Nigeria’s new President Bola Tinubu has called for a stronger and better cooperation with the United States, as Nigeria and the rest of the world move in the quest for renewable and other sources of clean energy.
He spoke during a meeting with United States Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Energy Resources, Ambassador Geoffrey Praytt, at the State House, Abuja on Monday.
President Tinubu presented his own perspectives to the US delegation on the role of Nigeria as an oil producing country and the importance of revenue from fossil oil to national economic well-being.
Nigeria, according to the President, will honour all its obligations to climate change and quest for clean energy.
President Tinubu appealed to the United States and other developed nations to recognize that Nigeria and Africa have a challenge of poverty that must be addressed, saying in the race for energy transition, the world must have a right balance between the fossil fuel and green energy.
“Nigeria is an oil producing nation and a developing economy that needs revenue from fossil fuel for growth and development. The new energy we are talking about represents just 5% of global energy requirements. We must find the right balance between new energy and fossil fuel because we have problem of poverty in Africa,’’ the President said in a statement copied to energynewsafrica.com by Dele AlakeSpecial Adviser, Special Duties, Communications & Strategy.
On the nexus between the problem of poverty in Africa and fragility of democracy on the continent, President Tinubu admonished the United States to work with Nigeria to protect the government of the people.
He also urged the Assistant Secretary of State to impress on his home government the urgency of responding to the needs of Nigeria.
“Our democracy needs protection like all other democracies in the world. We cherish our partnership with the US. My concern is whether United States is giving us enough as much as we need. The US should not make us hungry to the point we will have to eat the dinner of our enemy.
“We need the funding support to help us drive and accelerate our energy diversification. There are bottlenecks that must be unbottled in terms of how the US bureaucracy responds to our needs. Help must be given when it is needed. We are ready to learn and develop to join 21st century economy. Please take it home that we need help and very quickly too. I am honoured with your recognition of the baby steps we have taken so far. I want to assure you that Nigeria will honour her obligations on climate change and renewables,” the President said.
Ambassador Praytt in his remarks extolled the bold economic initiatives already taken by President Tinubu with respect to fuel subsidy removal and unification of multiple foreign exchange rates.
He said he was in the country partly to inform the President that President Joe Biden is in support of the steps taken so far by Nigeria to reduce the impact of fossil fuel.
“We are opening a new page in US relations with Nigeria. Nigeria is taking important steps in growing the renewable energy to meet the need of her citizens.
“We are very happy with our work with NNPCL and your team. Your new Special Adviser on Energy is already doing very well,” the US Envoy said.
Earlier in his introductory remarks, Group Managing Director of NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, told the President that the Energy Industry in Nigeria had been engaging the US Department of Energy on the energy transition.
Kyari acknowledged the support the Nigerian government received from the US Department of Energy to develop the Petroleum Industry Act.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Russian refineries processed 5.49 million b/d of crude in the week spanning June 8-14, a 2-month high, Bloomberg has reported.
That’s close to 200,000 barrels a day more than the previous week’s clip as serious questions continue being asked about the country’s commitment to production cuts agreed on by OPEC+.
Back In February, oil prices received a boost after Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced that the country would cut oil production by 500,000 barrels per day, or around 5% of output.
Novak has on numerous occasions insisted that Russia is implementing the cuts in full as pledged, but surging exports of seaborne crude continue raising eyebrows.
“Russia is restoring its daily refinery throughput as the spring maintenance season is largely over. We will see the last key facilities, including Surgutneftegas PJSC’s Kirishi, coming back online in the first days of July. Then the refinery runs will fully return to pre-maintenance volumes,” Viktor Katona, head of oil analytics at research firm Kpler, has told Bloomberg.
Recently, the World Bank reported that Russia’s economy will contract a mere 0.2% in the current year, way softer than last year’s 2.1% dip thanks to increased buying of its crude by India and China as well as European countries that banned Russian oil imports importing huge amounts of oil commodities from the two countries and also from United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Turkey.
India in particular has dramatically ramped up purchases of Russian oil, with crude imports growing staggering 1,500% in May to over 2.15 million barrels per day in May.
A recent report by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) noted that western countries bought $42 billion worth of laundered Russian crude in the form of various oil products from nations that are friendly towards Russia, with India leading the five other countries.
Source:Oilprice.com
The International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that Africa’s renewable energy capacity could reach 310 GW by 2030, catapulting the continent into the top tier of green energy production.
The Bui Power Authority (BPA) hydro-solar hybrid power plant in Ghana is leading the way in Sub-Saharan Africa, with essential communication and operational management services provided across Huawei’s eLTE Broadband Network.
Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh says ICT systems providing intelligent energy management are critical for ensuring efficient power generation, power plant operations and power distribution.
They enable renewable energy to be integrated into the grid for the reliable, stable access and supply needed in order to achieve the country’s goal of universal electricity access by 2025.
Dr. Prempeh made the statement when the Bui Power Authority put into operation a broadband private network built by Huawei.
“As Ghana is striding towards achieving universal electricity access by 2025, it is important for us to unleash the transformational power of ICT in optimising the operations at power plants, increasing the efficiency of renewable energy use, and ensuring a stable and cost-effective electricity supply to many more households nationwide,” the minister said.
Bui Authority and Huawei have built an eLTE broadband private network that penetrates the substantial concrete barriers and infrastructure at Bui Power Plant, in Ghana.
This is the first time that Huawei has deployed eLTE-based solution in the hydroelectric industry.
The network, which carries voice, video, and data services, enables instant communication between the control room and maintenance staff moving around the plant.
It covers, without extensive cabling and installation, both indoor and outdoor working areas, including roadways inside the dam, generator rooms, and employee living areas within the Bui vicinity.
More digital applications to come
With features like “push-to-talk” and group calls for both voice and video, the private network makes routine maintenance and handling of emergencies easier and more efficient at the power plant.
“Now staff can communicate via video call to fix maintenance challenges in record time”, said a Huawei engineer.
“Building modern networks also provide capacity for growth, enabling the intelligent digital transformation of the site in the future.”
Hydro-solar hybrid system
Clean energy is becoming increasingly important in Ghana’s national energy mix, as Ghana’s National Energy Plan aims to achieve a 10% penetration of renewable energy by 2030.
The role of the Bui Generating Station as an important provider of hydroelectric power in the country has been further strengthened and complemented with a new installation of solar power generation capability.
In October 2019, construction commenced on the first phase of the 250MW project with the development of a Solar PV Facility.
Additionally, the Bui Power Authority (BPA) has commissioned a 5MW Floating Solar Plant which is the first in the Sub-Saharan region and supplies power through the Bui Switchyard to the National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS).
Powering development in Northern Ghana
The Bui Generating Station produces 404MW of hydropower.
An additional 50MW of power is generated from the solar installations on site, with the total renewable power output contributing around 6-7% of the total power generated in-country. This is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 47,000 tons per year.
The country is keen to take advantage of the reservoir created by the Bui Generating Station to promote fishing in the reservoir and the irrigation of over 30,000 hectares of land for crops, including maize, cashew, and sugar cane.
The BPA is collaborating with strategic private investors for the running of a local cashew processing plant and sugar mill within the Bui vicinity.
This intervention is aimed at developing agriculture in Ghana, boosting employment, and thus improving the lives of local people.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Employees of the Volta River Authority (VRA) have held a two-day career talk programme for the students of the Tema Manhean Senior High Technical School in the school.
The educative programme, which is aimed at helping the beneficiaries to know who they are and to further prepare them for their future careers, is part of the Employee Volunteer Programme (EVP) of VRA, Ghana’s largest power generation company.
The mentors took the students through tailored sessions which included Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Mental Health, Career Guidance and ICT Boot all in a bid to help to contribute to the beneficiaries’ future development.
Prince Tawiah, the Principal Systems Administrator of VRA, and Ms. Felicity Dzordzorme, a graduate teacher at the Akosombo International School, took the students through the plenary session and phase two of the EVP respectively.
The EVP, Samuel Binifo, the Headmaster of Tema Manhean Senior High Technical School, in his opening remarks, said would enable the students to believe in themselves and be disciplined as they develop.
He expressed the belief that students’ development is better moulded when they are privileged to have people holding responsible positions in their fields of expertise talk to students most of whom do not know themselves.
“I would encourage you to learn from our guests who have become who they are today through discipline, hard work, dedication and focus. If you will study hard and take their advice to you, you are likely to become like them,” Mr. Binifo told his students.
He thanked his guests for choosing his school out of the 46 second-cycle institutions in the Greater Accra Region for the 2023 EVP.
Samuel Fletcher, the Community Relations Manager, VRA, after a brief highlight of the operations of VRA which he said included, generating electricity for onward transmission and distribution to consumers and with a vision of becoming a model of excellence for power generation in Africa, explained the importance of the students to VRA “because you are one of our key stakeholders in our operational areas.”
Consequently, the EVP, he said was initiated to take care of VRA’s communities “and once we have students living in our communities, we need to engage them through career guidance.”
Mr. Fletcher said Tema Manhean Senior High Technical School was the second school the EVP had been taken to in the Tema area after the Kpone Community Day School last year.
The next stop for the EVP is the Ahantaman SHS, Western Region, and as part of the school’s upcoming anniversary, Mr. Fletcher said his outfit had supported the Ahantaman SHS with prizes for the best student.
“This year, we will be visiting three schools. We are doing Tema today. We will go to our next school, which is Ahantaman SHS. Our third school will come later and we believe that our CSR programmes will benefit our students who are the future leaders of our country,” he told the media in an interview.
By: NJ Ayuk, Executive Director, African Energy Chamber
The backlash in recent days about the selection of Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), to serve as president of the next United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) has been quite… dramatic.
The decision to have him lead the conference has been described as “a fox watching the henhouse,” asking “arms dealers to lead peace talks,” and “putting the head of a tobacco company in charge of negotiating an anti-smoking treaty.”
Tasneem Essop, the executive director of Climate Action Network International, went further, saying,” He cannot preside over a process that is tasked to address the climate crisis with such a conflict of interest, heading an industry that is responsible for the crisis itself. If he does not step down as CEO, it will be tantamount to a full-scale capture of the UN climate talks by a petrostate national oil company and its associated fossil fuel lobbyists.”
And Tzeporah Berman, chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, told ABC News that the selection of Al Jaber to oversee COP28 is a “devastating blow to the climate negotiations at a critical moment in history.”
I could go on, but instead, I’d like to describe why I think those views are wrong-headed and why the African Energy Chamber supports Al Jaber’s selection.
Frankly, I’ve seen rhetoric like this before, only it was about the “grave dangers posed by fossil fuels”, the “evils of the oil and gas industry”, and how “Africa’s vulnerable populations must be protected from ongoing oil and gas production” and their role in triggering climate-related disasters.
I realize that the protests we’re seeing in Al Jaber’s case are based on the belief that, like oil and water, the petroleum industry and meaningful climate change prevention simply don’t mix.
But that assumption is false. If we’re going to have a just transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, we’ll need both. We’ll need fossil fuels to ensure energy security and drive industrialization in developing nations, even as the world works to pull together the necessary investments, infrastructure, and governance to make a world fueled by renewable energy work.
Al Jaber understands that. He’s witnessed the painful results of divesting from fossil fuels prematurely — just look at the energy crisis in Europe — and he’s calling for a more pragmatic approach to protecting the world from climate change. He’s calling for an approach that doesn’t worsen energy poverty and hinder economic growth. As he brilliantly wrote in August, “Our ultimate goal should be to hold back emissions, not progress.”
Yes, Al Jaber is an oil and gas industry leader, and ADNOC has no intention of stopping production in the short term. But, then again, drilling is not the world-threatening activity that environmental organizations make it out to be. And Al Jaber is more than an oil company leader, he’s also the chairman of the rapidly growing global renewable energy company, Masdar. And he has spoken openly about the importance of significantly curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition to all of that, Al Jaber is a good man and a friend to Africa. I am certain that he is an excellent choice to lead COP28.
Bringing Renewables to the World
The renewable energy company that Al Jaber leads, Masdar is a model of the important role the petroleum industry can take in moving the world closer to widespread renewable energy usage.
The company was formed with the goal of diversifying the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) economy and energy industry, and its shareholders include ADNOC, Mubadala Investment Company, and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA).
Today, Masdar is active in over 40 countries and invested in projects valued at more than USD20 billion.
A few examples of the company’s impact, just in the last few weeks, include:
The company has signed an agreement with Kyrgyzstan’s energy ministry to develop clean energy projects with the capacity to generate 1 gigawatt (GW). The first of these projects will be a 200-megawatt solar energy plant set to begin operations in 2026.
Masdar signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with four Dutch companies to explore strategies for establishing a green hydrogen supply chain from Abu Dhabi to the Netherlands. This ties in with Masdar’s plans to begin focusing on green hydrogen to achieve 100 GW renewable energy capacity and green hydrogen production of 1 million tons per annum annually by 2030.
Masdar signed an MOU and a joint development agreement with Zambian utility, Zesco, to develop 2GW of solar PV in Zambia. Phase One of the projects is 500MW of large-scale solar PV. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema says the projects with Masdar will provide USD2 billion of capital to the country.
Also on Jan. 18, Masdar signed an agreement with Ethiopia to jointly develop a 500MW solar project.
ADNOC is demonstrating a solid commitment to protecting the environment, too. Earlier this year, it announced plans to invest UDE15 billion in decarbonization projects by 2030, including clean power, carbon capture and storage, energy efficiency and reduction of routine gas flaring.
Meanwhile, Al Jaber has made it clear where he stands on emissions and climate change: He recognizes the need to get a handle on global emissions.
“We are way off track,” Al Jaber said Jan. 14 during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week , hosted by Masdar. “The world is playing catch-up when it comes to the key Paris goal of holding temperatures down to 1.5C, and the hard reality is that to achieve this goal, global emissions must fall 43% by 2030.”
Pragmatism is Not Our Enemy
But the reason Al Jaber is perfectly suited to serve as COP28 president— and is causing an uproar among environmental organizations — is he doesn’t believe the need to reduce global emissions is cause for irrational decisions. He supports continuing oil and gas production for now, rather than a premature rush to renewables.
His stance is based on a reasoned understanding of the repercussions of giving up fossil fuels too quickly.
“Recent events have shown that unplugging the current energy system before we have built a sufficiently robust alternative puts both economic and climate progress at risk – and calls into question whether we can ensure a just transition that is equitable to all,” Al Jaber wrote in an August op-ed.
“What’s needed is a realistic new strategy that is practical, pro-growth, and pro-climate,” he continued. “The strategy needs to appreciate the complexity of energy and industrial systems, and that the scale of the transition required is colossal, requiring greater alignment and collaboration on everything from capital allocation to product design, public policy, and behavioral change. This means examining the demand side of the energy system first.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
But I would add that Africa’s energy industry, and its potential to minimize energy poverty and drive economic growth, have been hindered by non-government organizations (NGOs) exerting immense pressure against investing in our continent’s oil and gas projects.
The UAE made a sound choice when it selected Al Jaber to lead COP28, and I hope it won’t let the voices of environmental organizations, no matter how loud, bully it into changing course.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The daily fuel consumption in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has dropped from 65 million to 40 million barely two weeks after the West African nation’s new President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidies.
The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, according to Vanguard, disclosed this after the inauguration of the National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The government deliberated and looked at all the issues on subsidy removal, the challenges and problems holistically and set up a small committee of the council to review and come up with a term of reference that will help to alleviate the problem of workers and other vulnerable groups,’’ Bala Mohammed, the governor of Bauchi State told journalists after the meeting.
According to him, the committee is composed of Governors of Kebbi state, as Chairman, Anambra representing the South East geopolitical zone. Benue North Central, Kaduna Northwest, Bauchi, representing the northeast, Cross River, South-South and Oyo state South west.
“As part of the inaugural national economic council meeting today, the major focus was on the removal of petroleum subsidy and implied the removal of subsidy on foreign exchange, which has led to some convergence of some sort.
“The impact of these two actions definitely is increased prices. And as a way to solve the problem and reduce the shock, a presentation was made by the National Automotive Design and Development Council on the great things that are happening in the automotive industry.
“It was that about six states in the country, including Lagos, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna and Kano that have benefited from domestic production of vehicles or assembling of vehicles by Nigerian companies operating in Nigeria. And these companies include INNOSON, Maikano, Dangote Peugeot, Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria, Stallion Hyundai, Honda, Elizade/Toyota, Coscharis and Ford, Kojo Motors, Jet Systems motors.”
While he said Tinubu’s administration should be commended for its efforts to remove subsidy and still help create palliatives, Otti disclosed that the consumption of fuel has reduced in the country.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s leading indigenous Oil Marketing Company, GOIL, has maintained the price of both petrol and diesel for the second pricing window effective today, June 16,2023.
This means that from today up to June 30, 2023, fuel consumers will still be buying a litre of petrol and diesel at Gh¢12.45.
Fuel prices are reviewed every two weeks in the West African nation.
During the first pricing window that is June 1, GOIL, Shell and TotalEnergies sold both petrol and diesel at Gh¢12.45 per litre.
NPA’s estimates for finished products for petrol had been between US$828 and US$ 826 per metric tonne while diesel prices had been between US$691 and US$697 per metric tonne for the past two weeks.
Crude oil prices had also been between US$69 and $75 per barrel for the past two weeks.
The exchange rate is one of the key determinants of setting fuel prices.
The local currency Cedi has depreciated against the major trading currency-dollar in the past two weeks.
Given this, Fuel prices should have been adjusted upward.
It is therefore not clear why GOIL Plc. maintained fuel prices for the second pricing.
But this portal can say however that GOIL may have absorbed the anticipated increases because the company takes some of its stock from government’s gold for oil programme.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Bui Power Authority is planning to construct a 50MW Solar PV Farm in Yendi in the Northern Region of Ghana, energynewsafrica.com. can report.
The contractor for the project has already been selected and groundbreaking is expected to be done soon.
The project will be sited near GRIDCo’s substation in Yendi to ensure easy transmission of power upon completion.
The Chief Executive Officer of Bui Power Authority (BPA), Mr. Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, who disclosed this in a speech he read at a round-table discussion organised in Accra by Huawei, a Chinese leading global provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices, stated that the project would include 5km of transmission lines.
This, he said, is to enable vast improvement of electricity distribution in the Dagbon area.
Mr Dzamesi noted that every solar plant requires a base load and, hence, the Authority had concluded the selection of a consultant to do total feasibility studies on the three western rivers namely, Pra, Ankobra and Tano and Wli Waterfall for additional hydropower to complement the Bui hydro.
“We hope to have a close on the award by 18 months to me,” he said.
He said BPA’s goal is to diversify Ghana’s energy mix, reduce carbon emissions and contribute to the country’s sustainable development objectives.
“We are exploring wind, solar and other clean energy sources, aiming to meet the increasing demand for electricity in an environmentally conscious manner,” he concluded.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The prestigious Africa Energy Forum (aef) is set to take place from 20th to 23rd June this year at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and its State Agencies are collaborating with Energynet to host the event in the Country.
It marks the first time Kenya will host this esteemed energy forum that brings together key stakeholders and thought leaders in the energy sector from around the world. With a reputation of being the most meaningful gathering of decision-makers in African energy, the aef serves as a platform for partnerships, identifying opportunities and propelling the industry forward.
Under the theme “Africa for Africa – Building Energy for the Just Transition,” the 25th Africa Energy Forum aims to foster a deeper understanding of the continent’s energy requirements while emphasizing the vital role of international investors in meeting these needs.
This highly anticipated event brings together government officials, utilities, regulators, development finance institutions, commercial banks, power developers, technology providers, engineering, procurement, construction companies (EPCs), and professional services. By converging and sharing insights, participants will forge partnerships and drive positive change in Africa’s energy sector.
KenGen, one of Kenya’s leading energy utilities, is the country host for the 25th aef.
This further cement its position as a key player in the energy sector in Kenya and Africa.
Kenya has recently become a beacon of renewable energy deployment, showcasing its commitment to a sustainable and environmentally friendly future. Notably, Kenya has made significant progress in diversifying its energy mix, with geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar power accounting for 81% of the nation’s electrical generation.
Kenya’s impressive utilization of geothermal energy, which constitutes over half of its low-carbon electricity, has positioned the Country as a frontrunner in the field. In fact, Kenya releases excess geothermal energy during periods of low electricity demand, a testament to its abundant resources.
The Country’s installed geothermal capacity is projected to expand by at least eightfold, opening doors for expanding green manufacturing capacity and exporting surplus electricity to neighbouring nations. KenGen’s participation in the forum presents valuable opportunities for collaboration with investors, sector partners, and industry experts, driving the advancement of sustainable energy solutions.
Additionally, the event will witness the launch of the Youth Energy Summit (YES!), empowering and providing tools for the African youth to succeed in the energy industry.
KenGen and the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) have been instrumental in developing renewable energy in Kenya.
The two entities have played a pivotal role in strengthening the Country’s geothermal production capacity, contributing significantly to the progress of the energy industry.
Other utilities involved in Kenya’s energy sector include the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NUPEA) and the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
KPLC ensures reliable electricity distribution and supply, KETRACO facilitates efficient transmission of electricity, REREC extends electricity access to rural areas and promotes renewable energy adoption, NUPEA is involved in nuclear power project development and implementation, while EPRA is an independent regulatory authority responsible for technical and economic regulation of electricity, petroleum and renewable energy sub-sectors in Kenya.
The 25th Africa Energy Forum will feature distinguished keynote speakers, including Simon Gosling, Managing Director of EnergyNet, who will deliver the opening remarks on behalf of aef & YES! The event will include welcome statements from Honourable Davis Chirchir, Cabinet Secretary for Energy & Petroleum, and Honourable Ababu Namwamba, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports, and the Arts, representing the Republic of Kenya.
Other speakers include Joseph Nganga, Vice President for Africa at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), a founding partner of YES, who will provide scene-setting remarks.
The Africa Energy Forum 2023 promises to be a landmark event, driving innovation and collaboration in the energy sector in Africa.
It will serve as a catalyst for advancing sustainable energy solutions, fostering partnerships, and shaping the future of Africa’s energy landscape.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Chinese leading global provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei, is partnering with Bui Power Authority (BPA), Ghana’s second-largest power generation company, to enable them to leverage technology in its operations.
Bui Power Authority operates 404 Megawatts Hydro Electric Power Dam located on the Bui River in the Savannah Region, 5MW of Floating Solar PV plant on the Bui Dam reservoir and also developing a 250MW solar power plant of which 50MW is currently supplying power to the national grid.
The company also operates the Tsatsadu 45kW mini hydro power plant at Alavanyo Abehenease in the Hohoe Municipality in the Volta Region.
It is in the light of ensuring efficiency in the operations of these power infrastructures through technology that Huawei has partnered with the BPA.
On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, BPA and Huawei held a round table discussion where a section of Ghanaian journalists was allowed to interact with officials of the two institutions.
Speaking at the event, Edison Xie, Vice President of Corporate Communication at Huawei, said, “Our partnership with BPA is the reflection of the amalgamation of the determination to develop hydro energy and other renewable energy sources and to harness the benefits of ICTs that are propelling Ghana on its growth trajectory.”
He stated that Huawei is privileged to be part of the digital transformation journey in Ghana and is excited about the boundless possibilities that the future holds in Ghana with pumping power and energising growth.
According to him, Huawei’s eLTE solution installed at Bui Dam exemplifies how ICTs can optimise operations and enhance efficiency.
This broadband private network provides wireless coverage across the entire site, enabling real-time communication between the control office and the on-site workforce, and improving response times to maintenance requests and emergencies.
“This eLTE solution serves as the cornerstone of Bui Power Authority’s digital operation and supervision. It tackles the challenge of information silos by integrating and consolidating data from various sources, thus, enhancing coordination and decision-making within the organisation,” Mr. Xie said.
He added that Huawei’s solution can support the smooth evolution of the hydropower station to be a truly intelligent power production system, making sites safer and more efficient, to lay the groundwork for future intelligent solutions like water level detection and flow monitoring.
“Our work at the Bui hydro-solar hybrid dam reflects our efforts in leveraging the power of 5G, AI, and the Cloud to transform industries across the globe. Digital transformation is key to ensuring that industries can become more productive and can’t,” he emphasised.
In his remarks, the CEO of Bui Power Authority, Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi said, “To augment Ghana’s hydro generation, BPA has embarked on landmark initiatives which include the 250MWp Solar Project, out of which 50MWp have already been developed and connected to the National Interconnected Transmission System.
“I am glad to say that the Bui Solar Park uses the Huawei inverters and battery system, the first of its kind to be deployed in Africa,” he added.
In a speech read on behalf of the Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, by the Technical Advisor to the Minister, Mr Kwabena Tandoh praised the collaboration between BPA & Huawei.
He further stated the deployment of Solar Plants within the Bui enclave demonstrates the success of the government’s strategy in developing renewable sources and utilising next-generation systems to provide stable access and supply of electricity for all Ghanaians.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi delayed a trip to the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station on Wednesday for security reasons as Moscow and Kyiv reported heavy fighting in southern Ukraine.
Grossi had been expected to visit the plant (ZNPP) in southern Ukraine on Wednesday following talks in Kyiv on Tuesday, but Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said the trip had been pushed back, possibly by days.
“Grossi is in Ukraine. The issue of his visit to the ZNPP should be resolved in the next few days,” Galushchenko was quoted as saying by Interfax Ukraine news agency.
“I cannot assess the situation – there are hostilities going on and the military is assessing the situation.”
Russian news agencies, reporting early on Thursday morning, quoted a senior official in Russia’s nuclear industry as saying Grossi was likely to visit the Zaporizhzhia plant on Thursday.
“We can say with a high degree of certainty that the IAEA delegation headed by Grossi will still take place on Thursday,” Renat Karchaa, an adviser to the general director of Rosenergoatom, which operates Russia’s nuclear stations, told Tass news agency.
There was no word late on Wednesday from Ukrainian officials.
A diplomatic source had earlier said security checks were being made and Grossi’s trip was expected to take place soon. Russian news agency Interfax quoted a Russian-installed local official as saying Grossi would visit on Thursday.
Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in Kyiv on Tuesday that he was “very concerned” that the nuclear plant could be caught up in a Ukrainian counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territory.
Source: Reuters
Nigeria’s new President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has appointed Ms. Olubukoka Arowolo Verheijen as a Special Advisor for Energy.
She was appointed alongside seven other advisors.
Before her appointment, Ms. Arowolo was the Managing Director at Latimer Energy.
She is an energy expert with nearly two decades of transactional project development, investment and policy experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors.
She currently serves as an Advisory Council Member of the US Millennium Challenge Corporation and an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Energy for Growth Hub.
She is also the Founder of the BFA Foundation, which funds scholarships for women and other disadvantaged groups to expand their career advancement opportunities in high-growth sectors including the energy sector.
Her past roles include a Deal Lead and member of the Governing Board of an upstream JV at Shell and partner and investment committee chair at an early-stage investment firm with a pan-African portfolio of distributed renewables companies.
Education
Between 2003 and 2005, Ms Verheijen pursued her higher education at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School, where she obtained a master’s degree in public policy, with a focus on Financial Markets Analysis, Business, and Government Policy.
This academic achievement further solidified her understanding of the intricate dynamics between economics, politics, and policymaking.
Earlier in her educational journey, she attended Long Island University from 1995 to 1999, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science. This foundational education equipped her with a broad understanding of economic principles and political systems, providing a strong basis for her subsequent professional endeavours.
By combining her academic accomplishments with her extensive practical experience in the energy sector, Ms Verheijen possesses a comprehensive skill set that enables her to navigate complex economic and policy landscapes.
Her educational background, coupled with her expertise in the energy industry, positions her as an asset in shaping effective policies and driving sustainable economic growth in the energy sector.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Energy Commission, the technical regulator of electricity, natural gas and renewable energy, in collaboration with the Ministries of Energy and Education, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, launched the 4th Edition of the Senior High Schools Renewable Energy Challenge.
This year’s SHS Renewable Energy Challenge, which is on the theme: ‘Mechanised Small-Scale Agriculture Using Renewable Energy Technologies’, was born out of the Commission’s mandate under the Renewable Energy Act, 2011 (Act 832), which includes the promotion of the development and utilisation of renewable energy resources.
The Commission is also to recommend and advise relevant stakeholders on the educational curriculum on efficient use of renewable energy sources and evolve programmes for its mainstreaming in the educational curriculum in Ghana.
The Challenge seeks to promote creative thinking and provide mentorship to students in the second-cycle institutions, and also extend to them the platform to exhibit their innovative projects.
In an address on behalf of the Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Mr Seth Mahu, a Deputy Director for Power at the Ministry of Energy, noted that agriculture has been associated with large-scale farming practices that heavily rely on manual labour and conventional machinery.
He, however, said this approach presents limitations in terms of efficiency, productivity and sustainability.
“By shifting our attention towards small-scale agriculture, we can establish a decentralised system that empowers farmers with greater control over their production, promotes local food security and enhances rural development,” he explained.
The participating schools are expected to develop projects in the field of agriculture that incorporate renewable energy technologies.
“This provides an opportunity to explore innovative ways in which renewable energy can be harnessed to revolutionise farming practices and promote sustainability,” the Minister said.
Ing. Oscar Amonoo-Neizer, Executive Secretary of Energy Commission
According to him, students are required to devise a project that demonstrates the utilisation of renewable energy technologies to enhance any of these aspects within agriculture.
Moreover, students have the flexibility to integrate other scientific or technological aspects such as artificial intelligence, alongside their chosen renewable energy technology.
“I urge everyone to foster an environment of encouragement and support for schools, teachers and students, enabling them to unleash their full potential in conceptualising and developing innovative projects and products,” he said.
Dr Opoku Prempeh commended the Energy Commission for their efforts in securing the long-term sustainability of the Challenge, which involves the ongoing development and commercialisation of the students’ projects.
The Director-General of Ghana Education Service Dr. Eric Nkansah said with renewable energy technologies, “we can ensure a brighter future for small-scale farmers.”
She said small-scale agriculture plays a vital role in feeding communities and contributing to local economies.
She, however, said these farmers often face significant challenges such as limited access to electricity and reliance on fossil fuels for irrigating farms.
“This is where renewable energy technologies step in as a game-changer. Renewable energy technologies offer a clean and sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources.
“It is, therefore, very important for us, as a country, to look at ways of improving the agricultural sector to enable our farmers to use renewable energy technologies to efficiently harness the energy from renewable energy technologies to maximize the production and harvest for small-scale agriculture to produce enough feed for feeding the communities,” she concluded.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of Energy Commission, Ing Oscar Amonoo -Neizer said the Challenge has come a long way since its modest inception in 2019 when it was first introduced as a pilot programme involving 29 schools in the Greater Accra Region.
Since then, he said the Challenge has evolved into a national programme, capturing the attention and enthusiasm of both academic and non-academic institutions.
He said the prizes for this year would even be much better than the previous ones.
He expressed the Commission’s gratitude to the partners- German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Ashesi University, Bui Power Authority and Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited for their invaluable support.
Dr. Prempeh made the statement when the Bui Power Authority put into operation a broadband private network built by Huawei.
“As Ghana is striding towards achieving universal electricity access by 2025, it is important for us to unleash the transformational power of ICT in optimising the operations at power plants, increasing the efficiency of renewable energy use, and ensuring a stable and cost-effective electricity supply to many more households nationwide,” the minister said.
Bui Authority and Huawei have built an eLTE broadband private network that penetrates the substantial concrete barriers and infrastructure at Bui Power Plant, in Ghana.
This is the first time that Huawei has deployed eLTE-based solution in the hydroelectric industry.
The network, which carries voice, video, and data services, enables instant communication between the control room and maintenance staff moving around the plant.
It covers, without extensive cabling and installation, both indoor and outdoor working areas, including roadways inside the dam, generator rooms, and employee living areas within the Bui vicinity.
More digital applications to come
With features like “push-to-talk” and group calls for both voice and video, the private network makes routine maintenance and handling of emergencies easier and more efficient at the power plant.
“Now staff can communicate via video call to fix maintenance challenges in record time”, said a Huawei engineer.
“Building modern networks also provide capacity for growth, enabling the intelligent digital transformation of the site in the future.”
Hydro-solar hybrid system
Clean energy is becoming increasingly important in Ghana’s national energy mix, as Ghana’s National Energy Plan aims to achieve a 10% penetration of renewable energy by 2030.
The role of the Bui Generating Station as an important provider of hydroelectric power in the country has been further strengthened and complemented with a new installation of solar power generation capability.
In October 2019, construction commenced on the first phase of the 250MW project with the development of a Solar PV Facility.
Additionally, the Bui Power Authority (BPA) has commissioned a 5MW Floating Solar Plant which is the first in the Sub-Saharan region and supplies power through the Bui Switchyard to the National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS).
Powering development in Northern Ghana
The Bui Generating Station produces 404MW of hydropower.
An additional 50MW of power is generated from the solar installations on site, with the total renewable power output contributing around 6-7% of the total power generated in-country. This is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 47,000 tons per year.
The country is keen to take advantage of the reservoir created by the Bui Generating Station to promote fishing in the reservoir and the irrigation of over 30,000 hectares of land for crops, including maize, cashew, and sugar cane.
The BPA is collaborating with strategic private investors for the running of a local cashew processing plant and sugar mill within the Bui vicinity.
This intervention is aimed at developing agriculture in Ghana, boosting employment, and thus improving the lives of local people.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com 
On his part, the Executive Secretary of Energy Commission, Ing Oscar Amonoo -Neizer said the Challenge has come a long way since its modest inception in 2019 when it was first introduced as a pilot programme involving 29 schools in the Greater Accra Region.
Since then, he said the Challenge has evolved into a national programme, capturing the attention and enthusiasm of both academic and non-academic institutions.
He said the prizes for this year would even be much better than the previous ones.
He expressed the Commission’s gratitude to the partners- German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Ashesi University, Bui Power Authority and Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited for their invaluable support.
