Angola Looks To Solar And Wind To Diversify Its Energy Matrix
The Vice President of Angola has reiterated the country’s commitment to diversifying its energy matrix by adding solar and wind energy to the mix.
Her. Excellency Esperança da Costa said government has intensified its commitment to the use of solar and wind energy in order to diversify the energy matrix aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Esperança da Costa said the commitment falls within the scope of the use of the country’s water resource to produce green hydrogen generated by renewable or low-carbon energy.
Addressing a ceremony to launch the digital green industry corridor, as part of COP27 underway in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, the Vice President said that the diversification of the energy matrix in Angola is in line with the commitments made at Glasgow, on climate change.
The Vice President stressed the country’s commitment to the implementation of environmentally-friendly industrial parks, through the territorial planning of areas to ensure the continued growth of these types of projects.
As for the African countries, Esperança da Costa reiterated their commitment to increase their energy matrix to 70% of clean energy.
She highlighted the continent’s effort toward socio-economic and industrial development goals, which calls for accelerated progress.
She said that this was an accelerated progress toward expanding energy capacity and creation of jobs for young people, having warned of the need to invest in clean energy sources.
The official also noted that the investment must be complemented with rapid absorption of natural gas, as a clean transition fuel.
The Vice President also pointed to several challenges that restrict the processing role of gas in Africa.
She defended the expansion of gas infrastructure, the development of sound energy plans and competitive gas markets.
Esperança da Costa considered it necessary to create initiatives to mobilise investments and financing for the private sector and promote the regional integration of natural gas markets.
As for the launch of the digital green industry corridor, she said it was an initiative promoted by the African Union to favour the adaptation of smart technologies by operators in Africa and create green jobs in urban corridors, for the continent’s youth.
Source: Esi-Africa.com
Nuclear Technology Could Help Africa Adapt To Climate Change
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a report that shows how nuclear technology supports climate change adaptation in Africa.
At this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt, the IAEA released a comprehensive report on Nuclear Technologies and Climate Adaptation in Africa, describing how these technologies are already widely used to build resilience on the continent.
Africa has contributed very little to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yet key sectors are already experiencing the damaging consequences of climate change. The United Nations has observed that increased temperatures or drought have sharply reduced agricultural productivity growth in Africa in the past six decades and caused regional economic losses of $70 billion in the past 50 years.
“In nuclear science and its applications, we have the tools to adapt to climate change conditions,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.
“The IAEA is at the centre of global efforts to make sure no one is left behind when it comes to benefiting from these indispensable assets.”
Over the past ten years, the IAEA has carried out almost 50% of its climate change adaptation projects in Africa, more than in any other continent, aimed at increasing resilience and reducing vulnerabilities in multiple sectors. This includes land use management, soil erosion, climate-smart agriculture, food production systems, and improved crop varieties, analysis of GHG emissions, water resource management, coastal protection and ocean change monitoring. The report describes various areas of intervention, supported by case studies offering concrete examples of how nuclear science and technology have benefitted Africa.
The report highlights projects supporting African countries in cultivating and exporting food, including growing drought-tolerant crops and applying the sterile insect technique (SIT) to eradicate insect populations, such as tsetse flies, fruit flies and mosquitoes, that harm both human health and economies.
The projects have also strengthened Africa’s capacity to collect and analyse data on the quality of water in river basins and the ocean, allowing policymakers to put measures in place for better resource management, including water security in the Sahel and adapting to ocean acidification in coastal areas, which aims to protect the African fishing industry, and thus prevent environmental and social crises.
The report emphasises the importance of partnerships in up scaling such projects.
COP27 is an opportunity to forge and strengthen partnerships, and to raise awareness in decision-making bodies, development organisations and financial institutions of the potential of nuclear science and technology to feature in national strategies, plans and programmes, including agri-food strategies and disaster risk reduction planning.
Two Tullow Oil Plc Board Members Visit Ghana
Two of Tullow Oil Plc’s Board Members, Mr. Martin Greenslade and Mr. Mitchell Ingram paid a four-day working visit to Ghana from 8th to 11th November 2022.
The visit comes on the back of the Group’s renewed focus to prioritise investments in its producing assets in the West African.
The visiting Board Members, together with the leadership of Tullow Ghana, paid a courtesy call on the Vice President of Ghana, H.E. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
The Board Members reaffirmed the importance of the Ghana asset to the Group’s portfolio, and the Group’s commitment to continue investing in the Ghana operations.
The Board Members assured the Vice President of the Group’s resolve to continue supporting the delivery of the Ghana Value Maximisation Plan, which is in its second year.
The Tullow delegation provided an update on the progress of the plan which has since 2021, delivered eight (8) new wells across the Jubilee and TEN fields.
The investment by Tullow and its partners will continue to be delivered under the 10-year plan.
The two officials also reiterated the Group’s commitment to achieving its 2030 Net Zero plans.
The Vice President, H.E. Dr Bawumia acknowledged Tullow’s continued investment and expansion of its operations in Ghana, and recognised Tullow for its contribution to economic development by these efforts at a time of challenging global energy crisis.
He assured the visiting officials, of government’s commitment to protecting investments into the country.
The Vice President further mentioned that government will be keenly looking forward to the realisation of Tullow’s investment decisions on ongoing projects including the execution of post-foundation commercial gas agreements, exploration interests and other projects being considered by Tullow and its partners in Ghana.
Messrs. Greenslade and Ingram also paid a courtesy call on the British High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Harriet Thompson during which they shared the planned investments for the realisation of Tullow’s Net Zero plans.
Under Tullow Oil Plc’s renewed focus, the Group plans to invest its capital principally in the large resources underpinning its producing assets, with a goal to pursue cost discipline, responsible and safe operations, and efficient production.
In 2021, Tullow Oil and the Jubilee and TEN Partners announced the ‘Ghana Value Maximisation Plan’ which is an over $4 billion, 10-year investment plan, to unlock significant value in the Jubilee and TEN Fields, through a multi-year, multi-well drilling campaign and expansion projects.
Under the plan, 50 new wells are estimated to be delivered in the Jubilee and TEN fields, over the 10-year period, with expansion works in the Jubilee North-East and South-East areas of the field.
Cumulatively, the plan is expected to deliver over $10 billion worth of value to the government of Ghana at maturation.
As part of the country visit, the Board Members visited the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah in the Jubilee Field and the Noble Venturer, which is currently conducting drilling activities, to get a first-hand appreciation of the transformation of operations on the Jubilee asset and the ongoing investment in the drilling programme.
The offshore visit provided real time updates on the performance of the Ghana Value Maximisation Plan to the visiting Board Members. While in Takoradi, the two officials were pleased to see some of Tullow Ghana’s local content development and socio-economic investment activities.
They took a tour of Orsam Oil and Gas Limited, an indigenous company and one of Tullow Ghana’s sub-contractors supporting the Jubilee South-East Expansion Project with the design, fabrication, and assembly of offshore equipment. Currently, more than 1000 tonnes of steel are being fabricated in Ghana.
These include the fabrication of manifolds, suction piles, rigid jumpers, and umbilical termination assembly (UTAs) at the Orsam yard, for the Jubilee South-East Project. Significant progress has been made on the Jubilee South-East project with installations scheduled to be completed by the first half of 2023.
The JSE project, once online in the first year, is expected to bump up average daily oil production rates to c.100,000 bbl./d in the Jubilee field. The JSE project is an expansion of development of the Jubilee field being undertaken by the Jubilee Partners.
The Board Members also visited Tullow Ghana’s socio-economic investment projects including the ongoing Free SHS project at Bompeh Senior High School, and the Early Childhood Education Project at Nkotompo, both in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan area.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Under Tullow Oil Plc’s renewed focus, the Group plans to invest its capital principally in the large resources underpinning its producing assets, with a goal to pursue cost discipline, responsible and safe operations, and efficient production.
In 2021, Tullow Oil and the Jubilee and TEN Partners announced the ‘Ghana Value Maximisation Plan’ which is an over $4 billion, 10-year investment plan, to unlock significant value in the Jubilee and TEN Fields, through a multi-year, multi-well drilling campaign and expansion projects.
Under the plan, 50 new wells are estimated to be delivered in the Jubilee and TEN fields, over the 10-year period, with expansion works in the Jubilee North-East and South-East areas of the field.
Cumulatively, the plan is expected to deliver over $10 billion worth of value to the government of Ghana at maturation.
As part of the country visit, the Board Members visited the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah in the Jubilee Field and the Noble Venturer, which is currently conducting drilling activities, to get a first-hand appreciation of the transformation of operations on the Jubilee asset and the ongoing investment in the drilling programme.
The offshore visit provided real time updates on the performance of the Ghana Value Maximisation Plan to the visiting Board Members. While in Takoradi, the two officials were pleased to see some of Tullow Ghana’s local content development and socio-economic investment activities.
They took a tour of Orsam Oil and Gas Limited, an indigenous company and one of Tullow Ghana’s sub-contractors supporting the Jubilee South-East Expansion Project with the design, fabrication, and assembly of offshore equipment. Currently, more than 1000 tonnes of steel are being fabricated in Ghana.
These include the fabrication of manifolds, suction piles, rigid jumpers, and umbilical termination assembly (UTAs) at the Orsam yard, for the Jubilee South-East Project. Significant progress has been made on the Jubilee South-East project with installations scheduled to be completed by the first half of 2023.
The JSE project, once online in the first year, is expected to bump up average daily oil production rates to c.100,000 bbl./d in the Jubilee field. The JSE project is an expansion of development of the Jubilee field being undertaken by the Jubilee Partners.
The Board Members also visited Tullow Ghana’s socio-economic investment projects including the ongoing Free SHS project at Bompeh Senior High School, and the Early Childhood Education Project at Nkotompo, both in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan area.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Oil Will Still Be Major Primary Energy In 2050 And Beyond—OPEC Boss
Despite the push by climate change campaigners to ensure that the oil and gas sector is starved with investment and instead shift investment into renewable sources of energy, oil and gas will still be the major source of primary energy, OPEC General- Secretary Haitham Al Ghais has said.
“OPEC has a role to play in supplying the world with oil. We believe oil remains a major primary source of energy in 2050 and beyond, and we are yet to see anybody who will show us the science and data to contradict us,” he said during the recent African Energy Week 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa.
As a result of the push for the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, investment in new oil and gas projects declined in 2020 and 2021 with multinational oil companies diversifying their investment portfolios into renewable energy sources including wind and solar.
Interestingly, according to a report by fdiintelligence.com, between January and August 2022, foreign investors announced 15 greenfield oil and gas extraction projects worth $42bn, which is equivalent to the total capital expenditure (capex) in the previous four full-year periods combined.
That is also more than seven times higher than the $5.4bn of Capex committed in 2021.
At this rate, FDI into oil and gas extraction in 2022 is set to reach its highest level since 2009, when $87bn worth of projects was announced.
This rise in capital pledges follows years of underinvestment in oil and gas as the companies have pushed towards decarbonisation and renewables.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Russian Oil Output To Fall By 1.4 Million Bpd Next Year As EU Ban Takes Effect – IEA
Russian oil output is set to fall by 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) next year after a European Union ban on seaborne exports of Russian crude comes into effect, the International Energy Agency has said.
The move to deprive Moscow of revenue will create more uncertainty for oil markets and add to pressure on prices, including diesel, the Paris-based energy agency said in its monthly oil report.
“The approaching EU embargoes on Russian crude and oil product imports and a ban on maritime services will add further pressure on global oil balances, and, in particular, on already exceptionally tight diesel markets,” the IEA said.
“A proposed oil price cap may help alleviate tensions, yet a myriad of uncertainties and logistical challenges remain … the range of uncertainty has never been so large.”
The EU will ban Russian crude imports from Dec. 5 and Russian oil products from Feb. 5, depriving Russia of oil revenues and forcing one of the world’s top oil producers and exporters to seek alternative markets.
In addition, a G7 plan, intended as an add-on to the EU embargo, will allow shipping services providers to help to export Russian oil, but only at enforced low prices. This is also set to take effect on Dec. 5.
This means the EU will need to replace 1 million bpd of crude and 1.1 million bpd of oil products, with diesel especially scarce and expensive with prices 70% higher than this time last year helping to fuel global inflation, the IEA said.
The agency said a rerouting of global trade flows as Russia seeks to export more oil to non-EU markets and as the EU buys from elsewhere could ease this pressure on oil and products supply, but strong demand for scarce oil tankers could pose challenges.
“The competition for non-Russian diesel barrels will be fierce, with EU countries having to bid cargoes from the US, Middle East and India away from their traditional buyers,” the IEA said.
The IEA forecast that a gloomy economic outlook will put global oil use on track to contract by nearly a quarter million bpd in the fourth quarter of 2022 year on year, with demand growth slowing to 1.6 million bpd in 2023 from 2.1 million bpd this year.
The weak Chinese economy, an energy crunch in Europe and a strong dollar were all weighing on consumption, the IEA said. But the agency did increase slightly its forecast for Chinese demand growth for next year by 100,000 bpd to 15.7 million bpd.
Source: Reuters
Germany’s Gas Storage Levels Hit 100% Capacity
Germany’s gas storage facilities are now at full capacity as the country prepares for a winter of disrupted supplies.
Russia has slashed exports to Europe, forcing Berlin to look for other sources.
Data published on Tuesday by the European gas storage association GIE showed that natural gas storage facilities in Germany have now reached 100% capacity.
Europe’s largest economy has been building its reserves after Russia cut deliveries in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.
Full storage tanks could prove a helpful buffer to ensure supplies for businesses and consumers over the winter months.
The country met its gas-saving targets ahead of schedule, having reached a 95% target set for November by mid-October.
“The total storage level in Germany stands at 100%,” said the Federal Network Agency, Germany’s energy regulator.
The storage milestone was reached on the same day that Germany opened a new quay dedicated to the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by sea as an alternative to piped Russian supplies. Five such terminals are planned in total.
President of the Federal Network Agency Klaus Müller said that the events together represented a “double success.”
“We now need this momentum for the expansion of renewable energies and their grids,” Müller said.
The success of Germany’s gas-saving effort was bolstered in part by Berlin’s efforts to source alternative supplies. These have included LNG imports from producers such as Norway and the United States.
Businesses and private consumers have also adapted, heeding calls to reduce consumption. That was in part made possible by mild autumn weather that meant there was less need for heating than might otherwise have been expected.
The drive to avoid an energy crunch has also included temporarily reactivating old oil- and coal-fired power stations,and extending the life spans of Germany’s last three nuclear power plants.
Source:dw.com
Ghana: GOIL Reduces Petrol, Diesel Prices Significantly
Ghana’s leading indigenous Oil Marketing Company, GOIL, has announced a reduction in the pump prices of both types of gasoline (petrol) and gasoil (diesel) at all its retail outlets across the West African nation.
A litre of petrol is now selling at Gh16.82 while diesel is selling at Gh20.50 per litre.
Previously, a litre of petrol sold at Gh17.99 while diesel was selling at Gh¢23.49 per litre.
This means that a litre of petrol has been reduced by Gh¢1.17 while diesel saw a reduction of Gh¢2.99 per litre.
Fuel prices are reviewed every two weeks in the Republic of Ghana, unlike some countries in West Africa where it is done monthly.
The second pricing window ends today, Tuesday, November 15, 2022, and prices of fuel are expected to be reviewed by the oil marketing companies.
It is not yet clear what occasioned the reduction but energynewsafrica.com can report that the depreciation of the Ghanaian cedi against the major international currencies like dollars has been slowed over the last few days.
Crude oil prices on the international market have also been hovering below $100 per barrel.
As of Tuesday morning, Brent was trading at $92.78 while WTI was trading at $85.26.
Many consumers have been lamenting over the rising cost of fuel in Ghana and the reduction in fuel prices will come as good news to them.
NEW FUEL PRICES EFFECTIVE TUESDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2022
Super XP RON 95—Ghc 16.82
Diesel XP—Ghc 20.50
Kindly note that prices have decreased for SUPER XP RON 95 from Gh¢17.99 to Gh¢16.82 and decrease from Gh¢ 23.49 to 20.50 for DIESEL XP.
Thank you.
# GOIL
#GOODENERGY
Egypt: Ghana Is Strongly Supporting Clean Cooking—Energy Minister
Ghana’s Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has reaffirmed the country’s strong commitment to promoting clean cooking anchored on its 2030 agenda of 50 per cent of its population having access to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Dr. Prempeh was speaking at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Clean Fuels Solutions for Cooking Event, which was part of the 2nd Middle East Green Initiative on the margins of the ongoing COP27 at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.
The event was under the patronage of His Royal Highness Mohammed Bin Salman, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Minister said Ghana’s strategy for clean cooking is to improve the efficiency of cooking fuel production, transportation to markets, value addition and promotion of efficient end-user technologies.
He said by the end of 2030, Ghana would reduce the use of firewood and charcoal for cooking to below 30 per cent which would improve its overall carbon footprint.
He added that the country would also increase access to LPG for household use to 50 per cent from the current 36.9 per cent and provide LPG for commercial catering, particularly in schools and other government institutions.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh said as the demand for clean cooking solutions is growing, there is a need to turn attention to the efficient exploitation of the natural resources that are required for the clean cooking ecosystem.
“We need effective coordination and transparent accounting systems to unlock the enormous carbon financing opportunities and drive investment into the clean cooking sector,” he said.
The current disruption in the global supply chain due to COVID-19 and other geopolitical challenges, according to the Minister, makes it imperative to bring clean cooking interventions closer to markets.
He, therefore, called for the need to develop local capacity along the entire value chain to support the catalytic growth of the clean cooking industry globally.
“Ghana is building capacity through several technical cooperations including the GIZ-TVET, the Senior High Schools Renewable Energy Challenge which has triggered interest in research and development and innovation in renewable energy and clean cooking solutions for the Ghanaian market and beyond. With support from the World Bank, Ghana is developing the National Clean Cooking Strategy and Investment Prospectus to provide the framework for the promotion and development of the industry,” he said.
He continued, “Ghana, with support from the World Bank, successfully launched the result-based National LPG Promotion Programme on September 6, 2022.
“The objective of the programme is to provide government interventions that would accelerate the switch from unclean fuels to LPG in a bid to achieve the goal of 50 per cent access by 2030.
“The government will distribute about two million LPG stoves and install LPG cooking systems in institutions that cook on a large scale under this programme. These interventions complementing the Cylinder Recirculation Model will enable Ghana to reach its targets aforementioned.”
Dr. Prempeh indicated Ghana’s readiness for cooperation and partnerships to scale up Ghana’s National LPG Promotion and Improved Cookstoves Promotion Programmes.
Dignitaries at this function included Dr Baomintsvotse Vahinals, Chief of Staff at the Office of the President of Madagascar, H.E. Ibrahim Yacoubou, Minister for Energy and Renewable Energy of Niger, H.E Sophie Gladima, Minister for Energy and Petroleum of Senegal and a host of other dignitaries on the African continent.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: ECG Suffers Another Sabotage In Krobo Area
It appears the attack on the power installations of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Krobo enclave in the Eastern Region is not ending anything time soon.
Last Friday, the power distribution company detected that some unidentified persons had deliberately cut one of its high-tension poles at Adelakope in the Yilo Krobo Municipality close to Asutsuare junction on the Tema—Akosombo highway.
The assailants used chainsaw to cut the pole at the base, thereby, weakening it.
Luckily, the pole didn’t collapse, and ECG engineers replaced it on Saturday, 12th November 2022.
This is the second time some unidentified persons had used chainsaw to cut a high-tension pole in the same area.
In August, this year one of the high-tension poles at the same area was sawn into two.
It was at the time when residents in both Manya and Yilo Krobo were protesting the installation of prepayment meters.
Speaking to energynewsafrica.com, the Public Relations Officer for Tema Regional ECG, Madam Sakyiwa Mensah appealed to those behind these criminal acts to desist, warning that they could be prosecuted if arrested.
She added that such unfortunate act leads to disruption in power supply to customers and also poses danger to themselves and users of the areas where these acts are committed.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Luckily, the pole didn’t collapse, and ECG engineers replaced it on Saturday, 12th November 2022.
This is the second time some unidentified persons had used chainsaw to cut a high-tension pole in the same area.
In August, this year one of the high-tension poles at the same area was sawn into two.
It was at the time when residents in both Manya and Yilo Krobo were protesting the installation of prepayment meters.
Speaking to energynewsafrica.com, the Public Relations Officer for Tema Regional ECG, Madam Sakyiwa Mensah appealed to those behind these criminal acts to desist, warning that they could be prosecuted if arrested.
She added that such unfortunate act leads to disruption in power supply to customers and also poses danger to themselves and users of the areas where these acts are committed.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Uganda: UETCL Hints Of Load Shedding After Collapse Of Transmission Towers
Ugandan Electricity Transmission Company has hinted at load-shedding exercises in parts of the country.
According to a statement issued by the company, two of its towers on the Owen falls-logo (land 2) 132kV transmission line at Kivuvu village in the Mukono District were vandalised by assailants on the morning of Saturday, 12th November 2022, causing them to collapse.
The power transmitter said it had no other option than carry out a load-shedding exercise in areas affected or dispatch the expensive Namanve thermal plant.
“We regret any inconveniences that may arise,” the statement concluded.
Energynewsafrica.com reached the Acting CEO of UETCL, Mr. Michael Taremwa Kananura, on WhatsApp over the development but is yet to respond to our queries.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GRIDCo Sensitises Residents Along Konongo -Kumasi Transmission Line Ahead Of Upgrading
Ghana’s power transmission company, GRIDCo, has announced plans to reconstruct the 24km single circuit 161kV transmission line from Konongo to Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
This is part of GRIDCo’s effort to boost the power supply due to the increasing demand for power in the area.
Ahead of the intended project, officials of GRIDCo have undertaken a series of engagements to sensitise and educate residents who are along the path of the line to relocate to facilitate the construction of the line.
The project-affected areas are Asokwa, Susan, Akyi/Anloga, Bomso, Ayigya, Kentinkroo, Odoum, Fumesu, Adako Jackie/Kwame, Ejisu, Besease, Manhyia, Boankra, Hwereso, Kubease, Duapompo, Koforidua, Nnobewam, Adumasi/Agyariago and Konongo.
In a post sighted on the Facebook page of GRIDCo, it said, “GRIDCo’s goal is to reconstruct the current single circuit 161kV line into a double circuit line. This work would address the increased demand for electricity in Kumasi and its environs. The project is expected to be completed within one year i.e., by end of 2023.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The project-affected areas are Asokwa, Susan, Akyi/Anloga, Bomso, Ayigya, Kentinkroo, Odoum, Fumesu, Adako Jackie/Kwame, Ejisu, Besease, Manhyia, Boankra, Hwereso, Kubease, Duapompo, Koforidua, Nnobewam, Adumasi/Agyariago and Konongo.
In a post sighted on the Facebook page of GRIDCo, it said, “GRIDCo’s goal is to reconstruct the current single circuit 161kV line into a double circuit line. This work would address the increased demand for electricity in Kumasi and its environs. The project is expected to be completed within one year i.e., by end of 2023.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Gunmen Kidnap BEDC Driver; Demand N10Million Ransom
A driver of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has been abducted by gunmen and demanding N10 million (US$22,650) before releasing him.
The driver, Seun Emmanuel, was said to be driving his boss and the Manager of BEDC in the Ondo Region and heading to Akure from Ifon, the headquarters of the Ose Local Government area when they ran into the gunmen who had mounted roadblocks at Elegbeka.
According to a report by Punch, a local newspaper, the gunmen opened fire on the vehicle of the driver, causing him to lose control of the steering wheel and somersault into a bush.
The report said the boss of the driver fell unconscious and the gunmen thought he had died and, therefore, left him and took the driver away.
“The driver was whisked into the bush by the bandits. His boss fell unconscious, so they left the boss they thought had died,” Punch quoted a source as saying, adding, “The bandits contacted the family of the victim, initially demanding a sum of N100 million but later reduced it to N10 million.”
The incident is currently being investigated by the police in the area.
“We are working on the matter. Our men at the anti-kidnapping unit are working towards rescuing the victim,” the Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, who confirmed the incident, said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
UK To Expedite $4.1B Climate Funding To Kenya To Fast-Track Clean Energy
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Kenyan President William Ruto agreed to fast-track six green investment projects worth $4.1 billion spanning green energy, agriculture and transport.
Sunak praised Kenya’s pioneering climate leadership and urged President Ruto to continue championing clean growth.
The new, clean and green investments projects will become flagship projects of the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership. This ambitious five-year agreement is unlocking mutual benefits for the UK and Kenya.
The projects include:
- new geothermal and solar energy generation at Menegai and Malindi;
- a $3.5 billion Public Private Partnership to deliver the Grand High Falls Dam, which will generate a gigawatt of renewable power and provide an area over twice the size of the Maasai Mara with drought-combating irrigation solutions;
- the green regeneration of central Nairobi anchored around a new central rail station; and
- a $263,957,024 investment in a climate-resilient agriculture hub for the Lake Victoria region in Kisumu, which will create 2,000 direct jobs and provide an income for a further 20,000 farmers.
Kenya: Gov’t Targets 30GW Of Green Hydrogen After Signing Strategic Deal With UK
Kenya’s President William Ruto said it aims to produce 30GW of green hydrogen production after signing a KES500billion (US$4,098,500,000.00) deal with the UK to fast track green investments.
The UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership is an ambitious five-year agreement that aims to unlock benefits for both countries.
The UK Government will commit KES2bn to a new guarantee company that will lower investment risk and unlock KES12bn of climate finance for Kenyan projects over the next 3 years, through collaboration with CPF Financial Services and other private investors.
The Malindi Solar Expansion will receive an additional KES7.5bn investment.
Plans at the 40MW solar plant, constructed by UK Company Globeleq with finance from British International Investment, which was connected to the grid in December 2021, will double the size of Malindi Solar and add battery storage.
Other investments include KES425bn in Grand High Falls Dam – which will generate 1,000MW of hydro-electric capacity – KES12.5bn in Menengai Geothermal and KES31bn in United Green crop and agro-industrial processing system.
Addressing delegates at COP27, President H.E William Ruto, said Kenya’s electricity is 93% green and outlined the potential of green hydrogen, before making the 30GW target.
“There exists in Kenya the opportunity to produce 20GW of wind power, 10GW of geothermal electricity, and being at the equator, considerable amounts of solar power. In East Africa, there is sufficient hydro-electric potential to produce 100,000MW and if properly exploited, could generate enough clean energy for the whole of the continent.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com