Ghana: Six Transporters Charged For Adulterating GHS3.44 Million Worth Products
Six petroleum haulage companies in the Republic of Ghana have been sanctioned by Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) for adulterating products valued at GH¢3,445,200.00 (US$522,034.27) at its Kumasi depot last year.
According to BOST, four out of the six transporters had fully paid the undisclosed surcharged amount while two others are yet to fully settle their surcharge.
Adulteration of petroleum products entails the illegal introduction of foreign substances that could lead to non-compliance with standard specifications.
This consequently causes irreparable damage to engines, which could result in increased fuel consumption and a low fuel spraying rate in the combustion chamber.
It would be recalled that this portal reported in late last year that Management of BOST had discovered that ten tankers that were going through pre-discharge checks had been found to carrying adulterated products at its Kumasi Depot.
The drivers of the tankers bolted. Two of them were later arrested with the rest still at large. It is believed that they are hiding in Ghana’s neighbouring countries.
At a meeting with transporters last year, the Managing Director of BOST, Mr. Edwin Provencal served notice to owners of the tanker trucks to produce the runway drivers or face severe sanctions.
In a report filed by graphic.com.gh, it said BOST, in a response to an audit observation memo, revealed that it had sanctioned the transporters for the criminal act.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: PURC Fines ECG GHS51K For Damaging Properties Of Five Customers In Secondi
Ghana’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) outfit in the Western Region has found the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) culpable for causing damage to properties belonging to five electricity consumers.
The Commission, thus, ordered the ECG to pay GH¢51,622.00 as compensation to the victims.
In a post on the Commission’s Facebook wall sighted by energynewsafrica.com, it said an electricity consumer in the Secondi-Takoradi Metropolis contacted the office of the Commission with a complaint of a burnt house.
The Commission said as part of its complaint handling procedure, an investigation was launched.
The Commission said its findings established that ECG was responsible for the high voltage that led to the destruction of the properties of consumers in the area that day.
“The Commission ordered that the consumers who were affected be compensated. The payment was made and the affected customers received their cheques as a result,” the Commission concluded.
Click on the link below to see a post by PURC
https://web.facebook.com/purcgh/posts/253837430266622
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Ivory Coast: A Call For Tenders For 20MWp Floating Solar In Kossou
The state-owned company Côte d’Ivoire Energies (CI-Energies) is launching a call for tenders for the construction (EPC) of the Kossou floating solar power plant.
The facility, financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), will have a capacity of 20 MWp.
Nearly three years after the Ivorian government announced the construction of the Kossou floating solar power plant, the state-owned company Côte d’Ivoire Energies (CI-Energies) is launching a call for tenders for its implementation.
Open until March 29, 2022, the call for expressions of interest aims to recruit a company to execute the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the floating solar power plant.
The facility will be located in the Kossou dam lake on the Bandama River.
The dam, which has been in operation since 1972, is located in central Ivory Coast and has a hydroelectric power plant with a capacity of 105 MW.
The solar power plant to be built on the lake of the reservoir will have a capacity of 20 MWp.
The company selected in the tender will also maintain the floating solar power plant. The company will build and maintain the transmission network of the future plant.
This project is financed through an 80-million-euro loan pledged by the French Development Agency (AFD) in 2019 to support renewable energy production in Ivory Coast.
This solar photovoltaic plant will join two other facilities under construction, under public-private partnerships (PPP) and for a combined capacity of 60 MWp.
These projects developed under the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Scaling Solar program will support the Ivorian government’s renewable energy policy. Abidjan wants to increase the share of clean energy in its electricity mix to 16% by 2030. Currently, the West African country relies heavily on fossil fuels, notably oil and natural gas.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigerians Hit By Electricity Outage As Fuel Scarcity Continues
Nigerians in several cities including Abuja and Lagos have been hit by a “double-agony” of fuel scarcity and electricity outage, leaving millions struggling to keep up with their daily activities and businesses.
For weeks, the West African country has faced a fuel shortage caused by the importation of low standard petrol into the country.
According to a report by Premium Times, many fuel stations have run out of fuel as the government tries to retrieve the dirty fuel and distribute cleaner volumes.
In Abuja, black market petrol sold as high as N700 a litre on Wednesday as motorists spent hours at fuel stations trying to buy the product for their cars and generators.
With Nigeria’s perpetually poor electricity supply, millions of residents rely on generators for power.
Prolonged fuel shortage means people are not only unable to power their cars but also their generators.
Amidst the continuing scarcity, several residential districts in Abuja and Lagos reported electricity outages.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) said in a message to customers on Wednesday: “Dear Customer: Please note that the interruptions of electricity supply you are currently experiencing is due to the instability of supply from the National Grid due to low Generation.
“We appeal to you to be patient as all stakeholders are working hard to restore system stability. For enquiries, call 08039070070.”
In a similar statement to customers, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), which is responsible for parts of Lagos, said on its official Twitter handle, ”Dear Customer: The present outage on Agbara 33KV feeder is due to an accident along the Badagry express road damaging 19 of our poles.”
It said the affected areas are Isashi, Igboelerin, Church and environs.
“Efforts are ongoing to replace the damaged poles and restore supply as soon as possible. We apologise for the inconvenience and ask that you bear with us,” the company tweet read.
“Blackout, inconsistent electricity supply” Adebiyi Sheriff, a resident of Springville Estate in Abuja, said the residents of his estate have been in darkness for three days without a flash of electricity. “We are tired of the issue,” he said, Thursday morning.
Kujore Gbenga, who is the chairman of Lugbe Oakville Community, said the electricity supply in the community has been “very poor” in the past weeks.
“The supply has been very poor for some time now. We believe there is a need to replace some transformers and maintenance to restore effective and efficient power supply here,” he said.
Ebuka Onyeji, who lives in the Gwarinpa District of Abuja, said they have equally been experiencing poor electricity supply recently.
“The whole of yesterday (Wednesday) we had no light, coupled with the fuel saga in the country, it is not funny at all,” he said.
“It was so unbearable yesterday. We are struggling with acute fuel scarcity and now a complete power outage. The whole of yesterday, there was no light and I can’t even use my generator because fuel is now the new gold. A 10-litre in the black market is now selling for N6,000 and one is not even sure if it has not been adulterated,” he said.
Sanni Hassan, a fashion designer in Ayobo Lagos, lamented that the electricity has been very poor in his area.
“Coupled with the current fuel scarcity, the situation has worsened, making it impossible to meet customers’ delivery dates,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GNPC Engages Stakeholders Ahead Of Decommissioning Of Saltpond Oil Field
Ghana’s national oil company, GNPC, has started a series of engagements to inform, educate and solicit feedback from stakeholders as part of plans to decommission the country’s first oilfield, Saltpond Oil Field, in the Central Region.
Key stakeholders who have been engaged include the Central Regional Minister’s office represented by the Chief Director, MP for Mfantsiman, Ophelia Hayford, the chiefs and people of Mfantsiman, Ekumfi and Cape Coast, Security Heads, canoe owners, Assemblymen and women representatives of Civil Society Organisations, Community Based Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and the media in the Central Region.
Other institutions yet to be engaged are the Fisheries Commission, EPA and the Ghana Maritime Authority.
At a public meeting organised at Mankessim and attended by the chiefs, MP, MCE and key stakeholders of Mfantisman, the Chief of Kuntu, Nana Kwesi Brembo III, who chaired the meeting, called for support for the planned decommissioning, indicating that he expected the GNPC to conduct its activities in an environmentally friendly manner whilst minimising the impact on the fisherfolks who depend on the sea for their livelihoods.
He advised the GNPC to regularly engage the key stakeholders at every stage of the decommissioning to reduce suspicion and tension.
The General Manager for Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations at GNPC, Dr Kwame Baah-Nuakoh said the Corporation is engaging stakeholders to assure Ghanaians that it is a law-abiding and socially responsible entity.
He promised the engagements would continue in the coming weeks, stressing that “GNPC is committed to engage all stakeholders identified through our mapping exercise and we are confident that the chiefs and people will join the Corporation to undertake this important project to save the country from any potential disaster.”
Dr Baah–Nuakoh further indicated that the decommissioning project would be executed on behalf of the GNPC by Hans & Co Oil and Gas Ltd, a wholly-owned Ghanaian Oil and Gas, Engineering, Construction and Civil Works Company.
“We believe in the competences of our local companies and that is why after going through the procurement processes, we settled on Hans & Co Oil and Gas Ltd which has a proven track record of employing industry best practices in the execution of all their projects, that ensure effective socio-cultural and environmental stewardship.”
On the issue of perceived resistance to the decommissioning works by the impacted communities, he stated that “naturally, you should expect the fisher folks and the communities to have some sentimental attachment to the field, however, the current state of the platform is a potential disaster, and we need to decommission it to save human, aquatic life and the entire coast of Ghana.”
Explaining what is involved in the decommissioning, Dr Baah–Nuakoh pointed out that the project will involve permanent plugging and abandonment of the six wells drilled during the project, removal and dismantling of the Mr Louie Platform, the installation of navigation buoys with marine light in compliance with Internal Maritime Organisation laws, and the disposal and management of waste.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
He advised the GNPC to regularly engage the key stakeholders at every stage of the decommissioning to reduce suspicion and tension.
The General Manager for Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations at GNPC, Dr Kwame Baah-Nuakoh said the Corporation is engaging stakeholders to assure Ghanaians that it is a law-abiding and socially responsible entity.
He promised the engagements would continue in the coming weeks, stressing that “GNPC is committed to engage all stakeholders identified through our mapping exercise and we are confident that the chiefs and people will join the Corporation to undertake this important project to save the country from any potential disaster.”
Dr Baah–Nuakoh further indicated that the decommissioning project would be executed on behalf of the GNPC by Hans & Co Oil and Gas Ltd, a wholly-owned Ghanaian Oil and Gas, Engineering, Construction and Civil Works Company.
“We believe in the competences of our local companies and that is why after going through the procurement processes, we settled on Hans & Co Oil and Gas Ltd which has a proven track record of employing industry best practices in the execution of all their projects, that ensure effective socio-cultural and environmental stewardship.”
On the issue of perceived resistance to the decommissioning works by the impacted communities, he stated that “naturally, you should expect the fisher folks and the communities to have some sentimental attachment to the field, however, the current state of the platform is a potential disaster, and we need to decommission it to save human, aquatic life and the entire coast of Ghana.”
Explaining what is involved in the decommissioning, Dr Baah–Nuakoh pointed out that the project will involve permanent plugging and abandonment of the six wells drilled during the project, removal and dismantling of the Mr Louie Platform, the installation of navigation buoys with marine light in compliance with Internal Maritime Organisation laws, and the disposal and management of waste.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: GNPC Supports Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital With GHS153K
The Ghana National Oil Company (GNPC) has presented a cheque of GHS152,624.27 (US$23,300.57) to the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital to support the renovation of the hospital’s kitchen.
Presenting the cheque to the hospital, Dr Kwame Baah–Nuakoh, General Manager for Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations at GNPC indicated that the law establishing the corporation mandates it to use some of its revenues to support critical social interventions.
In providing such support, the management of the corporation is minded that its core mandate is to provide an adequate and reliable supply of petroleum products and reducing Ghana’s dependence on crude oil imports, through the development of the country’s petroleum resources.
He added that the Board of GNPC was happy to note that the hospital would be engaging its estate department to undertake the rehabilitation works.
Receiving the cheque at a short ceremony in Cape Coast, the Head of Administration of the hospital, Mr. Thomas Chireh Kuusanov said the hospital is very grateful for the gesture and emphasised that it would positively impact the quality of care given to patients and other patrons of the hospital.
“We have made several attempts to renovate our kitchen due to its insanitary state but to no avail so we are very excited that GNPC has come to our aid.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
AfDB Group Approves $379.6Million Desert To Power Financing Facility For G5 Sahel Countries
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved the Desert to Power G5 Sahel Financing Facility, covering Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger.
The Bank envisages to commit up to $379.6 million in financing and technical assistance for the facility over the next seven years.
The Desert to Power G5 Financing Facility aims to assist the G5 Sahel countries to adopt a low-emission power generation pathway by making use of the region’s abundant solar potential.
The facility will focus on utility-scale solar generation through independent power producers and energy storage solutions.
These investments will be backed by a technical assistance component to enhance implementation capacity, strengthen the enabling environment for private sector investments, and ensure gender and climate mainstreaming.
The facility is expected to result in 500 MW of additional solar generation capacity and facilitate electricity access to some 695,000 households. Over the lifespan of the project, it is expected to reduce carbon emissions by over 14.4 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The Board of the Green Climate Fund approved $150 million in concessional resources in October 2021 for the facility, which is expected to leverage around $437 million in additional financing from other development finance institutions, commercial banks and private sector developers. The Global Center on Adaptation is providing technical assistance to strengthen adaptation and resilience measures undertaken in the facility as part of the Africa Adaptation Program in partnership with the African Development Bank.
The African Development Bank’s Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate Change and Green Growth, Dr. Kevin Kariuki said: “The innovative blended finance approach of the Desert to Power G5 Sahel Facility will de-risk, and therefore catalyze, private sector investment in solar power generation in the region. This will lead to transformational energy generation and bridge the energy access deficit in some of Africa’s most fragile countries.”
Dr. Daniel Schroth, the Bank’s Acting Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, added: “The facility will also support the integration of larger shares of variable renewables in the region’s power systems, notably through the deployment of innovative battery storage solutions and grid investments.”
The facility will be implemented as part of the broader Desert to Power initiative, a flagship program led by the African Development Bank. The objective is to light up and power the Sahel region by adding 10 GW of solar generation capacity and providing electricity to around 250 million people in the 11 Sahelian countries by 2030.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Perry Okudzeto, Linda Asante Appointed Deputy CEOs Of NPA
President Akufo-Addo has appointed a former Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports in his first term, Perry Okudzeto, and Mrs Linda Asante as Deputy Chief Executive Officers of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
A statement issued by the Corporate Affairs Department of the NPA said the duo have been confirmed by the Governing Board of the NPA.
“Pursuant to the powers vested in the President under Section 49 (1) of the National Petroleum Authority Act, 2005 (Act 691), the Office of the President in a letter dated 13th January, 2022 communicated the appointment of Mr Perry Okudzeto and Mrs Linda Asante to the position of Deputy Chief Executives respectively of the National Petroleum Authority,” NPA said.
The duo would complement the works of the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mustapha Hamid in directing the administration of the petroleum regulatory body.
Established in 2005, the NPA has been without deputy CEOs as far as its organogram is concerned.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Minority Demands Suspension Of ‘Illegitimate’ Electricity Service Charges
Ghana’s Minority Parliamentarians are demanding an immediate suspension of recent increment in services and other related charges by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
In a statement issued and copied to energynewsafrica.com, the Minority’s Spokesperson on Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor described it as worrying considering the quantum of the increment.
“Even more worrying is the fact that these increments have been carried out in the most opaque and clandestine manner without recourse to any public announcement by the Public Utility and Regulatory Commission,” he explained.
He said the Minority completely rejects these draconian price hikes given the current economic conditions as well as the surreptitious manner with which the exercise has been carried out.
“This unorthodox approach is in complete violation of laid down processes which require that consumers are notified of such adjustments before implementation,” he stated.
“We, therefore, call for the immediate suspension of these price increments to allow for better consultation and also ensure that due process adheres to in this regard,” he concluded.
The Gambia Launches RFP For Block A1 Licensing Round
The Gambian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has opened its doors to receive proposals for prospective investors for Block A1.
In November 2021, the country’s Minister for Petroleum and Energy Hon. Fafa Sanyang and some officials of the Ministry launched licensing round for its oil block during the Africa Oil Week in Dubai, UAE.
Last week the Ministry launched Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Block A1 and invited investors to send their proposals for consideration.
The Request for Proposal (RFP) is now available for download on the Ministry of Petroleum’s website https://www.mope.gm/news.
Granted initially to BP in 2019, Block A1 became available in August 2021 after the company exited the block. This was part of BP company’s strategy to pivot from producing resources to integrating energy. During its time as licensee, BP performed the required work obligations, including reprocessing 2D and 3D data, conducting geohazard, geology and geophysical studies, and progressed the block so that it is now drill ready. The 2D and 3D BP reprocessed data is available for licence from TGS, at extremely competitive rates (entry level purchase price 10,000 USD). Additional reports and other data in relation to the block will also be made available free of charge to bidders.
The deadline for submission of bids is June 6, 2022. Bidders will be required to submit bids electronically through a data room platform.
“We encourage all interested bidders to visit to the Ministry’s website, download the RFP and to register their interest with the Commission in accordance with the instructions in the RFP,” the Ministry said.
“Our key objective in designing the licensing round is to ensure an attractive fiscal regime with low entry conditions for bidders, transparent procurement process and participation rules, and clear technical and financial minimum qualification criteria. In accordance with best practice there will be one biddable term, which is further explained in RFP,” the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Lamin Camara, commented.
The Commissioner for Petroleum, Jerreh Barrow, said: “Our government team has the necessary experience and is well prepared to repeat the success of the 2018 licensing round, and to once more, start and finish the licensing round within the timeframe (February 2021 to June 2022) announced”.
“The Government wishes to seize this opportunity to thank BP for their strong collaboration during the past two years and their excellent technical work on the block. We are excited to open our doors again to the international oil community, and look forward to working with a new partner in Block A1” says the Honourable Fafa Sanyang, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, The Gambia.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Guyana Pledges To Balance Oil Investment With Residents’ Economic Welfare
Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali on Tuesday defended his country’s right to develop its oil industry for its residents while insisting local goods and services requirements are not meant to block foreign investments.
A string of discoveries off its coast is on the verge of turning the tiny South American country into an oil powerhouse.
International producers, led by Exxon Mobil Corporation, have found more than 10 billion barrels of recoverable oil and gas that are poised to reshape the impoverished nation of fewer than 800,000 people.
“We welcome Exxon. We welcome investments,” Ali said at the inauguration of a week-long energy conference.
“Local growth and increased productivity must be built into the system to bring benefit to the people.”
Calls are mounting on the government to secure tangible benefits for its citizens. In one example, officials are considering a national oil company to explore new areas rather than hold an auction to bring in outside investors.
In a tumultuous session at the country’s National Assembly in December, a bill was passed requiring between 5% and 100% of energy project content to come from activities by local contractors and licensees.
Exxon Chief Executive Darren Woods said Guyana has a promising future ahead and signaled the oil company’s interest in pursuing new offshore areas and developing the country’s power supplies using gas from its offshore fields.
The Exxon-led consortium with Hess Corp and CNOOC Ltd , could expand its oil production to 1 million barrels per day by the end of the decade, Woods told a group that included executives from oil services firms’ Baker Hughes, SBM Offshore and TechnipFMC.
“Additional exploration,” said Woods, “may present even more development opportunities” in other parts of the offshore basin.
A gas-to-power project Exxon is pursuing with the government separately could lower the nation’s cost of electricity, he said.
Exxon late last year outlined an onshore supply base expected to expand jobs and boost local fabrication starting with its fourth production unit. The project could bring total investment in Guyana to $30 billion.
Energy projects often take longer to be developed than a government term of office, leading to upheaval when a change of administrations occur, said Johan Sydow, a project manager at Hope Energy Development, which is developing a 25 megawatt wind energy project in the country backed by the World Bank.
“Lots of projects get terminated when government changes,” said Sydow. “We ran into red tape. We are in the government plan, but we don’t know when it will move forward,” he added.
“Everyone is related; the community is very small, (and) you are always two steps away from a politician,” Sydow said.
Source: Reuters
Ghana: COPEC, IES Predict Hike In Fuel Prices
Two energy think tanks in the Republic of Ghana have predicted an increment in fuel prices on the local market in the second pricing window beginning from today, Wednesday, February 16, 2022.
A statement issued by the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) and the Institute for Energy Security (IES) agreed that consumers would be paying more for fuel for the rest of the month.
COPEC, in its analysis, said it anticipates about 36 pesewas increment in petrol and 40 pesewas increment in diesel.
IES, on the other hand, was silent on the expected increment in both petrol and diesel.
According to COPEC, “From 16th February 2022, at FOB price of $880.79 for petrol, our projected ex-pump price is GHS7.764. So, it’s expected that the max ex-pump price shall be hovering around GHS7.750.”
“From 16th February 2022, at FOB price of $828.58 for diesel, our projected ex-pump price is GHS7.981. So, it’s expected that the max ex-pump price shall be hovering around GHS7.950,” COPEC added.
Click on the link to see a post by Bui Power Authority
https://web.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=311686211000045&id=100064760044001
On its part, IES said: “For the rest of February 2022, the Institute for Energy Security (IES) anticipates another jump in the prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), diesel and petrol at the pump to bite consumers, coming on the back of a 4.47 per cent increase in the price of Brent crude, a 4.63 per cent rise in LPG price, a 7.17 per cent increase in the price of gasoline, and a 7.43 per cent jump in gasoil price; all on the international oil and fuel markets. Further depreciation of the Ghana cedi against the US dollar adds to the factors expected to push up the prices of liquid and gaseous fuels in the country.
“Data captured by the IES Economic Desk from the Foreign Exchange (Forex) market shows that the Ghanaian cedi depreciated against the U.S. dollar by 1.74 per cent on average terms in the first pricing-window of February 2022 to trade at Gh¢6.40 from the previous window’s rate of Gh¢6.29 to the international currency.”
Currently, both petrol and diesel are sold at between Gh¢7.20 and Gh¢7.58 per litre.
Crude oil prices have been soaring since the beginning of the year.
On Monday, International Benchmark-Brent hit $95.42 per barrel while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at $94.33
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
EU Says It Is Prepared For Partial Disruption Of Russian Gas Flows
The European Union would be able to cope with a partial disruption to gas imports from Russia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
Escalating tensions with Russia over Ukraine have raised concerns about Russian gas flows to Europe, prompting the EU to review its contingency plans for supply shocks, and EU and U.S. officials to seek alternative supplies.
“Our models now show that for partial disruption or further decrease of gas deliveries by Gazprom, we are now rather on the safe side,” von der Leyen told reporters in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
Russia supplies about 40% of Europe’s natural gas. Gas prices soared in Europe as tight supply collided with high demand in economies emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic last year, and amid lower than expected imports from Russia.
The EU has spoken with the United States, Qatar, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Nigeria and South Korea about increasing gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries, either through additional shipments or contract swaps, von der Leyen said.
“We have also spoken to major suppliers of LNG… in order to ask whether we could swap contracts in favour of the EU,” she said, adding that Japan was willing to do this.
“These efforts are now distinctly paying off.”
Japan last week said it would divert some LNG cargoes to Europe, in response to EU and U.S. requests. European LNG imports hit a record high of around 11 bcm in January, with just under half coming from the United States.
The potential short-term impact of a disruption to Russian gas supply has eased as Europe heads towards spring, when demand for gas-fuelled heating typically declines. Europe’s gas storage levels are currently around 34% full.
Von der Leyen said infrastructure development in recent years meant Europe was better equipped to distribute gas and power between countries, but that a complete halt to Russian gas supplies would still require additional measures.
EU rules require countries to have a plan to respond to a gas supply crunch, including potential government interventions such as curtailing industrial facilities to prioritise gas supplies to households.
EU countries are responsible for their own energy policies, and reliance on gas differs from state to state. Denmark’s main power source is wind, for example, while Hungary produces electricity mainly from nuclear and gas.
Von der Leyen said Russia’s military build-up near Ukraine had emphasised the need for Europe to curb reliance on Russian gas, and this would be aided by its planned shift to renewable energy.
Source: Reuters
Ghana: MiDA Illuminates 523.68km Roads And Streets In 20 MMDAs
The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), a Government of Ghana entity responsible for the implementation of Ghana Power Compact II, is illuminating 523.68km of roads and streets in parts of Accra and the Eastern Region with high energy-efficient and durable street lighting luminaires.
The street lightning activity, which falls under MiDA’s Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management Project, covers the installation of 14,287 energy-efficient luminaires on 146 selected roads in 20 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions.
The Street Lighting (SL) Project is being implemented in two tranches for US$13.17 million.
A statement by MiDA and copied to energynewsafrica.com explained that works on tranche one have already been completed while tranche two roads will be completed in April 2022.
“Tranche One works have been completed, with 177.76 km of street lighting either upgraded or fitted with new installations. The Tranche Two Works, comprising 345.92km of streets, including the GIMPA by-pass and roads that cover twenty MMDAs are ongoing, ” the statement said.
MiDA described street lighting as essential road furniture which ensures security at night for road users in our communities, contributes to improved road safety and enhances our quality of life and standard of living.
It added that they have the potential to boost investments that aid economic growth and support efforts to reduce poverty.
It continued that the project would help to reduce electricity consumption from street lighting by 40 per cent and reduce the cost burden on the beneficiary Assemblies.
The statement said officials from the beneficiary Assemblies, MiDA and the three project contractors namely Elsewedy Electric T&D (Lot 1), Prefos Ltd (Lot 2), and Process and Plant Automation Ltd (Lot 3), have embarked on a final inspection of works ahead of the official handing-over ceremony.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a United States Government Agency, is funding the project under the Power Compact Programme signed with the Government of Ghana.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com