The Pew Research Center has released a new poll which found that nearly two-thirds of the U.S. public opposes phasing out fossil fuels as a means of addressing climate change.
In the poll, nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) say the U.S. should use a mix of energy sources going forward – including oil, coal and natural gas, along with renewables. Only about a third (33%) of Americans support phasing out fossil fuels entirely.
“Even as Americans identify a number of pressing national problems, majorities see an array of actors, from government to business, as doing too little to reduce the effects of climate change and are broadly supportive of a range of policy approaches that would help address climate change, including moving toward renewable energy sources, developing infrastructure for electric vehicles, and increasing taxes and restrictions on carbon emissions,” the Pew Research Center stated in its report.
“Still, most Americans favor using a mix of energy sources to meet the country’s needs – including renewables as well as oil, coal and natural gas. There is limited support for phasing out the use of fossil fuels altogether.”
Other findings in the poll include:
• A majority (60%) of Americans say that increasing job and economic growth is a very important consideration to them personally when it comes to proposals to reduce the effects of climate change.
• As Americans think about proposals to address climate change, Black (68%) and Hispanic adults (55%) stand out for the high shares who say it is very important to them that such proposals help lower-income communities.
BP, British multination oil and gas company has reached an agreement to purchase 9GW of solar development projects in the US from independent US solar developer 7X Energy.
The acquisition represents a significant step towards BP’s target of growing its net developed renewable generating capacity to 20GW by 2025 and aim to increase this to 50GW by 2030.
The deal will also grow BP’s renewables pipeline from 14GW to 23GW. The assets will be developed through BP’s 50-50 solar joint venture Lightsource BP, a global leader in solar energy, applying Lightsource BP’s capabilities to accelerate BP’s renewables targets.
BP will pay 7X Energy $220 million for the projects and 1GW of “safe harbour” equipment and expects the acquisition to complete in 30 days. The projects are expected to meet BP’s disciplined low carbon investment criteria, generating returns of at least 8-10%.
Dev Sanyal, BP executive vice president of gas and low carbon energy, said: “With this purchase, we are continuing to put our strategy in action as we grow our renewables business in a deliberate and disciplined way. It brings us 9GW of high-quality solar projects in markets where we can create integrated renewable energy offers through our trading and customer franchises.
“We will bring the industry-leading expertise of Lightsource bp together with the breadth of BP’s integration capabilities in the US to develop this portfolio of projects. This is a significant step as we continue to deliver on our net zero ambition.”
Dave Lawler, BP America chairman and president, said: “BP’s new high-quality solar portfolio will provide low carbon energy, create US jobs and deliver the competitive returns our shareholders expect.
“In line with our strategy, we’ll aim to integrate these projects with our existing onshore and offshore wind, natural gas, and trading and shipping businesses to give customers what they want – reliable, affordable and clean energy.”
Solar energy is the fastest growing power source in the US and is expected to quadruple over the next 10 years. It currently accounts for more than 40% of all new electricity generating capacity added in the US.
The projects are spread across 12 US states, with the largest portfolios in Texas (ERCOT) and the Midwest (PJM).
Assets with a combined generating capacity of 2.2GW are expected to reach final investment decision (FID) by 2025, with the remaining progressing by 2030. Once developed, these projects will have the capacity to generate enough clean energy to power around 1.7 million US homes. The development is also expected to support thousands of jobs through construction.
As an integrated energy company, BP is able to combine its trading, mobility and customer expertise with Lightsource bp’s world-class solar project development experience and execution capabilities.
Nick Boyle, group chief executive officer of Lightsource BP, added: “This transaction speaks volumes about the success of our JV with BP, and how we leverage each other’s strengths to realize our ambitions for solar and a low-carbon future. It also positions Lightsource BP as a growing force in the US solar market, as we expand our portfolio across the United States.”
BP is America’s largest energy investor since 2005, investing more than $125 billion in the economy and supporting more than 125,000 additional jobs through its business activities.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Norway’s Equinor and U.S. supermajor ExxonMobil have reached the final investment decision to develop the Bacalhau oilfield in Brazil’s prolific pre-salt area with a US$8-billion investment in phase one, the Norwegian major said on Tuesday.
Equinor and Exxon hold 40 percent each in the Bacalhau oilfield, with Equinor as operator.
The field was discovered by Brazilian state oil giant Petrobras in 2012, while Equinor has been operator since 2016.
Under the development plan, Phase 1 will see 19 subsea wells tied back to a floating production, storage and offloading unit (FPSO) located at the field.
This will be one of the largest FPSOs in Brazil, with a production capacity of 220,000 barrels per day (bpd) and two million barrels in storage capacity, Equinor said.
First oil from the Bacalhau oilfield is planned for 2024.
The partners in the field, which also include Petrogal Brasil and Pré-sal Petróleo SA (PPSA), have already awarded the main Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) and engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contracts.
“Bacalhau is a globally competitive project with a break even below USD 35 in a key energy region. Estimated recoverable reserves for the first phase are more than one billion barrels of oil,” Arne Sigve Nylund, Equinor’s executive vice president for Projects, Drilling and Procurement, said in a statement.
“The development of the Bacalhau field is a strategic investment in our global portfolio and has the potential to bring high returns for ExxonMobil, our partners and the Brazilian people,” said Juan Lessmann, Lead Country Manager for ExxonMobil in Brazil.
The sanctioning of the US$8-billion field development by major international oil companies is one of the first such announcements since the International Energy Agency (IEA) said two weeks ago that beyond projects already committed as of 2021, there is no need for new oil and gas fields approved for development if the world hopes to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Source: Oilprice.com
Elecnor SA, the contractor in charge of the engineering, procurement and construction of the 330kV/34.5kV Bulk Supply Point at Pokuase, in the Republic of Ghana, has successfully completed its work and is expected to hand it over to the beneficiaries of the project, namely GRIDCO and ECG for the official commissioning and operation.
The project which started in April 2019 was to be completed in May 2021.
The US$60 million project, which is the first Bulk Supply Point under the Ghana Power Compact II, funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and spearheaded by the Millennium Development Authority, includes two fully equipped Control Buildings for the Ghana Grid Company, GRIDCo, as well as the Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG, and four 145MVA Power Transformers.
It is the largest Bulk Supply Point in the West African nation.
The project would boost power supply to about 350,000 in Accra, especially those in Pokuase, Nsawam, Kwabenya, Legon, Oyibi, Adenta and other surrounding communities.
Ghana’s leading power transmission company, GRIDCo recently curtailed power supply to parts of Ghana’s capital, Accra, to allow for tie-in to be done.
Checks by energynewsafrica.com, indicates that power supply to Pokuase, Kwabenya and other surrounding communities has significantly improved since the completion of the tie-in exercise.
The project is expected to be officially commissioned in the next couple of months.
Minister for Energy Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh and some officials of the Ministries of Energy, and Information at the site recentlySource: www.energynewsafrica.com
South Africa’s Minister for Mineral Regards and Energy, Gwede Mantashe is expected to deliver a keynote address at this year’s Enlit Africa, formerly known as Africa Utility Week digital event scheduled between 8 -10 June 2021.
He will be speaking along with Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, Chairman of the Board of Eskom, South Africa’s power utility company.
This year’s digital event focuses on 5Ds of energy transition.
Other expert speakers for the event include Ashish Khanna, Practice Manager, West and Central Africa, World Bank, USA, Chanda Nxumalo, Managing Director, Harmattan Renewables, South Africa, David Riposo, Energy Access Officer, Power Africa, USA, and Julian Leslie, Chief Engineer, National Grid ESO, United Kingdom.
A former Minister for Energy and Petroleum in the Republic of Ghana, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, believes Ghana’s petroleum upstream sector is on the verge of collapse if the Akufo-Addo-administration fails to handle the sector better than it is currently doing.
His comments follow the decision by US oil and gas super major to relinquish its 80 percent stake in the Deep Water Cape Three Points Oil Block and pack out of the West African nation.
In an opinion piece, the former Minister, describing the state of the upstream sector prior to the assumption of office of the current administration, said: “In January 2017 when this government began, Ghana had 16 offshore licences: three were producing fields-Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa Gye Nyame; Hess Pecan Field-Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points was appraised and ready for development; Hess left and sold out to Aker and the rest was history. That field is still begging to be developed.”
He said all 12 blocks in exploration stages had obligations to either acquire some amount of 2D or 3D seismic and or drill an exploration well.
This obligation was well negotiated for in the various Petroleum Agreements signed by the then government.
He, however, said: “From 2017 to date, only four exploration wells have been drilled by AGM (2 wells under amended terms-if you recall these amended terms reduced Ghana’s take from 43 percent to 18 percent. Eni (1 well) and Springfield (1 well) for which three oil and gas discoveries were made.
“Thanks to the good leadership under the NDC, the only producing fields in Ghana today are Jubilee, Sankofa and TEN fields, none has been added. Unfortunately, these fields are declining as we continue production each day of the year.
“Jubilee has been producing oil and gas since 2010. We have already produced about 50 percent of the Field Reserves.
“TEN and Sankofa are also going down. If exploration is not prioritised, the industry will die off. If Ghana does not find more hydrocarbon resources and develop these fields, the worse fear is that the service industry, which is already feeling the impact of the lack of activity and is dying slowly, will go into bankruptcy if the trend continues and this must worry well-meaning Ghanaians,” Mr Kofi Buah stated.
Below is the full opinion piece by Hon. Kofi Armah BuahGHANA’s UPSTREAM PETROLEUM SECTOR ON LIFE SUPPORT WITH THE EXIT OF EXXONMOBIL- KOFI BUAH
• In January 2017 when this government began, this was the state of Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector
.Ghana had 16 offshore licenses.
• 3 were producing fields-Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa Gye Nyame
• Hess Pecan Field-Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points was appraised and ready for development- Hess Left and sold out to Aker and the rest was history. That field is still begging to be developed.
• 12 blocks in exploration stages all had obligations to either acquire some amount of 2D or 3D seismic and or drill an exploration well. This obligation was well negotaited for in the various Petroleum Agreements signed by the then government.
• From 2017 to date, only 4 explorations wells have been drilled by AGM (2 wells under amended terms- if you recall these amended terms reduced Ghana’s take from 43% to 18%. Eni (1 well) and Springfield (1 well) for which 3 oil and gas discoveries were made. The question must be asked-How is it that most of the operators are not perofrming as expected? If the companies are breaching termination clauses in the various Petroleum Agreements, why are the Agreements not being terminated? Under the NDC government 3 non performing petroleum agreements were terminated as required by law.
• In 2018, ExxonMobil entered Ghana under pump and pagentry having been given very juicy terms by the government. The petroleum agreement signing ceremony was done at the flagstaff house by President Akuffo Addo himself a clear departure from the normal practice where the minister of Energy normally supervise the signing ceremony.
They were obligated to acquire 3D seismic and later drill an exploration well. Having enjoyed preferntial treatment in the sector, most Ghanaians and industry watchers were expecting an aggressive exploration on their Block.
ExxonMobil managed to license data from a seismic contractor called PGS and worked on the data. It was expected that Exxonmobil will go ahead after the geological and geophysical study to drill the obligated well. However, ExxonMobil has served notice to the Ghana Ministry of Energy that they will not continue into the next phase to drill the exploration well.
• In 2018, Government organised Block licensing rounds which was publicised around the world. It was reported that 3 companies won blocks offshore Ghana. However from 2018 to date, not much has been done to award the blocks to ensure that exploration activities pick up.
• Thanks to the good leadership under the NDC, the only producing fields in Ghana today are Jubilee, Sankofa and TEN fields, non has been added, unfortunately these fields are declining as we continue production each day of the year. Jubilee has been producing oil and gas since 2010. We have already produced about 50% of the Field Reserves.
TEN and Sankofa are also going down. If exploration is not prioritized, the industry will die off. If Ghana does not find more hydrocarbon resources, and develop these fields, the worse fear is that the service industry which is already feeling the impact of the lack of activity and is dying slowly will go into bankruptcy if the trend continues and this must worry well meaning Ghanaians. It is only fair to ask the question-Is Ghana loosing its place as the preferred investment destination of the upstream sector in the sub-region under this government?
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Aker Energy Ghana Ltd, a subsidiary of Norwegian-based oil exploration firm, has begun Geophysical and Geotechnical surveys (G&G Survey) on its Pecan oil field in the Republic of Ghana.
This is a major step towards submission of a Plan of Development by the end of year.
The surveys are critical in optimising the Pecan Subsea Field Layout, and Aker Energy has appointed Fugro Ghana Limited to perform the G&G surveys which would be done on two separate campaigns, with the Geotechnical Survey being done first, using the Fugro Scout vessel.
The Fugro Scout vessel arrived in Ghana on the 11th of May and has commenced work in the DWT/CTP Block.
The Geotechnical Campaign would be executed over a 3-4-week period and should be completed by the end of June 2021.
The Geophysical survey would be performed later in 2021.
The data received from these surveys will give accurate information around the integrity of the seabed and confirm that the subsea infrastructure can be safely positioned over the life of the field of the project.
“With these surveys, we take a significant step in moving towards submitting a Plan of Development and
Operations to the Government of Ghana and achieving first oil,” said Mrs. Kadijah Amoah, Chief Executive Officer for Aker Energy Ghana Limited.
The G&G survey forms part of a series of activities Aker Energy commits to undertake as part of its determination to realise first oil.
In May this year, Aker Energy announced it was moving forward with a new phased development concept for the Pecan field, reducing the breakeven costs.
“There is a lot more work before first oil but our decision to proceed with a phased development of the field and now the commencement of the G&G survey is further evidence of our commitment to this project and to Ghana,” said Mrs Amoah.
AkerEnergy holds a 50% participating interest in the license, and the partners are Lukoil Overseas Ghana Tano Limited (38%), the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) (10%) and Fueltrade Limited (2%).
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
US oil and gas super major, ExxonMobil, has abandoned its exploration activity in the Republic of Ghana, energynewsafrica.com can report.
ExxonMobil controlled 80 percent of the Deepwater Cape Three Point block (DWCTP block) in the West African nation’s oilfield in the Western Region, with the country’s national oil company, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation holding 15 percent and GOIL Offshore Ghana Ltd having the remaining five percent.
ExxonMobil entered into petroleum agreement with the Government of Ghana in November 2018.
The US supermajor’s decision is contained in a letter dated 18th May, 2021, and addressed to Ghana’s Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
Sources at the Ministry of Energy indicated that Madam Randi Cruz, Managing Director of ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Ghana (Deepwater), delivered the letter.
Some reports suggest that ExxonMobil was under pressure from shareholder groups pushing for the company to shift to cleaner fuels hence its decision to abandon its Ghana ambition though information available to energynewsafrica.com points to the contrary.
Energynewsafrica.com understands ExxonMobil would issue a press release in June about its decision to exit Ghana.
The question is: Was ExxonMobil frustrated by government officials, hence, its decision to exit Ghana?
Energynewsafrica.com would inform readers in our subsequent reportage.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has impressed on Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) to consider investing in Ghana’s transmission infrastructure if they are looking for an area to invest in Ghana.
The Minister made this appeal when a delegation from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), led by their Director General, Mr. Sidi Tah paid a visit to the Minister.
BADEA, in collaboration with Arab funds such as the Saudi, Kuwaiti, Abu Dhabi funds, has since 1975 executed over 38 major projects across various sectors in Ghana.
Mr. Tah told the Minister that the team was in Ghana to rejuvenate the relationship with Ghana and to assure him that the bank had undergone some reformation to deliver more efficiently to its business partners across the continent.
In a Facebook post sighted by energynewsafrica.com, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh said: “I shared my appreciation for their continues support to Ghana in the area of infrastructure and rural development. In answering their question about the Ministry’s priorities, I pointed out that, among others, the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) is undertaking a major infrastructure upgrade across the country to match the growing demands of the population. Transmission lines which were installed in the 1950s and 1960s are being replaced; presenting a good opportunity for investment from entities such as BADEA.
“With investment into the right areas, Ghana could be industrialising sooner than later – having been blessed with so many natural resources,” his post concluded.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s second largest power generation company, Bui Power Authority (BPA), Mr. Fred Oware has eulogized the engineers in the company for their contribution which has saved it millions of dollars which would have been spent on expatriates.
Bui Power Authority was established by an Act of Parliament, BPA Act 740, 2007 with a mandate to plan, execute and manage the Bui Hydroelectric Project, now the Bui Generating Station (BGS).
Mr. Oware was the first CEO of BPA when the company was incorporated.
He left BPA after his party lost power to the current Ghana’s opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the December 2008 General Elections.
He was, however, reappointed when the Akufo-Addo-led administration came to power in 2017 after winning the December 2016 Presidential Election.
Mr. Oware assumed office in February 2017 and since then, he, management and staff of the authority have worked tirelessly and won several awards including personal awards.
Energynewsafrica.com understands that Mr. Fred Oware’s term of office comes to an end by June this year and will be moving to the presidency.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with energynewsafrica.com, Mr. Oware said when he got the opportunity to BPA in 2017, the Chinese contractors, who constructed the dam, left few engineers behind to manage the power plant.
He said five months after his assumption of office, their contract ended but decided not to renew it and instead allowed the Ghanaian civil and electrical engineers who have been working under the supervision of the Chinese to takeover and manage the plant.
According to him, that singular decision has saved the Authority more than US$2 million for the past four years.
Asked why he trusted in the ability of the Ghanaian engineers to handle the plant and he explained, he said: “At the time we were building the dam in 2008/2009, we combed around to see if there are engineers and technicians who had experience in dam construction. We didn’t get any. For me the answer then lied in getting a bunch of young engineers who have just finished school and without much experience and bring them so that they learn on the job. We took 13 civil engineers. In reality we didn’t need that many engineers, but the whole idea was to expose as many engineers as possible the young ones to dam construction. Then before the dam was completed I brought in a couple of mechanical engineers and the gentleman who took over from me pursue the same principles one year before the completion of the dam took about 30 technicians and engineers to VRA for them to be trained in both maintenance and operations of the dam. And by the time I got back they were quiet adapt and responsible in whatever they were doing and so I didn’t think we needed to pay extra money to keep some other people to give oversight responsibilities when we indeed have all the technical people in the country. And it’s a decision that I feel proud about.’’
Under his leadership, the Bui Power Authority managed to get Parliament to amend the Act to allow them to venture into the development of other sources of renewable energy.
Members of the BPA Board in a group photograph after inspecting the solar plant in 2020
In furtherance to this, the BPA under the leadership of Mr. Oware, commenced the construction of 250MW solar farm in phases with the first commissioned in last November and currently transmitted on the national grid.
The Authority also constructed Ghana’s first mini hydro power project on the Tsatsadu Waterfall at Abehenease in the Hohoe Constituency in the Volta Region.
The 1MW floating solar on Bui Reservoir
The Authority has also identified six sites in the four Northern Regions for some renewable energy projects.
According to Mr. Oware, if BPA would be given the necessary support, it would be able to produce 10 percent of the power transmitted to the national grid from solar.
His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cutting the tape to officially commission the 45kW Tsatsadu Micro-Hydro Power Generating Station At Alavanyo-Abehenease in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region. With him are John-Peter Amewu (right), Togbuiga Tsedze Atakora (2nd right), Paramount Chief of Alavanyo Traditional Area and Prof. Aaron Mike Ocquaye (3rd left), Speaker of Parliament.
Mr. Oware praised the management, Board and staff of the Authority for their support and wished them well.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana should have been operating nuclear power plant long ago and become second country in Africa to operate nuclear power plant after South Africa, the Director General of Ghana’s Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Professor Benjamin Jabez Botwe Nyarko has said.
“To me, with all our hydro resources gone and with urbanization and population growth and energy demand and we want to do a lot of factories. For this to survive, I think one of the options to grow the economy is to go for nuclear power,” he said.
The West African nation’s quest to use nuclear technology for power generation dates back in the 1960’s when the country’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah established the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission to spearhead the nuclear agenda.
Unfortunately, the idea became a stillbirth and abandoned until 2008 when a Cabinet decision to include nuclear in the country’s electricity generation mix was taken to help curb the national perennial power crisis.
The government’s bid to provide a solution to the country’s 10-year cycle of power crisis, coupled with the need for an alternative baseload plant, established a nuclear energy programme implementing and coordination body known as the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO).
In accordance with the framework advocated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for Nuclear Power Infrastructure Development, GNPPO developed a three-phase roadmap for Ghana’s initiative.
The country has since 2018 established an Owner/Operator entity, the Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG) for its first nuclear power plant and has successfully completed the first phase of the nuclear programme.
NPG will undertake requisite feasibility studies and activities required in the project development and construction phases of the Nuclear Power Programme. Currently, Ghana is at the second phase of the nuclear agenda.
In an exclusive interview with Prof Benjamin Jabez Botwe Nyarkop on the Nuclear Science Applications and Technology: The Role of GAEC, the GAEC D-G noted that with the support of the Commission, the Volta River Authority and Bui Power Authority, the Nuclear Power Ghana was created as an operator to spearhead the establishment of nuclear power plant in Ghana in the future.
Although he admitted that Ghana has been late as far as its nuclear power plant agenda was concerned, with the creation of Nuclear Power Ghana and its preparedness, Prof Nyarko expressed the hope that the country is nearing its vision of becoming operator of nuclear power plant.
Responding to those opposing the country’s plan to go nuclear because of the Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Prof Nyarko explained that the Fukushima incident was caused by Tsunami and earthquake while the Chernobyl incident was caused by human error.
He revealed that despite the Fukushima Daiichi incident, Japan went ahead and built two nuclear power plants because they knew it was cheaper and reliable source of power.
According to him, there has been advancement in nuclear power technologies, stressing that “nobody is building the Chernobyl type of nuclear reactors anymore.”
He said because of the technology, new safety features have been introduced to make current nuclear reactors safer, stating that knowledge has evolved since the nuclear power plants incidents.
Prof Nyarko underscored the need for Ghana to remain focused and pursue the nuclear power agenda despite the risk involved.
“Anyone who fails to take risk never grows. The higher the risk, the more the production,” Prof Nyarko posited.
Clink on the link below to listen to the interviewSource: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghanaians have been urged to see leading Oil Marketing Company, GOIL, as their own and patronise the services of the company and also invest in its shares.
Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of GOIL, Mr. Kwame Osei Prempeh, who made the call, noted that unlike some of the oil marketing companies which will repatriate their profit, GOIL retains its profits and reinvests them in the country to grow the West African nation’s economy.
He mentioned that GOIL has diversified its operations and is currently building a US$35 million bitumen plant which is about 80 percent complete, invested US$23 million in the construction of an LPG bottling plant and building a 12-storey head office complex.
Apart from these investments, GOIL has supported a number of institutions including donating £70,000 worth Visugauges or internationally verified measuring cans to the Ghana Standards Authority to ensure full quantity delivery of products.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Tema Zonal Office on Thursday, Mr. Kwame Osei Prempeh said: “I want to assure our valued customers that GOIL will continue to protect their interest. Need I repeat here that GOIL is for Ghanaians and, therefore, any Investments by way of patronage of our products in the end benefit our citizens. I, therefore, appeal to Ghanaians to continue keeping faith with GOIL by patronising our products which are of high quality to help stabilise and make our economy strong.
“Let GOIL be your OMC of choice,” Mr. Prempeh added.
Board Chairman of GOIL, Mr. Kwamena Bartels noted that the company is on course to consolidate its status of being the market leader.
“Our bitumen project is over 80 percent complete and work on the construction of plants for gas recirculation project, as well as that of auto gas stations, are all underway,” he said.
Executive Secretary for Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, who graced the commissioning ceremony, applauded GOIL for the investments it continues to make in infrastructure and offering quality fuel to petroleum consumers in the country.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s indigenous and leading Oil Marketing Company, GOIL, has opened a Zonal Office in Kpone near Tema, Ghana’s industrial city.
The ultra-modern Zonal Office will serve the company’s operations in the Tema business enclave, Ashaiman, Kpone, Somanya Districts, Volta and Oti Regions.
The project was awarded in 2017 but actual work began in January 2020 and completed and handed over in February 2021.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Zonal Office on Thursday, Board Chairman of GOIL, Kwamena Bartels said the opening of the office marks a key milestone in the life of GOIL.
According to him, the increasing growth in business and expansion of the Tema port influenced the company to prepare adequately to capitalise on opportunities the port expansion offers.
Although the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic affected the petroleum downstream business in 2020, Kwamena Bartels said GOIL is still positive about the future and is determined to position the company to capitalise on new opportunities as the company rebounds.
Group CEO and Managing Director of GOIL, Kwame Osei Prempeh said the company, over the last few years, has tried to modernise its infrastructure to be in tune with its modernisation and expansion drive.
He said this drive has involved in upgrading of the company’s service stations, improvement in customer service and ensuring product quantity.
He was hopeful that the Tema Zonal Office would go a long way to facilitate smooth business transactions and boost productivity and morale of staff.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Leaders from the United Nations (UN), the private sector, national and local governments, youth and other organisations issued a joint call on Wednesday for countries, businesses, cities and civil society groups to put forward their ‘Energy Compacts’ to show how they will achieve the goal of clean energy for all by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
The UN in its press release said that the Energy Compacts would provide the clearest indication of how countries will ensure that all people have access to clean energy and move toward net-zero emissions.
The Compacts will be announced between June and the September UN High-level Dialogue on Energy. The leaders issued their call in a video released on Wednesday.
It added that ‘Global Champion’ ministers from over 30 countries have joined the call for urgent energy action in advance of the high-level dialogue, along with senior UN officials, climate leaders including the Presidency of the COP26 conference, CEOs, Mayors and youth activists.
“This year’s dialogue is the best chance for governments, businesses and other partners to step up their commitments, if the world is to achieve clean, affordable energy for all by the 2030 deadline,” said Liu Zhenmin, UN Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Secretary-General of the Dialogue.
Zhenmin added that Energy Compacts could also help to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees, avoiding the worst consequences of climate change.
Urgent action is needed as global temperatures are already 1.2 degrees higher than they were in the late 1800s, with climate-related disasters displacing millions of people.
Energy use accounts for three-quarters of global emissions. Nearly 800 million people still lack access to electricity and nearly three billion lack clean cooking fuels, causing over a million deaths each year from indoor smoke pollution.
The UN said that the momentum is growing for Energy Compacts, which will start to be announced at Ministerial Forums from 21-25 June, in the lead-up to the September summit-level Dialogue.
“Since April, national government officials, major networks of cities and businesses, as well as civil society and youth groups, have been participating in an intensive series of planning meetings for their Energy Compact commitments. For countries, the Compacts will align with enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions and long-term climate goals under the Paris Agreement,” it added.
According to the co-chair of the high-level dialogue and administrator of UNDP, Achim Steiner, an energy transition is underway without which we won’t succeed.
“The challenge is whether we can make it happen equitably and fast enough. It is unacceptable that almost 800 million people in the world still lack access to electricity. The transition must ensure that there is universal access to clean energy,” added Steiner.
Damilola Ogunbiyi, special representative of the Secretary-General and CEO for Sustainable Energy for All and co-chair of the high-level dialogue said that this was an opportunity of a lifetime to provide universal energy access by exploiting new technologies, funding innovations that can create a cleaner and brighter economic future.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
The Authority also constructed Ghana’s first mini hydro power project on the Tsatsadu Waterfall at Abehenease in the Hohoe Constituency in the Volta Region.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
According to him, the increasing growth in business and expansion of the Tema port influenced the company to prepare adequately to capitalise on opportunities the port expansion offers.
Although the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic affected the petroleum downstream business in 2020, Kwamena Bartels said GOIL is still positive about the future and is determined to position the company to capitalise on new opportunities as the company rebounds.
Group CEO and Managing Director of GOIL, Kwame Osei Prempeh said the company, over the last few years, has tried to modernise its infrastructure to be in tune with its modernisation and expansion drive.
He said this drive has involved in upgrading of the company’s service stations, improvement in customer service and ensuring product quantity.
He was hopeful that the Tema Zonal Office would go a long way to facilitate smooth business transactions and boost productivity and morale of staff.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
