Africa’s Wind Energy Industry Expected To Diversify As Interest To Harness The Continent’s Wind Grows
By Paul Sinclair
Outside of a limited number of countries, wind turbines have remained a rare sight in Africa. But this is not for lack of potential. In 2020, a study by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) found that continental Africa possesses an onshore wind potential of almost 180,000 TWh/annum, enough to satisfy the entire continent’s electricity needs 250 times over. As the continent continues to seek ways to expand energy access, the adoption of wind as a source of energy is expected to accelerate.
Where The Wind Blows
So far, only Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa have been truly successful in harnessing their wind potential and attracting private capital to set up wind parks. Through its widely acclaimed Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) program, South Africa has already commissioned 34 wind farms with and installed capacity of over 3.3 GW, according to the country’s IPP Office.
And this is far from over. In 2021, the South African Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy announced 25 successful bidders under its REIPPP Bid Window 5, including 12 wind farms with a total capacity of 1,600 MW. Projects agreement for these facilities are expected to be signed before the end of 2022. The country also opened in April 2022 the REIPPP Bid Window 6, which will allocate a maximum capacity of 1,600 MW of wind, with projects ranging from 50 MW to 240 MW.
Up north, Morocco and Egypt continue to drive wind energy developments. The latter has an installed wind generation capacity of almost 1.5 GW across 13 wind farms according to its Ministry of Energy. It now expects to commission another 2 GW by 2025 with an additional 14 wind farms.
On the other side, Egypt has seen fewer but bigger projects. Its four wind farms have a current installed capacity of 1.6 GW. The most recent one, West Bakr, was commissioned by Lekela Power in November 2021.
The Role Of Development And Multilateral Finance
Across the rest of the continent, multilateral and development finance institutions (DFIs) have played a key role in supporting the emergence of the wind sector.
West Africa has increasingly harnessed its wind potential with facilities commissioned in Cabo Verde (Cabeólica, 2011), Senegal (Taiba Ndiaye, 2019), and Mauritania (Boulenouar, 2020). The projects received significant backing from the likes of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and the Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development (AFESD).
They have successfully laid the ground for more projects to follow. In December 2021, the U.S. DFC notably provided funding for a feasibility study to expand Senegal’s 158.7 MW Taiba Ndiaye Wind Farm by another 100 MW.
East Africa is also joining the game, led by Kenya. After the expansion of the Ngong facility in 2014, the country commissioned the 310 MW Lake Turkana Wind Farm in 2017 and the 100 MW Kipeto Wind Farm in 2021. The African Development Bank (AfDB) was the mandated lead arranger on Lake Turkana’s debt package and managed to attract several leading European DFIs to finance the project. On its side, Kipeto was mostly funded by the U.S. DFC.
After its success in Cabo Verde, the AFC has moved east where it is the lead developer on Djibouti’s Red Sea Wind Power Project in Ghoubet. The 60 MW facility is now nearing completion and is the country’s very first independent power producer (IPP).
An Ideal Choice To Cut Carbon Emissions
More recently, natural resources and extractive industries have provided an additional driver of wind energy adoption in Africa. Publicly listed oil & gas and mining companies seeking to decarbonize their portfolio and cut carbon emissions across their operations are indeed looking at wind.
In March 2022, Savannah Energy executed an agreement with the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energies of the Republic of Niger to develop the country’s first wind farm. Savannah Energy, operator of some of the most prolific oil blocks in Niger, is planning to construct and operate the 250 MW facility in the Tahoua Region. The wind farm will be structured as an IPP and is currently in feasibility study. It is expected to be sanctioned in 2023 for a potential commissioning in 2025.
In Zambia, First Quantum Minerals (FQM) entered into a new partnership with Chariot and Total Eren earlier this year to develop 430 MW of solar and wind power for its mining operations. The company notably operates Africa’s biggest copper mine by production in Zambia and seeks to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% by 2025.
In South Africa, Anglo American is embarking on an even bigger project with EDF Renewables. Both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding in March this year to work together on the development of a new regional renewable energy ecosystem (RREE). The scheme is expected to be designed to meet Anglo American’s operational electricity requirements in South Africa through the supply of 100% renewable electricity by 2030. It notably seeks to develop a network of on-site and off-site solar and wind farms with storage totaling up to 5 GW to power Anglo American’s operations.
The Hydrogen Opportunity
Equally important, the emergence of Africa’s hydrogen industry will also be supporting the growth of its wind sector.
Last year, the Chariot Energy Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mauritanian Ministry of Petroleum, Mines & Energy to progress Project Nour, a potential green hydrogen development of up to 10 GW. Under the MoU, Project Nour has been given exclusivity over 14,400km2 of onshore and offshore area in Mauritania where pre-feasibility and feasibility studies will be conducted to generate solar and wind power used in electrolysis to split water and produce green hydrogen and oxygen.
In Namibia, the government issued in late 2021 a notice of award to HYPHEN Hydrogen Energy, the joint-venture of Nicholas Holdings Limited and ENERTRAG South Africa (Pty) Ltd, to develop southern Africa’s first gigawatt scale green hydrogen project.
The $9.4bn scheme will be located within the Tsau//Khaeb National Park, which is amongst the top five resource rich locations in the world for co-located onshore wind and solar, according to Hyphen. The project’s full development targets 300,000 metric tons of green hydrogen production a year from 5GW of renewable generation capacity and 3GW electrolyser.
About Green Energy Africa Summit:
Green Energy Africa Summit, taking place on 4-5 October 2022 in Cape Town, is the global platform for stimulating deals and transactions across the African energy sector. The event brings together governments, national regulator and utility companies, independent power players, investors, financial institutions and service providers. The summit will drive deals and investment into energy projects, provide energy access and solutions for the continent and shape the future of Africa.
Paul Sinclair
Vice President of Energy & Director of Government Relations, Africa Oil Week and Green Energy Summit Africa (Green-Energy-Africa.com)
Cost Optimization Will be Necessary for Senegal and Mauritania Gas Projects (Article )
By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber
As I’ve mentioned before, when it comes to competing to be one of the European Union’s new natural gas suppliers, Senegal and Mauritania have several advantages.
One, they have geography on their side. Their location should make it easier and more efficient to deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) to regasification terminals in European port cities than it would be for other, more distant African nations, such as Mozambique, which is slated to begin LNG production later this year. Two, they have demand on their side, as the EU is eager to build up a more diverse roster of multiple suppliers, each capable of replacing part of the large amount Russia has been delivering on its own. Senegal and Mauritania are set to begin production when Europeans’ memories of anxiety over fuel supplies are still quiet fresh, so they will be in a good position to establish a solid business relationship. This creates an obvious edge for Senegal and Mauritania, as strong demand generally lifts prices.
And three, they have timing on their side. EU authorities want to see the bloc’s Russian gas imports come down by two-thirds before the end of this year, and Senegal and Mauritania are scheduled to bring their first export-oriented gas project, Greater Tortue/Ahmeyim (GTA), online in the third quarter of 2023.
But this combination of advantages won’t be permanent. Granted, the geography won’t change. We can assume the distance between Dakar and Europe will stay the same during our lifetimes. But gas demand and the timing of new greenfield projects will change. The EU won’t always be conducting such a critical search for new gas suppliers as it is doing right now, and African gas producers won’t always be launching new fields at such propitious moments.
Accordingly, Senegal and Mauritania ought to be doing some big-picture thinking. As we state in our soon-to-be-released report, Petroleum Laws – Benchmarking Report for Senegal and Mauritania, these countries should be asking questions, not just about how to use their resources to meet the needs of the moment but also about how to optimize their resources and maximize returns over the long haul.
Here are two of the big questions that I believe are worth asking — and the answers the African Energy Chamber (AEC) would give.
Are Gas Development Plans Primarily Focused on Exports, Or Do They Also Make Provisions for the Build-Up of Local And Regional Gas Markets?
Without a doubt, the Chamber believes that African gas projects should have as many African components as possible. That’s why we favor partnerships between international oil companies (IOCs) and their African counterparts — partnerships that involve training programs and skills and technology transfers. That’s why we favor local content policies that are designed to support service companies in sectors where African providers have and can obtain advantages.
That’s also why we favor the establishment of gas-based industries within Africa. We believe that gas-producing states should have the right — and the opportunity — to use their own resources not just to earn foreign exchange, but to transform their own economies.
So as Senegal and Mauritania work with IOCs to move gas development and exports forward, they should also be making plans for domestic gasification. They should be thinking about bringing gas onshore, where it can be used as fuel for power plants, as a source of energy for industrial facilities, and as a source of feedstock for petrochemical plants. These are all things that can create jobs, eliminate energy poverty, and raise standards of living, thereby changing people’s lives for the better!
Fortunately, Senegal is already taking steps in this direction. President Macky Sall has already unveiled plans for using most of its share of gas production to improve domestic electricity supplies. The state natural gas concern, Senegal Gas Network (SGN) led by the former Petrosen E&P Director, Joseph Medou, has said it will build an onshore pipeline to carry a portion of the production from offshore fields to five onshore thermal power plants (TPPs) that are currently burning dirty residual fuel oil. SGN appears to be hopeful of finishing this pipeline in 2024, around the same time that work on four new TPPs is due to be completed. This is also right around the same time Senegal’s second offshore gas project (Yaakar-Terenga, once again led by BP in partnership with Kosmos Energy) is supposed to start production.
So far, so good! The AEC is genuinely encouraged by Senegal’s progress on this front to date. But it is also hopeful that the country will explore gasification programs further in the future, given that such programs can have a powerful multiplier effect on the local economy.
In practical terms, if Senegal really wants to optimize its gas resources over the long term, it ought to act now to make gas the mainstay of its own economy, perhaps looking beyond electricity generation and into petrochemicals or another gas-based manufacturing sector. And it should make certain that BP and the other IOCs working in the country’s offshore zone provide the right kind of help to make this happen.
Do Gas Development Plans Have the Flexibility To Respond to Future Shifts in World Energy Markets?
Once again, the AEC believes it’s not enough to plan for the needs of the moment. Africa’s newest gas producers also have to look ahead and think about how they can optimize their resources in the decades to come, when world energy markets will be driven by forces beyond current factors such as Russia’s war on Ukraine.
That’s why it was encouraging to see that Mauritania signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last December with New Fortress Energy (NFE) on the establishment of an offshore energy hub capable of using natural gas to support the production of LNG, electricity, and blue ammonia fuel. The document isn’t binding, so it doesn’t guarantee that this project will come to fruition. But it does pave the way for the country to do several important things.
First, it puts Mauritania in a position to outfit its offshore energy hub with NFE’s “Fast LNG” technology. With this technology, the country will be able to install modular units on a jack-up drilling rig or another type of legacy marine infrastructure to establish a mid-size gas liquefaction plant – and it will be able to do so far more quickly and cheaply than it would if it opted for a more conventional solution, such as an onshore LNG plant or even an FLNG vessel like the one BP and Kosmos will be using at GTA. What’s more, it will be able to scale up LNG production if it chooses to do so by installing additional modules. As a result, Mauritania won’t just be just another producer and exporter of LNG; it will also be a low-cost producer and exporter of LNG with the flexibility to respond quickly if rising demand justifies additional investment in production capacity.
Second, the MoU makes provisions for expanding Mauritania’s domestic electricity supply. It calls for the offshore energy hub to deliver gas to Nouakchott Nord, an existing 180-MW TPP in the capital city of Nouakchott, and also to a new 120-MW combined-cycle TPP that the national power provider Somelec is planning to build. With this new generation capacity, Mauritania will be in a position to offer its citizens a better life —and offer job-creating businesses a more attractive operating environment. Moreover, by emphasizing gas-fired power generation, it will be able to reduce pollution. Currently, the main fuel of the Nouakchott Nord plant is residual fuel oil (RFO), which burns much less cleanly than gas.
Third, the project may be based on natural gas, but it also looks ahead to a fuel of the future – and by that, I mean ammonia. As mentioned above, the energy hub will have a blue ammonia unit, in which natural gas will be used as feedstock for the production of ammonia. This facility will help establish a market for ammonia, thereby laying the groundwork for future production of green ammonia – that is, ammonia manufactured using green hydrogen produced from renewable energy.
Mauritania stands to benefit from this expansion of its renewable resources capabilities, since it has tremendous solar and wind potential in addition to substantial gas reserves. The benefits may not be immediate, since it will take more time to realize that potential, but they could be very substantial indeed – especially if the country achieves its goals of bringing the share of renewables in the energy mix up to 50% by 2030 and developing multiple large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia projects.
Senegal And Mauritania Are Looking to The Future
Overall, Senegal and Mauritania deserve praise for their approach to gas development.
Not only are they on track to become two of the first new gas producers in Africa to join the list of the EU’s gas suppliers, but they’re also taking steps to optimize the use of their resources.
They’re making plans to use their gas to produce electricity for the domestic market, not just to earn dollars on the export market.
They’re taking advantage of the flexibility inherent in new technologies offered by foreign partners such as NFE.
And they’re thinking about what comes next—what happens when the world shifts from gas to renewable energy. And for that, the AEC commends them.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GNPC Begins Saltpond Field Decommissioning Project
Ghana’s national oil company, GNPC, has officially commenced the decommissioning of the Mr. Louie Platform in the Saltpond Oil Field in the Central Region.
According to the Corporation, the decommissioning project is estimated to last twelve months.
This is the first time a decommissioning project of this kind is taking place in Ghana.
GNPC is the lead contractor and is, therefore, standing in readiness to work hand-in-hand to ensure the success of the project.
Having obtained majority of the statutory approvals and key permits, GNPC will provide both financial and technical support to fully execute the year-long project.
The Mr. Louie Platform, which was commissioned in 1970, has reached the end of its operational life and is deteriorating.
GNPC has engaged Hans & Co. Limited [a wholly Ghanaian-owned Company] to lead a consortium of industry experts in undertaking the project on a turnkey basis.
The project will be supported by a project management consultancy firm to ensure that all aspects of the decommissioning, including well plugging and abandonment and topside removal, are performed with strict adherence to Health, Safety, Security and Environmental (HSSE) protocols.
The Acting CEO of GNPC, Mr Opoku Ahweneeh Danquah stated that “the decommissioning of the first oil platform in Ghana is necessary to ensure that the marine ecosystem around the Saltpond area is returned to its pre-licence condition. With several oil and gas platforms expected to be decommissioned in the future, GNPC personnel will gain additional hands-on technical capabilities by collaborating with other experienced industry experts during this exercise.”
Mr. Danquah further revealed that the field decommissioning process was preceded by pre-planning and a feasibility study that was endorsed by the Ministry of Energy.
“While we continue to work to meet all the technical and safety requirements, the Corporation is also enhancing its social license to operate by continuously holding Stakeholder and community engagements in coastal communities where the project is taking place. This is to sensitise fisher folk about the importance and need to observe safety measures and stay away from the restricted zone. We have also supported the traditional authorities to perform all the necessary customary rites for the project to kick-off.” Mr. Danquah added.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of GNPC thanked the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum
Commission, Ghana Maritime Authority, National Security, Environmental Protection Agency and other key stakeholders, whose representatives were present at the kick-off for their support in ensuring that the project takes off successfully.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Energy Media Opens Nominations For Ghana Energy Awards 2022
Organisers of Ghana Energy Awards, Energy Media Group (EMG), has launched this year’s edition of the prestigious energy awards.
This year’s event, which is the sixth edition, is scheduled for November 25.
The Ghana Energy Awards (GEA) recognises the remarkable efforts of individuals, institutions and companies in the energy sector.
With 23 categories including five new ones and non-competitive awards, nominations for the GEA 2022 awards opened on July 14, this year, with October 18 as the deadline.
This year’s GEA event is on the theme: ‘Global decarbonisation: a just and equitable energy transition in Ghana’, and at a brief media launch at Challenge House in Accra, Ghana’s capital, the Chairman for the Awarding Panel, Kwame Jantuah, explained that the theme was chosen to fit the world’s events and that of Ghana’s President, Akuffo-Addo, at the COP26 where he indicated that though Ghana would protect its development, it would combat climate change.
He continued that the last part of the President’s statement to the world that a balance must be struck and maintained between social, environmental and economic importance is the heart of this year’s theme.
“Let me indicate, again, that the theme was chosen in line with the Ministry of Energy’s launch of Ghana’s Energy Transition Policy by the Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh,” he added.
Given these, Lawyer Jantuah said the Awarding Panel would assess how the nominees would strike the delicate ratio between climate change, environmental pollution and energy transition about their normal operations and whether these changes would continue to preserve and expand the country’s development, or their quest to achieve the balance through their operations would or had act or acted negatively on the country’s development.
“It is, therefore, important that nominees recognise their efforts that can positively contribute to Ghana’s transition. As this year’s theme seeks to generate answers to the challenges faced in the sector, we are convinced that as always, our companies in the industry will live up to expectations as they have always done with the Ghana Energy Awards,” Kwame Jantuah said, promising that the 2022 GEA would be better than last year’s.
On behalf of the Energy Minister, Dr Robert Sogbadji, Deputy Director of Power, expressed the Minister’s support for the event and especially the theme, explaining that Ghana is transiting at its own pace.
The Government of Ghana, through the sector Ministry, he said is aware that as a country and Africa, they need to develop its strategy for the transition.
This, Dr. Sogbadji said Ghana would do by taking into account a situation that can put its economy into a position of stranded assets which can affect revenue, production of electricity in the short-to-medium and other anticipated challenges.
Ing Henry Teinor, the GEA Event Director, earlier in his welcome address, said the theme for this year’s event was a reflection of the most topical discourse in the energy sector in Ghana, with a global focus.
It is in line with the theme that the Visionary Leadership Award, Eco-Innovation Business Award, Outstanding Energy Management Award, Novel Development of RE Technology Award and Sustainable Energy Partnership of the Year, all five new categories for this year, have been introduced.
He said the launch was the start of a series of activities outlined toward the main event in November, which would include the Energy Personalities Outreach programme where the eminent apex award winners would get the opportunity to interact with students of selected second-cycle institutions, courtesy calls on industry partners and site visitation to nominees’ projects.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: NPA Shuts Down Two Fuel Stations In Western Region For Cheating Consumers
Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has shut down two fuel stations in the Western Region for cheating consumers.
The stations, whose names have been withheld, for now, tampered with their fuel pumps in a bid to cheat unsuspecting consumers.
Officials of the NPA are currently in the Western part of the West African nation to sensitise consumers.
The exercise, which is being spearheaded by the Consumer Services department at the Head office and the Western Regional Office of the NPA, came in the wake of frequent complaints about some stations adjusting their pumps to cheat their customers to maximise profits.
This necessitated the surprise visits to selected fuel stations to check the accuracy of their pump delivery to petroleum consumers.
At the end of the exercise, the team found some of the stations culpable and as a result, closed them down as they await further punitive measures to be imposed on them by the NPA.
The Head of Consumer Services at the NPA, Mrs. Eunice Budu Nyarko, in an interview, said it was an offence for fuel service stations to pump fuel for sale to customers below the required litre.
The team, later, held a sensitisation programme for petroleum consumers in the region.
Mrs. Budu Nyarko told traders and commercial drivers to live up to their civic responsibility of immediately reporting fuel stations they suspect of adjusting their pumps to cheat customers.
They were given hotlines which they could call 24/7 to lodge their complaints.
She said, “when complaints are made within 48 hours of the purchase of fuel, prompt investigation can be carried out and the truth established before that product is sold out.”
She further advised the public to “buy fuel from functional filling stations since these stations are frequently monitored by the NPA and hence, the quality of their products can be guaranteed.”
The team also sensitised students of the Takoradi Technical University, traders at the Takoradi market circle, Jubilee Park and No.9 Markets and commercial drivers at the market circle on how to safely use LPG.
The NPA team highlighted the activities of the authority including its mandate and responsibilities to the consuming public.
Cindy Andoh-Davies, a Manager at the Western Regional Office of NPA, entreated consumers to adhere to safety protocols to prevent accidents.
The Consumer Services department regularly visits the regions to sensitise consumers about their rights and channels to send their complaints for prompt redress by the Authority.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Head of Consumer Services at the NPA, Mrs. Eunice Budu Nyarko, in an interview, said it was an offence for fuel service stations to pump fuel for sale to customers below the required litre.
The team, later, held a sensitisation programme for petroleum consumers in the region.
Mrs. Budu Nyarko told traders and commercial drivers to live up to their civic responsibility of immediately reporting fuel stations they suspect of adjusting their pumps to cheat customers.
They were given hotlines which they could call 24/7 to lodge their complaints.
She said, “when complaints are made within 48 hours of the purchase of fuel, prompt investigation can be carried out and the truth established before that product is sold out.”
She further advised the public to “buy fuel from functional filling stations since these stations are frequently monitored by the NPA and hence, the quality of their products can be guaranteed.”
The team also sensitised students of the Takoradi Technical University, traders at the Takoradi market circle, Jubilee Park and No.9 Markets and commercial drivers at the market circle on how to safely use LPG.
The NPA team highlighted the activities of the authority including its mandate and responsibilities to the consuming public.
Cindy Andoh-Davies, a Manager at the Western Regional Office of NPA, entreated consumers to adhere to safety protocols to prevent accidents.
The Consumer Services department regularly visits the regions to sensitise consumers about their rights and channels to send their complaints for prompt redress by the Authority.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Germany To Reactivate Coal Power Plants As Russia Curbs Gas Flow
Germany’s two houses of parliament have passed emergency legislation to reactivate mothballed coal-fired power plants in order to support electricity generation amid fears of gas shortages as Russia curbs capacity.
The move has been described as “painful but necessary” by the government’s environmentalist economics minister, Robert Habeck. It has the backing of leading Greens in the coalition government, who argue it is needed as a short-term crisis management tool.
It was given final approval by the upper house of parliament on Friday, passed along with a package of measures to boost the expansion of renewable energies – in part by classifying them as a matter of public security – including by setting a minimum on the proportion of land each federal state must allow for wind farms.
But environmental campaigners argue the potential return to using such a highly polluting energy is a compromise too far and that Germany is in danger of missing even its most basic climate targets.
Before the Ukraine conflict, Germany planned to phase out coal by 2030 as it is far more carbon intensive than gas. But when gas supplies from Russia – on which Germany is highly dependent – started running short after Russia reduced the flow, moves were made to restart coal-fired power plants that had been mothballed.
The measures are meant to help wean Germany off Russian gas, making it less open to blackmail, and to preserve energy supplies before winter, using coal to produce electricity instead of gas, which needs to be saved for a wide range of industrial processes.
Industry bosses welcomed the move on Friday. In a statement, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) called the decision “better late than never”.
It said: “Politics and the economy must urgently use the summer months in order to save gas, to ensure the storage facilities are full ahead of the coming heating season.
Otherwise we face a grave gas shortage with a sharp decline in industrial production. In this tense situation what counts is every single day and every cubic metre of gas we can save.”
Gas storage facilities were only about one-third full when war broke out.
By Friday they had gradually been filled to about 63% capacity, amid saving measures and efforts to procure supplies from elsewhere. But they are still a considerable way off a 90% goal to be reached by 1 November, which experts say should just about see Germany through the winter.
Already households and industry have been urged to save as much energy as possible. Habeck has talked about reducing the length of his showers, and is encouraging Germans to do the same.
Elsewhere municipalities have introduced measures to cut down on street lighting, to reduce the temperature of swimming pools, and some housing associations have even started rationing supplies of hot water to their tenants.
Gas bills have already doubled and could as much as quadruple over the winter. “We are talking about increases amounting to a month’s income for some families,” Haback has warned.
At the start of the war, Germans were being urged to cut gas usage to punish Vladimir Putin. Now the message has switched to cutting gas to ensure warmth in winter.
Supplies of gas from Russia via the pipeline Nord Stream 1 that runs through the Baltic Sea to Germany have been reduced to about 40% of the usual levels. On Monday an annual maintenance project on the pipeline, which is expected to shut it down for about 10 days, is being viewed as a crunch moment. There are widespread fears, supported by Habeck and other government figures, that Russia could use the opportunity to shut the pipeline down completely, on the pretext of failing parts.
EU Turns To Egypt In Rush To Replace Russian GasHabeck told parliament on Thursday that Germany was a hostage to circumstance, but also blamed the energy policies of the former government of Angela Merkel. “If you pose in front of melting icebergs, and rightly make a decision to turn your back on [nuclear] energy but forget that you need to build up an infrastructure for that to work, if you make climate policy decisions but don’t back them up with measures, then it’s like leaving Germany standing in the rain,” he said. Klaus Ernst, the chair of the parliamentary committee on climate protection and energy, said the decision to reignite coal-fired plants amounted to a “climate policy disaster”. Ernst, a member of the far-left Links party, said by imposing sanctions on Russia for which it was now seeking revenge, Germany had put itself in the position of “grasping at measures which hit our own country harder than the country we meant to hit with sanctions”. He said that should gas supplies from Russia stop, Germany would face its worst economic crisis since the Second World War. Ricarda Lang, the chair of the Greens, said the coal-plant decision made her “stomach ache”, but that in the short term it was vital to ensure energy security over the coming months. “It is therefore right that we’re enabling coal plants to be used again, but at the same time we of course need to bust a gut to ensure that we still manage to stick to our goal of withdrawing from coal by 2030.”
Ghana: Special Prosecutor Investigates TOR Over Shady Sale Of Slop Oil
The Office Of The Special Prosecutor (OSP) has written to the editor of energynewsafrica.com, Michael Creg Afful, to acknowledge receipt of his petition to investigate Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) over the alleged shady sale of 260,000 litres of slop oil to two unlicensed companies.
“The OSP will commence investigation into the matter if I determine the complainant to be within the mandate of the Office. You may be invited to further assist the office in the investigations,” part of the letter from the OSP read.
It would be recalled that the editor of this portal, Michael Creg Afful, petitioned the Special Prosecutor on 29th June 2022 to investigate the Tema Oil Refinery over the alleged shady sale of slop oil to two unlicensed companies.
The refinery, in May 2022, sold 230 metric tonnes (260,000) of slop oil to K-Moy Ghana Limited and Petro XP Ghana Limited.
Each of the companies received 130MT(130,000 litres) of slop oil.
Investigations conducted by energynewsafrica.com revealed the two companies were not licensed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
This portal’s editor went to the refinery to speak to Charles Awuah, General Manager in charge of Commerce after a telephone conversation.
Mr. Awuah requested that the editor submit an official letter for their response to the transaction, which the editor did.
Unfortunately, TOR refused to respond to the letter as it demanded, thus compelling energynewsafrica.com to publish the story on 30th June 2022.
Interestingly, a day after this portal had published the story, TOR respond, admitting that it sold the slop oil to Petro XP Ghana Limited and not K-Moy Ghana Limited.
The refinery claimed that Petro XP Ghana Limited and Petro XP Ghana Limited have the same directors and that Petrol XP Ghana Limited is their registered name and Petro XP Ghana Limited is their trade name.
Surprisingly, TOR denied selling slop to K-Moy Ghana Limited, when documents available showed that the former sold the product to K-Moy Ghana Limited and Petro XP Ghana Limited.
It is important to inform readers that Charles Awuah, GM Commerce, has since this portal’s publication, been suspended for one month without salary.
Our sources indicate that some persons involved in the alleged shady deal are hunting for persons who might have leaked the information on the transaction to this portal.
Tema Oil Refinery has been recording product losses resulting in huge indebtedness to its clients.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Concerned TOR Workers Fight UNICOF
A group of concerned workers of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) have expressed worry about the activities of members of Union of Industry, Commerce and Finance Workers (UNICOF), which is unhealthy for the progress of the refinery.
The group, in a statement, noted that UNICOF, led by their chairman, frustrated the Interim Management Committee (IMC) which was constituted by the Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh to oversee the running of the refinery, following the dismissal of the Managing Director Francis Boateng and his deputy, Ato Morrison.
The group alleged that the chairman of UNICOF and some people in the refinery were engaged in buying slop but the IMC stopped the activity.
The group said the IMC’s decision did not sit well with the UNICOF members who were in the slop business and started scheming for their removal.
The group disputed claims made by UNICOF recently that IMC failed in their mandate.
“After the members of the IMC were sworn into office, they unravelled a lot of corrupt practices that led to some officials of TOR being interdicted. A Disciplinary Committee was instituted to investigate the members’ offences case by case.
“The committee had finished their obligation and report submitted to management and Board of Directors to decide the way forward. So it’s never true that the IMC failed in their line of action, even though some might be affected negatively,” the concerned workers argued.
The concerned workers commended the Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, for his effort to ensure that the refinery gradually bounces back.
“Workers of TOR are of the view that Napo is our rescuer. But for his intervention, the Refinery might be shut by now,” they said.
“We want to categorically states that through the Minister of Energy (Napo) TOR still exist and workers continue to earn their salaries.
“We want to state that Dr. Opoku Prempeh and the IMC led by Mr. Norbert Anku have done marvelously well for the sustainability of the refinery and it’s our fervent prayer that TOR new MD and BOD would get an investor to partner the refinery in order to reduce government and other self-centered people interferences,’’ the concerned workers concluded.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: PURC Defers Tariff Announcement For The Second Time
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has, for the second time, postponed its tariff decision for the 2022-2027 Multi-Year Major Tariff.
On June 27, 2022, the Commission, in a press statement, indicated that it would be unable to announce its decision on 1 July 2022, as promised and deferred the announcement to 15th July,2022.
The Commission explained that it had become necessary to do so to further engage some stakeholders.
However, Executive Secretary of PURC, Dr. Ishmael Ackah, said the Commission would not be able to announce the new tariff on Friday 15 July 2022 and so had deferred it.
According to him, the Commission has identified several issues during the analysis and examination of the tariff proposals, which necessitates further deliberations and engagements with the utilities to ensure that such pertinent issues are addressed.
Dr. Ackah further stated that the Commission has scheduled a meeting with the regulated utilities to afford them the opportunity of providing clarity and justifications for some of the figures quoted in their proposals, and to respond to some important issues raised during the tariff analysis.
According to the Executive Secretary, the Commission has adopted these steps to ensure that only prudent and efficient costs are passed on to consumers of the regulated utilities, while sustaining the financial viability of the utilities.
Dr Ackah assured consumers of the Commission’s commitment to having a transparent and fair process, which would inure to the benefit of both consumers and the regulated utilities.
He indicated that a new date for the announcement of electricity and water tariffs would be communicated to the public as soon as these issues have been addressed.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GRIDCo Demolishes Illegal Structures Under Its Pylons In Bawaleshie, Other Areas
Ghana’s power transmission company, GRIDCo, has demolished several illegal structures sited under its transmission lines in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Municipality in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
The exercise covered areas behind the Fiesta Royale Hotel, Ayigbe Town, Bawaleshie, Adjiringano and American House.
A task force comprising officials of GRIDCo, police and military officers demolished the illegal structures.
The exercise, which started around 5am saw the demolition of makeshift wooden structures, kiosks and other structures used by mechanics, and other artisans as their business premises.
It forms part of a nationwide exercise the power transmitter will be undertaking to reduce the growing human activities around its transmission pylons.
According to GRIDCo, the site is not suitable for human habitation.
GRIDCo undertook a similar exercise in March 2020 when it demolished illegal structures under its pylons from the American House through to Dzorwulu, a suburb of Accra.
Hundreds of the squatters at Bawaleshie rushed to salvage their personal belongings before they were bulldozed by the team.
Amid tears, many affected individuals pleaded with the task force to give them some time to pack out their belongings from their makeshift structures.
“It is not all of us who can afford to rent, and that is why we live in areas like these. So we need help and the government should help us.
“Now that we have been ejected, where should we go? We can’t go and steal, so government should come in,” one of the victims cried.
In a statement issued by Ing Bernard Kwabena Gyan, Communications Manager, it said the exercise is to rid GRIDCo’s right of way of encroachers whose activities pose a threat to its transmission towers and a danger to human lives.
The statement said in October 2021, GRIDCo, in partnership with identified District Assemblies and the media undertook a nationwide right of way sensitisation exercise to educate squatters about the risk associated with their activities along the company’s right of way.
“During that sensitisation exercise, GRIDCo urged compliance with timelines provided in media publications to prevent any inconveniences.
“Under the Transmission Line Protection Regulations, 1967 (LI 542) as amended by Regulation
No. LI 1737 of 2004, it is an offence for persons or institutions to conduct any form of activity about the lands around the location of power transmission lines and towers in Ghana.”
GRIDCo pointed out that operations included drilling, excavation works, lorry parks, shops, garages, barns and real estate undertaken within the RoW reservations is strictly prohibited.
“These activities pose danger to human life and property as transmission line faults can result in human casualties and property damage.”
The company said it would continue to collaborate with all relevant state institutions to remove property and structures identified as illegal human activities, within its Right-of-Way (RoW) to safeguard public safety and ensure the reliability of power transmission.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
According to GRIDCo, the site is not suitable for human habitation.
GRIDCo undertook a similar exercise in March 2020 when it demolished illegal structures under its pylons from the American House through to Dzorwulu, a suburb of Accra.
Hundreds of the squatters at Bawaleshie rushed to salvage their personal belongings before they were bulldozed by the team.
Amid tears, many affected individuals pleaded with the task force to give them some time to pack out their belongings from their makeshift structures.
“It is not all of us who can afford to rent, and that is why we live in areas like these. So we need help and the government should help us.
“Now that we have been ejected, where should we go? We can’t go and steal, so government should come in,” one of the victims cried.
In a statement issued by Ing Bernard Kwabena Gyan, Communications Manager, it said the exercise is to rid GRIDCo’s right of way of encroachers whose activities pose a threat to its transmission towers and a danger to human lives.
The statement said in October 2021, GRIDCo, in partnership with identified District Assemblies and the media undertook a nationwide right of way sensitisation exercise to educate squatters about the risk associated with their activities along the company’s right of way.
“During that sensitisation exercise, GRIDCo urged compliance with timelines provided in media publications to prevent any inconveniences.
“Under the Transmission Line Protection Regulations, 1967 (LI 542) as amended by Regulation
No. LI 1737 of 2004, it is an offence for persons or institutions to conduct any form of activity about the lands around the location of power transmission lines and towers in Ghana.”
GRIDCo pointed out that operations included drilling, excavation works, lorry parks, shops, garages, barns and real estate undertaken within the RoW reservations is strictly prohibited.
“These activities pose danger to human life and property as transmission line faults can result in human casualties and property damage.”
The company said it would continue to collaborate with all relevant state institutions to remove property and structures identified as illegal human activities, within its Right-of-Way (RoW) to safeguard public safety and ensure the reliability of power transmission.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Nigeria: High Court Orders BEDC To Pay N20M Damages For Unlawful Disconnection
A High Court in Delta State in the Republic of Nigeria has ordered the Benin Electricity Development Company (BEDC) to pay a sum of N20million (US$48,100)as damages to the Edjemuonyavwe community in Oghara and reconnect the community to the national grid.
The community was said to have been disconnected from the national grid since November 2017.
The trial judge, Justice A. A. Ighoverio, delivering the judgment in the suit marked HCH/29/2018, and filed by the Urhobo community against the BEDC, declared the disconnection of the community from the power grid as unlawful since BEDC failed to comply with the existing electricity regulations.
Consequently, the court ordered the immediate reconnection of electricity in the claimants’ community and further ordered the defendant, BEDC, to pay to the community the sum of N20 million as general damages.
The court dismissed the counter-claim of BEDC for the payment of N174, 210,449.92 alleged to be an outstanding bill.
The agrarian community welcomed the news with jubilation.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GRIDCo Employs Dzifa Bampoh As Head Of Communications
The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) has employed one of Ghana’s seasoned media personalities, Mrs. Dzifa Gbeho-Bampoh, as its Head of Communications.
She is expected to start work in the coming days.
She recently resigned from Media General, operators of media organisations including TV3 where she was the host of the station’s Saturday political and current affairs programme: ‘The Key Point’.
The ace journalist has worked in the media space for almost 20 years.
She started her career at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and later moved to Multimedia, where she spent 12 years.
She later moved to Tullow Ghana Limited where she worked for three years and later joined Media General where she spent almost 18 months.
GRIDCo is the operator of Ghana’s National Interconnection Transmission System.
The company has a total transmission line of 6472.23 kilometres.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Bui Power Authority Ranked 6th Best Performing Public Enterprise In 2020
The Bui Power Authority has been ranked the 6th Best Performing state-owned enterprise among 50 enterprises at the maiden Public Enterprises League Table (PELT) and Awards held in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
BPA beat energy sector agencies such as Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) which secured 8th position, Volta River Authority 11th position, GNPC 14th position, Ghana National Gas Company 21st position, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) 35th position and Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company (GCMCL) which placed 46th.
The Public Enterprises League Table was introduced by the Minister for Public Enterprises, Joseph Cudjoe, to engender competition among state enterprises.
It was designed to be a technical ranking system on several dimensions ranging from financials, efficiency and productivity, management improvement and innovation.
The Board Chairman of Bui Power Authority, Kwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh, the CEO of BPA, Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi, and the DCEO (F&S), Dr. George Tettey, represented the Authority.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: CBOD Appoints New CEO
The Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors(CBOD), an advocacy and lobby body for Bulk Import, Distribution and Export Companies(BIDECs) in the Republic of Ghana has appointed Dr. Patrick Kwaku Ofori as its new Chief Executive Officer.
His appointment takes effect from August 1, 2022.
Dr Patrick Ofori, who is a former Manager responsible for Crude Oil and Products Marketing at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, was appointed to replace
Senyo Hosi, the founding CEO of CBOD, is stepping down after years of meritorious service.
The new CEO has more than 16 years of varied executive professional experience spanning Higher Education, Sports and the Oil and Gas industry.
Patrick Kwaku Ofori (PhD) is a Chartered Sports and Exercise Psychologist and an experienced Management Executive with a varied background.
Dr Patrick Ofori holds a PhD in Sports Psychology from the University of Stirling, Scotland and an MSc in Accounting and Finance from the University of Ghana.
He is a Commonwealth Scholar and an International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sports (ICSEMIS) Scholar.
He had previously occupied the position of Manager responsible for Institutional Reporting and Stakeholder Relations at GNPC.
He is also the Founding Head of the Department of Sports Science at the University of Cape Coast.
“Patrick has been selected to replace him (Mr. Hosi) after a rigorous assessment and interview process, and the Chamber believes that he has what it takes to lead this chamber to greater heights,” says Ivy Apnea Owusu, chair of CBOD.
“We cannot thank Senyo enough and we wish him the very best in all his future endeavours.”
The Chamber expressed its immense gratitude to Mr Hosi for being an excellent torchbearer and effective advocate for businesses in the downstream sector of Ghana’s petroleum industry.
“I was strongly attracted to this role because CBOD is known nationally for its contribution in the downstream sector, as well as its relationship with stakeholders in the industry,” Dr Ofori says after his new appointment.
“The foundations have been laid by my predecessor to create an excellent chamber. Together, we will leapfrog on this for continued effectiveness. I am aware that the CBOD community is interested in excellence, and so am I. We will work well to meet the expectations of our members and partners.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com