Solen SA Gabon, a subsidiary of Solen Renewable Dubai, has launched the construction of the Ayémé Plaine photovoltaic solar power plant, a locality located some thirty kilometres from the capital Libreville.
The future facility will have a capacity of 120 MWp.
The launch of the Ayémé Plaine solar photovoltaic power plant in Gabon comes almost six months after the signing of the related framework agreement (in March 2022) between the Gabonese Minister of Energy and Hydraulic Resources, Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, and Praveen Pai, Solen’s Operations Manager.
The company, which is implementing the power supply project, has until July 2023 to deliver the future installation.
Initially, Solen SA Gabon, the subsidiary of Solen Renewable Dubai, will install solar panels with a combined capacity of 60 MWp, equipped with a 15-hour battery energy storage system.
In its second phase, the project will install an additional 60 MWp of solar photovoltaic panels, also equipped with a 15-hour battery energy storage system.
This will form a 120 MWp solar power plant spread over a 251 hectare site in the locality of Ayémé Plaine, located some thirty kilometres from the capital Libreville.
The aim is to complete the electricity mix in the Estuaire region in order to provide the population of this province with electricity that is both competitive and that will effectively help to solve the problem of load shedding. In addition, the future solar power plant will help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the target area.
For the future solar power plant, Solen will finance, install and operate it.
The company will sell its output to the Gabonese Water and Energy Company (SEEG) for 25 years under a power purchase agreement (PPA). In the long term, the Gabonese government aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix to 80% by 2030.
A civil society group— Coalition of Stakeholders in Electricity Concession and Arrangements (COSECA)—in the Republic of Ghana has welcomed the increment in electricity and water tariffs announced by the country’s utility regulator, Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
According to the group, the increases in electricity and water tariffs would save the situation, stating that it could have been worse.
The PURC, on Monday 15th August 2022, announced a 27.15 per cent and 21.55 per cent increment in electricity and water tariffs respectively.
This is expected to be implemented by the utilities from 1st September 2022.
In a statement issued and signed by Dr Steve Manteaw on behalf of the group, COSECA noted that although the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and Ghana Hoteliers Association have complained about a potential negative impact of the tariff on their members’ operations, their analysis shows that the new tariff regime is more business-friendly than the previous tariff regime.
Dr. Steve Manteaw
Citing paragraph 6.5 of the PURC’s publication of electricity tariffs published on 16th December 2020, which states: “The distribution service charges (DCS) provided in the third schedule are the rates applicable to the distribution of electricity by DISCO from 1st January 2021 as follows: a. DSC 1 is the rate for DISCos to recover the cost of distribution network operations. b. DCS2 is the rate for DISCos to recover distribution losses,” the group alleged fraud in depriving ECG of this vital revenue stream that would have allowed it to operate efficiently without requiring as much as the 148 per cent increase in tariff.
From the group’s calculations, the restoration of DSC-2 would automatically translate into a reduction in water tariffs, as electricity constitutes about 30 per cent of the cost of producing water.
“Our checks have revealed that the DSC-2 has been restored as part of the current major tariff review exercise, and this might have formed the basis for the reduction in ECG’s requested hikes in tariffs.”
While COSECA welcomed this development, it believes the newly announced tariffs for water and electricity could come down or go up during the quarterly automatic adjustments, if other concerns raised in its press statement of 2nd June 2022 are addressed.
COSECA also noted with concern the non-residential customer classification of 0-300kwh.
This classification affects Small & Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) such as hairdressing salons, barbering shops, beauty parlours, tailoring and dressmaking shops, welding, mechanic shops, vulcanizing and carpentry workshops.
The current customer classification systems of ECG, NEDCo and ENCLAVE power, per the above PURC categories, cannot differentiate them from non-residential customers and potentially could see them pay very high tariffs which could drive them under the current economic conditions.
This needs to be urgently addressed by both the PURC on one hand and the power distribution companies on the other.
“COSECA has some solutions we are willing to bring to the table to help address this problem to ensure SMEs do not suffer unduly due to high tariffs.
“We are open to further discussions on this matter before the 1st September implementation of the new tariffs,” it said.
The additional measures COSECA wants to be implemented are investments into efforts at reducing commercial losses, effective revenue collection initiatives, curtailment of political interferences in the affairs of the companies, especially in the procurement activities of ECG; improvement in the government’s management of the macro-economic performance indicators, and taking the fight against illegal mining (Galamsey) and its consequential pollution of water bodies more seriously, as it has led to an increased cost of water treatment for GWCL.
The Southern Zonal Competition of the third edition of the Energy Commissions’ Senior High Schools Renewable Energy Challenge ended on Saturday with the Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS) from the Western Region beating other competing schools to be crowned the winner.
GSTS won with a total of 80 points.
Presenting a project on ‘Tescan Smart Solar Oven’, the team representing the school explained how the environmentally friendly prototype device meant for the hygienic preservation of food, was designed and developed using local materials.
In all, eight schools participated in the zonal competition under the theme: ‘Clean Cooking and Food Processing Using Renewable Energy Technologies’.
The participating schools were awarded marks based on project ideas, innovation, environmental and social impact, objectives and challenges, why the implementation of the novelty is important and its relation to renewable energy.
The participating schools took home a plaque, certificates, branded T-shirts and some souvenirs provided by the Energy Commission, organisers of the Challenge, with support from the Ghana Education Service (GES).
Yaa Asantewaa Senior High School (SHS), representing the Ashanti Region, placed second with 79.3 points, while Kpedze SHS (Volta Region) finished third on 74.2 points. Both were presented with certificates and souvenirs.
The first three schools have all qualified for the grand finale of the competition, which aims at promoting the efficient use of renewable energy resources and technologies.
Other participating schools were the Presbyterian Boys’ SHS (Greater Accra Region), Bueman SHS (Oti Region), Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS (Central Region), Mamfe Methodist Girls’ SHS (Eastern Region) and St Joseph SHS (Western North Region).
Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Ing Oscar Amonoo-Neizer, explained the rationale of the programme, stating that the Challenge aims at promoting creative thinking and providing mentorship to young and brilliant students.
The Challenge highlights various competitions by students in the second cycle institutions and provides a platform for the exhibition of their innovative projects.
“It is vital that we eliminate the ‘Chew, pour, pass, and forget’ phenomenon in the educational system of Ghana and promote the practical application of theoretical knowledge.
Ing Amonoo-Neizer said one unique thing about the challenge is that the good projects would not end upon the shelves.
“There is an arrangement with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Clean Cooking Alliance (based in the USA) to provide mentorship to the winning projects, and other equally good ones to develop and improve on them to become commercially viable. One likely legacy of this competition is that, in future, some schools are going to hold patent rights to technologies that will be a major source of income to them,” he said.
In a speech read by the Director of the Commercial Services Department, Mr Pascal Kanbonnabah, on behalf of the BPA CEO, said, “BPA is happy to join forces again with the Energy Commission, together with other partners, to sponsor the SHS RE Challenge.”
To further advance the development of renewable energy in the country, Mr Kanbonnabah said, “BPA is collaborating with the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the Berlin Technical University of Germany DAAD to undertake capacity building and Research in renewable energy for students, lecturers and professionals in the RE sector.”
Ms Olivia Serwaa Opare, Director, Science Education Unit of the GES, affirmed the resolve of the authorities to advance science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
This, she said, was critical to nurturing the needed future scientists capable of spearheading Ghana’s development agenda.
The programme was sponsored by GIZ, an international development organization, Clean Cooking Alliance, Volta River Authority, Bui Power Authority and French Development Agency (AFD).
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Japan will restart more idled nuclear plants and look at developing next-generation reactors, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday, setting the stage for a major policy shift on nuclear energy a decade after the Fukushima disaster.
The comments from Kishida – who also said the government would look at extending the lifespan of existing reactors – highlight how the Ukraine crisis and soaring energy costs have forced both a change in public opinion and a policy rethink toward nuclear power.
Japan has kept most of its nuclear plants idled in the decade since a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011 triggered a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Quake-prone Japan also said it would build no new reactors, so a change in that policy would be a stark turnaround.
Kishida told reporters he had instructed officials to come up with concrete measures by the year end, including on “gaining the understanding of the public” on sustainable energy and nuclear power.
Government officials met on Wednesday to hammer out a plan for so-called “green transformation” aimed at retooling the world’s third-largest economy to meet environmental goals. Nuclear energy, which was deeply opposed by the public after the Fukushima crisis, is now seen by some in government as a component for such green transformation.
Public opinion has also shifted, as fuel prices have risen and an early and hot summer spurred calls for energy-saving.
“It is the first step towards the normalisation of Japan’s energy policy,” said Jun Arima, a project professor at the University of Tokyo’s graduate school of public policy.
Japan needs nuclear power because its grid is not connected to neighbouring countries, nor is it able to boost output of domestic fossil fuels, he said.
Last month the government said it hoped to restart more nuclear reactors in time to avert any power crunch over the winter.
As of late July, Japan had seven operating reactors, with three others offline due to maintenance. Many others are still going through a relicensing process under stricter safety standards imposed after Fukushima.
Kishida also said the government would look at extending the lifespan of existing reactors. Local media earlier reported this could be done by not including the time reactors remained offline – years in some cases – when calculating their operating time.
Under current regulations, Japan decommissions plants after a predetermined period, which in many cases is 60 years.
Source:Reuters
Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned the Volta River Authority’s 13MW peak solar power plant at Kaleo in the Upper West Region.
He cut the sod for the project in February 2020.
The project adds to the company’s 6.5MW peak solar power plant at Lawra, 2.5MW peak at Navrongo and 80kW rooftop solar at its headquarters in Accra.
Speaking at a ceremony to commission the project at Kaleo in the Upper West Region, on Tuesday, 23rd August 2022, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the Kaleo Solar Plant, along with ongoing interventions in the area of energy efficiency, use of natural gas for thermal generation, adoption of cleaner cooking solutions, decarbonisation of oil production, amongst others, is helping Ghana accelerate the attainment of her Nationally Determined Contributions as presented at COP26 in Glasgow in the United Kingdom.
“The Akufo-Addo government has invested heavily in the electricity transmission network, which will enable us to evacuate more renewable energy through the national grid to support the extension of electricity to all parts of Ghana. For this reason, Kaleo has a dedicated transmission line that evacuates power from the current and future solar capacity at Kaleo to the GRIDCo substation at Wa,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo continued, “At peak sun hours, the Kaleo and Lawra plants can meet the entire load at Wa and its environs. This can make Wa the greenest city in Ghana. The completion of the Kaleo Solar Power Plant is consistent with Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions to addressing the effects of climate change.”
Since 1961, when the nation started commercial production of electricity, almost all the generation assets, except the Bui Hydropower plant, have been located in the middle and southern parts of the country.
To this end, the President intimated that the government has taken it upon itself, “as part of our development trajectory, to bring some of these sources closer to the North, thereby, opening up additional opportunities in our regional development journey.”
The Volta River Authority, he said, has been one of Ghana’s main vehicles for improving access to electricity and related developments, particularly in the northern parts of the country.
“It completed the first solar plant of 2.5 megawatts in Navrongo way back in 2013. Under this government, we have completed a 6.5 megawatts solar plant in Lawra, which I commissioned. Today, we are here signing-off on this thirteen-megawatt (13MW) addition,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo also revealed to the gathering that the construction of another fifteen-megawatt (15MW) plant has already begun, and funding has been duly secured from the German Development Bank (KFW) and is expected to be completed within one year.
In addition, the Kaleo project provides several benefits including, increasing the geographic spread of power generation assets; improving the resilience of the national power system; stabilising voltage levels and reliability of power supply in the Upper West Region; and, ultimately, reducing the nation’s carbon footprint.
The President stated that the construction of the new 15MW plant is employing some one hundred and thirty (130) people during the construction phase.
“I am glad to note that most of the workers used for some ninety-five per cent (95%) of the construction and operational phase are from the nearby communities. The project will serve as a tourism boost for the Kaleo community, and as a destination for educational and technological field trips in the Region. It will contribute to promoting the advancement of science education, engineering and technological activities in this area, and broaden the career outlook of our young people,” he added.
With this project in the community, President Akufo-Addo was expectant that “corporate social responsibility programmes for Kaleo and neighbouring communities will be enhanced by the appropriate authorities in many forms including, but not limited to the rehabilitation of the Kaleo D/A Primary School and the provision of furniture and other critical amenities for the school.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) has been crowned as the Best Head of Entity at the 2022 Internal Audit Conference held in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
The Best Head of Entity Award recognises the role which the Chief Executive played in ensuring that the plans and activities of the Internal Audit Department were supported at all levels to aid the effective operation of GRIDCo’s internal control, risk management and governance processes.
Aside from the CEO’s award, GRIDCo also received the Best Enterprise Risk Management Compliant Award at the same event.
Commenting on the Award, GRIDCo Board Chairman, Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere said, “I commend the Chief Executive for these awards and recognise the role of the Board, Audit Committee, Chief Executive, Internal Audit Department, Risk Management Committee and staff of GRIDCo for their dedication and exemplary work.”
He also acknowledged the roles played by members of the immediate past Board, Audit Committee and Chief Executive, Ing Jonathan Amoako-Baah, which helped GRIDCo attain this feat.
“I hope that the Chief Executive and Management will continue to ensure that the policies, procedures, risk management and internal control systems, are followed to sustain and increase GRIDCo’s value.
“Let us follow this example of excellence to attain the best for ourselves and GRIDCo,” he charged.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s power transmission company, GRIDCo, has been crowned as the Best Enterprise Risk Management Compliant Institution in the Republic of Ghana at the 2022 Internal Audit Conferences and Awards held at the University of Professional Studies in Accra.
This is the second time in a row the transmission company has received the award.
In 2021, GRIDCo’s Internal Auditor, Mr Richard Ntim, was adjudged the Best Internal Auditor at the Internal Audit Agency Conference.
This year’s conference, which was held from 16th and 18th August 2022 was under the theme: ‘Injecting Fiscal Discipline in the Mobilisation and Utilisation of Revenue for Sustainable Development: The Role of Internal Auditors’, brought together auditors from both the public and private sector institutions in the West African nation.
GRIDCo operates the National Interconnection Transmission Line which covers about 6,472.23 kilometres.
Commenting on the award, the Chairman of GRIDCo Board, Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere, congratulated the CEO of GRIDCo, Ing Ebenezer Kofi Essienyi, for providing sound leadership and leading the company to win the award.
Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere, GRIDCo Board Chairman
He also congratulated GRIDCo’s Internal Audit Department, Risk Management Committee and staff of GRIDCo for their dedication and exemplary work which brought success.
“This is an incredible achievement and a well-deserved recognition of dedication and hard work, which we appreciate,” he heartily said.
According to him, the Board, Audit Committee, and the Chief Executive are required to ensure that an effective risk management strategy is in place to help identify, assess and prepare GRIDCo for potential hazards that may interfere with our operations, finances and objectives
He explained that GRIDCo has put in place ERM processes to help the company to manage and monitor risks to its operations.
“Winning the award for the ERM function is welcome news and a worthy appreciation of the efforts we have all put into the ERM activities,” he noted.
He also acknowledged the roles played by members of the immediate past board, Audit Committee and Chief Executive, Ing Jonathan Amoako-Baah, which helped GRIDCo attain this feat.
“I hope that the Chief Executive and Management will continue to ensure that the policies, procedures, risk management and internal control systems, are followed to sustain and increase GRIDCo’s value.
“Let us follow this example of excellence to attain the best for ourselves and GRIDCo,” he charged.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Kenya could soon go back to the fuel shortage last witnessed in May if the government of the East African nation does not clear the rising debt owed to suppliers.
According to a report filed by Kenya Star, a top official of one of the major oil suppliers in the country has said oil suppliers were considering holding stock pending clearance of almost Sh11 billion (US$91,784,000) they are seeking from the government.
“The business is not making sense anymore. Arrears arising from the subsidy plan are unsustainable. We are forced to borrow to sustain operations,” the top official said as quoted by Kenya Star.
The top official is said to have added that arrears have been accumulating since June and efforts to follow up on payments were complicated by the recent general elections.
“We fear that the transition, following the election of the new government, will worsen the situation to our disadvantage,” he added.
On Friday, the Petroleum Outlets Association of Kenya (POAK), a body that brings together all operators in the sector, hinted at supply disruption, indicating that suppliers have run out of funds.
“The Petroleum Industry is owed more today than ever…a bill of Sh65 billion (US$542,360,000). This is a sizable percentage of the industry’s market cap and large enough to cause supply disruption,” POAK said in a tweet.
The lobby added that suppliers are in extreme dilemma fueled by government transition, product availability and cost.
“Both the National Treasury, the Ministry of Energy and the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) did not respond to our inquiries about the status of the subsidy plan and repayments to suppliers.”
The government and fuel suppliers have been in a hot and cold relationship since the introduction of the fuel subsidy plan, leading to a countrywide shortage in April.
Delays in the payment of subsidies to the companies by the government pushed up prices in the wholesale market where oil majors resold fuel to the smaller independent fuel retailers who control 40 per cent of the market.
This saw the small retailers hesitate to buy the costly fuel, with the increased supply of oil majors unable to plug the deficit.
The oil majors are also cautious to increase supply, uncertain about whether the state would compensate them for fuel not used to calculate the monthly price adjustments.
Both the government and international bodies like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have questioned the sustainability of the oil subsidy.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s largest state power generation company, Volta River Authority (VRA), will, on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, commission a 13MW peak solar plant in Kaleo in the Upper West Region to boost electricity generation in the West African nation.
This will add to the company’s 6.5MW peak at Lawra, 2.5MW solar in Navrongo in Upper East Region and 80kW rooftop solar at its headquarters in Accra.
President Akufo-Addo, who is touring the Upper West Region, will commission the project as part of his tour of the region.
In 2020, VRA commissioned a 6.5MW peak solar power plant in Lawra in the Upper West Region.
Both the Lawra and Kaleo projects were executed by Elecnor S.A. from Spain, with Tractebel Engineering of Germany acting as the Project Consultant.
The projects were funded by KfW, a German Development Bank, through a Loan Agreement between the Government of Germany, represented by KfW, and the Government of Ghana, represented by the Ministry of Finance and the VRA for a facility of 22.8 million Euros.
The projects would boost VRA’s power generation capacity, reduce VRA’s carbon footprint by increasing non-fossil fuel generation and also stabilise the voltage levels and power supply in the Upper West Region, as well as provide additional power for the consumption of 32,200 households (estimated annual average consumption per household of 976kWh).
VRA has set a goal to command, at least, 70 per cent of the renewable space in Ghana in line with its 5-10-year Renewable Energy Development Programme.
The move is in line with the Government of Ghana’s policy to promote the development and utilisation of Renewable Energy (RE).
“In 2019, the Authority completed its first 80kw rooftop solar at its headquarters in Accra, as part of its culture of working in green and smart environment.
“In future, the VRA intends to develop a pilot floating solar project on the Kpong Hydro-electric head pond at Akuse and deploy rooftop solar system in our office and residential facilities at Akosombo, Akuse and Aboadze,” Ing Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, CEO of VRA, said as captured in the company’s 2019 Sustainability Report.
The VRA is, also, venturing into wind power production and looks forward to developing about 150MW wind power projects to be located in Anloga and West Ada Districts of the Volta and Greater Accra Regions respectively, in the short to medium term.
The 2019 Sustainability Report said feasibility studies and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Studies had been concluded for the first 76MW Wind Power Project at Anloga, Srogbe and Anyanui in the Volta Region, as well as the second 76.5MW project in Wokumagbe and Goi in the Greater Accra Region.
Military personnel from the 49 Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces who are assisting the staff of ECG to install prepaid meters in Yilo and Manya Krobo Municipalities in the Eastern Region, on Monday, whipped some residents of Nuaso in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality.
According to sources, the attacks on the residents by the military personnel were unprovoked.
In a video sighted by energynewsafrica.com, a man believed to be over 50 years said he and others were relaxing in their vicinity when the military approached them and started beating them.
He said the military personnel also beat his wife, bruising her hand.
Several other residents were also brutalised, with some victims captured in the video with bruises all over their bodies.
However, a brief statement from the Tema Regional Public Relations Officer of ECG, Sakyiwaa Mensah, stated otherwise.
The statement explained that there was resistance at Nuaso Old Town, where one woman threatened to pour hot oil on the ECG staff and the military personnel.
“A crowd started massing around one ECG team. The military was able to snatch a cutlass from one of the crowd massing around the ECG people,” the statement said.
The statement noted that there have been reports of constant verbal abuses and attacks on the person doing the installation at Nuaso Old Town.
“The team has withdrawn from Nuaso Old Town,” the statement said.
ECG condemned these attacks, describing them as unfortunate situations.
“We keep calling for peace and calm so we can discharge our duties peacefully,” the statement concluded.
The entire Kroboland was disconnected from the national grid for about three weeks, following a series of protests by residents regarding the installation of prepaid meters in the area.
After several engagements by stakeholders, led by national security, the power supply was restored last Friday.Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) congratulates H.E. Abdirizak Mohamed for his appointment as Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of the Federal Republic of Somalia. While this role may present challenges, the AEC firmly believes in the capability of H.E. Minister Mohamed as he drives the country into a new era of energy and economic growth.
Representing one of the final frontiers for oil and gas exploration globally, Somalia is rich with opportunities across the entire energy spectrum and value chain. Despite its proximity to hydrocarbon-rich countries, exploration has been slow in Somalia owing largely to political instability and the lack of adequate investment.
Now, with his appointment, H.E. Mohamed may focus on promoting an enabling environment and accelerating investment in frontier oil and gas activities. Much of the country’s offshore basins have yet to be explored, and with previously attained seismic data revealing high potential prospects, opportunities for establishing the country as a top producer while making high returns on investment are high.
In 2022, the country has made steady progress towards stability, owing largely to recent regulatory reforms and political cooperation, and as global demand for African oil and gas increases, Somalia has emerged as a highly attractive investment destination. Under a mandate to position the country as a top hydrocarbon producer, H.E. Abdirizak Mohamed is set to transform the sector while making a strong case for foreign investment and international player participation. Recently, the government has put statutory bodies in place to negotiate oil exploration and production deals, with the new ministry set to use these bodies to drive participation in 2022 and beyond.
Oil represents the backbone of most industrialized economies, and yet, Somalia relies predominantly on imports to sustain its economy. To change this trend, creating a viable domestic market in Somalia, H.E. Mohamed will be prioritizing exploration, infrastructure development and regional cooperation. First on the agenda will be the return of global energy majors, specifically including Shell and ExxonMobil, both of which declared force majeure but paid $1.7 million to lease offshore blocks for the next 30 years. The return of these majors will be key for unlocking a new era of hydrocarbon exploration in Somalia.
“The AEC would like to commend H.E. Mohamed on his appointment as Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Somalia. This represents a great accomplishment and the AEC believes that he will take on his new role with drive, innovation and resilience. In 2022, with global market trends constantly fluctuating, and international destinations urgently looking for new oil and gas deposits, unlocking the true potential of Somalia’s hydrocarbon sector will be key, not just for the country itself but the entire continent. The AEC looks forwards to seeing what H.E. Mohamed will accomplish in his new position and offers our support throughout his term,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.
As the former minister, H.E. Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed, steps down, the AEC would like to extend their congratulations for a job well done. Despite global market and domestic economic challenges, the former minister made progress towards bringing investment back into the country. For that, he must be commended.
The Executive Director for Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), Dr Stephen Yamoah, has assured Ghanaians that his outfit is committed to strict compliance with the requirements and rules in the safe application of nuclear technology, and the safety of the people and the environment.
He said NPG would continue to actively engage and provide information on its activities to industry players, stakeholders and the public in general.
Dr. Stephen Yamoah gave the assurance at the opening of the Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition organised by the Association of Ghana in Accra.
“We believe in cooperation and will sustain our partnership with the industry,” Dr Yamoah told the business community.
Nuclear Power Ghana is the entity which will be the owner and operator of the yet-to-be-established first nuclear power plant in the West African nation.
The country is about eight years away from boosting its energy generation with the addition of nuclear power.
Providing an update on Ghana’s nuclear project at the Ghana Industrial Summit, Dr Yamoah explained that his outfit issued a Request for Information (RFI) to vendor countries through the Ministry of Energy last year and received 15 responses consisting of information on six large reactors and nine Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
He said these responses have been evaluated by the Technical Committee and the report submitted to the Ministry of Energy for Cabinet’s attention.
“We are hopeful that the government would decide on the most suitable technology and the Vendor/Strategic partner for Ghana by the end of this year,” Dr Yamoah stated.
NPG has also completed the analysis of field and historical data and ranking of the four candidate sites that were identified in Phase 1.
According to Dr Yamoah, NPG is currently drafting the Preferred Site Report for submission to the Nuclear Regulatory Authority by the end of the year for review and approval.
“As we progress towards the end of our Phase 2, our siting activities will be focused on the preferred site for detailed site characterisation, including physical protection and security assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP), etc., all of which will lead to another report to the NRA for a construction permit to start construction.”
He stressed that NPG continues to make great strides with stakeholders’ engagements, candidate sites communities outreach, local schools involvement and education programmes.
He added, “We have also had fruitful engagements with some universities for the nurturing and development of the right human capital for the Nuclear Power Project.”
Dr. Yamoah explained that these academic learning institutions will begin Foundational courses for both technical and non-technical persons to support the Nuclear Power Programme / Project.
He further said his outfit continues to partner with and equip media professionals with the needed information to accelerate the public social acceptance licence.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
By: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Africa’s capability has grasped the world’s attention in recent times as conflict in Eastern Europe and rising energy costs have highlighted the globe’s precarious energy position.
Recent discoveries of oil and gas across the continent serve as a reminder that Africa has the potential to be an international energy supplier.
Africa nevertheless also must also be focused on increased production of clean energy as part of the just transition and fight against climate change.
Additionally, investment in future projects must ensure full benefits and upliftment of women and children of our continent writes Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka the former Director of UN Women and South Africa’s first female deputy president.
Having served both the United Nations and the South African Government, I am of the view that Africa must ensure both consistent and diverse energy supply to its people and the world while also tackling some of the most challenging socio-economic issues it faces. The upliftment of women and ensuring equality will contribute positively development and growth of countries. Diversified energy sources used together with rich energy reserves could act as a force multiplier for growth, economic upliftment, poverty reduction and improved health.
Worryingly, UN Women (https://bit.ly/3dG4A6e) statistics indicate that women in Sub-Saharan Africa collectively spend over 40-billion hours a year collecting water. Rural communities that do not have access to efficient energy sources continue to rely on open fires and burn wood and crop waste to survive. Research also shows that when more income is put into the hands of women, education, children nutrition and health also improve. African countries must be careful of the well documented industry behaviour which has continued to exploit the resources and the local people and African governments that have failed to stand up for their country’s developmental needs.
Later this year, heads of state, industry leaders and multinational oil and gas companies will convene for the annual Africa Oil Week (https://bit.ly/3c0pXPe) conference in Cape Town from October 3rd to 7th. This is Africa’s premium energy event and a key opportunity to outline the benefits of localization. It is also a key moment to present the climate change imperatives which must guide the way forward.
An inclusive approach that benefits locals would boost local skills development, lower supply chain costs, encourage responsive & good governance, enhance infrastructure, develop sustainable local content all in enhanced localization approach and strategies.
Conclusion
It is my sincere hope that, as energy leaders come together for AOW (https://Africa-OilWeek.com) in October, the opportunities that can put Africa on a successful and sustainable energy path are considered with the seriousness they deserve and with the spirit of Ubuntu – the understanding that we are interdependent and coexist as a partnership.
We must grapple with the historic curse of resources that has beleaguered many countries who remain unequal and poor despite growth in exports and foreign earnings from energy resources. Climate change constrains must also continue to guide our choices of energy mix, money gained from fossil fuels must also be used to invest in clean energy and for the development of our people. We must combine our strengths, resources, and knowledge to ensure that no woman or child is left behind as we advance together.Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is a former Director of UN Women and South Africa’s first female deputy president.
Russia, which controls the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant in the southeastern Ukraine, is preparing to disconnect the operating blocks of the plant from the power grid, Ukrainian state nuclear firm Energoatom said on Friday as tensions around the plant have escalated in recent days.
Energoatom believes that Russia was preparing to stage a “large-scale provocation” at Zaporizhzhya, the largest nuclear plant in Europe, the Ukrainian company said in a statement carried by Reuters.
Zaporizhzhya has been occupied by Russian forces since the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the early days of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia shelled the Zaporizhzhya power plant, creating concerns about a nuclear disaster ten times bigger than Chernobyl.
Ukrainian staff is still operating the Zaporizhzhya power plant, but there are Russian occupying forces on the ground.
In recent days, tensions have escalated, and last week Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, called on Ukraine and Russia to halt fighting in the area of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant and institute a demilitarized zone around it.
Earlier this week, Russia rejected a proposal by Guterres to demilitarize the area around Zaporizhzhya.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the issue with Zaporizhzhya with Guterres and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, warning about “another Chernobyl” disaster, AFP reported.
Upon his return to Turkey, Erdogan said the situation at Zaporizhzhya was “a threat for the world” and that he plans to discuss the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We will discuss this issue with Mr. Putin, and we will ask him specifically for this so that Russia does its part in this regard as an important step for world peace. [Russians] need to take this step. Ukraine has both its own technical staff and its own military forces in Zaporizhzhya. And they are capable of securing safety with their technical staff and soldiers there,” Erdogan said, as carried by Radio Free Europe.
Source:Oilprice.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com 
“It completed the first solar plant of 2.5 megawatts in Navrongo way back in 2013. Under this government, we have completed a 6.5 megawatts solar plant in Lawra, which I commissioned. Today, we are here signing-off on this thirteen-megawatt (13MW) addition,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo also revealed to the gathering that the construction of another fifteen-megawatt (15MW) plant has already begun, and funding has been duly secured from the German Development Bank (KFW) and is expected to be completed within one year.
In addition, the Kaleo project provides several benefits including, increasing the geographic spread of power generation assets; improving the resilience of the national power system; stabilising voltage levels and reliability of power supply in the Upper West Region; and, ultimately, reducing the nation’s carbon footprint.
The President stated that the construction of the new 15MW plant is employing some one hundred and thirty (130) people during the construction phase.
“I am glad to note that most of the workers used for some ninety-five per cent (95%) of the construction and operational phase are from the nearby communities. The project will serve as a tourism boost for the Kaleo community, and as a destination for educational and technological field trips in the Region. It will contribute to promoting the advancement of science education, engineering and technological activities in this area, and broaden the career outlook of our young people,” he added.
With this project in the community, President Akufo-Addo was expectant that “corporate social responsibility programmes for Kaleo and neighbouring communities will be enhanced by the appropriate authorities in many forms including, but not limited to the rehabilitation of the Kaleo D/A Primary School and the provision of furniture and other critical amenities for the school.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com 
Commenting on the award, the Chairman of GRIDCo Board, Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere, congratulated the CEO of GRIDCo, Ing Ebenezer Kofi Essienyi, for providing sound leadership and leading the company to win the award.
He also acknowledged the roles played by members of the immediate past board, Audit Committee and Chief Executive, Ing Jonathan Amoako-Baah, which helped GRIDCo attain this feat.
“I hope that the Chief Executive and Management will continue to ensure that the policies, procedures, risk management and internal control systems, are followed to sustain and increase GRIDCo’s value.
“Let us follow this example of excellence to attain the best for ourselves and GRIDCo,” he charged.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com 
The projects would boost VRA’s power generation capacity, reduce VRA’s carbon footprint by increasing non-fossil fuel generation and also stabilise the voltage levels and power supply in the Upper West Region, as well as provide additional power for the consumption of 32,200 households (estimated annual average consumption per household of 976kWh).
VRA has set a goal to command, at least, 70 per cent of the renewable space in Ghana in line with its 5-10-year Renewable Energy Development Programme.
The move is in line with the Government of Ghana’s policy to promote the development and utilisation of Renewable Energy (RE).
“In 2019, the Authority completed its first 80kw rooftop solar at its headquarters in Accra, as part of its culture of working in green and smart environment.
“In future, the VRA intends to develop a pilot floating solar project on the Kpong Hydro-electric head pond at Akuse and deploy rooftop solar system in our office and residential facilities at Akosombo, Akuse and Aboadze,” Ing Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, CEO of VRA, said as captured in the company’s 2019 Sustainability Report.
The VRA is, also, venturing into wind power production and looks forward to developing about 150MW wind power projects to be located in Anloga and West Ada Districts of the Volta and Greater Accra Regions respectively, in the short to medium term.
The 2019 Sustainability Report said feasibility studies and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Studies had been concluded for the first 76MW Wind Power Project at Anloga, Srogbe and Anyanui in the Volta Region, as well as the second 76.5MW project in Wokumagbe and Goi in the Greater Accra Region. 
“A crowd started massing around one ECG team. The military was able to snatch a cutlass from one of the crowd massing around the ECG people,” the statement said.
The statement noted that there have been reports of constant verbal abuses and attacks on the person doing the installation at Nuaso Old Town.
“The team has withdrawn from Nuaso Old Town,” the statement said.
ECG condemned these attacks, describing them as unfortunate situations.
“We keep calling for peace and calm so we can discharge our duties peacefully,” the statement concluded.
The entire Kroboland was disconnected from the national grid for about three weeks, following a series of protests by residents regarding the installation of prepaid meters in the area.
After several engagements by stakeholders, led by national security, the power supply was restored last Friday.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
