The Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has stressed the need for Africa to consider developing petroleum infrastructure networks across Africa if the continent is to address fuel distribution challenges and also aims to end energy poverty by 2030.
According to him, ending fuel poverty in Africa is not just about establishing either large or modular refineries but rather having an efficient fuel distribution network across the continent that makes it possible to transport fuel from one country to the other.
Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid made the call during a panel discussion on the 3rd day of the just-ended Africa Energy Week 2022, held in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 18-21, 2022.
The panelists were Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, CEO of NPA, Alex Cole, General Manager/Head Business Development Sahara Group, Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary, African Refiners & Distributors Association, and Robert Meza, CEO of Trinity Energy.
The panelists sought to find solutions to Africa’s fuel demand and more especially solutions for new regional exporters.
Setting the stage for the discussion, Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of the African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA), told the energy sector players across Africa that the continent’s total refinery capacity is about 3.3 million barrels per day from about 20 countries.
He continued that “ten years ago, the utilisation of the refineries across Africa was about 75 per cent but now it is between 50% and 55%.”
In his view, there was the need to first, bring back the continent’s refinery capacity to 100 per cent before “we look at other factors if the continent should have self-sufficiency of fuel.”
Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, CEO of National Petroleum Authority and other officials of NPA at the African Energy Week 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa
Answering a question on what should be done to attract investments for refineries, Mr Humphrey Nwugo, Regional Chief Operating Officer for Southern Africa, Afreximbank, noted that there has been a decline in the capacity of refineries in Africa.
He blamed the situation on a lack of maintenance and investment.
To address the problem, he said the bank and other partners are setting up a US$3 billion infrastructure fund to support the development of petroleum infrastructure networks in Africa.
Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid told the gathering that Ghana has taken a bold step to address insufficient petroleum infrastructure in the country by establishing the Petroleum Hub Development Authority (PHDA) to establish a petroleum hub in the Western Region.
The project, which is private sector-led, is expected to have three refineries, storage tanks, water treatment plants and other facilities.
The $60 billion project is intended to serve West Africa upon completion.
Citing the West African Gas Pipeline Project which passes through Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria and allows the aforementioned countries to supply gas for power generation, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said it should be possible for countries within the southern belt of Africa to develop a network pipeline infrastructure and for those in the northern part to do same and then tie all of them together for African nations to be able to trade among themselves.
He, thus, called for collaboration between regional blocks within Africa notably ECOWAS, SADC and EAC.
“If we have an integrated pipeline for SADC, EAC, North Africa, then when we have done all that, you will see that it will be easy to tie them together to have a continental-wide petroleum infrastructure of feeding the entire continent,” Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid posited.Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
President of Nigeria H.E. Muhammadu Buhari has says Nigeria remains dedicated to the partnership with Siemens and the German Government to improve electricity generation in the West African country.
Receiving officials of Siemens Energy AG at State House, the President urged them not to relent in ensuring that government’s commitment to Nigerians in delivering the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) is fulfilled.
The President told the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Siemens Energy, Dr. Christian Bruch, the CEO of Siemens Africa, Nadia Haakansson, and the CEO of Siemens Nigeria, Mr. Seun Suleiman, that the outcome of the collaboration will deliver critical business enablers and opportunities to engage young enterprising Nigerians in various endeavours.
The President also welcomed the training of 200 Nigerian engineers on network development studies under the initiative, saying that this represents ”a very important upskilling and knowledge transfer process.”
The President added that he looks forward to the 5,000 engineers that would have been trained by the end of the programme.
Recounting his promise to Nigerians earlier in this administration to improve electricity supply by resolving capacity deficit across the sector’s value chain, the President lauded the German Government, through the former Chancellor, Angela Merkel, for graciously supporting the country, leading to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Siemens.
He also thanked Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the German Government’s continued support for the PPI.
”A plan to deliver capacity improvements of 2,000 Megawatts in the transmission-distribution interface is now firmly the focus of PPI Phase I.
”In April 2022, the Honourable Minister of Power briefed me on the outcome of his visit to Germany where he held meetings with Siemens executives.
”That visit was fruitful in emphasizing the need to expedite delivery of the pilot PPI project, elements of which have started arriving in the country.
”The Honourable Minister also mentioned that you, Dr. Bruch, will pay a visit to Nigeria, and we are glad that you are with us today.
”The PPI remains a priority project for our Administration and Nigerians believe in the value that the Siemens’ brand can deliver.
”On our part, nothing is spared to ensure we improve the lives and livelihoods of our citizens,” he said.
President Buhari expressed delight at some notable progress on the implementation arrangements of the PPI, adding that the first batch of two power transformers already delivered by Siemens would be commissioned in November 2022.
”I have been reliably assured that 10 Power Transformers and 10 Mobile Substations would have been completely delivered and installed by May 2023.
”This is in spite of production challenges and constraints due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has severely impacted global production and supply chain.”
The Nigerian leader thanked the Government of Germany for approving Euler Hermes to provide cover for the financing of the PPI pilot project, noting that this will serve as a template for the subsequent phases.
Acknowledging that the overall frameworks for technical and commercial arrangements are being concluded, the President said:
”However, what I would like to see is that we attain completion of the entire transaction process by December 2022. This will entrench the mandate of the PPI in full committal terms.”
The Minister of Power, Engr Abubakar Aliyu, thanked the President for ”the remarkable vision of PPI, adding that Nigerians will be thankful to him for a long time after leaving office, “because the power sector will be revitalized.”
He said Siemens was one of the world’s best in power, ”and will surely deliver.”
Dr Christian Bruch, after sympathizing with Nigerians affected by the current devastating flood, said his team was fully committed to the PPI, ”and we will push forward in the weeks and months ahead, as we need to move the process faster.”
He also promised to continue with trainings and improvement of capacities, adding that though general elections were ahead in Nigeria, ”the power initiative will continue, as we are fully committed, and will accelerate the process.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
OPEC member and Minister for Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea, Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima said cartels have always been looking forward to having a stable market to guarantee stable oil prices because its members also have economies that they manage.
As a result, he has called on world leaders to pursue peace and not act in ways that would trigger war.
According to him, wars bring disruptions in the world economies and cause a lot of havoc, citing the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
He made the call during an OPEC-Africa round table dialogue at the ongoing Africa Energy Week 2022 n Cape Town, South Africa.
The dialogue focused on the developments in the oil and gas sector, especially the energy transition and the impact of OPEC’s decision to cut supply by two million barrels of oil in November.
“There are two major events happening in the world today: the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the China-U.S. economic war. Africa is for peace, in the same way that OPEC is for peace. Even though some people say it is political the only thing the organisation and the members are doing is to have a stable market and this is something I did not understand until I joined OPEC. It is not about price. It is about a stable market. All of us have economies,” he stated.
“If you’re the Minister for Finance, you want to make sure that oil or the products from January to December have a little change in pricing. Why? Because you can plan better. But when you have a year in which the price can go up and down, you will have issues. So peace is very important,’’ he stated.
The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia has disrupted world economies and caused food and fuel prices to rise, resulting in groaning across the world.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
African oil and gas companies have been urged to adopt new strategies including listing on both the local and international stock exchanges, to raise funds to finance their projects amidst the push for an energy transition which is starving in oil and gas projects.
The Acting CEO of Ghana’s national oil company (GNPC), Mr. Opoku Ahweneeh- Danquah gave the advice when he addressed a gathering of oil and gas industry players and investors on the second day of the ongoing 2022 African Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa.
He noted that the global risk of tightening financial markets, coupled with the clear and present danger of capital flight out of African fossil fuel projects, is a clear indication to increase the involvement of the African financial sector in securing long-term capital for oil and gas projects.
“African oil and gas companies should increase their accessibility for equity investments through listings on local and international exchanges. Listings and capitalisation of non-African oil and gas companies on major stock exchanges completely dwarf that of African companies. Currently, no Africa NOC is listed on a public stock exchange in Africa or abroad compared to multiple listings of non-African NOCs…this can be partly blamed on the reluctance of African governments to divest some of their ownership of the NOCs,” he said.
“Overall, the ease of doing business in major oil-producing countries is sub-par compared to foreign oil-producing nations. In the World Bank’s 2020 ranking, there are no major African producers in the top hundred. This is a situation that has to improve,” he said
Mr. Opoku Ahweneeh-Danquah, however, praised the Nigerian national oil company, the NNPC, for planning to launch an IPO in mid-2023.
He added, “However, we are seeing the light shining bright. I want to give a call up to my Nigerian brothers; for instance, the Nigerian NOC, the NNPC plans to launch an IPO in mid-2023.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Uniting African energy stakeholders with investors and international partners to drive industry growth and development, the African Energy Week (AEW) 2022 Conference and Exhibition featured its second Natural Gas Forum, focusing on local content and capital domiciliation laws and what can be done to keep the value of African energy in Africa.
The session featured a keynote speech by Dr. Ben K.D. Asante, CEO of Ghana National Gas Company, (Ghana Gas), who discussed the country and region’s upstream sector and how African economic development can benefit from energy, the creation of jobs, and the development of associated value-adding industries in both the oil and gas industry.
“We have to make sure that when investors come to Africa, they have access to capital; that they have access to reserve studies and well deliverability data; and that they have access to production profiles for proven, probably, and possible resources,” Dr. Asante, said adding, “Private sector participation and capacity building are essential for developing Ghana’s gas sector, with an institutional framework that is well-defined.”
Meanwhile, the forum featured a panel discussion, moderated by Elizabeth Rogo, CEO at energy consultancy company, Tsavo Oilfield Services, with participation from Dr. Asante; Ezekial Adesina, Executive Secretary, Africa Energy Study Group; Jozsef Marton, Partner, Preng & Associates; Dr. Odette Delbra, CEO, Gabon Oil; and Eric Williams, President and Principal Consultant, Royal Triangle Energy Solutions who discussed the natural gas economy in Africa under the theme, ‘Local content and capacity building within an emerging frontier’.
“Let us think in one way for Africa,” stated Dr. Odette Delbra, CEO of Gabon Oil, adding,” We need to monetize our gas. We have to stop flaring and translate that gas to energy. We need to ensure that all associated gas will be used first to give electricity to our population and then later we can transform that gas internally to create jobs and help with health and education.”
Warranting the need to reduce emissions across the energy sector, the speakers during the forum recognized the need for the continent to maximize its gas resources by building a gas-based economy and facilitating the development of economic diversification to promote socio economic development.
“Our resources are valuable,” indicated Eric Williams, President and Principal Consultant for Royal Triangle Energy Solutions, stating, “I wish for African gas. To monetize gas, you need to build something out of it. If we go back to the fundamentals and refocus our collective intellectual capacity, then I think we can start to address the poverty and underdevelopment issues that persist on the African continent.”
With many companies operating on the continent leading the way towards a sustainably developed hydrocarbon industry, the lucrative potential of associated chemicals and products such as fertilizers, plastics, lubricants, and chemical compounds, offers African gas producers an opportunity to bring jobs, wealth, and energy to their populations.
“Gas is a fuel and a feedstock,” Williams continued, concluding, “If you only use it as a fuel, you are losing the effect of the feedstock. The feedstock has the ability to build petrochemical and other facilities in one’s country. Meanwhile, there are two elements to local content, the backward path, and the forward linkage. The backward linkage is about jobs and services in the local environment, immediately putting developing countries at a disadvantage, leaving them without the capability to match developed countries. The forward linkage is where you build things that will provide beneficiation of the raw material in the country.”
Centered around the role Africa’s resources will play in meeting global energy demand while driving a just and sustainable energy transition, AEW 2022 is fully committed to ensuring the continent realizes its gas growth potential, facilitating the realization of project approvals, energy investment, and industry growth and development.
Energynewsafrica.com’s editor Michael Creg Afful is in Cape Town, South Africa covering the ongoing Africa Energy Week 2022.
The conference has brought together OPEC President, Secretary-General of OPEC, Energy Ministers, National Oil Companies in Africa, investors and Energy Sector Regulators.
Here are some exclusive pictures captured from the conference.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister for Energy, Republic of GhanaDr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, CEO of National Petroleum Authority, Mr. Charles Owusu, CEO of Petroleum Development Hub Corporation and other officials of NPA at the African Energy Week 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa.Dr. Ben K.D Asante (3rd Left), Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Gas Company with some staff of Ghana Gas at the African Energy Week 2022Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima (2nd Right) Minister for Mines and Hydrocarbons, Equatorial Guinea in a photograph with some delegates Gas at the African Energy Week 2022Opoku Ahweneeh Danquah, Acting CEO of GNPC making a presentation at the Africa Energy WeekLoic Chapuis, Senior Vice President in-charge of Gas and Low Carbon Energy, Technip Energies and Immanuel Mulunga, CEO of NAMCORHon. Puot Kang Chol, Minister for Petroleum, South SudanSource: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Kpedze Senior High School in the Volta Region has beaten five competing schools to emerge as the champions for this year’s Senior High School (SHS) ‘Renewable Energy Challenge’ organised by the Energy Commission.
The champions presented a Solar Dehydrator project at the finals of the 3rd edition of the SHS Renewable Energy Challenge which was held at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The event was highly patronised by players in the energy sector.
The competing schools were Bolgatanga Girls’ SHS, Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ SHS, Nkoranza Tech Institute, Business SHS, Ghana Secondary Technical School and Kpedze SHS.
The SHS Renewable Energy Challenge was sponsored by the Volta River Authority, Bui Power Authority, ECG, PURC, Clean Cooking Alliance and AFD.
Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer, Deputy Minister for EnergySource: https://energynewsafrica.com
Leaders of the 27 European Union countries will meet on Thursday, 20 October 2022, for the second time in a fortnight to try to bring down energy prices, though persistent divisions between them mean the bloc is unlikely for now put a ceiling on what it pays for gas.
The 27 are expected to back an alternative price benchmark for liquefied natural gas and joint gas buying, after earlier agreeing to cut consumption and introduce levies on windfall profits in the energy industry.
But they remain as split as they were months ago on whether and how to cap gas prices to stem high inflation and stave off recession, after Russia cut gas flows following its invasion of Ukraine.
While 15 countries including France and Poland push some form of a cap, they face strong opposition from Germany and the Netherlands – respectively Europe’s biggest economy and gas buyer, and a major European gas trading hub.
“An agreement is extremely unlikely… Opinions seem to be really far apart,” a senior EU diplomat said ahead of Thursday’s talks.
They will also discuss emergency spending to mitigate the effects the acute energy crunch has on their economies and 450 million citizens.
While some countries have called for the bloc to issue new joint debt to finance that, more frugal members say hundreds of billions of euros unused from previous programmes should be spent first.
Another disagreement is whether to provide immediate relief through direct subsidies to households and businesses, or invest in green energy that would make the bloc more resilient in the future.
“Division is not a luxury we can afford,” the summit’s chairman, European Council President Charles Michel, said.
But given EU countries’ diverse energy mix and interests, the meeting risks falling short on concrete action, with other concerns being whether a gas cap would enable Britain to buy cheaper energy or compromise stability of supplies.
“Unity among member states is dangerously under pressure, with unilateral national decisions being announced without an EU framework to keep them together,” said E3G, a think-tank dedicated to climate change transition.
“This fragmentation …could undermine the credibility of the EU’s response.”
EU energy ministers meet again next week but another senior EU diplomat said they did not expect more detailed decisions before November.
WAR IN UKRAINE
EU leaders will also discuss options for giving more support to Ukraine, including providing energy equipment, helping restore power supply and long-term financing to eventually rebuild the country.
As regards bringing those responsible for alleged war crimes in Ukraine to justice, some EU countries want to set up a dedicated tribunal quickly, while others are seeking to go more slowly to ensure maximum international endorsement.
“The European (Union) Council condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent indiscriminate Russian missile and drone attacks targeting civilians and civilian objects and infrastructure in Kyiv and across Ukraine,” the leaders will say, according to their draft statement.
They will single out Belarus for enabling Russia’s war but are not expected to support further sanctions against Moscow on Thursday.
The bloc is already moving to impose new sanctions on Iran over the use of Iranian-made drones in Russian strikes on Ukraine.
Source: Reuters
An employee of Eskom’s Tutuka Power Station in South Africa has been arrested for allegedly removing 10 drums of hydraulic oil from the on-site storage facility.
The employee’s arrest on Monday follows Eskom’s internal investigation, assisted by the Hawks.
The stolen drums of hydraulic oil are valued at more than R 800 000.00 (US$43 736)
The arrested employee appeared in the Standerton Magistrate Court and was remanded in custody for a bail application.
“We shall ensure that bail is denied, and that the employee faces the full might of the law,” Advocate Karen Pillay, General Manager for Eskom Group Security.
In a separate incident at the Matla Power Station on Monday, 17 October, three (3) cleaning contractors working on the site were arrested for stealing copper cables which they placed in a waste storage container.
The suspects were under the watchful surveillance of the investigators who pounced on them when they attempted to remove the container from the area.
“We cannot have such individuals who choose to steal so brazenly, within the employ of Eskom. We shall work ardently to arrest such individuals including their accomplices and bring them to book,” Advocate Pillay asserted.
Advocate Pillay further thanked the law enforcement agencies and the National Prosecuting Authority for their support and for responding to the serious scourge of infrastructure crime, that is affecting the already ailing power system.
Eskom urged the public to partner in protecting the electricity infrastructure and to report crime incidents and information immediately to the Eskom Crime Line: 0800 11 27 22.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nambia’s national oil company, NAMCOR, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Technip Energies, a French engineering and technology company, for the development of Namibia’s oil and gas discoveries made recently by Shell and TotalEnergies.
The MoU was signed on the second day of the ongoing African Energy Week 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Present at the signing were representatives from both Technip Energies and NAMCOR, with the MoU signed by Immanuel Mulunga, CEO of NAMCOR, and Loic Chapuis SVP Gas and Low Carbon Energy, Technip Energies.
As per the terms of the MoU, Technip Energies would help assist NAMCOR with the development of the country’s two large-scale oil and gas discoveries made earlier this year, providing technology services to help get these discoveries onstream as soon as possible.
“We are here to sign a landmark MoU between the Namibian government and Technip Energies. NAMCOR will sign on behalf of the government of Namibia. We are excited about the two discoveries made this year and want to start discussing with a world-class company like Technip Energies to see how they can assist us get these discoveries onstream,” Mulunga stated.
“We are honoured and excited to sign this partnership deal to enhance our presence in Africa. Namibia is a key focus for us and the development of these discoveries perfectly aligns with our agenda as Technip Energies. We are delighted to share technology with Namibia and feel that this MoU will be instrumental in improving technology in Namibia,” Chapuis said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s power export power to Burkina Faso and other neighbouring countries is expected to improve significantly with the commissioning of the 330kV Kumasi-Bolgatanga Transmission Line by the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), energynewsafrica.com can report.
Currently, Ghana exports about 150 Megawatts of power to its northern neighbour, Burkina Faso and the Sahel region.
President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, last Sunday, commissioned the Kumasi-Bolgatanga Transmission Line which was jointly implemented by GRIDCo and SONABEL, as part of his tour of the Ashanti Region.
The project is part of the West Africa Power Pool regional interconnection project between Ghana and Burkina Faso.
It was funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) of US$174 million and a European Union grant of €5 million dedicated to project management.
The project construction was undertaken by Elecnor SA for the Kintampo substation, Eiffage Energies/ABB Ag J.V undertook the Tamale substation while the Bolgatanga substation was done by Sinohydro corporation ltd and KEC international.
With the commissioning of the 330kV Kumasi-Bolgatanga Transmission Line, GRIDCo is hopeful that there would be a reduction in transmission losses, increased transmission capacity and improved security of electricity to Burkina Faso and beyond.
Commenting on the project, Chief Executive of GRIDCo, Ing Ebenezer Essienyi said, “GRIDCo is proud to have delivered this complex energy sector project with the support of strategic partners which has a direct impact on the power supply for Ghanaians, businesses and foreign customers. This transmission line project reinforces and stabilises GRIDCo’s transmission network. It also expands access for Ghana’s middle to the northern belt, as well as consolidating Ghana’s export of up to 150MW beyond its northern border to Burkina Faso and the Sahel region. I commend all who were involved for their contribution to making this project a reality.”
On his part, the Chargé d’Affaires A.I. of the French Embassy to Ghana, Raphaël Malara indicated, “I do consider that such a project—by enhancing regional integration and facilitating the provision of basic services—is a contribution to stability and peace in the region. This project is also a reflection on the importance of the energy sector for the partnership between France and Ghana.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has withdrawn controversial perks for cabinet ministers and their deputies that saw their homes supplied with free electricity and water.
The benefits caused a public outcry as they were considered insensitive at a time South Africans are struggling with daily power cuts and rising cost of living.
In a press briefing on Monday evening, a spokesman said the President “acknowledges and appreciates the public sentiments on the matter.”
The ministerial handbook, which outlines ministerial benefits, would be “aligned to the realities that many South Africans face,” Presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya said.
He said the intention behind the perks was “not a nefarious one.
“The intention was to try and find some form of balance between what ministers could afford versus some of the costs that they have,” he is quoted as saying by the state news agency.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ukrainian engineers have managed to restore backup power to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), a much-needed development after the plant twice over the past week lost all access to external electricity, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has said.
The availability of backup off-site electricity, through the switchyard of the nearby thermal power station, provides Europe’s largest nuclear power plant with a buffer if the connection to its last remaining operating 750 kilovolts (kV) power line were to be cut again, the Director General said.
When the ZNPP’s connection to the high-voltage line was temporarily cut on Saturday and again on Wednesday due to damage caused by shelling.
The plant had to rely on its emergency diesel generators for electricity until the line was restored.
In recent days, two of the ZNPP’s backup power lines–connecting it to the thermal power plant switchyards–have been repaired, the IAEA team at the site reported to Agency headquarters. Today, one of the 330kV external lines connecting the switchyard of the thermal power plant to the grid was also restored, enabling the plant to receive electricity that way, if needed.
“Working in very challenging conditions, operating staff at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant are doing everything they can to bolster its fragile off-site power situation. Restoring the backup power connection is a positive step in this regard, even though the overall nuclear safety and security situation remains precarious,” Director General Grossi said.
Before the conflict, the ZNPP had access to the grid through four high-voltage power lines, but three of them have fallen victim to the fighting. The backup power lines–offering indirect access to the electricity grid–had also been down in recent weeks.
A secure off-site power supply from the grid is essential for ensuring nuclear safety, also with the six reactors in shutdown mode. This requirement is among the seven indispensable nuclear safety and security pillars that the Director General outlined at the beginning of the conflict.
The IAEA team also said further preparatory activities to restart reactor unit 5 were continuing, and that work to also restart unit 6 was expected to get underway tomorrow. Restarting will take several days.
Separately, the ZNPP has received additional fuel supplies for its 20 diesel generators, following the arrival of seven trucks, of which five recently came from the city of Zaporizhzhya, and two earlier from Russian-controlled territory, the IAEA team said. The plant currently has fuel for at least ten days of operation of diesel should external power be lost.
Director General Grossi has, in recent weeks, engaged in high-level consultations with Ukraine and Russia aimed at agreeing and implementing a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the ZNPP as soon as possible, stressing it is urgently needed to help prevent a nuclear accident. The consultations are progressing.
During recent high-level meetings in Ukraine and Russia, he has also raised the increasingly challenging work conditions for the ZNPP’s Ukrainian staff. They are facing “unacceptable pressure”, he said, due to demands to sign a new employment contract with Russian state company Rosatom to keep their jobs, while national Ukrainian operator Energoatom is urging them not to do so and instead follow its instructions.
“I made it clear that the staff must be allowed to carry out their vital tasks without undue interference or pressure,” the Director General said.
Since early August, there has been frequent shelling at or near the ZNPP, causing widespread concern about nuclear safety and security at the site. In the past few days, the IAEA team said, there appears to have been little shelling in the vicinity of the plant itself. However, there were two landmine explosions in the afternoon today outside the ZNPP perimeter fence.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
In 2016, a study commissioned by Tullow Ghana indicated skills gaps in youth employability due to low education progression rate in the Western Region of Ghana.
Following the study, Tullow Ghana partnered with Youth Bridge Foundation, a youth-focused non-governmental organisation, and the Ghana Education Service to initiate a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) project targeted at Junior and Senior High Schools within the seven (7) coastal districts where Tullow operates. This led to the birth of the ‘Mobile STEM Clinics’ in 2018.
The Mobile STEM Clinics have been a game changer for students in these fishing communities with limited access to educational infrastructure. The clinics provide access to science equipment and laboratory experiments that are needed for understanding the theoretical concepts taught in schools. The laboratory setup is carried in vans and stationed in locations that are accessible to the students. During the clinic, facilitators give students the opportunity to be able to undertake laboratory experiments with science and maths equipment, and to ask questions based on their experience.
The clinics have been very instrumental in preparing final-year Junior High School (JHS) students from the beneficiary communities for their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), with a keen focus on Mathematics and Integrated Science.
The 7-day clinic also allows experts from the Ghana Education Service to provide best practices and critical insights into the examination for the benefit of the candidates. A striking feature of the clinic is the ‘Peer-to-Peer Mentorship’ Module which enables past beneficiaries of the project to share their personal experiences from STEM education and consequently help to boost the confidence of prospective BECE candidates.
Since its inception in 2018, the impact of this flagship project has been massive across the seven coastal districts of Ellembelle, Jomoro, Effia Kwesimintim, Sekondi-Takoradi, Nzema East, Shama, and Ahanta West. Education progression has improved, as the project has led to many beneficiaries enrolling in tertiary institutions, the first batch of which are currently in final year in these institutions.
This impact has also been manifested through beneficiaries who have become STEM ambassadors, projecting the gains of the programme in Senior High Schools and tertiary institutions. This year, more than 1300 students participated in the Mobile STEM Clinics in preparation for their annual BECE. Previous years recorded over 1600 participants, bringing the total beneficiaries of the program close to 3000 participants in its 4-year implementation period.
Commenting on the impact of the project, Deputy Managing Director for Tullow Ghana, Mrs. Cynthia Lumor said “At Tullow, we recognize that STEM education is an important building block for the socio-economic development of our host communities. That is why we invest in several STEM-related initiatives including the Mobile STEM Clinic to give young Ghanaians, access to practical science sessions to ensure that no one is left behind in accessing quality STEM education. We believe that this will bridge the resource gap and spur beneficiaries onto higher heights”.
The Mobile STEM Clinic is funded by Tullow Ghana Limited under its ‘Educate to Innovate with STEM’ project which is implemented by the Youth Bridge Foundation.
Source: Tullow Ghana Limited
The panelists sought to find solutions to Africa’s fuel demand and more especially solutions for new regional exporters.
Setting the stage for the discussion, Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of the African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA), told the energy sector players across Africa that the continent’s total refinery capacity is about 3.3 million barrels per day from about 20 countries.
He continued that “ten years ago, the utilisation of the refineries across Africa was about 75 per cent but now it is between 50% and 55%.”
In his view, there was the need to first, bring back the continent’s refinery capacity to 100 per cent before “we look at other factors if the continent should have self-sufficiency of fuel.”
Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid told the gathering that Ghana has taken a bold step to address insufficient petroleum infrastructure in the country by establishing the Petroleum Hub Development Authority (PHDA) to establish a petroleum hub in the Western Region.
The project, which is private sector-led, is expected to have three refineries, storage tanks, water treatment plants and other facilities.
The $60 billion project is intended to serve West Africa upon completion.
Citing the West African Gas Pipeline Project which passes through Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria and allows the aforementioned countries to supply gas for power generation, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said it should be possible for countries within the southern belt of Africa to develop a network pipeline infrastructure and for those in the northern part to do same and then tie all of them together for African nations to be able to trade among themselves.
He, thus, called for collaboration between regional blocks within Africa notably ECOWAS, SADC and EAC.
“If we have an integrated pipeline for SADC, EAC, North Africa, then when we have done all that, you will see that it will be easy to tie them together to have a continental-wide petroleum infrastructure of feeding the entire continent,” Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid posited.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com 
The Minister of Power, Engr Abubakar Aliyu, thanked the President for ”the remarkable vision of PPI, adding that Nigerians will be thankful to him for a long time after leaving office, “because the power sector will be revitalized.”
He said Siemens was one of the world’s best in power, ”and will surely deliver.”
Dr Christian Bruch, after sympathizing with Nigerians affected by the current devastating flood, said his team was fully committed to the PPI, ”and we will push forward in the weeks and months ahead, as we need to move the process faster.”
He also promised to continue with trainings and improvement of capacities, adding that though general elections were ahead in Nigeria, ”the power initiative will continue, as we are fully committed, and will accelerate the process.”
Source: 
Dr. Ben K.D Asante (3rd Left), Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Gas Company with some staff of Ghana Gas at the African Energy Week 2022
Hon. Puot Kang Chol, Minister for Petroleum, South Sudan
As per the terms of the MoU, Technip Energies would help assist NAMCOR with the development of the country’s two large-scale oil and gas discoveries made earlier this year, providing technology services to help get these discoveries onstream as soon as possible.
“We are here to sign a landmark MoU between the Namibian government and Technip Energies. NAMCOR will sign on behalf of the government of Namibia. We are excited about the two discoveries made this year and want to start discussing with a world-class company like Technip Energies to see how they can assist us get these discoveries onstream,” Mulunga stated.
“We are honoured and excited to sign this partnership deal to enhance our presence in Africa. Namibia is a key focus for us and the development of these discoveries perfectly aligns with our agenda as Technip Energies. We are delighted to share technology with Namibia and feel that this MoU will be instrumental in improving technology in Namibia,” Chapuis said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com 
The clinics have been very instrumental in preparing final-year Junior High School (JHS) students from the beneficiary communities for their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), with a keen focus on Mathematics and Integrated Science.
The 7-day clinic also allows experts from the Ghana Education Service to provide best practices and critical insights into the examination for the benefit of the candidates. A striking feature of the clinic is the ‘Peer-to-Peer Mentorship’ Module which enables past beneficiaries of the project to share their personal experiences from STEM education and consequently help to boost the confidence of prospective BECE candidates.
Since its inception in 2018, the impact of this flagship project has been massive across the seven coastal districts of Ellembelle, Jomoro, Effia Kwesimintim, Sekondi-Takoradi, Nzema East, Shama, and Ahanta West. Education progression has improved, as the project has led to many beneficiaries enrolling in tertiary institutions, the first batch of which are currently in final year in these institutions.
This impact has also been manifested through beneficiaries who have become STEM ambassadors, projecting the gains of the programme in Senior High Schools and tertiary institutions. This year, more than 1300 students participated in the Mobile STEM Clinics in preparation for their annual BECE. Previous years recorded over 1600 participants, bringing the total beneficiaries of the program close to 3000 participants in its 4-year implementation period.
Commenting on the impact of the project, Deputy Managing Director for Tullow Ghana, Mrs. Cynthia Lumor said “At Tullow, we recognize that STEM education is an important building block for the socio-economic development of our host communities. That is why we invest in several STEM-related initiatives including the Mobile STEM Clinic to give young Ghanaians, access to practical science sessions to ensure that no one is left behind in accessing quality STEM education. We believe that this will bridge the resource gap and spur beneficiaries onto higher heights”.
The Mobile STEM Clinic is funded by Tullow Ghana Limited under its ‘Educate to Innovate with STEM’ project which is implemented by the Youth Bridge Foundation.
Source: Tullow Ghana Limited