A Kenyan legislator for Embakasi East, Hon. Babu Owino, is calling for the impeachment of the country’s Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Energy, Davis Chirchir, for the tragic gas explosion in Embakasi which claimed the lives of 10 people and left several severely injured on Friday, February 2, 2024.
Hon. Owino accused Chirchir of negligence, alleging that the CS failed to ensure proper regulation and oversight, despite the company in question not having been issued a trading licence.
“I came here to get answers from the Cabinet Secretary irrespective of our political parties because when we are here, we are representing the people of Kenya.
He ought to have followed up and known that this company that is not issued a licence to trade is proceeding to trade,” Owino said during Parliamentary proceedings on Thursday.
Owino also criticised the Energy CS for failing to comply with the summons issued by the Senate.
“It’s an insult … for a CS not to obey the orders, the summons given by this honorable senate,” Owino asserted.
He further questioned the credibility of Chirchir as a witness, suggesting that his refusal to adhere to the summons raised concerns about his reliability and accountability calling for his immediate impeachment.
“And, therefore, CS David Chirchir has proven to be an unreliable witness who on the witness stand should be impeached,” Babu said.
He also noted the consequences of the explosion, highlighting the mounting medical bills and suffering experienced by the affected families.
“Our people are suffering, bills are accumulating in the hospitals.
It’s a really sad state of affairs to be here because probably a CS feels he is more important than other members here,” he added.
Chirchir and Daniel Kiptoo, who heads the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, have been summoned by the Senate Energy Committee again after failing to appear before the Committee on Wednesday, February 14.
They are expected to appear before the committee on Tuesday, February 20, to provide clarification on the Embakasi explosion incident.
The committee members are considering the possibility of censuring both officials due to what they perceive as professional negligence and a poor approach to handling the situation.
Senator Wahome Wamatinga, who chaired the committee, noted the gravity of the matter and expressed disappointment at their failure to attend the emergency session.
Chirchir, in a letter of apology to the committee, explained his absence was due to travel abroad.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Kaduna Electric, one of the power distribution companies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has officially announced a ten per cent increase in salaries across all staff categories, effective February 2024.
Dr Umar Hashidu, the Chief Executive Officer, made this announcement during a recent meeting with the management team.
The salary adjustment comes as a strategic response to the imperative of motivating the staff, aimed at elevating the company’s overall performance despite the considerable challenges it currently faces.
He underscored that the decision also addresses the prevalent cost of living crisis in the country.
Furthermore, Dr Hashidu emphasised the Board and Management’s conviction that the salary increment would serve as a catalyst, inspiring staff to redouble their efforts to navigate the company through its current challenges.
He reiterated the Board’s unwavering commitment to prioritising staff welfare as highlighted by the Board’s Chairperson, Ms Rahila Thomas when she led other Board members on a visit to the company recently.
He hinted that the initial salary adjustment is part of a broader initiative.
Dr Hashidu acknowledged the precarious state of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), describing it as being on life support.
Notably, Kaduna Electric faces challenges in meeting market obligations and has shown a lackluster performance in compliance with NERC performance indices.
Despite these challenges, Dr Hashidu expressed confidence that the issues confronting Kaduna Electric are surmountable with collective effort.
He urged the staff to approach their duties with diligence, citing the positive growth trajectory observed in energy sales in January as a promising indicator.
Dr Hashidu encouraged staff to maintain this momentum until the company achieves a positive turnaround.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Board Chairman of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Mr David Adomako, has resigned from the board, citing the recent development in the refinery for his grounds
Mr Adomako tendered his resignation to the Presidency in a letter dated 24 January 2024 which was copied to the Minister for Energy.
According to him, his resignation is borne out of the withdrawal of the proposed partnership between TOR and Tema Energy and Processing Limited which the Board deemed to be in the best interests of resuscitating an ailing and distressed TOR.
“I am unfortunately not in the position to dedicate the necessary time and energy required for a renewed pursuit of a solution for the company, which in my opinion will be an onerous task without a determinable outcome.
“I am also concerned that such a solution will require a level of harmony between staff, management, board of directors and all other stakeholders that sadly appears to have failed us in this most recent iteration of restructuring efforts. In the absence of government financial support for the rehabilitation of the refinery, and given the difficulty in attracting significant private sector investment in the plant, the board has instructed management to present a wider range of alternative strategic options for TOR, whilst also continuing its ongoing efforts to secure investors interested in the rehabilitation of the refinery.
“I wish the very best for the good people of TOR, and in particular the ordinary working staff, in the immediate future and beyond,” Mr Adomako said.
There has been a misunderstanding between a section of TOR workers and management over the handling of a strategic partnership between TOR and Tema Energy and Processing Limited formerly Torentco Asset Management Limited.
The workers, led by the General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU), have accused the management and the Board of failing to ensure transparency in the whole process.
The development, recently, resulted in the Board interdicting two executives of GTPCWU– Serwah Duncan-Williams and Anthony Koomson.
Last week, the National Labour Commission, the agency responsible for resolving disputes between workers and employers in the Republic of Ghana, wrote to the Acting Managing Director of TOR to respond to complaints received from the national executives of the General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union over the interdiction of their two executives.
In a letter signed by Dr. Bernice A. Welbeck, the Executive Secretary of NLC, said, “The Commission writes to forward a copy of the letter to you and request your response to the complaint by the Union before the close of work on February 13, 2024.
“Treat as urgent given the union’s decision to begin picketing on 13th February 2024,” a portion of the letter said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
UAE state-owned oil company the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and integrated energy company, BP, have established a joint venture (JV) in Egypt to advance gas development in the north African country.
ADNOC will assume a 49% stake while BP retains a 51% interest.
The formation of the JV, subject to regulatory approvals, is anticipated to be finalized in H2, 2024.
Under the terms of the agreement, bp will transfer its stakes in three development concessions and exploration agreements in Egypt to the newly formed JV.
The concessions include Shorouk (10%), North Damietta (100%), and North El Burg (50%), along with exploration agreements for North El Tabya, Bellatrix-Seti East, and North El Fayrouz. Additionally, ADNOC will provide cash contributions for potential growth endeavors.
Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC’s Executive Director for Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth, stated that the JV aligns with the company’s efforts to decarbonize operations and spearhead an inclusive energy transition.
This milestone “will enhance Egyptian energy security and economic potential,” he said.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the country’s Electricity Act (Amendment ) Bill 2024 into law.
The Bill was passed by the House of Representatives on July 27, 2023, and the Senate on November 14, 2023.
The Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to address the development and environmental concerns of host communities, and sets aside five per cent of the actual annual operating expenditures of power generating companies (GENCOs) from the preceding year for the development of their respective host communities.
The Act further provides that the funds set aside for the development of host communities will be received, managed, and administered for infrastructural development in the host communities by a reputable trustee/manager to be jointly appointed by the respective GENCO and their host community.
The Act guarantees the de-centralisation and de-monopolisation of Nigeria’s electricity generation, transmission, and distribution at the national level. It authorises states, companies, and individuals to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.
Under the Act, states are empowered to issue licences to private investors who in turn would be permitted to set up and operate mini-grids and power plants within the State.
The licences obtainable include: electricity generation licence (excluding captive generation); electricity transmission licence; electricity distribution licence; electricity supply licence; electricity trading licence; and system operation licence.
These licences enable private entities to participate in different aspects of the electricity value chain, thereby promoting competition and encouraging innovation to solve the growing energy needs of Nigeria.
Furthermore, the Act stipulates that without a licence, a person may operate or construct an undertaking for the purpose of generating electricity not surpassing 1 megawatt (MW) in total at a site, or an undertaking for the distribution of electricity with a capacity not surpassing 100 kilowatts (KW) in total at a site or such other capacity as the Commission may determine.
In other words, it is possible for a person to construct, own, or operate an undertaking for the purpose of generating electricity or an undertaking for distributing electricity without obtaining a licence, provided that such construction, ownership, or operation undertaking shall not exceed 1MW or distribution undertaking shall not exceed 100KW.
However, the Act prohibits inter-state and transnational electricity distribution.
A Chief fisherman from Abandze, Nana Kwasi Essel V, expressed the importance of safety measures in protecting livelihoods and the environment, saying, “Our livelihoods depend on the sea, and it’s reassuring to know that GNPC continues to communicate steps to ensure the safety of all not only during this decommissioning process but in the aftermath, as well with the planned installation of a marker buoy to aid navigation.”
Dominic Ponu, Deputy Manager of Wells Engineering at GNPC, reiterated the Corporation’s dedication to safety and environmental stewardship and assured them of its full attention to the concerns raised by the community.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for continued dialogue and collaboration throughout the project’s lifecycle.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com 
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com 
