Ghana: Akufo-Addo Commissions 330kv Kumasi-Bolgatanga Power Transmission Project

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana’s president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned the 330 kilovolt Kumasi to Bolgatanga Transmission Line Project, constructed by the power transmission company, GRIDCo. The project, which is an integral part of the West Africa Power Pool Project, seeks to reinforce the Ghana Transmission System, and ensure the export of at least 100 megawatts of electricity to Burkina Faso, as well as increase the reliability of the Ghana to Burkina Interconnection Project. To help achieve this objective, GRIDCo also constructed a 330kV Transmission line from the Aboadze Power Generation enclave through Prestea to Kumasi. The 330 kV Kumasi-Bolgatanga Transmission Line Project consisted of the construction of approximately 550km of 330kV Transmission Line from Kumasi to Bolgatanga, the construction of 330kV Substations at Kumasi, Kintampo, Tamale and Bolgatanga as well as expansions of the existing 161kV Substations at these locations, and the implementation of Environmental Mitigation Measures and a Resettlement Action Plan for the Project. The project was financed by the French Development Agency (AFD) at a total cost of US$173.9 million. Not only has the project succeeded in supplying 150 megawatts of power to Burkina Faso, but it has also increased transmission capacity to meet growing demand in Ashanti, northern Ghana and beyond. The Minister for Energy, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also noted that the projects have also contributed to the reduction of transmission line overloads and associated high transmission losses and improved voltages particularly in Ashanti, Bono and Bono East regions. President Nana Akufo-Addo and other officials at the commissioning of the 330kv Kumasi-Bolgatanga power transmission project He stressed that the 330kV transmission lines have also helped to improve the quality and reliability of electricity supply in the country. History of WAPP The West Africa Power Pool projects commenced with the Coastal Transmission Backbone Projects (CTB) which involved the construction of 330kV Aboadze-Volta (Tema)-Momehagou (Togo) Transmission Line and associated substations as well as the upgrade of Power Generation facilities in Ghana. The projects were jointly implemented by the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and Communauté Electrique du Bénin (CEB) of Togo/Benin and completed in 2014. The developmental objective of the CTB project was to increase access of WAPP “Zone A” coastal states (Cote-d’ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin & Nigeria) to more stable and reliable electricity to alleviate power supply deficits and to reduce their collective vulnerability to drought-induced power supply disruptions. The subsequent project was the Interzonal Hub Transmission Project. The development objective of the first phase of the project was to reduce the cost of and improve security of electricity supply to Burkina, while increasing Ghana’s electricity export capacity.    

South Africa: Ugandan President H.E. Yoweri Museveni To Deliver Keynote Address At African Energy Week 2022

Michael Creg Afful
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Ugandan President His Excellency Yoweri Museveni is expected to deliver a Presidential keynote address at the second edition of African Energy Week (AEW) 2022 scheduled this week from October 18-21, in Cape Town, South Africa. He will be addressing African energy policymakers, stakeholders and investors as well as international partners at the 2022 edition of the conference and exhibition – Africa’s premier event for the energy sector. With global energy transition policies disrupting the flow of investments required to maximize the full development and exploitation of Africa’s vast hydrocarbon resources, the participation of President Museveni at AEW 2022 will be crucial for defending Africa’s rights to maximize the continent’s oil and gas resources. With over 600 million people across the African continent living in energy poverty and yet much of the continent’s oil and gas resources remain largely untapped, AEW 2022 represents the ideal platform for H.E. President Museveni to highlight the continent’s massive oil and gas potential in making energy poverty history by 2030, while at the same time calling for improved investment into African energy developments to both continental and international energy companies and investors. In 2022, improved cooperation amongst African governments and energy market players remains of vital significance for the African energy sector, with cross-border collaboration recognized as crucial for boosting upstream, midstream and downstream activities as well as the utilization and monetization of oil and gas resources. In this regard, President Museveni will make a strong case for best practices to enhance partnerships between African national oil and gas companies, independents and regulators in addressing critical industry challenges such as a lack of investment and continued declines in output in legacy projects. In showcasing Africa’s energy potential for driving long-term and sustainable socioeconomic development and turning the continent into a global energy and economic powerhouse, H.E. President Museveni will make a strong case for partnerships and investment opportunities across Uganda’s entire energy value chain as the East African country eyes to enhance the development, exploitation and monetization of its over 6.5 billion barrels of crude oil reserves and 0.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas for energy security, job creation and economic growth. While Uganda represents a relatively new hydrocarbons market, the country’s oil and gas potential is significant, and yet, environmental organizations continue to restrict the country from maximizing its resources. The country’s most notable development, the monumental 1,443km, 216,000 barrel per day East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), continues to be met with disruptions despite the potential this development has for the entire East African region. As such, President Museveni will be making a strong case for the role of the EACOP as well as the various other developments underway across the region. “The Oil and Gas Industry is privileged to host President Museveni at AEW 2022 as African regulators and energy stakeholders unite to position Africa as a global energy investment destination. With Uganda seeking to create more employment opportunities, ensure economic growth and fight poverty, fast-tracking existing hydrocarbon energy developments and kick starting new exploration campaigns is key to unlocking gross domestic product growth and stability. This President has shown a lot of courage in defending Uganda’s right to produce oil and gas and has been a strong voice for a Just Energy Transition” states NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chairman of the AEC. Under the theme ‘Exploring and Investing in Africa’s Energy Future while Driving an Enabling Environment,’ AEW 2022 is the ideal platform for H.E. President Museveni to provide an update regarding the development of Uganda’s Tilenga oil and gas fields as well as the EACOP while highlighting the importance of oil and gas for Africa’s energy future.       Source: https://energynewsafrica.com

Ghana: Diesel Price Hits Almost Gh¢16 Per Litre, Petrol Gh¢13.10 Per Litre

Michael Creg Afful
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Fuel prices in the Republic of Ghana shot up significantly by Gh¢2 on Sunday, energynewsafrica.com can report. TotalEnergies, one of the leading oil marketing companies, adjusted its pump price for diesel (gasoil) to Gh¢15.99 per litre while petrol (gasoline) was adjusted to Gh¢13.10 per litre. During the first pricing window which ended on 15th October 2022, TotalEnergies, Shell and GOIL, which are the market leaders, sold diesel at Gh¢13.99 per litre while petrol was sold at Ghc11.10 per litre. As of Saturday, Star Oil, one of the big players, also adjusted its prices for both diesel and petrol. A litre of petrol is sold at Gh¢13.79 while diesel is sold for Gh¢15.79. Likely, other OMCs like GOIL, Shell, Petrosol, Puma and Engen will also adjust their pump prices by tomorrow, Monday, morning. It would be recalled that diesel prices went down marginally across the various OMCs, with prices of petrol witnessing a marginal increment. Although crude oil prices are still below $100 per barrel, the continuous depreciation of the Ghanaian cedis against the major international currencies is largely the reason for the latest hikes in fuel prices. As of Saturday, a dollar was being exchanged for GHc12.50     Source: https://energynewsafrica.com  

Ghana: Bui Power Authority CSR Activities Now Cover Children With Special Needs Within Bui Enclave

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana’s second largest state power generation company, Bui Power Authority (BPA) has organised a health screening for over 800 children and a sensitisation exercise for parents who have children with special needs in two resettlement communities. The exercises formed part of the BPA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of giving back to the communities where it operates. The purpose of the health screening was to identify children who have health challenges such as ‘Down Syndrome’ and offer support to raise them. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder associated with physical growth delays, characteristic facial features and mild to moderate developmental and intellectual disability Over the last few years, the BPA, through its corporate social responsibility, has provided several social interventions including the CHPS compound, the provision of ambulances, scholarships, boreholes and livelihood enhancement projects. However, the current BPA CEO, Hon. Samuel Kofi Dzamesi reviewed the Authority’s Corporate Social Responsibility to the Project Affected Person’s within the Bui enclave to include children who have special needs. In this regard, BPA has partnered with Robb Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that specialises in health screening, awareness creation and management of Down Syndrome, to assess the mental state of the children within the Bui Power enclave and propose educational aids for their improvement, provide a report on the exercise and its health impact around the BGS and identify any other child that needs special attention and assistance. Representing the CEO of BPA at the closing ceremony of the screening programme, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer-in-charge of Engineering, Operations and Technical, Ing Samuel Kow Ansah said the well-being of the project-affected communities especially the children, is of major concern to the Authority, hence the Authority’s partnership with Robb Foundation to screen and sensitise parents on how they can care and raise children with down syndrome.
Ing Samuel Kow Ansah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer-in-charge of Engineering, Operations and Technical (Left) receiving a donation from Mrs. Mavis Opoku for onward distribution to children in the Bui Enclave
“The management of children with down syndrome is not easy. We have seen that you alone cannot do it so when we heard that Robb Foundation can screen children with down syndrome and other special needs, we engaged them to come and organise this exercise,” he told the gathering. He further mentioned that the Authority is committed to the well-being of the communities within the Bui enclave, hence, management’s decision to review its CSR programme to include children with special needs. The Director of Robb Foundation, Mrs. Mavis Opoku noted that, after the 10 days of medical outreach, children with worm infections, skin infections, malaria and underweight have received treatment and medications. She said children identified with Down syndrome will be given the needed attention from her outfit and with support from BPA and other health facilities within the area to give the best care and attention to the special children. She took the opportunity to also educate parents to take the health needs of their wards seriously by adhering to good personal hygiene and by keeping their communities neat at all times.         Source: https://energynewsafrica.com

Mozambique: AfDB’s Sustainable Energy Africa Fund For Africa Provides $2.5 Million To Increase Penetration of Renewable Energy

Michael Creg Afful
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The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a grant of a grant of $2.5 million to the Mozambican government to develop renewable energy resources. The grant, from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) (https://bit.ly/37jYAtS), administered by the Bank, will be used to implement the Mozambique Renewable Energy Integration Program (MREP). “With the support of the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, Mozambique’s capacity to integrate larger shares of variable renewables will increase its efforts to become a major regional electricity supplier,” said Dr. Daniel Schroth, Director of the African Development Bank’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Department. He added, “Given that Mozambique is one of the most highly climate-vulnerable countries in the world, the project will help build a more sustainable and resilient power generation infrastructure.” The funding will assist the national electricity company to provide financial support for technical, economic, environmental and social feasibility studies for the development of a solar floating power plant in Chicamba reservoir. In addition, it will support funding for a feasibility study for Energy Battery Systems Storage in up to 10 sites, as well as capacity building for EDM´s personnel; and support for tender preparation. “We are very excited to launch the activities under the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa in Mozambique, which comes with a set of very strategic and innovative projects, that will contribute to diversify the energy matrix ad fund a study on storage needs, that will enable the development of more renewable energy projects,” said Marcelino Gildo Alberto, Chairman of EDM, the beneficiary. “The support under SEFA also includes a robust capacity building program, that will enable our personnel to develop strategic skills related to the development and management of renewable energy projects,” he added. The donation will also be used to conduct studies to increase the share of variable renewable energy production in Mozambique’s energy mix. Feasibility studies to develop floating photovoltaic solar energy will be conducted in existing EDM hydropower assets. Increasingly affected by severe and sudden cyclones, storms, and prolonged drought periods, Mozambique is endowed with abundant energy from renewable and fossil resources. Over the last decade, the energy sector in Mozambique has made considerable progress: the country is a net exporter of electricity despite low access rates (57% in urban areas and 13% in rural areas). With 187 gigawatts, Mozambique has the most significant power generation potential in southern Africa, thanks to untapped resources in coal, hydroelectricity, gas, wind, and solar energy. Hydropower currently accounts for about 81% of installed capacity. But natural gas and renewable energy sources are set to take a growing share of Mozambique’s energy mix. The African Development Bank is a key player in the energy sector in Mozambique. It provided more than $400 million in financing for the ongoing $20 billion Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project. The Bank supports power generation, transmission and distribution, such as the Tamine Gas Project. It is currently supporting the Mphanda Nkuwa hydroelectric power station project, the rehabilitation of the Cahora Bassa hydroelectric power station and the construction of a transmission line from the north to carry electricity to the South.         Source: https://energynewsafrica.com

Ghana: President Akufo-Addo To Commission 330kV Kumasi—Bolgatanga Transmission Line

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: President Akufo-Addo To Commission 330kV Kumasi—Bolgatanga Transmission Line
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo will, on Sunday, 16th October, 2022, officially commission the 330kV Kumasi to Bolgatanga transmission line constructed by the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo). The project commenced in March 2016 and was completed in 2021 but GRIDCo conducted a test to ensure that all technical issues were resolved before the commissioning. The project was fully funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD), an EU grant for the Supervision Consultant. In attendance will be the Minister for Energy, Chargé D’affaires, A.I. Raphael Malara, Embassy of France, and Christophe Cottet, Country Director for Agence Française de Développement (AFD). GRIDCo’s Board, led by its Chairman, Amb Kabral Blay-Amihere, Chief Executive Ing Ebenezer Essienyi, Management, Kumasi Area Manager, Ing Bismark Oppong Anane and some staff of the Kumasi Area will join in the commissioning event together with other distinguished guests.   Source: https://energynewsafrica.com

U.S. Energy Bills See Largest Rise In Decades—More Pain To Come

Michael Creg Afful
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If it seems like your energy bills have fell victim to price creep, you’re right. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Energy Information Administration suggest that U.S. consumers have seen the largest increase in natural gas and electricity bills in decades. For starters, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said that nat gas bills in September were 33% higher than last September. While natural gas bills are often confusing and filled with a barrage of surcharges and taxes, such as gas recovery and distribution charges as well as taxes, the rise in electricity bills has been hard for consumers to miss. The confirmation that residents have indeed seen a significant uptick in energy costs over the last year is likely cold comfort. But residents should grab their winter coats, because those high prices are here to stay. The EIA is forecasting a colder-than-expected winter this year, meaning there will be more demand for heat, along with higher costs for natural gas and propane. According to its Winter Fuels Outlook, natural gas bills are expected to be 28% higher this season. Heating oil bills are expected to be 27% higher. Propane, 5% higher, and electricity bills, 10% higher. And that’s just the EIA’s base case scenario. Should temperatures be 10% colder than that base-case scenario, the EIA is projecting that U.S. average household expenditures between October and March for natural gas will be 51% higher than last winter, at $1,096. Propane costs under that scenario are seen as 36% higher. Even in a scenario that results in a 10% warmer than forecast winter, natural gas bills are expected to be 19% higher than they were last winter season. The estimated costs are largely in line with the price increases seen thus far. September’s natural gas price increases that were 33% higher than last September was actually the eighteenth straight double-digit percentage gain—the longest streak in more than three decades, according to a Bloomberg analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.       Source: Oilprice.com

Ghana: Man Commits Suicide On Transmission Tower At Kasoa

Michael Creg Afful
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A middle-aged man climbed a transmission tower of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) which passes through Galilea, a suburb of Kasoa, Central Region, and committed suicide. It is unclear why the man decided to climb the tower but eyewitness accounts suggested he was protesting the economic hardships in the West African nation. In a viral video sighted by energynewsafrica.com, the man was seen quickly climbing the high-tension pole as bystanders made many pleas in attempts to get him down. Also in the video, a vehicle of the Ghana Police Service could be seen, creating the impression that the police officers were at the scene to persuade him to get off the pole before he endangered his life even more. In the video, an onlooker, with a Nigerian accent, was also heard running commentary in the background, saying that a Ghanaian man had climbed the pole because of the hardships in the country. “The police are around to rescue this Ghana man who says he is tired of life. They should let him get to the top,” the man said in pidgin English. Watch the incident below: https://fb.watch/g9RlzBJGEI/  

Ghana: Petrol, Diesel Prices To Go Up By 10%—COPEC Predicts

Michael Creg Afful
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Fuel consumers should be bracing themselves to pay more for the commodity during the second pricing window which begins on 16th October 2022. A litre of petrol and diesel currently sells at Gh¢11.10 and Gh¢13.99 respectively. However, the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), a consumer advocacy group, is projecting over a 10 per cent increase in pump prices for both petrol and diesel in the second pricing window. In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of COPEC, Mr. Duncan Amoah, he said: “From observed figures within the downstream industry and forex movements, COPEC anticipates an average price escalation of about 10.12% for both petrol and diesel based on the increase in the price of crude oil on the international market and the depreciation of the cedi. “Between the current window and the next window due, 16th October 2022, crude oil price is observed to see an increase of 3.66% from $89.46 to $92.73 per barrel, whilst the Dollar index has further gone up by about 4.08% from GHS10.21 to GHS10.627 per dollar as per government rate, (Conservative figures) though actual market rates are quite higher currently.” As of Saturday morning, Brent was trading at $91.63 per barrel while WTI was trading at $85.61 For the exchange rate, US$1 is being exchanged for Gh¢12.05 Fuel statement CHAMBER OF PETROLEUM CONSUMERS ACCRA 14/10/2022 FUEL PRICES TO GO UP FURTHER BY 10% FROM 16TH OCTOBER The upcoming second fuel pricing window of October 2022 which commences on Sunday, 16/10/2022, fuel prices across pumps within the country are projected to see an increase of average 10% for both petrol and diesel. From observed figures within the downstream industry, and forex movements, COPEC anticipates an average price escalation of about 10.12% for both petrol and diesel*_ based on the following analysis. Between the current window and the next window due, 16 Oct 2022, Crude oil price is observed to have seen an increase of 3.66% from $89.46 to $92.73 per Barrel, whilst the Dollar index has further gone up by about 4.08% from GHS10.21 to GHS10.627 per Dollar as per Government rate (Conservative figures) though actual market rates are quite higher currently. The corresponding international processed Petroleum prices for the next window averages as follows: Petrol: $964.75/MT (up by 15.72%) Diesel: $1,097.15/MT (up by 9.60%) Internally, the projected average price of both Petrol and Diesel for the next window are expected to be GHS13.77/L, showing a price jump of 10.12% over the current Mean fuel Prices for both products across the various OMCs trading. From observed data, Petrol, which is currently selling at an industry average of GHS11.06/L is likely to be sold at GHS12.38/L (11.88% higher) from 16 October 2022 whilst Diesel currently selling at an industry average of GHS13.95/L is likely to be sold at GHS15.16/L. (8.72% higher) For LPG, the international price is estimated to hit $618.34/MT (up by 3.81%); the price of LPG is likely to go up by 5.04% to sell around GHS10.21/kg. Considering no sudden jerks in Crude Oil pricing, that may lead to changes in Petrol, Diesel and LPG Prices on the International market, the Mean Ex-pump prices are expected to be within the projected figures by +/-2% as indicated below: Petrol: GHS12.12/L to GHS12.63/L Diesel: GHS14.86/L to GHS15.46/L LPG: GHS10.01/kg to GHS10.41/kg We implore on the petroleum service providers to be considerate of applying the full force of the indexes in their pricing as times are rough for everyone, we are without equivocation, mindful that, the projected figures are conservatively lower than what the actuals could be due to the continuous depreciation of the local currency. COPEC is once again, further, admonishing the Government to do whatever it deems necessary, to ensure an urgent stabilisation of the cedi to the Dollar exchange rate in order to prevent pricing of petroleum products getting to an impending disaster as the effect of these steep increases in fuel prices cuts across all sectors of the local economy and to also further ensure some drastic reductions of some of the existing taxes and levies on Petroleum products to help ease the burden on consumers.        Source: https://energynewsafrica.com  

South Africa: NPA CEO To Drive Dialogue Around Downstream Optimisation At African Energy Week Next Week

Michael Creg Afful
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South Africa: NPA CEO To Drive Dialogue Around Downstream Optimisation At African Energy Week Next Week
CEO of Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, NPA, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, will be leading a delegation of petroleum downstream players to Cape Town, South Africa, to participate in the second edition of Africa Energy Week scheduled from Tuesday, 18th October to Friday, 21st October, 2022. At the AEW 2022, Dr. Abdul-Hamid will participate in high-level meetings and panel discussions to drive dialogue around boosting the oil and gas downstream industry for energy security whilst promoting investment opportunities within Ghana’s hydrocarbons sector. Barely a year and few weeks in office as CEO of NPA, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid has proven to many Ghanaians especially petroleum consumers, that he is fit for the job as he has brought some sanity in the downstream industry by making sure that players go by the rules of the industry. Recently, the CEO of Petrosol, one of the indigenous OMCs, hailed him for his efforts regarding the enforcement of regulations in the industry. Dr. Abdul-Hamid will promote investment opportunities across Ghana’s downstream sector, discuss the vital role Africa’s 600 tcf of gas reserves and 125.3 billion barrels of crude oil reserves will play in diversifying the energy mix, securing energy supply and lifting the over 600 million Africans out of energy poverty whilst driving industrialisation and positioning the continent ahead of the energy transition. With African countries optimising gas production to drive these socioeconomic benefits, Ghana is leading the race, with the country implementing a series of market-driven policy reforms, driving massive oil and gas infrastructure projects. With the NPA overseeing these energy optimisation projects including the development of gas processing, storage, transmission and distribution, at the AEW 2022, Dr. Abdul-Hamid will provide an update on experiences and innovations from within Ghana that can be replicated continent-wide. “The Chamber is honoured to host Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid at the AEW 2022 as we expand on the discussion around how Africa can accelerate investment, as well as the exploitation of oil and gas to enhance energy security. The strengthening of Africa’s downstream industry is key to ending energy poverty and enhancing bilateral trade relations and boosting economic development in Africa. “We are very impressed with Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s leadership at the NPA in facilitating a resilient downstream sector. This is what Africa needs to achieve energy independence and reliability,” Tomas C. Gerbasio, Strategy and Business Development Director at African Energy Chamber, said recently.     Source: https://energynewsafrica.com

Kenya: Former Kenya Power MD Gets Freedom As DPP Drops Sh400 Million Graft Charges Against Him

Michael Creg Afful
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Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, has withdrawn an Sh400 million graft case against former Kenya Power Managing Director, Ben Chumo, and 10 others. All the 11 accused persons were, on Wednesday, discharged under section 87 (a). Mr. Chumo, together with Muwa Company Limited, was charged in 2018 for willful failure to comply with procurement. Defending his innocence of the charges against him, Mr Chumo said he did not participate in the procurement process that resulted in the contract dated August 3, 2012, between Kenya Power and Muwa and wondered why charges should be preferred against him. The DPP, on March 22, withdrew charges against Muwa Company and its directors, James Njenga Mungai, Grace Wanjira and John Anthony Mungai. No reasons were given for the withdrawal of the charges against the three who are said to be suppliers of the alleged substandard transformers. On April 13, 2022, Chumo moved to the High court to challenge a decision by the DPP to introduce new charges against him just as the graft case was in its last stages. Only one of the 34 witnesses was yet to testify. Chumo argued it was unfair for the DPP to expose him to a trial where 33 out of 34 witnesses had testified over three years and eight months but goes ahead to withdraw the charges against his co-accused. “I believe the DPP decided to discharge the beneficiaries of an alleged conspiracy from criminal proceedings while sustaining charges against me, an alleged co-conspirator. His actions have violated my rights,” he said. The decision by DPP to drop the charges against the former Kenya Power MD and others has been criticised by Narok Senator, Ledama Olekina. He has insinuated that the move by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, is a ‘cleansing’ exercise. “Clean them all…it’s their time to eat,” Lama said in a tweet.         Source: https://energynewsafrica.com

Ghana: 17 Engineers Resign From TOR Over Poor State Of Affairs; Head To UAE For Greener Pastures

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: 17 Engineers Resign From TOR Over Poor State Of Affairs; Head To UAE For Greener Pastures
Ghana’s premier refinery, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), which has been struggling to stand on its feet due to poor leadership, is losing key workers whose hopes of seeing the refinery get a strategic partner hang in the balance. The 45,000 barrels of oil per stream day capacity refinery, established in 1963 under the first president of the Republic of Ghana, is on the verge of collapse as it is saddled with so much indebtedness to both private and public institutions. Deep throat sources within the refinery have told energynewsafrica.com that about ten engineers at the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC) recently resigned to UAE to work in the country’s oil industry. According to energynewsafrica.com’s sources, seven other staff have also tendered their resignation letters and are expected to quit at the end of October this year.
Jerry Kofi Hinson, Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery
This will bring a total of seventeen key staff exiting the refinery in less than three months. Currently, the refinery is not processing crude even though it recently completed the installation of furnace. What the refinery does is rent out its storage tanks to bulk oil importers to keep their products at a fee. Sadly, even with this arrangement, the refinery, sometimes, is unable to account for the total volumes of products stored in its tank, thereby, incurring losses. Many energy analysts have shared opinions on how a functioning TOR would have helped in stabilising the rising cost of fuel in the West African nation. With the exchange rate biting hard on petroleum products, these analysts believe that if TOR were processing crude oil, it would reduce the volumes of fuel imported into the country. A good number of the staff of the refinery appears to be throwing their hands in despair. They have pushed successive governments to recapitalise the refinery and put structures in place to make it viable but their wish is yet to see the light of day.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister for Energy, Republic of Ghana
Attempts by the Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, to ensure that the refinery is rid of bad guys hit a snag as persons who were interdicted for their alleged involvement in product losses and financial malfeasance by a three-member Interim Management Committee (ICM) managed the refinery between June and October 2021 have all been cleared of no wrong-doing and returned to work. When contacted about the situation in TOR, the National Chairman of Ghana Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union, Bernard Owusu, said he had heard about the resignation of some engineers at the refinery. He said the union was concerned and is planning to meet the Minister for Energy to discuss the way forward of the refinery. Source: https://energynewsafrica.com

Nigeria: There Is No Plan To Privatize TCN – Power Ministry Debunks Rumour

Michael Creg Afful
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Nigeria: There Is No Plan To Privatize TCN – Power Ministry Debunks Rumour
Nigeria’s Ministry of Power has dismissed reports suggesting that the Federal Government is planning to privatize the country’s power transmission company TCN. According to the Ministry, there is no plan to sell the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). “Some of the reports even falsely claimed that the said privatization is going to take place in coming months,” the Ministry of Power said in a statement issued by Malam Isa Sanusi, Special Advisor to the Minister. According to him, these reports are untrue and are only mere misinformation aimed at spreading panic in the power sector, which is making progress towards ensuring that Nigerians enjoy an uninterrupted power supply. He further explained that the Federal Government has no intent to sell or privatize the company and that no government official has made a statement of intent to sell the TCN. “The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is a centrepiece in the Federal Government of Nigeria’s efforts to rejuvenate the power sector. “Therefore, the Ministry of Power, working with key stakeholders, is continuing to evaluate, assess and upgrade TCN to make it more efficient and transparent,” he said. He maintained that the government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari focuses on upgrading, stabilizing, and modernizing Nigeria’s power industry through various interventions, including the Nigeria-Siemens partnership under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).     Source: https://energynewsafrica.com

Nigeria: Military Sets Ablaze Illegal Crude Oil Vessel

Michael Creg Afful
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The Nigerian military has set ablaze a vessel named MT Deima caught loading illegal crude oil in the Niger Delta, with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number 7210525. The vessel while loading illegal crude oil, was on Monday set ablaze by men of the Nigerian military along the Warri River in Delta state. The vessel was arrested by Tantita Security Services Limited, company owned by Ekpemopolo, popularity known as Tompolo, leader of the defunct Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND). There were eight persons on board the vessel, directly stealing crude oil from the Escravos axis in Warri South West LGA, Delta state. Tantita Security Services Limited was recently awarded pipeline surveillance contract by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to assist in curbing oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the country. One of the security personnels who took part in the operation told journalists that, they had agreed based on a tip off, adding that they were offered a bribe of N25m to let the ship go but they turned down the offer. On the capacity of the ship, he explained that the ship is 1,500 metric tons and had on board eight all Nigerian crew members. While noting that the captain confessed that they came in from Lagos and that if they were not arrested, the ship would have sailed back to Lagos.
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