Libya: Gov’t Looks To Boost Oil Production To 1.45 Million Bpd By End Of 2021
Libyan government has announced plans to raise the country’s oil production to 1.45 million barrels per day (bpd) by the end of this year, from 1.3 million bpd.
The chairman of Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), Mustafa Sanalla disclosed this in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Tuesday.
According to Sanalla, the North African country will be able to increase its current production by another 150,000 bpd by end of 2021, provided that the state oil firm regularly receives its budget and security at oil facilities is not compromised again.
The targets for the next few years are for Libya to increase production to 1.6 million bpd in two years and to 2.1 million bpd in four years.
Libya surprised many oil market observers, and probably the OPEC+ group itself, after managing in just a few months to restore its oil production back to 1.25 million bpd from less than 100,000 in September 2020.
The 1.25 million bpd level was the volume which Libya, exempted from the OPEC+ cuts, was pumping before the eighth-month-long oil port blockade began in January 2020.
Although Libya has managed to keep output above 1 million bpd for a few months in a row now, NOC’s Sanalla told Bloomberg that it is still too early to discuss with OPEC the lifting of the exemption the country has been granted in the OPEC+ deals so far.
Even after the lifting of the blockade in mid-September and the ceasefire from October, Libya’s oil production has not been entirely stable so far this year due to strikes from the Petroleum Facilities Guard over unpaid salaries and the lack of funds for restoration and maintenance of oil infrastructure.
Oil loadings at export terminals were disrupted last month, after members of the Petroleum Facilities Guard stopped vessels from loading crude amid the strike over delayed salary payments, while a leak that forced the shutdown of an oil pipeline reduced oil production by as much as 200,000 bpd for a week in January.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: We’re Sorry, Says ECG…Assures Customers Of Reliable Power Supply
Ghana’s southern power distribution company, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), has assured Ghanaians that it is working with the country’s power transmission company, GRIDCo, to restore power supply to consumers.
Ghanaians were thrown into total blackout on Sunday, March 7, 2021, following what the transmission company, GRIDCo, said was a technical fault on its Prestea and Obuasi transmission lines.
Since the blackout, many Ghanaians have taken to social media platforms to blame the ECG and for that matter government over the situation, though the problem is not emanating from the ECG.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Managing Director of ECG, Kwame Agyeman-Budu, ECG apologised to its customers for the inconveniences caused to them.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Boost For Ghana-Burkina Faso Transmission Network As EU Approves €9.7 Million Grant For GRIDCoECG assured all stakeholders that the company is resolved in carrying out its mandate of distributing safe, quality and reliable power supply.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Recent Power Outages Not Problem Of Generation-IPPs Chamber
The Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Independent Power Producers, Distributors and Bulk Consumers (CIPDiB), Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor has stated that the recent outages have nothing to do with generation shortfall as it is being speculated by section of Ghanaians.
According to him, generation capacity of their members are intact, adding that there is no problem as far as supply of fuel is concerned.
Mr Apetorgbo said this while speaking on an Accra-based Atinka TV following last Sunday’s total blackout in the entire West African nation.
With regard to the government’s indebtedness to IPPs, Mr Apetorgbor said the government has done well by making some payments, but said they expect the government to improve on payment.
Ghana: Gov’t Pays Over U.S$1 Billion To IPPs In 2020“Things are getting better and I think our books are taking shape and we hope it will be improved,” he said. The Government of Ghana was indebted to the IPPs which constitutes a little over 50 percent of the country’s total generation to the tune of US$1.5 billion. However, energynewsafrica.com understands the government has settled about half of the figure.
Ghana: GRIDCo Fixes System Collapse; Restores Power Supply
Electricity supply in the Republic of Ghana has been partially restored following a total blackout on Sunday afternoon.
Though the transmission company, GRIDCo, has not issued a statement to indicate restoration of power, many people who interacted with energynewsafrica.com confirmed that electricity has been restored at their locations.
The entire West African nation was hit with blackout at about 2:10pm following what GRIDCo said was a challenge that resulted in system shutdown.
The situation left many wondering as to whether the country had returned to the era of power crisis which was christened ‘dumsor’ in the local parlance.
Ghana experienced a similar situation in May 2017 when there was a total blackout.
Sources within GRIDCo told this portal that power has been restored fully but said it will take sometime for the entire country to have electricity.
In a statement issued by GRIDCo earlier on Sunday, it said that its technical team is currently working to restore power supply to all Bulk Supply Points (BSPs) in the country.
“GRIDCo is also working to ascertain the reasons behind the total system shutdown and will update the relevant stakeholders in due course.
“Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted,” the statement issued by GRIDCo noted.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Total Blackout Hits Ghana As Transmission System Collapses
There is total power cuts in the Republic of Ghana, energynewsafrica.com can report.
The entire West African nation was hit with power cuts at about 2:10pm on Sunday, March 7, 2021.
The situation has left many wondering as to whether the country has returned to the era of power crisis which was christened ‘dumsor’ in the local parlance.
Ghana experienced a similar situation in May 2017 when there was a total blackout.
Speaking to energynewsafrica.com, General Manager in charge of Public Relations at the Electricity Company of Ghana, a power distribution company in charge of electricity for Southern Ghana, William Boateng said the problem is not coming from their side, explaining that power supply into their Bulk Supply Points (intake) had witnessed some interruptions.
According to him, as soon as they receive power from the transmission company, electricity would be restored to customers.
When contacted, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Ing. Amoako-Baah confirmed that there has been collapse in the transmission system, hence, the current massive power cuts across the country.
In a statement issued by GRIDCo, it said that its technical team is currently working to restore power supply to all Bulk Supply Points (BSPs) in the country.
“GRIDCo is also working to ascertain the reasons behind the total system shutdown and will update the relevant stakeholders in due course.
“Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted,” the statement said.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Five BDCs Licences Revoked
A total of five Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs) operating in Ghana’s petroleum downstream have had their operating licences revoked by the National Petroleum Authority, energynewsafrica.com can report.
This has reduced the number of BDCs to 30 presently from the previous number of 41 BDCs in 2016.
The revocation of the licences was as a result of the companies’ failure to fully satisfy their financial obligations to downstream regular National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
The companies are L.I.B Ghana Ltd, Imperial Energy Ltd, Mimshack Energy Ltd, Rochelle Energy Ltd and WI Energy Ltd.
This was contained in the 2019 Ghana Petroleum Industry Report which was outdoored virtually recently.
The report noted that the annual BDC licence fees of US$ 400,000 was revised downwards to US$300,000 following negotiations by the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distribution companies (CBOD).
Giving details of the performance of the BDCs with regard to fuel import, the report said the nine
BDCs imported above 100,000mt in 2019 compared to 7 in
2018.
It further said five companies imported products above 50,000mt but below 100,000mt, while 12 BDCs accounting for nine percent of total import brought in cargoes below 50,000mt. In 2019,19 BDCs imported products above 30kt per annum as compared to the 15 BDCs in 2018.
“Although the number of BDCs that imported products above 100,000mt increased from seven in 2018 to nine in 2019, the concentration of market activity still remains with a few players,” the report said.
“The 80 percent market share controlled by the nine BDCs brings into question the commercial viability of the 12 BDCs whose imports were below 50,000mt, given their operating expenses and an annual licence fee of US$ 400,000,” it added.
Meanwhile, the number of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) grew from 112 in 2018 to 120 in 2019, representing a seven percent increase.
The number of the retail outlets operated by the OMCs also grew from 2,944 to 3,055 in 2019.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Energy Minister, Others Sworn Into Office
President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo has sworn into office the newly appointed Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and 27 other ministers.
The swearing-in ceremony, which took place at the Flag Staff House, seat of government, on Friday, March 5, 2021, brought together a number of dignitaries including diplomats, clergy and traditional rulers.
It followed their successful vetting and subsequent approval by the country’s Parliament.
Addressing the gathering, President Akufo-Addo said the approval of all the nominees presented to parliament proved the positive cooperation between the Executive arm of Government and the Legislature, expressing the hope that the relationship would remain strengthened.
He further said he was confident that the ministers would work together with him to ensure progress for the country.
“I urge you to provide leadership that will ensure that the work which we are embarking on, benefits the progress of our nation and helps raise the living standards of our people. That is why we are here and that is why the Ghanaian people voted for us,” the President said.
Dr Matthew Prempeh, a former Minister for Education during the first term of the Akufo-Addo-administration, went through a successful vetting on Friday, February 12, 2021.
He was grilled on a wide range of issues in the energy sector covering both power and oil and gas (downstream and upstream).
Dr Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as Napo, is a Member of Parliament for South Manhyia Constituency in the Ashanti Region.
He is expected to start work on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Parliament Approves Napo’s Appointment As Energy Minister
The Ministerial nominee for Ghana’s Energy Ministry, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has been approved by the country’s Appointments’ Committee of Parliament after a successful vetting.
He was approved alongside other ministerial nominees.
The Speaker of the West African nation’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin announced his approval on the floor of Parliament Thursday dawn when the house voted to approve three Ministers-designate who were earlier rejected by the Appointment’s Committee.
Join The Green Transition Or Be Left Behind- U.S. Energy Secretary To Oil CompaniesDr. Matthew Prempeh, a former Minister for Education during the first term of the Akufo-Addo-administration, went through a successful vetting on Friday, February 12, 2021. He was grilled on a wide range of issues in the energy sector covering both power and oil and gas (downstream and upstream). Dr Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as Napo, is a Member of Parliament for South Manhyia Constituency in the Ashanti Region. He and other ministers are expected to be sworn into office by President Akufo-Addo. Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Join The Green Transition Or Be Left Behind- U.S. Energy Secretary To Oil Companies
The newly appointed U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has warned oil and gas companies that they risk being left behind unless they embrace a transition to cleaner sources of energy.
While issuing the stern warning to the oil and gas companies, Jennifer Granholm, also offered them the opportunity to partner with Joe Biden’s administration.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat how hard transitions are,” Granholm said Wednesday during IHS Markit’s annual CERAWeek conference.
“The bottom line is this particular growth of clean energy and reduction of carbon provides a huge opportunity and I’m extending a hand of partnership.”
Granholm’s remarks come as the Biden administration seeks to reassure hundreds of thousands of workers in oil, gas, and coal who feel imperiled by his fight against climate change, which includes a plan to rid the economy of carbon emissions by 2050.
Biden has vowed not to leave any worker behind during this transition to a cleaner economy, but has been met with skepticism in the oil patch and elsewhere.
Granholm, who formerly served as the governor of Michigan, was confirmed last month to lead the Energy Department, an agency with a roughly $35 billion annual budget and a diverse mission that ranges from helping to build the nation’s arsenal of nuclear warheads to spending billions researching new energy technology.
Granholm has said she will draw on her experience revitalizing Michigan’s economy after the 2008 recession, and has vowed to focus on creating new jobs during the clean-energy transition. Some lawmakers representing fossil fuel-producing states have been critical.
“The Biden administration is telling these oil rig, coal mine, and well workers that they can simply get new jobs ‘building solar panels’,” Wyoming Republican Senator John Barrasso said last month. “Their livelihoods are being sacrificed in the name of the Biden agenda.”
In her remarks at the conference, which is being held virtually this year, Granholm said the Biden administration has created a new Office of Energy Jobs to help fossil fuel employees identify new opportunities. Among the examples Granholm cited was oil and gas workers using their drilling skills to tap into geothermal energy and sheet metal workers reinforcing pipelines to protect against methane leaks.
Granholm praised oil and gas companies that have already vowed to commit to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“The market is raising its hand and saying we are heading in a direction you better come along or you are going to be left behind,” Granholm said. “Maybe we should listen to some of those signals and it’s an opportunity for those who work in these sectors to work with us to diversify into clean energy solutions.”
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Biden’s Energy Secretary Ready To Unleash $40 Billion In Green Energy Funds
President Biden’s new Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is ready to let loose $40 billion in Department of Energy loans, the former Michigan governor said on Wednesday at CERAWeek.
Granholm has selected Jigar Shah, founder of SunEdison, to spearhead the loan program as Director of the Loan Program Office.
The DoE’s loan program has been in place for years, and is responsible, according to IHS Markit, for backing the first five US utility-scale solar projects in the United States.
More uncharitably, the DoE’s loan program is also recognized for dispersing $528 million to Solyndra—the solar panel manufacturer that went bankrupt two years after receiving DoE funds.
The program, originally created in 2005 under U.S. President Bush, added a renewable energy component four years later, under President Obama.
Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea Ministers For Mineral Resources Hold Bilateral MeetingThe largest loan, issued in pieces starting in 2014 to 2019, went to VOGTLE in the amount of $12 billion for the construction of Vogtle Units 3&4—something the DoE coined “the nation’s next generation of advanced nuclear reactors”. The reactors will likely miss its promised November 2021 in-service dates. The second-largest loan in the program, issued in 2009, went to Ford Motor Company in the amount of $5.9 billion for the purpose of revamping facilities to improve fuel efficiency. The two loans account for more than half of the nearly $30 billion in outstanding loans issued by the DoE. The loan program is part of President Biden’s aggressive push toward cleaner energy, with Granholm a perfectly green second chair. The $40 billion in funds have been available and waiting for disbursement for years, but with the new Administration, expectations are that we will see more clean energy funds doled out. Source: Oilprice.com
Egypt: AfDB Approves Over $27million Loan For Kom Ombo Solar Power Plant Project
The African Development Bank’s Board of Directors has approved $27.2 million in loan financing for the design, construction and operation of a 200 MW photovoltaic solar power plant at Kom Ombo, in Upper Egypt on the river Nile.
The project is expected to lower electricity costs for businesses and residences, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating construction and other jobs.
The project’s total cost is estimated at $156.4 million. In addition to the Bank’s financing, structured as a senior loan, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Arab Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development will contribute funding.
The plant, 800 km south of Cairo, is owned by ACWA Power, a leading Saudi Arabian developer, investor and operator of power generation and desalinated-water plants worldwide.
“We are delighted to support this project that will deliver one of the lowest generation tariffs on the continent,” said Kevin Kariuki, the Bank’s Vice President for, Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth. He added that “the project supports Egypt’s energy transition and contributes towards the country’s achievement of its targeted 20% share of renewables by 2022.”
Egypt’s economy has continued to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its electricity demands are increasing at an average annual rate of 7%. By increasing Egypt’s installed power generation capacity from renewable sources, the plant is forecast to reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than 7 million tCO2e equivalent over a 25-year period. During the construction phase, 800 jobs will be created.
Egypt’s electricity grid is linked to those of neighbors Libya and Sudan, and the plant has the potential to greatly contribute to energy trading and electricity access in the region.
The project aligns with Egypt’s national Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy and the Bank’s New Deal on Energy for Africa which aims to increase the share of renewable energy through innovative financing in Africa’s energy sector. The project also advances the institution’s Light Up and Power Africa High-5 strategic priority.
The Bank’s Deputy Director General for North Africa, Malinne Blomberg said that “the newly approved transaction is a continuation of the Bank’s long-standing partnership with the Government of Egypt and its strong support for the country’s reform agenda.”
In addition to advancing the country’s green development, “the Kom Ombo project is also contributing to the sustainability of a sector that is essential for Egypt’s competitiveness and industrial development. More immediately, the recovery from COVID-19 will benefit from an efficient and sustainable energy sector,” she added.
Egypt is one of the founding members of the African Development Bank Group. Since starting lending operations in 1974, the Bank Group has financed over 100 operations in Egypt across several sectors.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Zambia: $49.5 Million Unpaid Bills Force ZESCO To Embark On Mass Disconnection Exercise
Zambia’s electricity utility company, Zesco, has begun a mass disconnection exercise for all prepaid customers who have defaulted in settling their bills more than 30 days.
The exercise began on Monday, March 1, 2021.
According to the company, the exercise is aimed at halting the growing debt and improve cash flow.
Nigeria: Electricity Consumers Want NERC To Put In Place Compensation RegimeThe corporation is owed in excess of K900million (equivalent of $49,559,085.00) through unpaid bills by some of its postpaid customers, which negatively affects the company’s drive towards the provision of efficient services. In a statement, the company implored its customers to pay up in full in order to avoid any inconvenience that may arise due to suspension of power supply. “Customers are further informed that once disconnected, re-connection to supply will be activated upon payment of 75 percent of the outstanding amount and applicable reconnection fees,” the company said. Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Power Outages Hit Parts Of Ghana As WAPCo Cuts Gas Supply
Gas supply to some power generating plants in the Republic of Ghana have been cut, thereby resulting in power outages in parts of the West African nation.
According to the country’s power transmission company, GRIDCo, there has been an emergency closure of valve at the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) on Wednesday at about 6:30am.
In a press statement, GRIDCo noted that key stakeholders in the power value chain including WAPCo, are currently working to restore gas supply shortly.
Meanwhile, the company said it has made arrangement for other generating plants to come online to restore supply to the affected areas.
“Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted,” the statement said.
It would be recalled that several parts of Ghana experienced power outages last Saturday, compelling consumers to go on social media platforms to express their frustrations over the situation.
GRIDCo, in a statement, blamed the situation on interruptions on gas supply from the offshore field.
Ghana: Two Fuel Tankers Burnt In Fire Explosion At Kpone
Two fuel tankers loaded with petrol have been swept by fire at a yard at Kpone near Tema in the Republic of Ghana.
Energynewsafrica.com understands that one of the tankers got completely burnt while the other was partially burnt.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred at about 7pm Tuesday.
Speaking to Energynewsafrica.com, The Deputy Tema Regional Commander for Ghana National Fire Service, DO1 Timothy Osafo Affum, who confirmed the incident, said his outfit received a distress call from the area and quickly moved to the scene.
According to him, the personnel of the service managed to bring the fire under control. Later, he said they detected that two of the tankers had been affected.
He could not confirm the cause of the fire but said investigations have begun to establish the cause of the incident.
There were no casualties.
It would be recalled that similar incident happened late last year in the area.
It is not clear whether it is the same tanker yard or not.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com