Nigeria: Security Agencies Grill Persons Involved In Contaminated Fuel Importation
Nigerian security agencies have begun investigations into the importation of contaminated fuel into Africa’s most populous nation.
Reports have suggested that corporations and individuals involved in the importation of the contaminated fuel are being interrogated.
Besides those who imported the contaminated fuel, energynewsafrica.com understands government officials who certified the products as fit for use are also being grilled to determine whether their action was influenced by pecuniary interest, neglect of duty or connivance for economic sabotage.
According to a report filed by Vanguard, an unnamed top security officer who is part of the investigation team noted that the inquiry into the contaminated fuel is going to be comprehensive in line with a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I can tell you that based on the order by Mr President that those behind the contaminated fuel be identified, we have invited and interrogated critical players in the oil industry who might have had one or more roles to play in the bad fuel saga.
“It is apparent that heads will roll in this matter. So far, all those invited for interrogation by security agents have been cooperating with us and have spoken of their specific roles in the matter but the probe, which is very detailed and thorough, will continue until we get to the root of the matter.
“It is obvious that anyone-whether an individual or corporate entity-who might have played a role in the importation of the polluted petrol would be severely punished to serve as a deterrent to others who might want to sabotage the interest of the country.
“The importation of the tainted petrol into Nigeria amounts to economic sabotage with grave national security implications as many vehicles have been damaged and the economy grounded owing to the sudden fuel scarcity triggered by the withdrawal of the impure petrol from circulation nationwide,” the unnamed security officer said as carried by Vanguard.
Nigerians woke up to the news of the spread of adulterated petrol being circulated across the country early this month.
However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director (GMD), Mr Mele Kyari, was quick to alert the nation of the presence of toxic petrol when he addressed the media on February 9, 2022, and revealed how and who brought it into the country.
Mr Kyari revealed that the adulterated fuel was imported into the country by four importers from Antwerp in Belgium with quality inspectors failing to detect the high level of methanol it contained, first at the point of import in Belgium and later at the point of arrival in Nigeria.
He said that the NNPC’s investigation revealed the presence of methanol in the four PMS cargoes imported by MRS, Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium, Oando and Duke Oil.
However, the four companies promptly denied any wrongdoing, insisting that their products were duly cleared as meeting the standard requirements before they were brought into the country.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana Holds Forum To Draft National Energy Transition Plan
Ghana has begun processes to develop a national energy transition policy and strategy that will assist the West African nation to contain the shocks of the global energy transition drive.
In December last year, the country, through the Energy Ministry, set up a national energy transition Committee chaired by Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, one of the three deputy Energy Ministers, to carry out consultations for the drafting of the Energy Transition Policy and Strategy.
At a maiden stakeholders’ forum in Accra, capital of Ghana, on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, the Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia noted that Energy Transition is already happening, saying: “We are seeing petroleum hikes and there are many who have said that the petroleum price increase is going to remain as such high levels, we are not going to see any major declines, then how do we as developing countries like Ghana adjusts to this new reality if it becomes the new normal of high oil prices and petroleum prices and its impact on the macro variable in our respective economies.”
He noted that in some advanced countries, automobile companies have set targets of ceasing the production of fossil fuel-based vehicles to electric vehicles.
He said Ghana cannot sit and watch when the transition is already happening.
“It is clear that we need to have a plan. In many of the advanced countries, targets have been set.
“We should set a target about what we should be doing,” Dr. Bawumia said.
As part of an effort to achieve Ghana’s nationally determined contributions under the Paris Climate Change Compact, Dr. Bawumia said Ghana is shifting from thermal-based electricity generation to gas-based electricity generation.
He said Ghana would expand its gas pipeline infrastructure across the country to increase LPG consumption.
He added, “We shall increase the share of renewable into our energy mix such as wind and solar.”
Dr Bawumia, who said today’s forum would be replicated in the other regions of Ghana, urged the participants to provide meaningful contributions and input in preparation for the national energy transition plan.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GRIDCo Saves Trauma, Accident Patients At Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital
Ghana’s power transmission company, GRIDCo, has partially relieved the management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, one of the heavily patronised teaching hospitals in Ghana, the pain the facility has been going through due to inadequate power drills at the hospital’s Accident, Emergency and Orthopaedic centres.
The hospital, which serves as a referral hospital for most emergency cases in the West African nation, is supposed to have a minimum of ten power drills at the accident and emergency centre to carry out effective surgery operations yet it had only two, thus, putting undue pressure on staff and management of the facility.
Energynewsafrica.com understands that because of the inadequate power drills, the management of the hospital is sometimes compelled to cancel trauma surgeries.
The device is used for trauma surgery and also for the reconstruction of the cruciate ligament during surgery.
Making the presentation of the two devices, Mr Kofi Okofo-Dartey, Director, Strategy and Corporate Services of GRIDCo, said GRIDCo’s engagement with the management of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital revealed the critical need of the hospital and decided to assist.
He said the donation formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to give back to society.
“GRIDCo is an organisation that takes corporate social responsibility very seriously. If you know the nature of our work, we transmit all over the country and our people criss-cross, so accidents are also part of our system, therefore, the need to assist,” he said.
Ghana: MiDA Illuminates 523.68km Roads And Streets In 20 MMDAsReceiving the device, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of KBTH, Dr. Daniel Ankrah thanked the company for the gesture and promised that the items would be put to good use. The Head of Department of Accident, Emergency and Orthopedics, Dr Fredrick Kwarteng said the donation came at the right time, adding that “in fact, we need an average of 10 functional drills per day because the department has three functional theatres and each theatre must have, at least, five drills so that in a day, we can fix the legs of about 15 accident victims a day. “As at last week, the department was down with only two drills because all the drills had broken down, accident victims who had their limbs broken had their operations being cancelled because the department’s drills had all broken down,” he said. Dr. Kwarteng said several patients had their surgeries cancelled due to the absence of the drill machines which had broken down. He called on other organisations to emulate the gesture and assist the hospital, adding that everyone is a possible accident victim. Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: NPA Revokes Licences Of 20 Companies
Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, NPA, has revoked the licenses of some 20 companies operating within the petroleum industry for the past seven years.
The NPA’s crackdown on the companies began in 2016 to 2021.
Some of the companies operate as Bulk Distribution Companies, while the rest operate as Oil Marketing Companies and export companies.
The companies which operate as Bulk Distribution Companies but have had their licences revoked are Chrome Energy, Deen Petroleum Ghana Limited, Springfield Energy Limited, Timeless Oil Company Limited, LHS Ghana Limited, Imperial Energy Company, L.I.B Ghana Limited, Mimshack Energy Ltd, Richelle Energy Limited and Wi Energy Ltd.
The OMCs which have had their licences revoked are G&G Oil Company and Oando Ghana Limited.
The NPA has also revoked the licences of the following companies which are into petroleum products export: Energie Reference Limited, Mangifera Company Limited, Chesdea Company Limited, RE Petroleum Limited, Strata Energy Limited and Trigon Energy Limited.
Meanwhile, NPA has also revoked the licences of Emo Energy Limited which is into storage tank cleaning, Rock Everest Trading & Construction Limited into lube blending and Blue Bay which is into Bunkering.
Ghana’s petroleum downstream has been witnessing some criminal activities despite efforts being made to clean the sector.
The newly appointed CEO of NPA, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, who has been in office barely seven months, has vowed to do everything possible to ensure that players abide by the rules of the Authority.
It is the hope of this portal that he would be able to clean the sector of miscreants who also want to beat control measures put in place.
Ghana: Five BDCs Licences RevokedSource: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ethiopia Starts Partial Power Generation From 5000MW River Nile Dam
Ethiopia has commenced power generation from its hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile River for the first time in a bid to provide electricity for its citizens to boost economic activities.
The East African nation energised the $4.2 billion (£3.8bn) dam located in the western Benishangul-Gumuz region on Sunday, according to a BBC report.
The project has been a source of contention between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan since its construction started in 2011.
Sudan and Egypt fear the project could reduce their share of Nile waters.
But Ethiopia insists the dam is key to its development.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is Africa’s biggest hydroelectric project to date.
The GERD is expected to generate over 5,000 megawatts of electricity, doubling the nation’s electricity output when it is fully completed.
Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed inaugurated the project which is about 83.9 per cent completed on Sunday, February 20, 2022.
Abiy, accompanied by high-ranking officials, toured the power generation station and pressed a series of buttons on an electronic screen, move officials said initiated production.
“From now on, there will be nothing that will stop Ethiopia,” Abiy said.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officiated an event that saw one of the 13 turbines of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) begin power generation.
The Prime Minister sought to assure neighbouring nations his country did not wish to harm their interests.
“Ethiopia’s main interest is to bring light to 60 per cent of the population who are suffering in darkness to save the labour of our mothers who are carrying wood on their backs to get energy,” Abiy said as carried by dw.com
“As you can see, this water will generate energy while flowing as it previously flowed to Sudan and Egypt, unlike the rumours that say the Ethiopian people and government are damming the water to starve Egypt and Sudan.”
The lead engineer noted there was still work to be done.
“We just started generating power but that doesn’t mean the project is completed,” the dam’s Project Manager, Kifle Horo said.
“It will take from two and a half to three years to complete it,” Kifle added.
Egypt, which lies downstream and depends almost completely on the Nile for its irrigation and drinking water, is worried this will affect the levels of water flowing into the country.
It, therefore, wants a guarantee of a certain volume of water coming into Egypt.
However, Ethiopia is reluctant to be tied to a certain figure of how much water to release as its priority is to make sure there is enough water to operate Africa’s largest hydroelectric plant.
Sudan is also worried about how the dam will affect its water levels.
Last year, Sudan was taken by surprise when Ethiopia decided to shut three of the four diversion outlets for the water.
This led to lower levels of water going downstream which disrupted Sudan’s pumping stations for irrigation and municipal water supply.
Both countries have been vying for a deal with Ethiopia over the filling and operation of the dam but negotiations have failed to make headway.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Six Transporters Charged For Adulterating GHS3.44 Million Worth Products
Six petroleum haulage companies in the Republic of Ghana have been sanctioned by Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) for adulterating products valued at GH¢3,445,200.00 (US$522,034.27) at its Kumasi depot last year.
According to BOST, four out of the six transporters had fully paid the undisclosed surcharged amount while two others are yet to fully settle their surcharge.
Adulteration of petroleum products entails the illegal introduction of foreign substances that could lead to non-compliance with standard specifications.
This consequently causes irreparable damage to engines, which could result in increased fuel consumption and a low fuel spraying rate in the combustion chamber.
It would be recalled that this portal reported in late last year that Management of BOST had discovered that ten tankers that were going through pre-discharge checks had been found to carrying adulterated products at its Kumasi Depot.
The drivers of the tankers bolted. Two of them were later arrested with the rest still at large. It is believed that they are hiding in Ghana’s neighbouring countries.
At a meeting with transporters last year, the Managing Director of BOST, Mr. Edwin Provencal served notice to owners of the tanker trucks to produce the runway drivers or face severe sanctions.
In a report filed by graphic.com.gh, it said BOST, in a response to an audit observation memo, revealed that it had sanctioned the transporters for the criminal act.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: PURC Fines ECG GHS51K For Damaging Properties Of Five Customers In Secondi
Ghana’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) outfit in the Western Region has found the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) culpable for causing damage to properties belonging to five electricity consumers.
The Commission, thus, ordered the ECG to pay GH¢51,622.00 as compensation to the victims.
In a post on the Commission’s Facebook wall sighted by energynewsafrica.com, it said an electricity consumer in the Secondi-Takoradi Metropolis contacted the office of the Commission with a complaint of a burnt house.
The Commission said as part of its complaint handling procedure, an investigation was launched.
The Commission said its findings established that ECG was responsible for the high voltage that led to the destruction of the properties of consumers in the area that day.
“The Commission ordered that the consumers who were affected be compensated. The payment was made and the affected customers received their cheques as a result,” the Commission concluded.
Click on the link below to see a post by PURC
https://web.facebook.com/purcgh/posts/253837430266622
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Ivory Coast: A Call For Tenders For 20MWp Floating Solar In Kossou
The state-owned company Côte d’Ivoire Energies (CI-Energies) is launching a call for tenders for the construction (EPC) of the Kossou floating solar power plant.
The facility, financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), will have a capacity of 20 MWp.
Nearly three years after the Ivorian government announced the construction of the Kossou floating solar power plant, the state-owned company Côte d’Ivoire Energies (CI-Energies) is launching a call for tenders for its implementation.
Open until March 29, 2022, the call for expressions of interest aims to recruit a company to execute the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the floating solar power plant.
The facility will be located in the Kossou dam lake on the Bandama River.
The dam, which has been in operation since 1972, is located in central Ivory Coast and has a hydroelectric power plant with a capacity of 105 MW.
The solar power plant to be built on the lake of the reservoir will have a capacity of 20 MWp.
The company selected in the tender will also maintain the floating solar power plant. The company will build and maintain the transmission network of the future plant.
This project is financed through an 80-million-euro loan pledged by the French Development Agency (AFD) in 2019 to support renewable energy production in Ivory Coast.
This solar photovoltaic plant will join two other facilities under construction, under public-private partnerships (PPP) and for a combined capacity of 60 MWp.
These projects developed under the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Scaling Solar program will support the Ivorian government’s renewable energy policy. Abidjan wants to increase the share of clean energy in its electricity mix to 16% by 2030. Currently, the West African country relies heavily on fossil fuels, notably oil and natural gas.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigerians Hit By Electricity Outage As Fuel Scarcity Continues
Nigerians in several cities including Abuja and Lagos have been hit by a “double-agony” of fuel scarcity and electricity outage, leaving millions struggling to keep up with their daily activities and businesses.
For weeks, the West African country has faced a fuel shortage caused by the importation of low standard petrol into the country.
According to a report by Premium Times, many fuel stations have run out of fuel as the government tries to retrieve the dirty fuel and distribute cleaner volumes.
In Abuja, black market petrol sold as high as N700 a litre on Wednesday as motorists spent hours at fuel stations trying to buy the product for their cars and generators.
With Nigeria’s perpetually poor electricity supply, millions of residents rely on generators for power.
Prolonged fuel shortage means people are not only unable to power their cars but also their generators.
Amidst the continuing scarcity, several residential districts in Abuja and Lagos reported electricity outages.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) said in a message to customers on Wednesday: “Dear Customer: Please note that the interruptions of electricity supply you are currently experiencing is due to the instability of supply from the National Grid due to low Generation.
“We appeal to you to be patient as all stakeholders are working hard to restore system stability. For enquiries, call 08039070070.”
In a similar statement to customers, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), which is responsible for parts of Lagos, said on its official Twitter handle, ”Dear Customer: The present outage on Agbara 33KV feeder is due to an accident along the Badagry express road damaging 19 of our poles.”
It said the affected areas are Isashi, Igboelerin, Church and environs.
“Efforts are ongoing to replace the damaged poles and restore supply as soon as possible. We apologise for the inconvenience and ask that you bear with us,” the company tweet read.
“Blackout, inconsistent electricity supply” Adebiyi Sheriff, a resident of Springville Estate in Abuja, said the residents of his estate have been in darkness for three days without a flash of electricity. “We are tired of the issue,” he said, Thursday morning.
Kujore Gbenga, who is the chairman of Lugbe Oakville Community, said the electricity supply in the community has been “very poor” in the past weeks.
“The supply has been very poor for some time now. We believe there is a need to replace some transformers and maintenance to restore effective and efficient power supply here,” he said.
Ebuka Onyeji, who lives in the Gwarinpa District of Abuja, said they have equally been experiencing poor electricity supply recently.
“The whole of yesterday (Wednesday) we had no light, coupled with the fuel saga in the country, it is not funny at all,” he said.
“It was so unbearable yesterday. We are struggling with acute fuel scarcity and now a complete power outage. The whole of yesterday, there was no light and I can’t even use my generator because fuel is now the new gold. A 10-litre in the black market is now selling for N6,000 and one is not even sure if it has not been adulterated,” he said.
Sanni Hassan, a fashion designer in Ayobo Lagos, lamented that the electricity has been very poor in his area.
“Coupled with the current fuel scarcity, the situation has worsened, making it impossible to meet customers’ delivery dates,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GNPC Engages Stakeholders Ahead Of Decommissioning Of Saltpond Oil Field
Ghana’s national oil company, GNPC, has started a series of engagements to inform, educate and solicit feedback from stakeholders as part of plans to decommission the country’s first oilfield, Saltpond Oil Field, in the Central Region.
Key stakeholders who have been engaged include the Central Regional Minister’s office represented by the Chief Director, MP for Mfantsiman, Ophelia Hayford, the chiefs and people of Mfantsiman, Ekumfi and Cape Coast, Security Heads, canoe owners, Assemblymen and women representatives of Civil Society Organisations, Community Based Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and the media in the Central Region.
Other institutions yet to be engaged are the Fisheries Commission, EPA and the Ghana Maritime Authority.
At a public meeting organised at Mankessim and attended by the chiefs, MP, MCE and key stakeholders of Mfantisman, the Chief of Kuntu, Nana Kwesi Brembo III, who chaired the meeting, called for support for the planned decommissioning, indicating that he expected the GNPC to conduct its activities in an environmentally friendly manner whilst minimising the impact on the fisherfolks who depend on the sea for their livelihoods.
He advised the GNPC to regularly engage the key stakeholders at every stage of the decommissioning to reduce suspicion and tension.
The General Manager for Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations at GNPC, Dr Kwame Baah-Nuakoh said the Corporation is engaging stakeholders to assure Ghanaians that it is a law-abiding and socially responsible entity.
He promised the engagements would continue in the coming weeks, stressing that “GNPC is committed to engage all stakeholders identified through our mapping exercise and we are confident that the chiefs and people will join the Corporation to undertake this important project to save the country from any potential disaster.”
Dr Baah–Nuakoh further indicated that the decommissioning project would be executed on behalf of the GNPC by Hans & Co Oil and Gas Ltd, a wholly-owned Ghanaian Oil and Gas, Engineering, Construction and Civil Works Company.
“We believe in the competences of our local companies and that is why after going through the procurement processes, we settled on Hans & Co Oil and Gas Ltd which has a proven track record of employing industry best practices in the execution of all their projects, that ensure effective socio-cultural and environmental stewardship.”
On the issue of perceived resistance to the decommissioning works by the impacted communities, he stated that “naturally, you should expect the fisher folks and the communities to have some sentimental attachment to the field, however, the current state of the platform is a potential disaster, and we need to decommission it to save human, aquatic life and the entire coast of Ghana.”
Explaining what is involved in the decommissioning, Dr Baah–Nuakoh pointed out that the project will involve permanent plugging and abandonment of the six wells drilled during the project, removal and dismantling of the Mr Louie Platform, the installation of navigation buoys with marine light in compliance with Internal Maritime Organisation laws, and the disposal and management of waste.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
He advised the GNPC to regularly engage the key stakeholders at every stage of the decommissioning to reduce suspicion and tension.
The General Manager for Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations at GNPC, Dr Kwame Baah-Nuakoh said the Corporation is engaging stakeholders to assure Ghanaians that it is a law-abiding and socially responsible entity.
He promised the engagements would continue in the coming weeks, stressing that “GNPC is committed to engage all stakeholders identified through our mapping exercise and we are confident that the chiefs and people will join the Corporation to undertake this important project to save the country from any potential disaster.”
Dr Baah–Nuakoh further indicated that the decommissioning project would be executed on behalf of the GNPC by Hans & Co Oil and Gas Ltd, a wholly-owned Ghanaian Oil and Gas, Engineering, Construction and Civil Works Company.
“We believe in the competences of our local companies and that is why after going through the procurement processes, we settled on Hans & Co Oil and Gas Ltd which has a proven track record of employing industry best practices in the execution of all their projects, that ensure effective socio-cultural and environmental stewardship.”
On the issue of perceived resistance to the decommissioning works by the impacted communities, he stated that “naturally, you should expect the fisher folks and the communities to have some sentimental attachment to the field, however, the current state of the platform is a potential disaster, and we need to decommission it to save human, aquatic life and the entire coast of Ghana.”
Explaining what is involved in the decommissioning, Dr Baah–Nuakoh pointed out that the project will involve permanent plugging and abandonment of the six wells drilled during the project, removal and dismantling of the Mr Louie Platform, the installation of navigation buoys with marine light in compliance with Internal Maritime Organisation laws, and the disposal and management of waste.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: GNPC Supports Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital With GHS153K
The Ghana National Oil Company (GNPC) has presented a cheque of GHS152,624.27 (US$23,300.57) to the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital to support the renovation of the hospital’s kitchen.
Presenting the cheque to the hospital, Dr Kwame Baah–Nuakoh, General Manager for Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations at GNPC indicated that the law establishing the corporation mandates it to use some of its revenues to support critical social interventions.
In providing such support, the management of the corporation is minded that its core mandate is to provide an adequate and reliable supply of petroleum products and reducing Ghana’s dependence on crude oil imports, through the development of the country’s petroleum resources.
He added that the Board of GNPC was happy to note that the hospital would be engaging its estate department to undertake the rehabilitation works.
Receiving the cheque at a short ceremony in Cape Coast, the Head of Administration of the hospital, Mr. Thomas Chireh Kuusanov said the hospital is very grateful for the gesture and emphasised that it would positively impact the quality of care given to patients and other patrons of the hospital.
“We have made several attempts to renovate our kitchen due to its insanitary state but to no avail so we are very excited that GNPC has come to our aid.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
AfDB Group Approves $379.6Million Desert To Power Financing Facility For G5 Sahel Countries
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved the Desert to Power G5 Sahel Financing Facility, covering Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger.
The Bank envisages to commit up to $379.6 million in financing and technical assistance for the facility over the next seven years.
The Desert to Power G5 Financing Facility aims to assist the G5 Sahel countries to adopt a low-emission power generation pathway by making use of the region’s abundant solar potential.
The facility will focus on utility-scale solar generation through independent power producers and energy storage solutions.
These investments will be backed by a technical assistance component to enhance implementation capacity, strengthen the enabling environment for private sector investments, and ensure gender and climate mainstreaming.
The facility is expected to result in 500 MW of additional solar generation capacity and facilitate electricity access to some 695,000 households. Over the lifespan of the project, it is expected to reduce carbon emissions by over 14.4 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The Board of the Green Climate Fund approved $150 million in concessional resources in October 2021 for the facility, which is expected to leverage around $437 million in additional financing from other development finance institutions, commercial banks and private sector developers. The Global Center on Adaptation is providing technical assistance to strengthen adaptation and resilience measures undertaken in the facility as part of the Africa Adaptation Program in partnership with the African Development Bank.
The African Development Bank’s Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate Change and Green Growth, Dr. Kevin Kariuki said: “The innovative blended finance approach of the Desert to Power G5 Sahel Facility will de-risk, and therefore catalyze, private sector investment in solar power generation in the region. This will lead to transformational energy generation and bridge the energy access deficit in some of Africa’s most fragile countries.”
Dr. Daniel Schroth, the Bank’s Acting Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, added: “The facility will also support the integration of larger shares of variable renewables in the region’s power systems, notably through the deployment of innovative battery storage solutions and grid investments.”
The facility will be implemented as part of the broader Desert to Power initiative, a flagship program led by the African Development Bank. The objective is to light up and power the Sahel region by adding 10 GW of solar generation capacity and providing electricity to around 250 million people in the 11 Sahelian countries by 2030.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Perry Okudzeto, Linda Asante Appointed Deputy CEOs Of NPA
President Akufo-Addo has appointed a former Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports in his first term, Perry Okudzeto, and Mrs Linda Asante as Deputy Chief Executive Officers of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
A statement issued by the Corporate Affairs Department of the NPA said the duo have been confirmed by the Governing Board of the NPA.
“Pursuant to the powers vested in the President under Section 49 (1) of the National Petroleum Authority Act, 2005 (Act 691), the Office of the President in a letter dated 13th January, 2022 communicated the appointment of Mr Perry Okudzeto and Mrs Linda Asante to the position of Deputy Chief Executives respectively of the National Petroleum Authority,” NPA said.
The duo would complement the works of the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mustapha Hamid in directing the administration of the petroleum regulatory body.
Established in 2005, the NPA has been without deputy CEOs as far as its organogram is concerned.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Minority Demands Suspension Of ‘Illegitimate’ Electricity Service Charges
Ghana’s Minority Parliamentarians are demanding an immediate suspension of recent increment in services and other related charges by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
In a statement issued and copied to energynewsafrica.com, the Minority’s Spokesperson on Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor described it as worrying considering the quantum of the increment.
“Even more worrying is the fact that these increments have been carried out in the most opaque and clandestine manner without recourse to any public announcement by the Public Utility and Regulatory Commission,” he explained.
He said the Minority completely rejects these draconian price hikes given the current economic conditions as well as the surreptitious manner with which the exercise has been carried out.
“This unorthodox approach is in complete violation of laid down processes which require that consumers are notified of such adjustments before implementation,” he stated.
“We, therefore, call for the immediate suspension of these price increments to allow for better consultation and also ensure that due process adheres to in this regard,” he concluded.