Saudi Arabia Forms Joint Venture With Greece To Link Power Grids
Saudi Arabia has signed a deal with Greece for the establishment of a jointly-owned company to link up the two countries’ power grids with the goal of supplying Europe with clean energy, Reuters reports.
The new company, Saudi Greek Interconnection, joins Greece’s IPTO and Saudi Arabia’s National Grid, each with a 50% stake.
Greece’s energy mix is already 40% renewable, and the country is seeking to boost this further, while lowering costs. To that end, Greece is also seeking to build an undersea cable that will link its grid to Egypt for renewable energy.
The potential $4-billion project could have the capacity to transport some 3,000 megawatts per day, though a feasibility study has not yet been conducted.
A similar deal has been struck with both Cyprus and Israel, with the three countries pursuing a $900-million underwater power cable.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) has also been hitting up France, with talk of the possibility of exporting Saudi renewables and hydrogen to the European country, though no official deals have been signed.
Goldman Sachs Ignores Activist Call To Abandon Oil And Gas
Earlier this month, Riyadh and Washington formalized a bilateral agreement to cooperate on an intercontinental green transit corridor to traverse Saudi Arabia, which is eyeing top-ranking status on the green energy scene.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the project will “facilitate the transit of renewable electricity and clean hydrogen via transmission cables and pipelines as well as constructing rail linkages.”
Saudi Arabia is heavily pushing green deals and has recently vowed to increase the percentage of renewables in its energy mix, with the wildly ambitious NEOM project considered its focal point.
NEOM, once completed, will be the world’s first city without roads.
Saudi green energy initiatives, particularly those that foster more and cheaper clean energy for Europe, have been hastened by Russia’s war on Ukraine and the Western sanctions response.
Source: Oilprice.com
Peaceful Nuclear Energy Sector Is Key Component Of Our Net-Zero Strategy, UAE Affirms At IAEA General Conference
UAE’s Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ambassador Hamad Al Kaabi, has affirmed that the development of the country’s peaceful nuclear energy sector is a key component of its net-zero strategy, reflecting its commitment to diversifying its energy mix and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
“The nuclear power programme, which, along with renewable energy, will provide 14 GW of clean power for the UAE by 2030,” the Ambassador said while addressing the 67th session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna.
“As we approach the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which will take place in the UAE from 30th November – 12th December 2023, we look forward to discussing the role of nuclear energy in tackling climate change and mitigating its impacts,” he added.
According to him, UAE’s decision to host COP28 reaffirms its commitment to tackling climate change issues proactively and at various levels.
“In 2023, the UAE updated its National Energy Strategy to include several new goals, including raising the percentage of clean energy in the total energy mix to 30 percent by 2031, and becoming carbon neutral by 2050,” Al Kaabi continued. “The path to net-zero emission systems needs a built-in climate resilience to guarantee the security of energy supply.”
Highlighting the IAEA Technical Cooperation (TC) Programme, he said it provides critical support to the Member States to develop the infrastructure and to build the capacity required for the nuclear energy programme and in other sectors, such as health, agriculture and the environment.
“These efforts contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
Al Kaabi further noted that the UAE welcomes the active discussion of the role of SMRs and advanced nuclear technologies in achieving net zero and supporting energy security and sustainability and supports the IAEA platform on SMRs and their Applications (SMR Platform) and the Nuclear Harmonisation and Standardisation Initiative (NHSI).
On 13th-16th February 2023, the UAE hosted the IAEA International Conference on Effective Nuclear and Radiation Regulatory Systems: Preparing for the Future in a Rapidly Changing Environment.”
During the Conference the UAE announced the launch the UAE Professional Day of Nuclear and Radiation Sector Workers on 16th February, marking the day on which the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) issued a licence in 2020 to operate Unit 1 of the UAE’s Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, Al Kaabi further explained.
He also underscored the UAE’s efforts to support the IAEA’s safeguards system, as it concluded Practical Arrangement with IAEA in March 2023 to provide project-related direct funding and in-kind contributions for the activities of the agency in support of safeguards development.
“I would like to stress that in order to maintain the vital role of the IAEA, it is imperative to provide the IAEA with the required funding. The UAE remains committed to a strong, ongoing partnership with the IAEA in our responsible approach to the development of a national nuclear power programme and to the use of nuclear applications,” Al Kaabi concluded.
Source: Emirates News Agency
Africa Must Make Conscious Effort To Develop Oil & Gas Sector—APPO General Secretary
The Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO), Dr Omar Farouk Ibrahim, has underscored the need for Africa to continue to invest in the oil and gas industry to fast-track the socioeconomic development of the millions of people in Africa.
According to him, relying on Europeans, Asians and Americans to always lead in investing in the oil and gas sector would slack the rapid development of Africa.
Dr Ibrahim, who is a former Nigerian Governor of OPEC and Executive Board Member of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum GECF between 2015 to 2020, illustrated his argument by using the Singapore story which happened over 40 years ago to spiral her industrial drive.
He noted that Africa is endowed with oil and gas resources. Therefore, he urged stakeholders in the industry to swiftly collaborate with governments on the continent to pool resources together and invest in the improvement of millions of lives.
“Where you have a situation where 60% or more of your people just down there can’t fully participate in the economy and maybe 20% are so-called middle class, and then, just a few control the resources seriously, the country cannot change for the better,” he asserted.
Dr Ibrahim urged the continent to use a concerted effort to empower the people over a specified period and the government should subsidise oil and gas to help change the development foundations of the continent.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: NEDCo Sets October 2 For Phase III Revenue Mobilisation Exercise
The Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) will, from October 2 this year, begin phase III of its revenue mobilisation exercise to recover monies owed by customers in its operational areas.
The exercise will cover all categories of customers in arrears including State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
A release issued and signed by the Corporate Communications Manager, Maxwell Kotoka said that special security arrangements would be put in place, thus, urging all parties to cooperate with them during the exercise to help serve them better.
“The Northern Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (NEDCo) wishes to inform its cherished customers and the public that the company will undertake Phase III of the general revenue mobilisation exercise across its operational areas effective October 2, 2023.
“The exercise will cover all categories of customers in arrears, including State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).”
He noted that NEDCo’s offices would be closed to allow for the mobilisation exercise, except for very demanding units that would be at the post to serve customers.
“NEDCo’s Head Office and Area Offices will be closed temporarily to allow for the full engagement of all staff, including top Management in this exercise. Our customer service centres, zonal offices and third-party vendors will however remain open to address customer issues including reconnections and faults.”
Mr. Kotoka urged customers to immediately settle all arrears to avoid being disconnected and possible lawsuits.
“We wish to further notify the General Public that, recalcitrant customers who have refused to redeem their indebtedness to the Company after they have been served with Demand Notices will be arraigned before Court of Law.
“Customers in arrears are entreated to pay their bills immediately to avoid disconnection, embarrassment and payment of reconnection fees.
“Customers who signed payment agreements with NEDCo under Phase-1 of the exercise (including those who did before or after then) should ensure that all instalments that have fallen due are settled by October 2, 2023,” NEDCo said in its statement.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: AMMON Drums Up Support For Minister For Power
The Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria has thrown its weight behind Nigeria’s new Minister for Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, for graciously identifying the association as a key stakeholder in the power sector and invited them for a fact-finding meeting which culminated in a strategy meeting.
A statement issued by Engr Ademola Agoro and Engr Duro Omogbenigun, President and Secretary of the Association respectively, said they are happy to observe that.
Unlike typical politician Ministers, Chief Adelabu demonstrated knowledge of the sector and evidence of carefully incubated potential solutions to the issues facing local manufacturers of meters.
“The Honorable Minister encouraged AMMON to state the history of the industry sector despite his tight schedule whereupon he immediately offered some tangible solutions he was working on for our sector. In this exercise, he offered impressive resources that he could bring to bear given the possible influence of his current and past positions in government.
“The Honorable Minister also informed the Association that he is presently on a bilateral engagement with all stakeholders, in his bid to further understand the challenges of each player in the power sector,’’ the statement said.
It added that: “As a body, we are pleased that we have a minister who is not only a successful politician but one who is patriotic, ready to work hard, understand sectoral issues and deliver performance while using both his professional and business acumen to reposition the sector.”
The Association urged Nigerians to be mindful that the Honorable Minister has barely spent four weeks in office and met lots of challenges in the power sector.
“We, therefore, seek the support of all stakeholders to work with the new Minister for us to have an efficient power sector that addresses the demands of all Nigerians.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Gas Station Explosion In Azerbaijan Kills 68
Death toll from an explosion at a fuel storage depot in Azerbaijan-controlled Nagorno-Karabakh, a region primarily inhabited by Armenians, climbed to 68, according to the Nagorno-Karabakh Human Rights Ombudsman.
Of the 68 bodies, only 21 have been identified by the Stepanakert Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination, the Ombudsman said late Tuesday.
There are also 105 people missing from the incident, which occurred on Monday night at a fuel storage facility while thousands of ethnic Armenians were evacuating the disputed region following Azerbaijan’s swift military takeover last week.
The number of wounded remains 290, of which 168 have been receiving medical attention in Armenia.
The cause of the blast remains unclear, but Nagorno-Karabakh presidential aide David Babayan said initial information suggested that it resulted from negligence, adding that sabotage was unlikely.
Armenia’s health ministry said a helicopter brought some blast victims to Armenia on Tuesday morning, and more flights were expected.
The Russian peacekeeping force in Nagorno-Karabakh also provided helicopters to carry victims to Armenia.
Armenian authorities also said that they brought 125 bodies over to Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh for identification. The country’s Health Ministry clarified that all of those were killed in the fighting last week.
Armenian Health Minister Anahit Avanesian said at a press conference that 67 people were receiving treatment at the National Center for Burns of the Ministry of Health and their condition was “extremely serious.”
Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev said on X, formerly Twitter, that hospitals in Azerbaijan were ready to treat victims. Azerbaijan has sent in humanitarian aid, he said.
Azerbaijan also said Tuesday that 33 U.S. tons of gasoline and 37 U.S. tons of diesel fuel were being sent into the region.
Gasoline has been in short supply in Stepanakert for months, and the explosion further added to the shortages, compounding anxiety among many residents about whether they will be able to drive the 22 miles to the border.
Source: arkansaonline.com
Nissan To Go All-Electric By 2030 Despite Petrol Ban Delay
Nissan will accelerate plans towards electrification by committing that all vehicles sold in Europe will be electric by 2030.
The announcement comes despite the UK postponing its 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to 2035.
Nissan’s boss said the firm’s move was “the right thing to do”.
Car trade body the SMMT has voiced concerns that the postponement of the ban would see consumers delay the switch to electric vehicles.
Nissan will also introduce new battery technology by the end of the decade that it said will reduce both the charging time and cost of electric vehicles (EVs).
“Nissan will make the switch to full electric by 2030 in Europe. We believe it is the right thing to do for our business, our customers and for the planet,” said Nissan’s chief executive Makoto Uchida.
Cost target
Mr Uchida told BBC that the company was aiming to bring down the cost of electric vehicles for customers, so that they were no more expensive than petrol and diesel cars.
“It may take a bit of time, but we are looking at the next few years,” he said.
“We are looking at it from the point of view of the technology, from the point of view of cooperating with suppliers, and of course working with the government on how we can deliver that kind of cost competitiveness to the consumer,” Mr Uchida added.
Will that price parity happen by 2030? “That’s what we’re aiming for,” confirmed Mr Uchida.
Mr Uchida also said that the company was fast-tracking a different kind of battery technology, known as all-solid-state batteries (ASSB), which are lighter, cheaper, and quicker to charge.
“We are going to have a pilot plant for ASSB in Japan from next year, and we want to ensure they can be mass produced by 2028,” he said.
“There are a lot of challenges with this, but we do have a solution, and we are on track [to meet that target]”, he added.
Battery factory
Nissan is the only car company to have its own battery manufacturing capability in the UK.
Last year, it announced plans to invest £1bn in expanding the facility that sits next to its Sunderland car plant.
The government contributed £100m towards the project.
That gives Nissan an advantage over other carmakers who import the vast majority of their batteries from China.
Post-Brexit trading rules due to take effect in January next year require vehicles made in the UK or EU to source 45% of their components by value from the UK or EU to avoid a 10% tariff when exported either way.
As batteries are the most expensive part of an electric vehicle, some manufacturers in both the UK and EU have said they will be unable to hit that threshold and have called on the requirement to be deferred until plants are ready and able to supply the batteries.
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch recently told the BBC the government was optimistic that a deferral could be secured.
Source: BBC
IEA Says No New Major Fossil Fuel Projects Needed In Net Zero Scenario
The world would not need any new long lead-time conventional oil and gas projects or coal mines approved after 2023 as the surge in clean energy deployment could lead to peak fossil fuel demand this decade, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its updated Net Zero Roadmap on Tuesday.
The new report, an update on the first such publication from 2021, takes into account the developments in the energy sector in the past two years, including the energy crisis, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the drive for energy security, and the surge in solar installations and electric vehicle sales.
“The announced manufacturing pipeline for solar PV and batteries is projected to be sufficient to meet the NZE Scenario deployment needs to 2030,” the IEA said in its report.
Iraq Discusses Natural Gas Investments With U.S. Firms
In a net-zero scenario, demand for oil and gas is set to decline by around 20% by 2030 – “fast enough that no new long lead time conventional oil and gas projects need to be approved for development.”
“Low-emissions electricity rises so rapidly that no new unabated coal plants beyond those under construction at the start of 2023 are built,” the agency added.
“The sharp decline in fossil fuel demand in the NZE Scenario means that no new conventional long lead time oil and gas projects are approved for development after 2023, and that there are no new coal mines or coal mine lifetime extensions,” according to the IEA.
However, the agency noted that investment in existing fossil fuel supply projects is still needed in the NZE Scenario “to ensure that supply does not fall faster than the decline in demand.”
The IEA also warned that an “orderly” energy transition is far from certain, especially if fossil fuel investment falls faster than clean energy expansion catching up, or if low-cost resource holders decide to tap more oil and gas to boost their market share and influence fossil fuel prices by restricting production.
“Governments need to separate climate from geopolitics, given the scale of the challenge at hand,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.
Source: Oilprice.com
South Africa: Thousands Left Without Power As Severe Weather Hits Western Cape
Thousands of residents in the Western Cape Province of Cape Town, South Africa, are still without power due to the strong winds and heavy rain in the area over the long weekend.
A statement issued by the power utility company, Eskom, on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, said approximately 15 000 customers across the province were still without power.
Eskom said it had intensified efforts to restore electricity supply to customers and had significantly reduced the number of those without electricity.
On Monday, more than 82 000 Eskom customers across the province were without power due to the devastating storm that caused destruction to the electricity network.
“Thanks to the courageous efforts of Eskom teams who worked through the night and who are still out in the field, only 15 000 customers are currently without power,” Eskom said.
Areas still affected are Caledon, Greyton, Grabouw, Jagersbos, Kraaifontein, Worcester, Somerset West and surrounding areas, as well as parts of Khayelitsha.
“With more favourable weather conditions ahead, Eskom technicians are aiming to restore electricity supply to all customers who were affected due to the inclement weather as soon as possible,” Eskom said.
Eskom urged the remaining affected customers to continue to remain patient and apologised for any inconvenience.
Speaking to South Africa- based News24, Beverley van Reenen, who is the City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for energy, said they had experienced many calls concerning electricity.
“This is due to storm-related damage; teams are doing their best to assist as fast as possible. Teams are attending to storm-related outages in Philippi, Gugulethu, Eastridge, Steenberg, Wetton, Bellville, Plattekloof, and Green Point,” she said.
Van Reenen added that storm-related damage usually led to area outages, and restoration times were unfortunately affected by damaged infrastructure and stormy weather.
Source: httsp://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Major Oil Companies Pledges $13 Billion Towards Oil And Gas Development In Nigeria
Nigeria has secured a total of $13 billion in investment commitments in its oil and gas sector from major international energy companies, including ExxonMobil, Shell, and TotalEnergies, according to Olu Verheijen, the Special Adviser on Energy to Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu.
According to a report by Oilprice.com, citing Nigeria-based Nairametrics.com, Verheijen and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) recently met with representatives of 15 oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria and have secured their commitment to invest in Nigerian oil and gas.
“We are faced with a revenue crisis which is impacting all Nigerians. To urgently address this, President Bola Tinubu is actively seeking ways to grow revenue and forex to stabilize our economy and currency, and the oil and gas sector remains critical to our ability to do so despite current production levels falling significantly short of our potential,” Verheijen said.
Last week, Tinubu’s spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said that Exxon would boost its crude oil production in Nigeria by an additional 40,000 barrels per day (bpd).
Currently, Nigeria’s oil production is around 1 million bpd below its capacity.
The government has cited a lack of investments, a shortage of funding sources because of the energy transition, and insecurity among the factors driving the situation.
Nigeria aims to significantly increase its oil production to up to 1.7 million bpd by November 2023, hoping to win a higher quota in the OPEC+ agreement, Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, Permanent Secretary at Nigeria’s Ministry of Petroleum Resources, told Energy Intelligence in July.
Nigeria’s quota was 1.742 million bpd earlier this year, but due to its underproduction of more than 400,000 bpd, the output cap for Nigeria was lowered to 1.38 million bpd at the OPEC+ meeting in early June.
Nigeria has consistently failed to produce to its quota in the OPEC+ agreement.
The combination of pipeline vandalism and oil theft with a lack of investment in capacity has made Nigeria the biggest laggard in crude oil production in the OPEC+ alliance.
Source: httsp://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: BPA Debunks Report Of Bui Dam Spillage Displacing 1,500 Residents Of Buipe
Bui Power Authority, Ghana’s second-largest state-owned power generation company, has debunked media reports suggesting that 1,500 residents in Buipe in the West Gonja District of the Savannah Region have been displaced by floods from the Bui Dam spillage.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, which referenced a report by myjoyonline.com and Joy FM on Monday, BPA stated that “we have not been involved in any spillage activity.”
The statement noted that whenever there is a need for BPA to engage in a spillage, comprehensive measures are taken to provide adequate notice and education to all communities along the downstream river channels and all stakeholders.
It added that these measures are implemented to ensure the safety of lives and property before, during and after a spillage.
The statement strongly advised myjoyonline.com and Joy 99.7 FM (operated by the Multimedia Group Limited) to retract the publication and issue an apology through the same medium and refrain from making any further defamatory statements against the Bui Power Authority.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
German Gov’t Pushes For State-Owned Company SEFE To End Gas Supply Contract With Russia
A nationalized firm in Germany, which was formerly associated with multinational energy corporation Gazprom, is to cease cooperation with Russia in the sphere of gas procurement, according to a statement from Philip Steinberg, an official from the German Ministry of Economic Stabilization and Energy Security.
It is reported that the company Securing Energy for Europe GmbH, known as SEFE, has an outdated contract it is trying to get rid of through various means.
“This is something that needs to be terminated asap,” Steinberg wrote.
He also notes that the German government has to deal with “certain facts.”
Background
Germany nationalized the company during the height of the energy crisis in Europe last year.
Last week, it was reported that Securing Energy for Europe GmbH planned to ship LNG produced at the Yamal plant in Siberia early next month.
Critics argued that this contradicts Germany’s promise to avoid using Russian LNG after the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“This contradicts pretty much everything the German government has said on the subject in the past,” said Christian Leye, a member of the opposition Left Party.
Gas supply from Russia to Europe
The EU has stated that it could survive the winter without Russian gas if Moscow were to stop its supply.
The spokesperson for the U.S. House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, has stated America’s intention to replace Russia in the European gas market.
Spain has been increasingly relying on Russian natural gas, with its deliveries in July increasing by 65% compared to the previous year.
Recently, Deputy Head of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič stated that a complete cessation of Russian gas supplies was nearly an impossible task for EU countries at that moment.
Source: Daria Shekina
South Africa: Truck Driver, Two Clerks Charged For Stealing Coal
Police in South Africa have put a truck driver and two weighbridge clerks before the Middelburg Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing coal.
The suspects were arrested on Thursday and held at the Blinkpan Police Station where they were charged with the alleged theft.
Each of them was subsequently granted R2000 bail, a statement issued by Eskom, South Africa’s power utility, on Friday, September 22, 2023, said.
Coal theft has been an ongoing headache for Eskom, with nine arrests having taken place at Kusile earlier this month.
The power utility has previously said it suspects “highly organised” syndicates to be at work.
Authorities were acting on a tip-off received late in August about a truck that had been loaded with 34,900kg of coal at New Clydesdale Colliery and was destined for delivery at the Majuba power station.
It diverted from its route to an illegal coal yard next to the R35 Middelburg Bethal Road, where the driver allegedly offloaded the coal.
A team consisting of members of the Middelburg Organised Crime Unit and Eskom Security investigated, Eskom said.
“The truck which was located close to the coal yard was suspected of having received the stolen coal,” Eskom said.
The driver told the investigation team that he had delivered the coal to Majuba and produced a weighbridge ticket purported to confirm the delivery.
However, investigators established that the truck had never entered Majuba and that the weighbridge ticket was fraudulent, Eskom said.
The accused are set to appear in court on 6 October and more arrests are expected as investigations continue, Eskom said.
“Arrests like these demonstrate Eskom’s resolve to work together with the law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to book,” said Botse Sikhwitshi, acting General Manager for security at Eskom.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Ghana Gas To Build 200-bed Hospital For UENR
Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) has cut sod for the construction of a 200-bed hospital at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani.
The project will be completed in two phases, with the first phase providing 80 beds and relocating the existing UENR Clinic.
The facility will include specialised units like a dentist block, eye clinic, pediatric ward, pharmacy and laboratory.
The medical facility is intended to address the healthcare needs of not only students and staff but also serve the community.
Speaking at the sod cutting ceremony, Prof Nsiah Gyabaah, Chair of the University Council, commended Ghana Gas for their initiative, highlighting that it is a transformation of a long-held dream into reality.
He stressed the significance of accessible healthcare services.
Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Elvis Asare-Bediako, highlighted his vision for the hospital to be a centre for cutting-edge medical research, a teaching ground for future healthcare professionals, and a beacon of quality healthcare for students, faculty, staff, as well as the community.
Prof Asare-Bediako also emphasised that the hospital’s construction signifies the university’s unwavering commitment to the comprehensive development of its community.
Mr. Anyimah Edomgbole, Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Relations at Ghana Gas, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to providing high-quality healthcare and other essential social services.
The ceremony was attended by various stakeholders, including representatives from the Ghana Health Service, UENR and representatives from the community.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com