Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has been described as the best regulator in Africa.
This is according to Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of Africa Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA).
He noted that NPA had put in place a robust regulatory environment which is evident in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
Anibor Kragha, who is based in Ivory Coast, said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Chief Executive of NPA, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid on Thursday, November 18, 2021.
He commended the NPA for its resilient efforts aimed at sanitizing the downstream industry in Ghana.
“For me, NPA is the premier and best regulatory agency I have seen in the 21st century in terms of technology deployment in creating a level playing field for all operators involved in the sector,” Mr Kragha said.
He thanked the management of NPA for the continuous support to the association and for extending a helping hand to other regulators and players of the industry on the continent.
Dr Abdul-Hamid, on his part, renewed the Authority’s commitment to protecting the industry and consumers by ensuring the right initiatives are implemented for the good of the sector and the country.
Anibor Kragha (Left) Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid (Right), CEO of NPA
He was hopeful the industry’s best years are ahead and reiterated his commitment and that of his staff to run an efficient and results-oriented downstream industry for the gain of their partners and consumers.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), the agency responsible for the implementation of the Ghana Power Compact II, has commissioned the first-ever Air-conditioner and Refrigerator (AC) Test Laboratory facility for the Ghana Standard Authority in Accra, capital of Ghana.
The US$1.88 million facilities were constructed as part of activities under the Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) Project, one of four major projects which make up the US$316 million Ghana Power Compact Programme.
Air-Conditioners and Refrigeration appliances are high energy-consuming appliances, therefore, the establishment of the Test Laboratory will support Ghana’s energy efficiency agenda.
The facility will enable the Ghana Standards Authority to test and ensure that all air conditioners and refrigerators imported into Ghana meet the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) set out in the Energy Commission’s Energy Efficiency Regulations.
The facility will also aid the effectiveness of the current Energy Efficiency Appliance Standards and Labelling regime being undertaken by the Energy Commission.
Commissioning the facility, Chairperson of MiDA Board, Prof Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu acknowledged the Ghana Standard Authority for contributing US$45,000 towards the construction of the facility.
She said MiDA accepted a request by the GSA, following the completion of the facility and, therefore, provided a 400KVA standby generator set and a dedicated transformer which would provide backup power to the Test Laboratory and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply at all times.
She commended the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a United States agency, for providing funding for the facility and the contractor, GHS, as well as Energy Commission, ECG and EPA for their contributions.
The Deputy Director for Trade and Industry, Michael Okyere Baafi said the state-of-the-art facility, comprising an air conditioner test containment building and the testing laboratory, is the first of its kind in Ghana and the West Africa sub-region.
He said it can test 96 air conditioners and 48 refrigeration appliances annually.
“It will also ensure that appliances meet a minimum efficiency performance standard and contribute to the efficient use of electricity. It will further enable GSA to conduct tests and ensure that air conditioners and refrigerators imported into Ghana meet the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) as per the Energy Commission’s Energy Efficiency Regulations,” he added.
He continued that the Test Laboratory is equipped with a Balanced Ambient Room Calorimeter (BARC) Test Chamber for evaluation of the capacity and performance of Room Ambient Calorimeters (RACs), which makes it compliant with the ISO 5151 Standards, thereby, further enhancing their capacity to promote standardization and energy efficiency within the sector.
“Facilities such as this creates new jobs and I expect the GSA to attract the best talent within Ghana to run this facility so that it can be profit-making in the shortest possible time. This project can offer services to other countries in the sub-region so that the GSA will make enough profit to build additional facilities,” he underscored.
He concluded that “I am happy this inauguration is happening at the time that the GSA is re-tooling and repositioning itself in the sub-region and Africa as a leader in the field with a mission to contribute towards the growth of industry, consumer protection, and trade facilitation through standardization, metrology, and conformity assessment.”
The US Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie Sullivan said: “With this laboratory, Ghana can become a regional gateway for importing appliances that can be tested and certified domestically for meeting quality standards.”
This Laboratory will expand the capacity of the Ghana Standards Authority and the Energy Commission to assess the energy performance of appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators imported to Ghana.
“It will help ensure high energy-consuming electrical appliances meet the Energy Commission’s standards and support Ghana’s National Appliance Standards and Labeling Systems Programme,” she added.
Exclusive photos from the 5th edition of Ghana Energy Awards held at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra on Friday, November 19, 2021.Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister for Energy, Republic of GhanaMr John Agyekum Kufuor (Right), Former President of Ghana and Hon. Zanetor Agyeman-RawlingsIng. Oscar Amonoo -Neizer, Executive Secretary of Energy CommissionIng. Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, CEO of Volta River Authority
Environmental organizations are suing South Africa in a local high court over the government’s decision to build 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired power generation capacity, saying that more coal “poses significant unjustifiable threats to constitutional rights.”
“Government’s plan to procure 1500 MW of new coal-powered electricity generation will result in South Africans footing the bill for more expensive electricity, while increasing greenhouse gas emissions to levels that are incompatible with South Africa’s commitment to reduce its emissions under the Paris Climate Agreement,” Centre for Environmental Rights said on Wednesday.
The court action from environmentalists came after Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe failed to respond to a letter in September that had demanded the government abandon its plans to build new coal-fired power.
Following the lack of response from the minister, the environmental organizations say they had “no alternative but to institute these court proceedings in the public interest and in order to vindicate constitutional rights.”
“It has been shown, incontrovertibly, that renewable solar and wind with flexible generation capacity, such as storage (even under circumstances where the sun does not shine and the wind does not blow), provide feasible and affordable replacement alternatives for coal power,” says Thomas Mnguni, environmental activist and coal campaigner for groundWork.
Last week, Energy Minister Mantashe said that coal-fired power generation should continue to be part of the country’s energy mix, and he would go to court if necessary to keep the plan for new coal power plants alive.
“I know that we’re going to end up in court for it,” Mantashe said at the Africa Energy Week conference in Cape Town last week.
Debates have heated up in South Africa—a major producer, exporter, and consumer of coal—about whether the dirtiest fossil fuel should remain a pillar of its energy supply, especially in light of the climate push for countries to move away from coal.
Currently, coal is by far the major energy source for South Africa, comprising around 80 per cent of the country’s energy mix.
The country is also the world’s fifth –largest coal exporter.
Source: Oilprice.com
Ghana’s petroleum downstream industry has witnessed the entrance of a new Oil Marketing Company, TORRID Global Co. Ltd.
Officially outdoored on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, the new OMC opened its first retail outlet at Lapaz, a suburb of Accra, to serve affordable and quality fuel to motorists plying the George Walker Bush Highway in Accra.
The modern service station is equipped with island pumps, a convenience shop, a vehicle servicing lubricant centre and safety equipment.
The newest indigenous brand in the downstream petroleum sector is set to compete with both local and international fuel retail outlets by serving quality fuel and delivering a unique customer service experience to Ghanaians.
Speaking at the opening of the first retail outlet, Executive Director of TORRID, Francis Kelvin Opie said TORRID aims at becoming the go-to fuel station in the country and the energy partner of choice for Ghanaians.
He noted that the brand plans to extend its services by opening about 20 service stations at strategic locations in Ghana to serve a wider customer base by the end of December 2022.
The Corporate Affairs Manager of TORRID, Ayla Tissot gave an assurance that the brand would provide the highest standard and quality fuel, offer the most competitive prices, exhibit the utmost respect for customers and contribute to the development of Lapaz.
She entreated Ghanaians especially drivers, to spread the good news about the new station and its quality fuel.
In attendance at the ceremony were key stakeholders in the petroleum industry.
The Executive Director, assisted by National Petroleum Authority Chairman, Mr Joe Addo-Yobo, and other officials cut the ribbon to formally open the station.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Government of Ghana has announced plans to double its effort to connect more towns and communities to the national electricity grid in 2022.
The West African nation, currently, has an electricity access rate of about 86.63 per cent.
In 2020, the government-connected a total of 162 communities to the national grid.
Currently, electricity connections to 512 communities are also at various stages of completion.
Presenting the 2022 Budget in Parliament on Wednesday, the country’s Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori Atta said: “In 2022, we will work to complete many such projects, and approximately 800 towns will be connected to the national grid under the SHEP-4, SHEP-5 and Turnkey Projects.”
He added that the government would select 2,401 communities with a population of 400 and above to be connected to the national grid.
According to him, the government would also electrify island communities by constructing 10 mini-grids in 10 island communities, as well as supply and install solar home systems in 20 island and lakeside communities in 2022.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has donated GH¢100,000 to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) for the treatment of breast cancer patients at the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre.
Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the Chief Executive Officer of NPA, presenting the cheque, said the donation formed part of the NPA Ladies’ Association activities to mark October as the breast cancer awareness month.
He said the Authority, at the initial stage of the awareness creation of breast cancer, invited experts from the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre to educate its staff on breast and cervical cancer.
He added that the NPA held breast screening and organized health walks for its staff across the regions to commemorate breast cancer awareness month.
The NPA CEO pledged the Authority’s support to provide additional financial support to assist the centre to provide quality healthcare to needy patients with breast cancer.
Dr Verna Vanderpuje, Deputy Director, Consultant Oncologist of the Centre, commended the NPA for the gesture and said that was the first time the centre was receiving such a huge cash donation to support the treatment of patients at the centre.
She said it would go a long way to support the treatment of patients and appealed for additional funding, which according to her, was very critical to helping patients to fully complete their treatment procedures.
Dr Vanderpuje said because of the expensive nature of cancer treatment, most patients often abandoned their session midway and reappeared at the hospital only when their situations had deteriorated beyond any intervention.
That often led to high mortality, she said and appealed to private sector institutions and individuals to support the centre to care for the growing number of needy patients.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Global energy demand will increase by 28 percent from now until 2045 due to rising economies and population, according to OPEC’s World Oil Outlook discussed at the ADIPEC energy forum in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
The rise in global energy demand will be “driven by global economic growth and population expansion, as well as the need to expand access to modern energy services for those billions who continue to go without,” OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said, commenting on the outlook with estimates through 2045.
Energy demand globally is set to grow from 275.4 million boepd in 2020 to 352 million boepd by 2045, according to OPEC’s estimate of primary energy demand expressed in barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Primary energy demand in non-OECD countries will account for more than 70 percent of global primary energy demand in the long term, with growth mainly attributable to increasing populations and growing economies in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
In the OECD countries, energy demand is set to flatten in the long term.
“This underscores a further decoupling from economic growth due to structural changes and a policy push that continues to place increasing emphasis on energy efficiency and the deployment of low-carbon energy technologies,” OPEC said in the outlook.
After a partial recovery from the impact of the pandemic, energy demand in the OECD is set to peak in the medium term before declining by 2045 to a level similar to that seen in 2020, the cartel notes.
Renewables and natural gas are projected to contribute the most to future incremental energy demand, according to OPEC.
Renewables will be the fastest-growing energy source with its share in the global primary energy mix above 10 percent in 2045, up from just 2.5 percent in 2020. Gas will become the second-largest fuel in the energy mix in 2045, OPEC notes.
Source: Oilprice.com
The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), the agency responsible for implementing the Ghana Power Compact II will, on Thursday, November 18, 2021, inaugurate US$1.886,981.14 million air condition and refrigerator (AC) Test Laboratory for the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA).
The facility was constructed as part of activities under the Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) Project, one of four major projects which make up the US$316 million Ghana Power Compact Programme.
The construction of the Containment Building to house the laboratory began on June 2, 2020, and was completed in May 2021.
Installation of the AC and Refrigerator Laboratory equipment, the second phase of the project, commenced in April 2021 and was completed within three months.
The inauguration ceremony signifies the formal handing over of the facility to the beneficiary institution, the Ghana Standards Authority.
The Ghana Power Compact Programme, through the Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) Project, is supporting several policy initiatives and programmes that are aimed at ensuring energy efficiency and conservation of the available energy capacity.
The establishment of an AC Test Laboratory will augment the work of the Energy Commission in enforcing Ghana’s Import Certification Scheme.
The Import Certification Scheme mandates that selected high-risk goods, including air conditioners and refrigeration appliances which are high energy-consuming appliances, be certified as having met required standards when entering Ghana.
With the commissioning of this facility, the effectiveness of the current Energy Efficiency Appliance Standards and Labelling Regime, being undertaken by the Energy Commission, will see a further boost.
Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Alan K. Kyerematen will be the Guest of Honour and will cut the ribbon and unveil the ceremonial plaque.
He will be assisted by the US Ambassador to Ghana, Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan. Board Chairs and Heads of MiDA, Ghana Standards Authority, GRIDCo, ECG, PURC, Energy Commission and VRA.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s apex court has dismissed an application filed by Italian oil giant, ENI and Vitol seeking to overturn a High Court order asking them to escrow 30 per cent of the sale of crude oil from the Sankofa field.
The Italian oil and gas firm and its partner, Vitol, are in disagreement with Government of Ghana over a directive by the country’s Energy Ministry, asking Eni and indigenous upstream player, Springfield E&P to unitise the Sankofa field operated by Eni and Afina discovery operated by Springfield E&P.
According to the Ministry, the two blocks straddle hence the need to unitise to ensure revenue maximisation.
But Eni and its partner, Vitol, are not convinced that there is a basis for Sankofa offshore field and Afina discovery to be unitised and have since refused to adhere to the Energy Ministry’s directive.
Unhappy with what appears to be feet dragging, Springfield E&P filed a suit at a Commercial Court in Accra and in June this year the court ruled that 30 per cent of revenue from the Sankofa oilfield be placed in an escrow account pending the final determination of the case.
Interestingly, the ruling did not settle well with Eni and Vitol and so filed a case at the International Tribunal in London to challenge the Ghana Government directive.
Energynewsafrica.com understands that Ghana, through the Attorney General, has filed responses to reliefs being sought by Eni and its partner, Vitol.
Per the ruling by the apex court on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, it means Eni and its partner, Vitol, have no option but to comply with the High Court ruling and retrospectively pay the 30 per cent from 25 June 2021 into the bank account.
Sankofa, which has been producing oil since 2017, is part of ENI’s Offshore Cape Three Points project off the Atlantic coast.
The project has reserves of roughly 500 million barrels of oil and 40 billion cubic metres of unassociated gas.
According to Springfield, the Afina block holds 1.5 billion barrels of oil and approximately 19.8 billion cubic metres of gas.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has assured consumers that there is enough kerosene to supply the country till 2022.
The assurance comes following speculations that there is a scarcity of kerosene in the West African nation.
Speaking to journalists Saturday, Yakubu Suleiman, National Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, urged Nigerians to desist from panicking over the perceived scarcity of kerosene.
Mr Suleiman said there is sufficient kerosene for supply.
“Do not panic as there is enough product on the ground that can last till next year,” he said.
He also applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for exercising discretion over the deregulation of the oil industry.
He called on Nigerians to redirect their attention to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as the government is creating an enabling environment in the gas sector.
According to IPMAN, kerosene is selling at N350 per litre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and between N420 and N450 at the black markets.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says consumers are not mandated to pay for the prepaid meters under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).
Last week, the commission increased the prices of both single-phase and three-phase prepaid electricity meters.
Several online portals reported that the increment would lead to increase in electricity tariff.
However, the commission in a statement issued on Monday, refuted the claims
The commission said the upward review of meter prices is due to “the recent changes in macro-economic parameters.”
“We wish to reiterate that the NMMP designed to provide all consumers of electricity with meters is a policy intervention of the Federal Government supported by the Central Bank (CBN) concessionary loans to Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCoS),” the statement reads.
“This laudable initiative is still very much on course as a total of over 900, 000 units of meters have so far been installed under the takeoff scheme without any payment by benefiting consumers.“While this doesn’t cover many of the unmetered customers, we are pleased to inform electricity consumers that the next phase under which about four million units of meters would be procured from local meter manufacturers has commenced.
“Pending the conclusion of the NMMP, procurement processes and the commencement of manufacturing and installation, consumers may elect to acquire a meter from the Meter Asset Programme (MAP).”
According to NERC, the regulatory framework approved by the commission under MAP/NMMP Regulation allows for a refund of meter’s cost through energy credits to the customer at the time of vending.
The commission said that the recently issued notice by the commission on the adjusted cost of meter intended to protect consumers from erratic pricing by MAP.
The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s petroleum upstream regulator, Petroleum Commission, Egbert Isaac Faibille Jnr has invited investors to Ghana’s petroleum upstream sector, assuring them that there are zero political and social risks for their investments.
Speaking at the just-ended Africa Oil Week in Dubai, UAE, Mr Faibille Jnr stated that since the constitutional regime of the country in 1992, no petroleum investor had suffered any form of expropriation under successive governments.
Promising investors of attractive and transparent fiscal terms, Mr Faibille stated that based on petroleum agreements, provisions and sanctity of contracts, investors are at liberty to come forward to even ask for negotiations regarding the fiscal regime and ask for some areas to be lowered.
He said terms of contracts are respected and human security guaranteed with a record of conducive political and social atmosphere for business in Ghana, but not the reverse as pertains in other neighbouring countries and other jurisdictions.
Mr Faibille encouraged prospective investors to conduct background research about the activities of some existing investors such as Tullow Oil, ENI, Kosmos among others and “they would point to Ghana as the El Dorado of oil and gas development in West Africa.
“And at the end of the day, you’ll have your profit back”, he stated.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Côte d’Ivoire has announced the opening of 32 oil blocks in both offshore and onshore to investors who want to invest in the country’s oil and gas industry.
Officials of the country’s national oil company, Petroci, revealed this during a presentation at the just ended Africa Oil Week in Dubai, UAE.
Speaking to energynewsafrica.com at the Africa Oil Week, head of promotion at Petroci, Mireille Chiniango Niango Epse Aka said the country is seriously looking for investors to develop their hydrocarbons.
According to her, the country’s oil basin holds about 50 oil blocks with some of them already being explored by drilling.
“One of the reasons we came here today is to present all these opportunities and we hope that we will have investors and partners to have discoveries. We want more investors to explore our basin. We want to prove that our basin is very well.”
She told energynewsafrica.com that the country’s regulatory regime is very flexible, stressing that among what they do is that ‘’we invite partners to visit our data room and we have some facilities to help them.’’
She added, “Usually, we have three periods and in the first period we don’t ask investors to drill a well. What we ask for is to make a lot of studies and in the second period they will drill.”
As at 2019, the West African nation’s crude oil production was about 50,357 barrel per day (bpd).
Mireille Chiniango Niango Epse Aka, Head of Promotion at Petroci
However, due to impact of covid-19, production levels have dropped to about 29,000 barrel per day.
The country is therefore looking to increasing its production in the future.
In September this year, Italian oil and gas major, Eni, announced a major oil discovery in block CI-101 offshore Ivory Coast.
The block is operated by Eni with Petroci Holding, who hold 90 per cent and 10 per cent respectively in the exploration phase.
The discovery well has been drilled on the Baleine prospect, with the support of the Government in the difficult context of the pandemic-covid-19.
The well was drilled about 60 kilometers off the coast, in about 1,200 meters of water depth with the Saipem 10,000 drill ship and reached a total depth of 3,445 meters in 30 days.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister for Energy, Republic of Ghana
Mr John Agyekum Kufuor (Right), Former President of Ghana and Hon. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings
Ing. Oscar Amonoo -Neizer, Executive Secretary of Energy Commission
She entreated Ghanaians especially drivers, to spread the good news about the new station and its quality fuel.
In attendance at the ceremony were key stakeholders in the petroleum industry.
The Executive Director, assisted by National Petroleum Authority Chairman, Mr Joe Addo-Yobo, and other officials cut the ribbon to formally open the station.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com 
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com