Germany plans to keep two of its three remaining nuclear power stations on standby, beyond a year-end deadline to ditch the fuel, to ensure enough electricity supply through the winter during a gas crunch.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement on Monday the move did not mean Berlin was reneging on its long-standing promise to exit nuclear energy by the end of 2022.
Habeck said a stress test by power grid operators had shown there could be hours of crisis in electricity supply over the winter given tightness in the European energy market.
“It remains very improbable that we will have crisis situations and extreme scenarios,” Habeck said. “I have to do everything necessary to fully guarantee security of provision.”
The move is especially hard to swallow for Habeck’s Greens, which grew out of the 1970s anti-nuclear movement, although the exit was initiated by former conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Habeck said the government still deemed nuclear power as a high risk technology generating radioactive waste that would burden future generations.
While all three of Germany’s remaining nuclear reactors would still go offline by Dec. 31, the southern plants Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim 2 would remain in reserve for any emergency until mid-April.
Both plants have a 1,400 megawatt (MW) capacity and are separately operated by E.ON (EONGn.DE) and EnBW (EBKG.DE).
The utilities will be compensated for the staff and operating costs incurred during the additional months.
One reason for the tense energy situation was Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that led to restricted or even halted Russian gas flows to Europe, Habeck said. Gas burning accounted for 15.3% of German electricity generation last year.
“We will have to solve our energy problems without any further regard to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s erratic decisions,” Habeck said.
Habeck said the two plants would not be equipped with fresh fuel elements and the reserve was an option only.
“We have to prepare for the worst,” he told a news briefing. “The plants will only reopen when more power is needed.”
Asked why the government did not opt for longer operations of the plants to help cap runaway power prices, he said it had responded with a levy on power producers to help shield consumers by redistributing power profits.
Opposition conservatives said Habeck’s proposal did not go far enough and accused the three-way coalition government of caving to the Greens’ ideological demands.
“When we demand solidarity (from Europe on gas), we should also make our contribution to energy generation,” said Steffen Bilger, deputy leader of the conservatives parliamentary group.
The other junior coalition party, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), was also critical, maintaining all three nuclear reactors should run longer, and not just be on standby.
“It’s simply a matter of reason to enable every climate-neutral kilowatt hour now,” said FDP deputy leader Johannes Vogel.
Berlin was taking measures to ensure power supply such as resurrecting some idled coal-fired power stations and boost grid capacities, Habeck said, noting that Germany’s electricity supply was usually very secure and it was a power exporter.
However, Germany is part of a European system hit by a decline in Russian gas deliveries, the French nuclear power squeeze and a drought that has curbed hydroelectric production and cooling water supplies to thermal power stations as well as hampering barge deliveries of coal.
EnBW said the government needed to create a legal framework to extend its nuclear reactor’s lifespan and detail the plans, before it could check the possibility of keeping it on standby.
E.ON said the most important question would be to examine whether it was technically and organisationally feasible.
“Nuclear power plants in their technical design are not reserve power plants that can be variably switched on and off,” it said.
By the winter of 2023/24, Germany would have extra gas import capacities in the form of floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), the government said. This and other factors would reduce uncertainties regarding power supply.
The north of Germany, where the third remaining nuclear reactor Emsland is situated, may be able to operate oil-fired electricity generation capacity if needed, it added.
Source:Reuters
Nigeria has agreed with Dangote Refinery to supply 300,000 barrels of crude per day for 20 years.
The West African nation is hoping to end petroleum products importation with the coming into force of this agreement.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, disclosed this to journalists when he appeared at the 49th Session of the State House Ministerial Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
A supply of 300,000 per day in 20 years brings the total supply to 2.1 trillion by the NNPC.
According to him, the corporation had succeeded in locking down the huge supply as part of the Federal Government’s means of guaranteeing sufficient petroleum products supply for Nigeria.
“We have secured the right to sell up to 300,000 barrels of crude oil to the Dangote refinery for the next 20 years. Not only that, by right, we also have access to 20 per cent production from that plant,” he said.
He alleged that stolen crude oil products were now stored in places of worship such as churches and mosques.
He also noted that various law enforcement agencies had arrested 122 persons involved in pipeline vandalism and oil theft from April to August of 2022.
This was as he justified the government’s recent move to hire private entities to safeguard the network of oil pipelines crisscrossing the country.
According to him, the NNPC operatives discovered that stolen petroleum products were stored in places of worship with the consent of the clergy, members and neighbours.
He claimed that in one instance, at least, 295 illegal connections were spotted on a 200km stretch of pipeline.
“As you may be aware, because of the very unfortunate acts of vandals along our major pipelines from Atlas Cove to Ibadan, and all others connecting all the 37 depots that we have across the country, none of them can take delivery of products today.
“The reason is very simple. For some of the lines, for instance, from Warri to Benin, we haven’t operated them for 15 years. Every molecule of product that we put gets lost. Do you remember the sad fire incident close to Sapele that killed so many people? We had to shut it down and as we speak, we have a high level of losses on our product pipeline.
“You remember Lagos when a fire outbreak happened on one of our pipelines? We discovered that some of the pipelines were connected to individuals’ homes. And not only that, with all sensitivity to our religious beliefs, some of the pipelines and some of the products that we found were in churches and mosques,” Kyari said.
He explained that the spate of vandalism had prompted NNPC Limited to shut down its network of pipelines conveying petroleum products across theft-prone areas.
“When we say we are losing 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, we mean it. This is an opportunity lost. No company will produce oil and then you lose 80 per cent of that and continue to produce the oil.”
The NNPC chief said the government’s response to oil theft had led to the arrest of 122 persons between April and August 2022.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The OPEC+ meeting on Monday endorsed a decision to cut the collective oil production target by 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) for October, despite Russia reportedly resisting such a move.
In another super-short meeting today, the energy ministers of the OPEC+ production pact agreed to return the targeted production levels to the August quotas, saying that last month’s increase was intended only for September.
Ahead of the meeting, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed sources close to the cartel, that Russia would not support a decision by OPEC+ to cut oil production.
While several OPEC members have signaled support for such a move, including Saudi Arabia, Russia is not among them, according to the sources.
The reason, they said, was that a supply cut might diminish its sway over large Asian oil buyers as it would be a signal there is more oil in the world than there is demand for.
According to the Wall Street Journal sources, Russia voiced its objections to a production cut last week at a preliminary meeting, where OPEC+ set as its baseline scenario an oil market supply surplus of 900,000 bpd for this year and next.
The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) of the OPEC+ oil producer group had supported during an earlier meeting about the 100,000-bpd cut.
The small cut is actually quite irrelevant considering that OPEC+ is estimated to be some 2.9 million bpd behind collective quotas.
OPEC+, however, decided that it could call a meeting at any time to discuss other actions.
The meeting, OPEC said, decided to “Request the Chairman to consider calling for an OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting anytime to address market developments, if necessary.”
OPEC’s next regular monthly meeting is scheduled for October 5.
Following the OPEC+ meeting today, oil prices jumped by more than 3% in early trade ET, with WTI Crude hitting the $90 per barrel mark, as of 8:33 a.m. ET, and Brent Crude up by 3.5% at $96.64.
Source: Oilprice.com
During a session at the recent Africa Climate Week, discussions focused on how the just transition in Africa calls for creative and stronger financial commitments.
African countries must chart their unique paths toward achieving a just transition, experts said during a session to assess the needs, challenges, and opportunities of implementing a just energy transition in Africa.
The event, titled The Just Transition in the African Context, was jointly organised by the African Development Bank and the African Climate Foundation with Laura Becerra of Neyen Consulting as moderator.
Faten Aggad, African Climate Foundation’s senior advisor on climate diplomacy, said the just transition is a process. “It may take time to secure consensus among domestic actors and ensure inclusivity.”
Speaking on the issue of scale, she said that while leapfrogging was possible at the household level, the transition could take longer for industry and other commercial sectors. There are significant gaps between financing commitments and disbursement in Africa, Aggad added.
Hind Chawki, Standard Chartered’s head of environmental, social and corporate governance for global credit markets in Africa and Pakistan, said the COVID-19 pandemic had complicated the implementation of a just transition. In many African countries, inflation and debt have increased due to the pandemic’s impacts.
Chawki stressed that this provided an opening for creative solutions and collaborations between development institutions and businesses to secure much-needed financing.
Chawki also pointed out the need to put in place the right environment to attract investor interest.
Gareth Phillips, AfDB manager for climate and environmental finance, emphasised the need to view the just transition from an African perspective and to ensure its relevance for all Africans.
“The African Development Bank will support Africa’s contribution to combating climate change and limiting global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, to be just and inclusive to address social, gender, economic and environmental concerns of the continent,” Phillips said.
The bank has launched a Just Transition Initiative, supported by the Climate Investment Funds, that will hold consultations with African stakeholders to build consensus around a working definition of a just transition that can be effectively implemented.
Africa Climate Week forms part of a series of regional climate weeks being held globally. Participants are expected to outline Africa’s objectives for the upcoming COP27 in Egypt and unify and amplify the African voice to ensure action.
Source: Esi-Africa
Setting a maximum average settlement price for the electricity suppliers is an unconstitutional provision, contrary to European and national legislation, according to the association of the Romanian utility companies, ACUE.
The association wants a review of the scheme to avoid total market blockage and discontinuities in the supply of energy to customers.
ACUE’s statement refers to the maximum price set by the Government under the revised “cap and subsidy” scheme (OUG 119/2022), assumed as the maximum average price paid by the electricity distribution firm and used by the market regulator ANRE in order to calculate the subsidies paid to the electricity distribution firms for keeping the end-user prices at the regulated levels.
“The maximum value of the weighted average price of electricity at which ANRE calculates the amounts to be settled from the state budget for electricity suppliers is RON 1,300 [EUR 260] per MWh,” according to the OUG.
ACUE claims that the Government knows that the purchasing price of electricity is higher these days and that, by the provisions of the ordinance, it generates losses to the electricity distribution firms.
Furthermore, the distribution fees are frozen, ACUE says, stressing that they do not reflect the actual costs that the operators of distribution networks incur.
Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo has commissioned the largest gas cylinder manufacturing company at Chochoe, a town in the Awutu Senya West District in the Central Region.
The company named as APPEB Cylinder Manufacturing Company, produces 6kg and 15 kg cylinders with an installed production capacity of 4000 to 5000 cylinders per day.
It is so far the largest cylinder manufacturing company.
However, due to current market demand it only produces about 2000 cylinders per day
The Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company Limited (GCMCL) owned by the state can produce 1,500 cylinders per day while Sigma, a private company can produce about 3200 cylinders per day.
The company employs about two hundred and fifty (250) people and is expected to employ some five hundred (500) people at full capacity.
The company which is under the Government of Ghana private sector led industrialisation programme 1District 1 Factory (1D1F) was established in January 2019 and started construction the same year and completed in the year 2021.
The company commenced commercial production in December 2021.
Speaking at the commissioning of the factory last Friday, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo reiterated government’s continued commitment to providing strategic support to companies and enterprises, such as APPEB, operating in Ghana.
“We will continue to enhance the existing incentive framework designed to make 1D1F designated companies more competitive and sustainable. The incentives, which include tax holidays, import duty waivers, and interest rate subsidies, are designed to help build the capacities and competitiveness of these enterprises, and to position them for greater productivity and efficiency,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo continued, “We are waiting patiently for Parliament to give its approval to the fiscal incentive package, and I ask, respectfully, that Parliament expedites action on the matter, which has been, somewhat, delayed. It is important for investors that the legal processes for the grant of the package be completed as soon as possible.”
He encouraged the proprietors and management of APPEB Cylinder Manufacturing Ltd to take further advantage of this package and establish similar industrial enterprises in other parts of the country.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
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A fuel tanker loaded with 45,000 litres of premium spirit (petrol) exploded and caused destruction of several properties at Olambe, a community along Matogun road in the Ife Local Government Area of Ogun state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The incident which occurred on Saturday morning around 7am resulted in the destruction of ten residential houses, two churches and eight shops.
According to reports by local media, the incident caused panic among residents of the area.
Report by some online portals suggested that the driver of the tanker truck lost control of the steer of the vehicle causing it to fall.
The report said some of the fuel spilled and in the process the tanker exploded.
The Manager of a hotel affected in the area, Peter Friday, told Nigeria- based Punch that the incident came as a shock to the entire community, adding that he was busy with sales when the incident occurred, and he quickly moved their guests to a safer place outside the hotel.
“I sat inside the bar when the incident happened. I saw flames of fire from where I was, and I quickly rushed out to call our guests inside the room for them to move out before the fire could penetrate. Four rooms, the main bar, and many things as you can see were affected. We have broken ceilings, mattresses, 50 pieces of burnt chairs, a generator, one reservoir and many other things that got destroyed.
“I want the government to look into this and help us with the structures and losses. I think the incident was caused by the bad road. I feel bad because if the road had been fixed, this incident would have been averted. But we thank God that our guests are in a safe place now,” he lamented.
In a statement, the Lagos Territorial Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the tanker fell and spilled its contents and exploded.
He added that no life was lost, and no one sustained injuries.
“The situation was mitigated with most of the content spilling into the canal close to the scene, thereby saving the community from serious incidents that could have affected people. The fire has been put out,” he saidSource: https://energynewsafrica.com
Shell Offshore Inc., a subsidiary of Shell plc, will sell its 100% interest in Shell Onshore Ventures LLC to IKAV for about $2 billion, the company announced.
Shell Onshore Ventures holds a 51.8% membership interest in Aera Energy LLC. The sale is for a total consideration of approximately $2 billion in cash with additional contingent payments based on future oil prices, subject to regulatory approval.
The transaction has an effective date of October 1, 2021 and is expected to close in Q4 2022.
“This decision supports our strategy to create a resilient and competitive Upstream portfolio by focusing on positions with high growth potential and a strong integrated value chain,” said Zoe Yujnovich, Shell’s Upstream Director.
Headquartered in Bakersfield, California, Aera Energy LLC is operated as an independent company.
While this transaction will end Shell’s Upstream position in California, Shell will remain active in the state through a variety of other assets and projects.
Source:Worldoil.com
The chairman of Russian oil and gas giant Lukoil has died after falling out of the window of a hospital in Moscow, according to Russian state media.
“The man fell out of the sixth-floor window and died as a result of his injuries,” a source told TASS.
Lukoil confirmed the death of its chairman on Thursday in a statement published on its website.
Ravil Maganov “passed away following a severe illness,” Lukoil said, making no mention of a fall.
“For many years, Ravil Maganov led LUKOIL’s upstream block as a First Executive Vice President. In 2020, he was named Chairman of PJSC LUKOIL Board of Directors.
“Thanks to Ravil Maganov’s managerial talent, LUKOIL evolved from a small oil production group to one of the world’s leading energy companies in next to no time, increased its oil and gas production manifold, developed from scratch new oil and gas provinces in the Caspian and Baltic seas, successfully launched superviscous oil projects in the Republic of Komi, introduced advanced technological solutions to support production at mature fields in West Siberia, joined consortiums in the most promising oil regions of the world,’’ the statement by Lukoil said.
Lukoil, Russia’s second biggest oil and gas company, made headlines in March when it called “for the soonest termination of the armed conflict” in Ukraine.
“We express our sincere empathy for all victims, who are affected by this tragedy,” the company’s board of directors said in a statement to shareholders, staff and customers at the time. “We strongly support a lasting ceasefire and a settlement of problems through serious negotiations and diplomacy.”
The firm produces more than 2% of the world’s crude oil and employs over 100,000 people.
RIA Novosti quoted a law enforcement source Thursday as saying Maganov “most likely committed suicide.”
“Investigating authorities are working on the spot to establish the causes of the incident,” the source told RIA.
The European Union’s gas storage facilities have been filled to 80 percent, the bloc’s Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said in a tweet.
The EU had set itself a deadline in October to have its gas storage caverns 80 percent full ahead of the start of the heating season amid greatly weakened energy supply security and reduced Russian gas flows via the Nord Stream 1.
Simson’s announcement follows a similar one made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this week, celebrating the achievement.
However, it has come at a price and it will not ensure a sufficient supply for the European Union throughout the winter.
U.S. liquefied natural gas imports were instrumental for the EU’s ability to fill up its storage earlier than its deadline but it has pushed the bloc’s gas bill ten times higher than what the EU normally pays for gas.
Demand reduction is also on the agenda. Earlier this week, the head of Germany’s energy regulator Klaus Mueller said the European Union’s largest economy would need to reduce its gas consumption by at least a fifth in order to have a chance of getting through winter. Even if its gas storage caverns reach a fill level of 95 percent, it would not be enough for three months of consumption, Mueller said.
According to the Bloomberg report about von der Leyen celebrating the early filling of gas storage caverns, the amount in them could only cover between 25 and 30 percent of gas consumption during the winter.
“We will meet the goal before the heating season despite very difficult situation on the energy market, Gazprom’s dirty games around Nord Stream 1 and several member states being already completely cut off from Russian supplies,” Jerzy Buzek, a member of the European Parliament, told Bloomberg.
“Full gas storages will certainly not solve all our current problems, but they do allow European citizens to feel more secure and confident before the coming winter.”
Source:Oilprice.com
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has deployed about 9,000 prepaid meters in the Manya and Yilo Krobo Municipalities in the Eastern Region despite a series of protests by some residents of the area.
The figure is less than the 20,000 prepaid meters the power distribution company has targeted to achieve, and this is a result of legions of skirmishes in the two areas.
The ECG commenced a prepayment meter replacement exercise in the Krobo enclave in May 2022 as part of measures to curtail the continuous accumulation of over five years of unpaid electricity bills by the residents.
The exercise was, however, met with some residents prompting ECG to seek the assistance of engineers from the 49 Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GFA).
Addressing a section of Ghanaian journalists in Somanya on Thursday, 1st September 2022, Managing Director of ECG, Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama, observed that despite the challenges that confronted the exercise, a good number of residents have welcomed the prepaid meters.
“We can say that quite a good number have welcomed our efforts and we are well within the 9000 mark of pre-payment meters installation,” Mr. Samuel Mahama said.
Asked which specific towns in the area account for the 9000 meters, Mr. Samuel Mahama said he could not provide the data immediately but said his outfit would make the data available to the press.
Mr. Samuel Mahama, Managing Director of ECG
Asked what steps ECG is going to adopt to achieve its target, Mr. Samuel Mahama said,
“ECG staff are going back to work and more towns are joining the bandwagon. We see us completing this exercise in a very good time and it will help us increase our revenue.”
Mr. Samuel Mahama commended the traditional leaders, opinion leaders in the area, the Municipal Chief Executives and the National Security for their efforts that have contributed to restoring calm in the area.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday departed Abuja for the United States of America to seek global partnerships and support for Nigeria’s recently launched Energy Transition Plan.
Prof. Osinbajo is leading Nigeria’s Energy Transition Implementation Working Group (ETWG) on the US mission with meetings starting from tomorrow-the 1st of September to promote the plan and secure global support from the US government, the private sector, and other development partners.
The ETWG which is chaired by the VP comprises relevant ministers and other top government officials.
Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan officially launched last week at a global virtual event is a homegrown, data-backed and multi-pronged strategy developed for the attainment of 2060 net-zero emissions commitment in 5 critical sectors : Power, Cooking, Oil & Gas, Transport & Industry. Nigeria needs $410 billion to deliver the Transition Plan by 2060.
Among other highlights, the plan needs at least $10 billion per annum above business as usual spending for effective implementation.
At the launch, the World Bank and a renewable energy organization – Sun Africa, pledged a sum of $1.5 billion each totaling an initial $3 billion investment to support the implementation of Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan.
While in the United States, Prof. Osinbajo will meet US Vice President, Kamala Harris; US Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm; Secretary of Treasury, Janet Yellen, and President of World Bank Group, David Malpass, among others.
The Vice President is also scheduled to speak on Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan at the Centre for Global Development in Washington DC.
The Vice President’s delegation to the U.S. include Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Minister of Works and Housing, Raji Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu; Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General/CEO for Sustainable Energy for All, Ms Damilola Ogunbiyi. Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Uzoma Emenike will also join the delegation.
The Vice President will return to Abuja early next week.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has officially approved the inclusion of nuclear power technology into the country’s power generation mix.
The move, according to him, is in consonance with the global collective commitment to the sustainable availability of power, and the peaceful exploitation of nuclear energy for the benefit of citizens, to enhance rapid industrialization, and to propel economic growth.
The West African nation’s electricity generation is mainly from hydroelectric, thermal, waste to energy and solar energy sources.
It will be recalled that in 2008, cabinet took a decision to include nuclear energy into the country’s energy generation mix and paved the way for its inclusion into the National Energy Policy and Strategy.
“This led to the establishment of the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO) to oversee the implementation and coordination of the nuclear power programme. Ghana subsequently declared its intention to pursue a Nuclear Power Programme (NPP) for peaceful purposes in August, 2013, through a letter submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”
A statement issued and signed by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said, “two other key institutions, namely Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) Ghana, an independent nuclear regulatory body, and Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), a project company to take up the role and responsibility as owner-operator, have been established by government.”
“To satisfy all the relevant obligatory technical issues related to the introduction of nuclear power, the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), through its Technical Institute (the Nuclear Power Institute, NPI-GAEC), and with the support from other national bodies, has met all the Phase-1 nuclear infrastructure requirements as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Milestone’s approach,” it added.
The statement continued that, “ in 2017 and 2019, the IAEA International Peer Review Mission, on the invitation of the country, undertook a review of the status of Ghana’s Phase 1 nuclear infrastructure development, and concluded that Ghana has satisfied all the prescribed studies for government to make a knowledgeable commitment to a Nuclear Power Programme.
Furthermore, the numerous studies and progress of activities undertaken in Phase 1 of the nuclear power programme had been consolidated into the Programme Comprehensive Report (PCR).”
He said, “I, hereby, announce and instruct the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Minister for Energy (MoE), in collaboration with the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, to take all the necessary steps to move the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO) from the Ministry of Energy to the Office of the President, to enhance proper coordination among the key institutions already established.
Additionally, “GAEC and its technical Institute (NPI-GAEC) will continue to play its supportive role to the GNPPO at the Office of the President following its re-alignment, he added.
The declaration stated further that, the Government of Ghana has adopted the content of the PCR as a reflection of nuclear power infrastructure issues in the country, committed to the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, as well as, continue their international cooperation and collaborations and participate in enhancing knowledge in all peaceful applications of nuclear technology.”
It also stated government’s commitment to “continue their transparency, adherence to the strict standards of safety, security, and accountability in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology and continue with its efforts to implement the nuclear power programme in the subsequent phases of the programme by using nuclear technology to generate electricity to accelerate national development and industrialisation.”
The National Chairman of the Bulk Tanker Drivers Union in the Republic of Ghana, Clement Ampadu has been beaten to pulp by five police officers from the Mile 7 Police Station in Accra, capital of Ghana.
Mr. Ampadu sustained severe injuries and dislocation at his waist according to medical report.
The incident happened last Friday around John Teye School, a popular area near Achimota.
Narrating his ordeal to enerynewsafrica.com, Mr. Clement Ampadu said he was on his way to the house after close of work on Friday and spotted two tanker trucks packed at Rev. John Teye Memorial Institute Bus Stop.
He said he initially thought of going home but changed his mind and stopped to find out why the drivers had parked the trucks.
He stated that he called one of the drivers on phone only for the driver to say that police petrol team chased them and signaled them to stop for them to inspect their waybills, notably Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF) document and other documents covering the product.
According to Mr Ampadu, the driver indicated that the police officers seized the document in their possession.
This is the police vehicle the officers were using for patrol
He said on hearing the complaint of the driver, he proceeded to where the police officers were to check which Fuel Depot the drivers loaded the product from.
He said when he got to them one of the officers became infuriated and started raining insults on him and called him a foolish man for not greeting them and requesting to see the documents.
He stated that the police officer gave him a dirty slap making him lose control of his mobile phone.
The medical report
He said after picking his phone from the ground and asking him why he slapped him, the other police officers joined and beat him mercilessly.
“One of the officers slapped me six times and said they will kill me,” he claimed
Mr. Ampadu told energynewafrica.com that the officers after beating him mercilessly handcuffed him and sent him to Mile 7 Police station and locked him in the cells.
He said it took the intervention of DSP Alexander Kwaku Obeng, Director of Communications at the Ghana Police Service to secure his release.
After his release, Mr. Ampadu said he went to the police station and lodged complaint and was given medical form to go for treatment.
He proceeded to the Amasaman Government hospital where he was admitted for three days.
The medical report issued by the Amasaman Government hospital revealed that Mr Ampadu suffered multiple injuries.
The development has angered the Tanker Driver Unions who have petitioned the Inspector General of Police to act on the excesses of his officers.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Speaking at the commissioning of the factory last Friday, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo reiterated government’s continued commitment to providing strategic support to companies and enterprises, such as APPEB, operating in Ghana.
“We will continue to enhance the existing incentive framework designed to make 1D1F designated companies more competitive and sustainable. The incentives, which include tax holidays, import duty waivers, and interest rate subsidies, are designed to help build the capacities and competitiveness of these enterprises, and to position them for greater productivity and efficiency,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo continued, “We are waiting patiently for Parliament to give its approval to the fiscal incentive package, and I ask, respectfully, that Parliament expedites action on the matter, which has been, somewhat, delayed. It is important for investors that the legal processes for the grant of the package be completed as soon as possible.”
He encouraged the proprietors and management of APPEB Cylinder Manufacturing Ltd to take further advantage of this package and establish similar industrial enterprises in other parts of the country.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
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“I sat inside the bar when the incident happened. I saw flames of fire from where I was, and I quickly rushed out to call our guests inside the room for them to move out before the fire could penetrate. Four rooms, the main bar, and many things as you can see were affected. We have broken ceilings, mattresses, 50 pieces of burnt chairs, a generator, one reservoir and many other things that got destroyed.
“I want the government to look into this and help us with the structures and losses. I think the incident was caused by the bad road. I feel bad because if the road had been fixed, this incident would have been averted. But we thank God that our guests are in a safe place now,” he lamented.
In a statement, the Lagos Territorial Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the tanker fell and spilled its contents and exploded.
He added that no life was lost, and no one sustained injuries.
“The situation was mitigated with most of the content spilling into the canal close to the scene, thereby saving the community from serious incidents that could have affected people. The fire has been put out,” he said
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com 
This is the police vehicle the officers were using for patrol
He said on hearing the complaint of the driver, he proceeded to where the police officers were to check which Fuel Depot the drivers loaded the product from.
He said when he got to them one of the officers became infuriated and started raining insults on him and called him a foolish man for not greeting them and requesting to see the documents.
He stated that the police officer gave him a dirty slap making him lose control of his mobile phone.
The medical report
He said after picking his phone from the ground and asking him why he slapped him, the other police officers joined and beat him mercilessly.
“One of the officers slapped me six times and said they will kill me,” he claimed
Mr. Ampadu told energynewafrica.com that the officers after beating him mercilessly handcuffed him and sent him to Mile 7 Police station and locked him in the cells.
He said it took the intervention of DSP Alexander Kwaku Obeng, Director of Communications at the Ghana Police Service to secure his release.
After his release, Mr. Ampadu said he went to the police station and lodged complaint and was given medical form to go for treatment.
He proceeded to the Amasaman Government hospital where he was admitted for three days.
The medical report issued by the Amasaman Government hospital revealed that Mr Ampadu suffered multiple injuries.
The development has angered the Tanker Driver Unions who have petitioned the Inspector General of Police to act on the excesses of his officers.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com