UN Calls For Demilitarised Zone Around Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has called for a demilitarised zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, involving the withdrawal of Russian occupying troops and the agreement of Ukrainian forces not to move in.
Guterres was addressing a UN Security Council session on Tuesday, at which he supported the recommendations put forward by Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) who led an inspection visit to the occupied Zaporizhzhia plant last week, and presented a report to the Security Council.
The report confirmed the presence of Russian soldiers and military equipment at the plant, including army vehicles.
“We are playing with fire and something very, very catastrophic could take place. This is why in our report, we are proposing the establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone limited to the perimeter and the plant itself,” Grossi said.
Guterres said that, as a first step, Russian and Ukrainian forces should cease all military operations around the plant.
“As a second step, an agreement on a demilitarised perimeter should be secured,” he added. “Specifically, that will include the commitment by Russian forces to withdraw military personnel and equipment from that perimeter and the commitment by Ukrainian forces not to move in.”
The Russian ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, blamed recent shelling of the plant on Ukraine and portrayed Russian forces as protecting the plant.
He did not respond to the call for a security zone, a proposal Moscow has so far rejected.
Nebenzya said he had not had time to read the IAEA report.
Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s ambassador said that Kyiv would have to look at the details of the IAEA’s recommendations, but offered qualified support for the proposal of a demilitarised zone if it involved full Russian withdrawal.
The IAEA report presented on Tuesday said the agency was “gravely concerned” about the “unprecedented” situation at the plant, which is controlled by Russian forces but operated by Ukrainian technicians, and urged interim measures to prevent a nuclear disaster.
The report came as a Russian colonel who served as the military commandant of the occupied Ukrainian city of Berdiansk was reported to have been killed in a car bombing, according to Russian state media reports.
The car bomb reportedly exploded near the city administrative headquarters, which is being used as a Russian base. Photographs showed that the car used by the Russian military official, who has been identified as Col Artyom Bardin, was severely damaged in the attack, which took place close to midday.
Initial reports indicated that Bardin died from his wounds. But Vladimir Rogov, the Russian-appointed administrative head of the Zaporizhzhia region, said in a Telegram post written just after 8.30pm on Tuesday that the colonel continued to “fight for his life”.
“Thank God, information about the death of the commandant of Berdyansk Artyom Bardin is not confirmed. Despite severe injuries, explosive leg amputation and massive blood loss, he is alive. Doctors continue to fight for his life,” he said.
Russian officials have alleged that Ukraine was behind the attack. If true, it would be the most significant assassination yet of an official working for the occupational government of Russia in Ukraine.
At least two Ukrainians collaborating with the Russian government were killed in suspected partisan attacks in August. In one case, the deputy head of the Russian-installed military administration was shot to death in his home in the city of Nova Kakhovka. In late August, a Ukrainian politician from Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s party who had gone over to work with the Russians was killed in the Kherson region.
Ukrainian staff were operating under constant high stress and pressure, especially with the limited staff available, the report said. “This is not sustainable and could lead to increased human error with implications for nuclear safety,” it added.
Britain’s ambassador to the UN, Dame Barbara Woodward, told the Security Council the Zaporizhzhia staff were “no longer workers, but hostages being held at gunpoint.”
Russian troops seized control of the site in early March and there have been repeated attacks in the vicinity, prompting fears of a nuclear disaster. Moscow and Kyiv have denied responsibility and the report did not ascribe blame for the damage its inspectors had discovered.
The UN agency sent a 14-person team to the site last week, including its director general, Rafael Grossi, to assess the situation at the plant. At least two members of the team are to remain there on a permanent basis to ensure the facility’s safety.
“There is an urgent need for interim measures to prevent a nuclear accident arising from physical damage caused by military means,” the IAEA said. “This can be achieved by the immediate establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone.
“The IAEA recommends that shelling on site and in its vicinity should be stopped immediately to avoid any further damages to the plant and associated facilities.”
Source: The Vanguard
Russia Accuses United States Of Causing Europe’s Gas Supply Crisis
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has blamed United States of America of being the cause of Europe’s gas supply crisis by pushing European leaders towards the “suicidal” step of cutting economic and energy cooperation with Moscow.
Europe is facing its worst gas supply crisis ever, with energy prices soaring and German importers even discussing possible rationing in the European Union’s biggest economy after Russia reduced gas flows westwards.
Spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova on Tuesday said the United States had long sought to break the energy ties between Russia and major European powers such as Germany, even though Moscow had been a reliable energy supplier since Soviet times.
Responding to a question by Reuters on what needed to happen for Nord Stream 1 to begin pumping again Maria Zakharova, told the news agency: “Listen, you are asking me questions that even children know the answer to: those who started this need to finish this.”
“The dominance of Washington prevailed,” Zakharova said told Reuters on the sidelines of Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
“Political forces were brought to power in the European Union who are playing the role of ‘sheep-provocateurs’.”
“It is absolute suicide, but it seems they will have to go through this,” she said.
The United States and European Union have accused Russia of energy blackmail after Moscow reduced gas supplies to European customers.
Russia said there were technical problems with a compressor station that sanctions have prevented being fixed.
The Kremlin says that the West triggered the energy crisis by imposing the most severe sanctions in modern history, a step President Vladimir Putin says is akin to a declaration of economic war.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Practice Energy Conservation To Reduce Impact Of New Tariff-ECG MD Tells Ghanaians
Consumers of electricity have been encouraged to practice electricity conservation in order to reduce the impact of the recent hikes in electricity tariff.
Managing Director of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mr Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama Esq. gave the advice when he engaged a section of Ghanaian journalists in Somanya in the Eastern Region.
He advised consumers to use electricity wisely by turning off some electrical appliances and gadgets if they are not using them in order to reduce electricity consumption.
“I have to let every Ghanaian on the network of ECG know that you are the controller of your faith concerning the amount you pay. Energy conservation should be number one on your heart. If you conserve energy, you pay less, but if you are reckless, you will pay more.
“In as much as there has been an increment your usage of electricity might not make you feel the increment, so the onus is on all of us to do the right thing as to conserve energy at all material times,” he advised.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission PURC recently announced 27.15 % hike in electricity tariff effective 1st September 2022.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: PURC Launches Software To Assist Consumers Track Utilities Consumption
Ghana’s electricity and water utilities regulator, Public Utilities Regulatory Commission ((PURC) has launched a software similar to a calculator to help consumers track the exact amount of utility units bought and expended.
The software named ‘tariff reckoner’ is to help promote trust and confidence in the industry.
It is to assist consumers have “control of how much water and electricity they consume” so they can make informed protestation during any eventuality.”
Speaking at the launch of the software during the Commission’s Consumer Service Clinic in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, Executive Secretary of PURC, Dr. Ismael Ackah said the move was to give consumers the opportunity to present their complaints to both the PURC and the utilities, with the expected assurance of their complaints being resolved.
The consumer service clinic programme was on the theme: “Protecting the interest of consumer and utility service providers.”
The consumer service clinic was instituted to provide the platform for consumers to air their grievances.
“The overall strategy of the commission is to improve transparency of its processes and improve information access. And it is our desire to work with all stakeholders to make PURC a centre for regulatory excellence that protects the interest of both the consumer and utility,” Dr. Ackah said.
Beyond that, Dr. Ackah said the device will create a solid relationship between consumers and service providers and prevent doubts.
The software has an inbuilt facility that allows consumers to make their complaints directly and a possible solution found by identifying the districts and business centres where the transaction took place.
The Ashanti Regional Head of PURC, Francis Baidoo, said the clinic would form the basis for regular engagements with consumers to help address future challenges.
He said the engagements with consumers will help deliver bills at the right time to ensure smooth payment without consumers complaining of over running meters.
Click on the link below to access the tariff reckoner
https://purcgh-001-site1.atempurl.com/?fbclid=IwAR074OykIomJn6usEnjOiErW_ILHy_NtToBOInDBZEKxdFJVnQJuuGOTxc4
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Adetayo Writes On Challenges In Nigeria’s Power Sector Distribution
It is no more news that Nigeria is in dire straits when it comes to power supplies, with poor regulatory environment, a fairly better Generation Companies, a Transmission that it is in strait jackets, and a Distribution subsector that has consumed all excuses available in the trick books to keep up with their overall poor service delivery.
This year alone, there has been x National Grid Collapses, with poor gas supply to Generators and inability of Power Distribution Companies to evacuate power from the grid, resulting in unstably high and/or low frequencies.
There is also no shortage of commentaries, from all every quarter in Nigeria. In fact, every Nigerian is now an advocate of sort when the discussions get to the power sector.
One of the recent of such wave making narrative is a comment attributed to the Chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, where he was wrongly quoted to have said Nigerians should expect round the clock power supplies from July 1st, 2022.
What the Chairman, in fact, said was that contracts/arrangements were being put in place to a phased generation, evacuation and Distribution of 5, 000MW. Contract Based.
If you don’t meet up, you get sanctioned. Where this gets interesting, however, is that from all vesting interests in this value chain, the only established weak point remains the Power Distribution Companies. Ask me how?
The entry point in this chain, the Gas Producers, with their capacity, does not have any issue with supplying Gas for Nigeria to generate power.
Generators, with continued ramped up capacity, are presently at an installed Capacity of close to 20, 000MW. With different hydropower plants and thermal plants at different stages of onboarding to the National Grid, there has been visible investment in Power Generation.
In a presentation made on behalf of the General Manager, Transmission Company of Nigeria, at the First Abuja Power Sector Conference and Exhibition, last year, it was stated that so many projects under the Transmission subsector are different stages of completion and commissioning as well. (State/Quote a few).
However, the same cannot be said of the Electricity Distribution Subsector.
Keen observers and followers of the power sector are likely to be wondering if lack of capacity is our problem. This is far from the truth.
Many engineering organizations in Nigeria has exhibited their readiness, and introduced cutting edge technologies, to help in our search for Eldorado.
One of such organizations, Momas Electric Meter Manufacturing Company, MEMMCOL, sometimes in 2019, debuted and piloted what is known as Substation Power Enhancement Panel (SPEP).
SPEP, ass it is called in short, is “designed to meet the standardization, miniaturization, and outdoor requirements of small capacity low voltage distribution equipment.”
According to the Company, the SPEP integrates distribution, metering, protection, GPRS- remote controlled switching on/off, and capacitor reactive compensation, complete and full functions(sort circuit, overload, phase loss, over-voltage, under-voltage, residual current, overcurrent, neutral line disconnection of power supply, lightning protection, etc).
Other features of this SPEP includes Wireless Dual Tariff Metering, ability to take power feed from both Grid and Offgrid Power supplies. The organization, has gone ahead to pilot Substation Power Enhancement Panel, SPEP, in 4 of the electricity distribution companies for FREE. The four Distribution Companies are Kaduna Electric, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution PLC, and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.
Out of these four, only Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company has gone ahead to do some level of acceptance and awarded substation enhancement within the Ibadan Metropolis.
This brings us to the main question. Is our continued inability in Nigeria to solve the power sector challenges a capacity challenge, or just our sheer wickedness to ourselves?
How many more of these innovative local solutions have we discountenanced for imported technologies?
This also brings me to a presentation I made to the Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers on the Entrepreneurship opportunities that our present predicament in the power sector offers, using the Metering of Consumers as example.
The Government was advised by the National Mass Metering Program to try encouraging local manufacturing capacity, by patronizing ecosystems that are willing to innovate based on local engineering capacity.
Industrialized nations have been observed to encourage local manufacturing capacities to their advantage. German Industries are kept alive with their governments actively patronizing their local companies and promoting them internationally.
The ongoing case of the Siemens deal is an example. The German Government offered to loan Nigeria money for the power sector, if we are willing to patronize German company, Siemens.
Nothing is wrong if the Nigerian Government can encourage Nigerian Companies like Momas, especially with their displayed capacity in Engineering. This will also encourage similar companies to be able to innovate to solve the myriads of problems that face us in Nigeria.
This is also an appeal to the Chairman of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Engr. Sanusi Garba, to include local Engineering Companies like Momas in the Distribution Network Enhancement. The innovative Substation Power Enhancement Panel can only get better from here.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, with its many interventions in the power sector, is also called to give organizations like Momas opportunity to grow. It will only further help our Nation’s Economy, lessening the demands for Foreign Exchange. We can even export to other African countries and the world indeed.
I only imagine the kind of growth our engineering subsector if the funds given to Siemens is channeled into our local Manufacturing Capacity.
Adetayo Adegbemle is a public opinion commentator/analyst, researcher, and the convener of PowerUpNigeria, an Electric Power Consumer Right Advocacy Group, based in Lagos. (Twitter: @gbemle, @PowerUpNg)
Other features of this SPEP includes Wireless Dual Tariff Metering, ability to take power feed from both Grid and Offgrid Power supplies. The organization, has gone ahead to pilot Substation Power Enhancement Panel, SPEP, in 4 of the electricity distribution companies for FREE. The four Distribution Companies are Kaduna Electric, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution PLC, and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.
Out of these four, only Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company has gone ahead to do some level of acceptance and awarded substation enhancement within the Ibadan Metropolis.
This brings us to the main question. Is our continued inability in Nigeria to solve the power sector challenges a capacity challenge, or just our sheer wickedness to ourselves?
How many more of these innovative local solutions have we discountenanced for imported technologies?
This also brings me to a presentation I made to the Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers on the Entrepreneurship opportunities that our present predicament in the power sector offers, using the Metering of Consumers as example.
The Government was advised by the National Mass Metering Program to try encouraging local manufacturing capacity, by patronizing ecosystems that are willing to innovate based on local engineering capacity.
Industrialized nations have been observed to encourage local manufacturing capacities to their advantage. German Industries are kept alive with their governments actively patronizing their local companies and promoting them internationally.
The ongoing case of the Siemens deal is an example. The German Government offered to loan Nigeria money for the power sector, if we are willing to patronize German company, Siemens.
Nothing is wrong if the Nigerian Government can encourage Nigerian Companies like Momas, especially with their displayed capacity in Engineering. This will also encourage similar companies to be able to innovate to solve the myriads of problems that face us in Nigeria.
This is also an appeal to the Chairman of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Engr. Sanusi Garba, to include local Engineering Companies like Momas in the Distribution Network Enhancement. The innovative Substation Power Enhancement Panel can only get better from here.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, with its many interventions in the power sector, is also called to give organizations like Momas opportunity to grow. It will only further help our Nation’s Economy, lessening the demands for Foreign Exchange. We can even export to other African countries and the world indeed.
I only imagine the kind of growth our engineering subsector if the funds given to Siemens is channeled into our local Manufacturing Capacity.
Adetayo Adegbemle is a public opinion commentator/analyst, researcher, and the convener of PowerUpNigeria, an Electric Power Consumer Right Advocacy Group, based in Lagos. (Twitter: @gbemle, @PowerUpNg)
Germany Keeps Two Nuclear Reactors On Standby To Weather Gas Crisis
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 Signs 20 Years Crude Supply Agreement With Dangote Refinery
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
OPEC+ Cuts Production Despite Resistance From Russia
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
Africa Climate Week Discussions Focus On Funding The Just Transition
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
Romania: Electricity Distribution Firms Argue “Cap And Subsidy” Scheme Will Generate Losses
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: Largest Gas Cylinder Manufacturing Company Commissioned In Awutu Senya West District
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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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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Nigeria: Fuel Tanker Explosion Causes Destruction Of Properties At Olambe(Photos)
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 said
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
“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 Shell Ending Upstream Operations In California With Sale Of Aera Energy Stake
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
Lukoil Chairman Dies After Falling From A Moscow Hospital Window
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.