Benin: Energy Ministers Validate Critical Documents for ECOWAS Power Market
Energy Ministers in ECOWAS Member States gathered in Cotonou in the Republic of Benin last week and validated three key documents which will be presented to the regional Council of Ministers at its next session in December 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria.
The documents, which will form part of the legal texts already approved for the development and regulation of the power Market, are the Directive for the Harmonization of Licensing Criteria and Authorisation to Participate in the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market; the Rules on the Surveillance of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market; as well as the Rules on the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market Levy.
The Directive for the Harmonization of Licensing Criteria and Authorisation to participate in the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market seeks to align the framework and procedures for issuing import and export licences and authorisations for participation in the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market.
Its application is expected to put all participants in the power market on a level playing field, guaranteeing fairness and consistency throughout the ECOWAS region.
Also, it will help to ensure compliance with the best technical, financial and commercial practices for the sustainability of the market.
The Directive consists of 12 articles which essentially deal with the distinct roles of ERERA and the regional regulator and the National Regulatory Authorities.
In addition, the articles cover documents to be issued to participate in the market, the principles governing the issuance of licences, the alignment of the import and export licensing procedure, the terms and conditions of import and export licences, the procedure for issuing the market participation authorisation, the obligations of Member States as well as the monitoring of the implementation of the Directive, among others.
The Rules on the Surveillance of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market are intended to establish a regulatory framework for the operation of the electricity market, with specific provisions for the collection, validation, analysis and conservation of data, as well as for investigations and sanctions in the event of breaches of the market rules.
It is centred on 21 articles which deal in particular with the rules for surveillance of the technical and commercial activities of the market; obligations, prohibitions and sanctions; and data management and the Framework for coordination of key stakeholders including ERERA, the National Regulatory Authorities, the Transmission System Operators and System Operators to ensure consistent application of the rules and resolution of disputes.
The Rules on the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market Levy, the third validated document, aims to introduce a levy to finance the operation of the electricity market and to ensure the financial autonomy of ERERA as regulator of the market and of the System Market Operator.
It is made up of 16 articles which basically deal with the components and method of calculating the levy, its payment and collection and notification of payment. Other areas include exemptions and rebates, allocation of the levy, obligations of participants and penalties in the event of non-payment.
The ministers, whose meeting was preceded by a two-day meeting of regional energy experts, were treated to presentations on the progress of the studies for the development of a single gas pipeline project for the ECOWAS region, involving the merger of the West Africa Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP) and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP).
They reaffirmed their support for the development of the project, indicating their readiness to provide the necessary support for its success.
In addition, they requested ECOWAS and its partners to accelerate the preparation of the single project and to take into consideration the region’s food needs in development strategies.
The ministers were also briefed on the ECOWAS Regional Green Hydrogen Strategy and its 2023-2030 and 2031-2050 action plans. The ECOWAS Green Hydrogen Policy and Strategy Framework are aligned with the ECOWAS Energy Policies and the Regional Climate Strategy (RCS) and Action Plan.
They endorsed the regional strategy on green hydrogen and its action plan and urged the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) to mobilize technical and financial partners, to provide all the necessary support to ensure its implementation.
The regional strategy on green hydrogen and its action plan are envisioned to position the ECOWAS region as one of the most competitive producers and suppliers of green hydrogen and its derivatives while addressing socio-economic growth and sustainable development of all ECOWAS Member States.
The Green Hydrogen Policy and Strategy Framework were developed through consultations with ECOWAS Member States and regional institutions and agencies such as the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Energy and Mines, the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA).
Following a presentation on the implementation of the updated ECOWAS Energy Policy, the ministers pledged to facilitate the process of translating the said Policy into national action plans.
Also, they directed the ECOWAS Commission to develop a Regional Policy on Energy Transition and present the text at their next session.
In consideration of Cape Verde’s status as an island country, the ministers recommended that the ECOWAS Commission and WAPP take into account the specificity of Cape Verde, so as to strengthen the capacities of the national electricity company and assist the country interconnect all its islands electrically.
The ministerial meeting was addressed by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization, Mr. Sédiko Douka and the Minister of Energy, Water and Mines of Benin, Mr. Samou Seidou Adambi.
South Africa: Africa Must Plan Its Own Energy Transition, Says Speakers At Africa Oil Week
Africa’s energy transition needs to be managed in partnership between Africa’s energy stakeholders in a way that benefits all Africans. This will require collaboration across the public and private sector, between financial institutions and between African governments.
This message of continental solidarity was a key theme emerging from a high-powered panel discussion AOW50 on the eve of AOW 23, which runs from October 10-13 in Cape Town.
The event was held under Chatham House rules which preclude speakers from being directly quoted.
The frank discussion featured energy ministers from major African economies, leaders of financial institutions, as well as representatives of major private-sector energy organisations.
“By competing with each other, African nations become caught in a race to the bottom,” said one of the keynote speakers. “We must break out of this pattern. Development is not a beauty contest. We must not compete – we must complement each other.”
The AOW50 pre-launch event featured an onstage panel discussion, as well as a series of breakaway roundtables involving an exclusive group of energy sector leaders and opinion-makers.
Speakers noted that every African economy had different resources, and therefore their energy transitions would look different.
However, by collaborating on developing policy, African nations could achieve a goal shared by all African nations: the liberation of Africa’s people from energy poverty.
Another notable theme was the importance of natural gas as a transition fuel. One speaker noted that financing of new projects was easier when projects involved gas and renewables, as opposed to the more established model of gas and oil.
“Capital follows sustainability,” said another speaker. “But we must consider that Africa will take time to build a renewal energy portfolio. Therefore, there will remain a place for oil and gas for many years to come. Gas projects are far more attractive to investors when they are part of a wider energy mix involving renewables.’’
It was also emphasised that African economies needed to build stability in order to attract the financing that is the lifeblood of all energy projects.
“There needs to be stability to attract finance,” said another speaker. “African nations should also look to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to build a coherent policy for capital and investment that will help move projects forward across African regions and regardless of regime change in any one country.”
Many country representatives noted challenges unlocking the value of their energy resources for their people due to anti-hydrocarbons activism, poor credit ratings and challenges in raising capital to fund infrastructure.
There was also an assertion that African countries had the right to continue exploration, development and production of their own resources.
“We retain the right to explore the responsible development of our own natural resources for the benefit of our people,” said a speaker.
“That is what we are here to discuss – how we can use our energy assets to create wealth for Africa.”
These discussions set the tone for the conference taking place in Cape Town this week, AOW is a premium forum for stimulating deals in the African energy sector. It is being held at the Cape Town International Conference Centre 2, with the theme “Maximising Africa’s Natural Resources”.
Source: Africa Oil Week
Israel Cuts Off Power Supply To Gaza
The Israeli government has ordered its state-run electricity company to halt power supply to the Gaza Strip days after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country.
The Israeli prime minister’s office has revealed that the security cabinet has approved several steps to destroy military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad “for many years,” including cutting fuel and electricity supplies as well as entry of goods into the Israel-occupied landlocked territory.
“I have signed an order instructing (Israel) Electric Company to stop the electricity supply to Gaza,” AFP quoted Energy Minister Israel Katz saying in a statement.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has said that Israel has the right to defend itself and warned against hostile nations taking advantage of the latest attacks.
“This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching,” Biden said on national television.”
A senior Biden administration has revealed that the United States is currently engrossed in intense talks with Israel about its particular needs, noting that Washington always shares timely intelligence.
Israel has launched retaliatory attacks against Gaza and Lebanon after suffering its worst security and intelligence failure since the Yom Kippur war half a century ago.
Both sides have suffered heavy casualties with 1,200 dead, including nine Americans, and many more injured.
Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group have claimed to have taken captive more than 130 people from inside Israel and brought them into Gaza.
It’s going to be interesting to see how the region’s energy situation will unfold after this catastrophe.
Back in August, French energy group TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) set the first drilling rig at its location in the Mediterranean Sea off Lebanon’s coast near Israel’s border with the country looking to commence operations in search for gas.
The cash-strapped nation hopes that future gas sales could help the country pull out of its deep financial crisis that has seen the local currency lose more than 98% of its value.
“The arrival of the equipment marks an important step in the preparation of the drilling of the exploration well in Block 9, which will begin towards the end of August 2023,” TotalEnergies said in a statement.
TotalEnergies leads a consortium of energy companies working on the offshore project, which includes Italian oil and gas giant Eni S.p.A.(NYSE:E) as well as state-owned QatarEnergy.
The drilling operations come after a landmark U.S.-brokered agreement last year that saw Lebanon and Israel establish a maritime border for the first time ever.
Back in May, Lebanon’s Energy Minister Walid Fayad said they hope to determine whether the exploratory block has recoverable gas reserves by the end of the current year.
Source: Oilprice.com
Nigeria: ECOWAS Countries To Commence Day-Ahead Electricity Market
The West African Power Pool (WAPP) is finalising arrangements to commence day-ahead electricity trading in the West African regional market, after the successful completion of the construction and equipping of its Information and Coordination Centre.
This was revealed in a statement issued by Mrs. Ndidi Mba, General Manager of Public Affairs at Transportation Company of Nigeria, after WAPP’s 59th Executive Board Meeting held at Calavi, Cotonou, Benin Republic, on Friday, 6th October 2023.
The day-ahead energy market is a system that allows transactions for the buying and selling of electrical power one day before the delivery day.
The Executive Board Chairman and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, Engr Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, in his remark at the at the meeting stated that the regulatory document for activation of the next phase of the market is undergoing an approval process at the ECOWAS Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA).
Dr Abdulaziz disclosed that in preparation for the new phase of the electricity market in West Africa, operators are, currently, undergoing training on the working of live trading systems to ensure that once approval is granted, the transition would be seamless.
The WAPP henchman added that with support from the World Bank, the organisation is recruiting eleven new engineers to bolster the capacity of the Information and Coordination Centre, even as the study for the restructuring of the secretariat, in fulfillment of legal requirements for an independent system and market operator, had kicked off.
While intimating that the collective actions of members would determine what the market turns out to be, he noted that “building and equipping of infrastructure alone does not guarantee the success of the market, adding that equally important is the behaviour of the market participants.”
The advent of the market, he noted required discipline and competence in operations and management as well as in financial reporting.
Speaking on the new WAPP secretariat, which has been scheduled for inauguration in November this year, he said, “This will be a unique occasion for WAPP to announce itself to the world at large. Let us make maximum use of this opportunity to not only inform the global audience about what WAPP is doing but also about the tremendous opportunities that our sector offers to private investors.”
Earlier, the Secretary General of the organisation, Mr. Siengui A. Ki, in his address, commended member utilities who paid their contributions to WAPP despite the COVID-19 pandemic and regional security crisis, urging those who were yet to pay to do so.
Ki said that the agenda for the 59th session was for the board to, among others, look into the status of contributions by member utilities and the budget of the WAPP secretariat, review the consolidated 2022 financial statement, validate the programme of activities and 2024 budget, as well as the WAPP business plan for 2024-2027.
Chairman, of the Strategic Planning, and Environmental Committee of WAPP, Engr Kabiru M. Adamu, who is also the General Manager of System Planning at TCN, presented the WAPP Business Plan of the POOL for the next four years to the Executive Board for consideration and adoption.
The 59th session witnessed the admission of two new heads of utilities; the Director General of SONABEL, Mr. Suleiman Ouedraogo, and the new Managing Director of SBEE, Mr. Gabriel Degbegni, who are to serve as members of the WAPP Board.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Tema ECG Embarks On Float To Sensitise Customers On Cashless And Mobile App Payment System
The Electricity Company of Ghana in Tema Region, last Friday, embarked on a float across all the districts under it to educate customers about its cashless system and ECG Mobile App as part of the Customer Week celebration.
The floats witnessed staff from all the nine districts of the Region, stepping out of their offices with music, walking through some principal streets and prominent places in their operational areas, sharing flyers, interacting with customers and educating them on ECG’s operations, with particular attention on cashless and the use of the mobile app.
The power distribution company, recently, went on a cashless drive, encouraging digital payments for transactions, using their mobile app, telecom mobile money wallets and credit cards.
The nine districts under the Tema Region of ECG are North and South Tema, Nungua, Ashaiman, Juapong, Krobo, Prampram and Afienya.
“The Ada District, for instance, visited Ada Foah, Big Ada, Kasseh, Sege, Aveyime, Battor and Mepe,’ said the ECG Tema Region PRO, Ms Sakyiwaa Mensah.
She added that “the Juapong District visited Volo, Akwamufie, Asikuma, Anum Boso and the Juapong Township while the Nungua District visited Sakumono, Nungua Market, Maritime University and Lashibi.”
Ms. Mensah also added that “the Tema metropolis had the ECG staff visiting Communities One to twelve, stopping at various vantage points such as Community One and Nine markets to interact and educate customers on the app and what it means for ECG to go cashless.”
The North and South Tema and Nungua Districts’ floats were joined by the General Manager for ECG Tema, Ing Ankomah Emmanuel.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Bangladesh Receives First Russian Uranium For Its Nuclear Power Plant
Bangladesh has held a ceremony to officially receive the first Russian shipment of uranium fuel for its $12.65 billion nuclear power plant project which is expected to start operations next year.
The South Asian country would be the 33rd country in the world to produce nuclear power.
“Today is a day of pride and joy for the people of Bangladesh,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said during a video conference with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, at the project site where the ceremony was held.
President Vladimir Putin thanked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for supervising the project, which resulted from a bilateral agreement in 2011.
“Bangladesh stands as a success story for newcomer countries in nuclear power development, advancing its programme under the [IAEA’s] guidance,” IAEA head, Rafael Grossi, said in a post on social media.
Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, Architect Yeafesh Osman, the Minister for Science and Technology of Bangladesh, and other top officials of Bangladesh were present at the ceremony.
Bangladesh is building two nuclear power plants, with the first unit of the plant having a total generation capacity of 2,400 Megawatts.
The country is collaborating with the Russian state-owned atomic company, Rosatom.
Ninety per cent of the project is financed through a Russian loan repayable within 28 years with a 10-year grace period.
Alexey Likhachev, Rosatom Director General, gave a certificate to Architect Yeafesh Osman, the Minister for Science and Technology of Bangladesh, confirming the delivery of the fuel in compliance with all the safety standards and requirements.
The fuel for Rooppur NPP was manufactured in Russia at Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (NCCP), an enterprise of Rosatom’s Fuel Division. The fuel manufacture and transportation were performed under the active guidance and supervision of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA).
“This day marks a new stage in the development of Russian-Bangladeshi relations. After the delivery of nuclear fuel, Rooppur NPP becomes a nuclear facility, and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh gets the status of a country that possesses peaceful nuclear technologies.
“For Rosatom, it is a great honour to implement a project which will ensure a stable power supply and help preserve the unique nature of Bangladesh for future generations,” said Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom State Corporation, during the ceremony.
“We’ve been waiting for this special moment for a long time. It is a celebration not only for the people of Pabna district but also for the entire nation. On October 5 we received the fuel delivery certificate, which speaks about our achievements as a nation. Bangladeshi people are vibrant and colourful and we are going to celebrate it in a very colourful manner. The entire nation is in a festive mood,” said Architect Yeafesh Osman, Minister for Science and Technology, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Ghana Gas Commissions Gas Park In Accra
Ghana’s national gas aggregator, Ghana National Gas Company, has commissioned a modern sports complex at its head office at Dzorwulu, a suburb of Accra, the capital of Ghana, to promote.
The complex comprises an AstroTurf and a clubhouse that is fully equipped with a gym and a restaurant.
The facility is designed to offer a space where the staff can relax, engage in social interactions and actively support a healthy lifestyle.
During the inauguration ceremony, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Board Chair of Ghana National Gas Company, expressed his excitement for the Sports Complex.
Mr. Agyapong reaffirmed the project’s alignment with the board’s unwavering commitment to promoting the holistic development of employees.
Dr. Ben Asante, CEO of the Ghana National Gas Company, emphasised that the Sports Complex is more than just a fitness facility as it has a space for fostering connections, teamwork and a strong sense of community among the company’s staff.
He stressed the importance of cultivating a culture of maintenance among Ghana Gas employees to ensure the long-term sustainability of the valuable facility.
Elvis Morris Donkoh, Vice Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy, commended the Board, CEO and Management for the initiative.
He noted that the venture would significantly contribute to the overall welfare and job satisfaction of Ghana Gas staff.
Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Member of Parliament for West Ayawaso Wugon, also encouraged Ghana Gas to continue their social intervention projects within the constituency and throughout the nation.
The Sports Complex underscores Ghana Gas’ unwavering commitment to employee well-being, setting a remarkable standard for corporate culture.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Zambia: Zesco Restores Power Supply To 11 Towns In Western Province After Day 1 Of Maintenance Works
Zambia’s power utility company, ZESCO Limited, has restored power supply to Sioma, Senanga, Mongu, Limulunga, Kalabo, Luampa, Kaoma, TBZ, Nalolo, Sikongo, and Mangango, following scheduled annual maintenance works on the 66kV Sesheke-Senanga transmission line, the main and sole transportation route to the Western Province of Zambia.
The power distribution company announced last Tuesday, October 3, 2023, that it would undertake three-day maintenance works, from 7th, 11th and 15th of October 2023.
Zesco Limited noted that the power supply would be interrupted in most parts of the Western Province during the exercise.
In a post on Facebook on Saturday sighted by energynewsafrica.com, Zesco wrote: “Day one of three has ended with ZESCO erecting a steel lattice structure in place of a 3 H-Pole wooded structures.”
“ZESCO Limited wishes to thank its esteemed customers for their patience and cooperation during today’s maintenance works,” the company said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Zambia: Western Province To Experience Power Supply Interruptions As Zesco Undertakes Three Days Maintenance Works
Zambia’s power utility company, Zesco Limited, on Saturday, started a three-day major maintenance works on the 66kV Sesheke- Senanga transmission line, the main and sole power transportation route to the Western Province of Zambia.
The three-day maintenance work, which began on Saturday, would be continued on the 11th and 15th of October 2023.
A statement from Zesco Limited noted that the power supply would be interrupted in most parts of the Western Province during the exercise.
The areas to be affected include Sioma, Sananga, Mongu, Limulunga, Kalabo, Luampa, Kaoma, TBZ, Sikongo, and Mangango from 6:00 am to 18:00 hours on each day.
Zesco Limited urged electricity users to treat all supply lines to be live at all times as power could be restored before the stated time.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: Deputy President Mashatile To Speak At Africa Oil Week
South African Deputy President, Mr. Paul Mashatile, is scheduled to speak at Africa Oil Week (AOW) on Tuesday 10 October, in Cape Town.
Africa Energy Week is the continent’s leading event in the upstream oil-and-gas energy space, and it sees representatives of more than 25 African governments coming together with energy policymakers, financiers and dealmakers to share insights and to map a sustainable roadmap for the development of Africa’s natural resources.
Deputy President Mashatile’s attendance at the continental showpiece comes at a time when energy is a primary concern of national policymaking in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent.
Announcing Deputy President Mashatile’s participation, Yemi Ibidunni, Event Director of event organiser Hyve Events said that the presence of a government representative as senior as Mr. Mashatile confirmed the importance the South Africa’s government attached to oil and gas planning.
“There have been exciting offshore discoveries in South African territorial waters, which may herald a new dawn for the country’s oil and gas sector,” says Ibidunni.
“At the same time, there have been significant discoveries in Namibia and elsewhere in Africa. This emphasises the importance of Africa’s government and business leaders coming together to discuss partnerships for energy security while enhancing regional economic development.’
Ibidunni said AOW provides the ideal platform to facilitate such discussions, as well as enabling deals, and positioning the continent as a stable destination for international investment.
This year’s AOW takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre 2 in Cape Town, from October 9 – 13, with the theme “Maximising Africa’s Natural Resources”.
AOW will connect more than 50 ministers and government leaders, 125 expert speakers, and 1500 senior delegates across five days of industry-leading insight and elite networking opportunities, designed to drive deals and investments for the betterment of the continent.
Nigeria: CrossBoundary Access And Mobile Power Announce $10 Million Partnership To Scale Battery Swapping Services Across Nigeria
CrossBoundary Access, Africa’s first blended finance platform for mini-grids and Mobile Power, a company that deploys affordable and practical energy infrastructure in Africa have announced a $10 million partnership to deploy MOPO Hubs in Nigeria, providing energy access to 300,000 people using an innovative battery service.
MOPO Batteries – and the supporting hardware and software – are revolutionizing the distribution of electricity.
The group announced this in a joint press statement copied to energynewsafrica.com.
According to the press statement, CrossBoundary Access has committed an initial $2.25 million for the transaction, with the option to extend up to $10 million.
The new partnership with Mobile Power would allow the company to accelerate deployment of its technology in Nigeria.
MOPO Hubs complement CrossBoundary Access’ mini-grid portfolio by allowing faster, lower cost deployment, and extending the service range of CrossBoundary Access’ infrastructure beyond the cost-effective limits of traditional distribution infrastructure that use poles and wires.
CrossBoundary Access would finance the development and construction activities and will own the projects, while Mobile Power will ensure that residents receive clean, reliable electricity for years to come.
MOPO Hubs, powered by solar energy, allow customers to access energy without upfront costs with no consumer debt through secure pay-per-use MOPO batteries distributed by local Mobile Power agents.
An average MOPO Hub creates four full-time jobs for local women and men. MOPO Hubs, designed for rapid, light-touch deployment, are located conveniently within communities without the need for cabling.
This low-cost connection strategy, along with the ability to collect usage data, allows CrossBoundary Access to optimise the locations of its future mini-grid sites and connections. Together, CrossBoundary Access and Mobile Power are committed to increasing socio-economic opportunities and expand energy access to new customers. CrossBoundary Access was advised in the transaction by Foley Hoag LLP.
Mobile Power was advised by Knights PLC. Lynne Wesonga, Associate Director and transaction lead for CrossBoundary Access, says, “This transaction shows the impact of combining innovative financing with innovative technology. CrossBoundary Access will be able to deploy capital more efficiently while delivering electricity to more people at a faster pace. Our agreement with Mobile Power is one more milestone towards closing the gap on the 600 million people in Africa who lack access to electricity.”
Chris Longbottom, CEO, Mobile Power, says, “This deal represents a tipping point for energy infrastructure investment on the continent. Mobile Power and CrossBoundary Access are taking the first step in a revolutionary journey deploying scalable real-life solutions to previously intractable infrastructure problems. This transaction further validates our innovative approach to energy access.”
Gabriel Davies, Managing Director and co-founder of CrossBoundary Access, says, “This is what the grid of the future looks like. Using batteries to distribute electricity is the biggest revolution in the power sector since the invention of the transformer. To be clear – we still believe poles and wires are the best way to get large amounts of power to big energy consumer. But innovations like MOPO’s battery swapping tech allow us to match distribution capex with customer needs.”
Michiel Bakker, CFO, Mobile Power, says, “This partnership is a huge step forward for us in our mission to deploy significant investment capital into affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions to improve economic productivity in communities across Africa. With this partnership we are making a further important step towards connecting millions of households in the coming years.”
Ghana: Electrical Wiring Standards Under Reviewing—Amoono-Neizer
Ghana’s technical regulator for electricity and natural gas, the Energy Commission, says it is collaborating with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to review the electrical wiring standards to meet the changing trends in the industry.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ing. Oscar Amonoo-Neizer, who revealed this, said the review has become necessary due to the increasing adoption of renewable energy systems such as rooftop solar panels in the West African nation.
He further noted that there is an increase in the adoption of smart home technologies including lighting, heating and security systems by homeowners.
Ing. Oscar Amonoo-Neizer said the review of the electrical wiring standards would ensure that homeowners designed and installed electrical systems that were safe, reliable and efficient.
The Executive Secretary, who was speaking at the graduation of Certified Electrical Wiring Professionals at the head office of the Energy Commission, urged the practitioners to keep up with the developments and offer services that cater for the growing demand for smart homes.
In all, 267 electrical wiring practitioners from the Greater Accra, Volta and Eastern Regions graduated and were certified as Electrical Wiring Professionals and Inspectors.
Since 2012 when the Electrical Wiring Regulation 2011, L.I 2008 was enforced, the Commission has trained and certified over 14,000 electricians.
Ing Oscar Amonoo-Neizer hinted that the Commission would, from next year, also undertake a comprehensive review of the Electrical Wiring Regulation, 2011 (L.I 2008).
This, he said would ensure that the regulations are in line with the latest industry advancements and also aligned with international best practices.
While the Commission has been steadfast in focusing on the training and development of electricians, there is a renewed emphasis on ensuring safety within wired premises.
“This collaborative effort underscores our commitment to staying ahead of industry advancements, fostering a culture of safety, and adapting to the evolving needs of the electrical landscape,” he said.
In a speech read for him by Abubakar Suleman, the Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, noted that due to the Certified Electrical Wiring Programme, Ghanaians have become aware of the need to have their electrical installations done by certified Electrical Wiring Professionals and Inspectors.
He said due to the importance and in compliance with the law on wiring regulations, the Ministry of Energy has, since 2012, made it mandatory for its contractors under the National Electrification Scheme and the Self-Help Electrification Programme (SHEP) to engage only CEWPs/CEWIs for certification of household wirings before the connection of rural consumers to the electricity grid.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Benin: Energy Experts Examine Texts To Consolidate ECOWAS Power Market
Energy experts from ECOWAS Member States are meeting in Cotonou, Benin to consider and validate three major legal texts which will help to strengthen the regulatory framework for the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market.
They are the Directive for the Harmonization of the Criteria for the Granting of Licences and Authorization to participate in the Regional Electricity Market; the Regulation on the Surveillance of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market; and the Regulation on the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market Levy.
While the Directive on the Harmonization of the Criteria for Granting Licenses and Authorization for Participation in the Regional Electricity Market is expected to promote a level-playing field for cross-border electricity trade among ECOWAS Member States, the Regional Electricity Market Supervision Regulation will establish rules and procedures for the supervision of participants in cross-border power trade to promote a favourable regional approach to investment and capacity development.
For its part, the Regional Electricity Market Fee Regulation seeks to establish a fee to finance the operation and functioning of the regional power market and ensure its effective supervision and regulation.
Participants at the meeting are being treated to presentations on the ECOWAS Regional Green Hydrogen Strategy and Action Plans 2023-2030 and 2031-2050 as well as the commencement of the implementation of the ECOWAS Updated Energy Policy.
They will also receive briefings on the state of progress of the studies for the development of a single gas pipeline project for the ECOWAS region, involving the merger of the West Africa Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP) and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP).
The energy experts are drawn from the Ministries of Energy and national regulatory bodies in Member States, and ECOWAS institutions including the ECOWAS Commission, the West African Power Pool (WAPP), the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and the West Africa Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA).
The opening of the two-day meeting which began on October 5, 2023, was addressed by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitization, Mr. Sédiko Douka and the Minister of State for Energy of Benin, Mr. Edouard Dahome.
Mr. Dahome recalled the common approach adopted by ECOWAS towards a well-regulated energy market.
He noted that WAPP and ERERA were created to ensure the integration of the national electricity networks into a unified and regulated regional electricity market “to ensure in the medium and long-term a regular, reliable supply of electricity at a competitive cost to the populations”.
In his remarks, Commissioner Douka who was represented by the ECOWAS Resident Representative to Benin, Mr. Amadou Diongue, stated that the legal texts “are major prerequisites to ensure the proper functioning of our electricity market on a clear and fair basis for all participants”.
He observed that the documents were “the subject of the active contribution of Member States and national regulatory bodies of the electricity sector throughout their development process”, adding that “the recommendations made at each stage were integrated to result in these versions which are submitted to you this morning”.
Recommendations from the energy experts will be presented to 15th meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Energy on Saturday, October 7, 2023 in Cotonou, Benin.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Senegal: GE Vernova Secures 25-Years’ Service Contract To Manage 300MW Combined Cycle Power Plant In Dakar
GE Vernova’s Gas Power business has secured a 25-year service agreement from Senegalese Government to manage the country’s 300 megawatt (MW) combined cycle power project located in Cap des Biches, Dakar.
The aim is to help ensure the long-term availability and reliability of the power plant’s gas turbines to meet Senegal’s increasing energy demands.
A statement issued by the company on Thursday, October 5, 2023, said it would also provide its Digital business’ Asset Performance Management (APM) software in the cloud to promote the use of predictive analytics across the power island (gas turbines and generators).
The agreement was signed at a ceremony in Senegal attended by Mr. Samuel Sarr, CEO of West African Energy; and Mr. Papa Toby Gaye, the General Secretary of SENELEC.
The agreement will include the supply of parts, repairs, field services and advanced predictive maintenance for the two GE Vernova 9E.03 gas turbines and accessory equipment.
“We awarded GE Vernova the service agreement because they have the technology expertise and proven gas turbine services track record to help make sure that our power plant operates at the highest levels of reliability,” said Samuel Sarr, CEO of West African Energy.
“We expect that the services and digital technologies provided by the GE Vernova team will help us to increase efficiency and improve performance, which is crucial in powering Senegal reliably.”
GE Vernova was previously awarded the contract to supply two 9E.03 gas turbines, one STF-A200 steam turbine, three A39 generators, two Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG) and additional balance of plant equipment as part of the project scope. GE Vernova’s service agreements are structured to provide predictable maintenance costs while ensuring high availability and reliability, including parts and outage planning. This agreement will better position the new combined cycle plant to benefit from the long-term, high performance of GE Vernova’s latest technology and global experience. With over 1,000,000 installed MW in more than 120 countries, GE Vernova has long-term agreements in place at more than 1000 sites worldwide.
“We are pleased that West African Energy awarded us the agreement to help ensure they meet their energy production and capacity supply goals while supporting the Senegalese Government’s target to increase its generation capacity with a greater utilization of natural gas and renewables,” said Kenneth Oyakhire, Services Managing Director of GE Vernova’s Gas Power business in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“In this day and age, reliability and efficiency are crucial elements of power plant operations, and this service agreement reflects the confidence our customers have in both our technology and our regional services capabilities to help ensure the power plant’s long-term reliability.”
The project also represents the first installation in Senegal of GE Vernova’s APM software.
In the cloud, APM uses advanced predictive analytics from the company’s APM Reliability application to ingest sensor data in order to detect and diagnose equipment problems before they occur.
With the help of artificial intelligence/machine learning-backed Digital Twins with built-in expertise, Senegal can increase asset reliability and availability while reducing operations and maintenance costs by moving to a predictive approach.
The Cap des Biches power plant, which is the first gas-to-power project in Senegal, will be the biggest power plant in the country and is expected to generate more than 25% of the power consumed, providing the equivalent electricity needed to power up to 500,000 Senegalese homes.
The plant is expected to begin operations in phases starting in 2024.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com