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
Ghana: ECG Recovers Gh¢2.45 Million From Power Theft In Eastern Region
The Electricity Company of Ghana in the Eastern Region has recovered GH¢2,457,747.25(US$163,931.74) from customers who engaged in power theft.
The Revenue Protection Unit of ECG, through its routine exercise, discovered that some of the customers had engaged in illegal connections between January and October 2022.
During the exercise, 36 of the meters assessed were discovered to have been bypassed, 24 meters were tampered with, hence, recording low units, 19 meters were connected without authorisation and three people had connected power directly to their premises.
The power usage was quantified for the customers to pay.
Other customers with challenges on their meters were rectified to ensure that the company raked in the needed revenue to sustain its operations.
The General Manager of ECG for the Eastern Region, Ing Sariel Adobea Etwire, who made this known to the media, said the amount recovered was an improvement over Gh¢1.26 million recovered in 2021.
She said ECG has the vision to become financially viable and was not relenting in revenue protection activities to ensure that all customers using power without payment would be smoked out for prosecution.
Ing Etwire said the Eastern Region has undertaken various initiatives, which have, in the past, helped the Region to enjoy a relatively stable power supply.
She assured customers that her outfit would continue to work hard to keep the light on and urged customers to do their part by paying their bills promptly.
“However, those who have not been receiving bills for some time should do well to report to the nearest ECG office to avoid piling up their monthly bills,” she advised.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: ECG Recovers Gh¢2.45 Million From Power Theft In Eastern Region
The Electricity Company of Ghana in the Eastern Region has recovered GH¢2,457,747.25(US$163,931.74) from customers who engaged in power theft.
The Revenue Protection Unit of ECG, through its routine exercise, discovered that some of the customers had engaged in illegal connections between January and October 2022.
During the exercise, 36 of the meters assessed were discovered to have been bypassed, 24 meters were tampered with, hence, recording low units, 19 meters were connected without authorisation and three people had connected power directly to their premises.
The power usage was quantified for the customers to pay.
Other customers with challenges on their meters were rectified to ensure that the company raked in the needed revenue to sustain its operations.
The General Manager of ECG for the Eastern Region, Ing Sariel Adobea Etwire, who made this known to the media, said the amount recovered was an improvement over Gh¢1.26 million recovered in 2021.
She said ECG has the vision to become financially viable and was not relenting in revenue protection activities to ensure that all customers using power without payment would be smoked out for prosecution.
Ing Etwire said the Eastern Region has undertaken various initiatives, which have, in the past, helped the Region to enjoy a relatively stable power supply.
She assured customers that her outfit would continue to work hard to keep the light on and urged customers to do their part by paying their bills promptly.
“However, those who have not been receiving bills for some time should do well to report to the nearest ECG office to avoid piling up their monthly bills,” she advised.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Gas Is Good For Industrialisation—Dr Ben Asante
A renowned gas infrastructure engineer and Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Gas Company, Dr Ben K.D Asante, has described natural gas as a good source of energy that is crucial to the industrialisation agenda of Ghana.
According to Dr Asante, considering the current impact of climate change, countries across the world need to act quickly and make efforts to help mitigate the impact of climate change and ensure a sustainable development model.
He said it is imperative that Ghana does not only deal with the challenge of acquiring ever-increasing amounts of energy to continue economic growth but also make sure that its energy stores increasingly come from renewable methods that are sustainable for the environment.
Dr Asante was speaking at the Ghana Oil and Gas Conference organised by the Ghana Upstream Chamber in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
The conference was under the theme: ‘Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy’.
Ghana has, so far, made remarkable progress in its clean energy transition, becoming one of the countries to have investments in solar and other renewable sources of energy.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Dr Asante was speaking at the Ghana Oil and Gas Conference organised by the Ghana Upstream Chamber in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
The conference was under the theme: ‘Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy’.
Ghana has, so far, made remarkable progress in its clean energy transition, becoming one of the countries to have investments in solar and other renewable sources of energy.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Court Rejects Nigeria’s $1.1bn Damages Request Against Eni, Shell
An appeals court in Milan, Italy has rejected Nigeria’s $1.1bn compensation request against Italian energy group Eni and British oil and gas company Shell in civil proceedings relating to a $1.3bn oilfield deal.
The decision was read out in court on Friday, November 11, 2022.
In July, prosecutors had dropped related criminal proceedings, clearing Eni and Shell, as well as managers including Eni Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi, in one of the oil industry’s biggest alleged corruption cases.
The main case revolved around a deal in which Eni and Shell acquired the OPL 245 offshore oilfield in 2011 to settle a long-standing dispute over ownership.
Prosecutors alleged that just under $1.1 billion of the total amount was siphoned off to politicians and middlemen.
Eni said on Friday it was satisfied with the appeals court’s decision and added it had started arbitration against the African country at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
“Eni recalls that it has promoted a ICSID international arbitration in Washington against Nigeria for the protection of its OPL 245 license with respect to the overall detrimental consequences suffered in the affair,” the Italian group said in a statement reported by Reuters.
In a separate message, Shell said it was pleased that the civil proceedings had been dismissed.
“This follows the Milan criminal tribunal’s finding that there was no case to answer for Shell or its former employees when they were fully acquitted in 2021, a decision that was upheld in July 2022, when criminal proceedings ended,” Shell added.
A lawyer representing Nigeria in the proceedings said on Friday that the country was still deciding whether to appeal the decision at Italy’s top administrative court.
Documents explaining the reasons behind Friday’s court decision will be made available in 90 days.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
EU Needs $460 Billion Investment To Maintain Nuclear Power Capacity
The European Union will need up to $462 billion (450 billion euros) in investment just to keep the current level of its nuclear power generation capacity, the EU Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, said at a nuclear energy forum this week.
Nuclear power will have an important role to play in the EU’s climate targets of low-carbon electricity generation, Simson said at the European Nuclear Energy Forum in Prague.
“The backbone of the future European carbon free power system will be predominantly renewables. But the reality is that these renewables will need to be complemented with a stable Baseload electricity production. This is why nuclear energy is not just a safety and security concern, but also a real solution,” she added.
This year, a year when surging energy prices have highlighted the importance of energy security, the EU is particularly focused on its nuclear power availability.
According to the EU modeling, nuclear power generation will account for around 15%-16% of the EU’s power output in 2030 and 2050, Simson said.
The EU needs a stable generation capacity, at the level of just over 100 GW, in the coming decades. Yet, a lot of investment will be needed to keep that generation capacity in the future.
“Our analysis shows that without immediate investment, around 90% of existing reactors would be shut down around the time when we need them most – in 2030,” Simson noted.
The EU will need between $360 billion (350 billion euros) and $462 billion (450 billion euros) of investment just to maintain the current generation capacity, and another up to $51.3 billion (50 billion euros) in the long-term operation of existing reactors, according to the EU commissioner.
New technology, such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), could be the solution to integrate the energy system and decarbonize the sectors that pose the biggest challenge, said Simson, adding that the EU aims to have the first European SMRs go live in the early 2030s.
Source: Oilprice.com
Power Outages As Rare November Storm Hits Florida
More than 300,000 homes and businesses in Florida have been left without power as storm Nicole batters the US state.
States of emergency and evacuation orders are in place, and residents have been told to stay indoors with heavy rain and storm surges forecast.
Two people were killed when they were electrocuted by a downed power line in Orange County in the centre of the state.
Storms of this size so late in the year are extremely rare.
The storm has already lashed the Bahamas as a huge category one hurricane, and caused widespread flooding.
Nicole hit Florida’s eastern coast as a hurricane at 03:00 EST (08:00 GMT) with winds of up to 75mph (120km/h).
These have weakened slightly to around 60mph and Nicole has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it makes its way north-west across the sunshine state.
Since the storm hit in the early hours, more than 600,000 homes and businesses have lost power.
Electricity has been restored to around half of these but 308,000 remain without, according to service providers.
The storm is expected to weaken further as it heads north towards Georgia and the Carolinas, over the next two days.
Its remnants could possibly even hit Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York later in the week.
Most of Florida’s 22 million residents remained under a tropical storm, high wind and storm surge warnings along with local hurricane statements that urged people to stay indoors and watch for flooding.
Source: BBC
The storm has already lashed the Bahamas as a huge category one hurricane, and caused widespread flooding.
Nicole hit Florida’s eastern coast as a hurricane at 03:00 EST (08:00 GMT) with winds of up to 75mph (120km/h).
These have weakened slightly to around 60mph and Nicole has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it makes its way north-west across the sunshine state.
Since the storm hit in the early hours, more than 600,000 homes and businesses have lost power.
Electricity has been restored to around half of these but 308,000 remain without, according to service providers.
The storm is expected to weaken further as it heads north towards Georgia and the Carolinas, over the next two days.
Its remnants could possibly even hit Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York later in the week.
Most of Florida’s 22 million residents remained under a tropical storm, high wind and storm surge warnings along with local hurricane statements that urged people to stay indoors and watch for flooding.
Source: BBC