President Nicolás Maduro of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela paid glowing tribute to OPEC Secretary General, H.E Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, for a very successful two-term tenure which comes to an end in August 2022.
The President was addressing the nation’s Parliament during the State of the Nation address in Caracas on Wednesday, 19 January 2022.
The President made reference to the outstanding achievements of Secretary General, H.E Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, during the two most eventful terms at OPEC and wished him every success in his future endeavors.
The President also congratulated the incoming Secretary General from the State of Kuwait, Mr Haitham Al-Ghais, and wished him a successful tenure.
President Nicolás Maduro stated, “Bolivarian peace diplomacy has achieved a splendid year for the OPEC and OPEC + countries. We have come out to defend the oil market, the stability of the world economy and the need for a fair price for world oil.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Former Deputy Minister for Power under the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration has recounted how his mobile phone was seized by the Akufo-Addo administration and sent to the United Kingdom for a third party analysis when the current administration began investigations into the procurement of African and Middle East Resources International Group (AMERI) Power Plant.
According to John Abdullai Jinapor, upon assumption of office of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), his personality and that of his other colleagues came under attack in connection with the AMERI power deal.
In his view, the NPP believed there was some kind of irregularities in the power deal and so decided to investigate and possibly renegotiate it.
In doing so, Hon Jinapor narrated that in the early morning of 28 Jul 2017, before he left home for Parliamentary duties, three gun-wielding police personnel with AK47s, under the ‘instruction from above’ phrase, met him at his gate and requested to search his house and retrieve documents in connection with the AMERI deal.
“Whilst the leader of the team was calm and sober, the other two were very harsh and abrasive. Their message was straight: ‘You are under investigation,'” he narrated.
In the presence of his wife and children, the police personnel, he said, however, failed to produce a court order when he, Mr Jinapor, requested one.
“They only replied that they were carrying out a directive from above.”
The former minister said upon the advice of his wife, he obliged and after a thorough search of his house, the police requested his phones, laptop and other documents they thought could help in their investigations.
After the infamous raid, Mr Jinapor said he was instructed to report to the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) the next morning, which he did but had to wait for several hours before his statement was taken.
The Yapei-Kusawgu Member of Parliament disclosed that days or a week after his electronic gadgets had been confiscated for forensic analysis, the police called and requested the password to his iPhone.
He initially requested to come to the police CID to unlock it with his fingerprint but only to be told that the phones had been sent to the United Kingdom for a third party analysis adding, “Without hesitation and believing in our collective innocence, I provided the password to my phone.”
According to him, he and his colleagues, whose homes were also searched, were vilified and branded as criminals and had to inform the police anytime he travelled outside the country.
He said a committee was subsequently set up under the then Minister for Energy, Boakye Agyarko, to investigate the transaction and renegotiate the deal but could not find anything wrong with it after numerous travels to Dubai to probe the deal.
He further stated that the outcome of the so-called negotiations by the NPP government turned out to be a big scandal with bloated and padded figures which resulted in public outrage and subsequent dismissal of Mr Agyarko.
Six years after the President John Dramani Mahama administration had procured the AMERI Plant and the related events thereof, ownership of the plant has finally been transferred to the Government of Ghana as envisaged, making Ghana take full ownership of the 250-megawatts (MW) power production plant from AMERI Energy.
The 10-unit barge, with the capacity to generate 25MW each, totalling 250MW, which is a dual fuel plant and can run on both light crude and natural gas, is expected to be moved to Anwomaso in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to bolster system reliability, reduce transmission losses and improve power supply.
The Ghana National Gas Company has presented a cheque of GH¢2 million to the victims of the Appiatse explosion incident in the Republic of Ghana.
The amount is to help the victims with their needs while they recover from the explosion.
The Chief Executive Officer, Dr Benjamin K.D Asante, who presented the cheque, assured the victims that the company would provide further support if the need arises.
“This was and is a very tragic incident…so we are here basically to lend our support both emotionally and financially. Today, we are donating seed money of two million Ghana Cedis to help alleviate some of the problems that the municipality is facing. We also pledge that we will be here to support the recovery efforts in terms of medical expenses and emotional trials that have come and even also support with infrastructure.”
He added: “Today, we are here because we find ourselves as a corporate citizen on this corridor. One of our transmission lines is not too far from here. It passes through Prestea to Kumasi and so we are very much part of this community.”
Dr. Asante was accompanied by the General Manager-Human Resource, Madam Alma-Leigh Mensah, General Manager-Technical Services, Mr. Robert Asmah, Head of Government Relations, Madam Augustina Osei Asare, Head of Community Relations, Mr. Stephen Donkor and some senior staff of Ghana Gas.
Receiving the cheque, the Prestea Bogoso Municipal Chief Executive, Dr Isaac Dsmani pledged that all donations, both material and money, would be used strictly on the victims.
“We want to thank the CEO of Ghana Gas for giving us this GH¢2 million. On behalf of the chiefs and people, we are grateful.”
He revealed that “we are putting ourselves together to ensure that we open a disaster account hopefully tomorrow Monday, January 24, 2022. We are opening our MUSEC to include pastors, reverend ministers and opinion leaders within the community so that any money that comes in here, we will sit down with them and disburse it to the benefit of Appiatse.”
Dr Isaac Dsamani disclosed that arrangements are being made to relocate the victims from the St Michael’s Parish Hall– Shelter House–to a more secured and convenient location tomorrow Monday, January 24, 2022, while rebuilding efforts of the Appiatse community start.
About 13 were killed and over 50 were injured last Thursday when a vehicle carrying a mining explosive was hit by a motorcycle, sparking a fire and explosion.
The explosion led to the destruction of the entire Appiatse Township.
Over 40 top management staff of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company AEDC) have been sacked, multiple sources have confirmed.
Those sacked include General and Regional Managers.
The action follows the takeover of AEDC by an interim management put in place by United Bank for Africa (UBA) which provided finance to KANN Utility, the core investor of 60 per cent stake in AEDC in 2013, invoked its receivership clause over the incomplete settlement of the loans.
The former board and management of KANN has since been removed and a new UBA-led board and management, headed by the chairman, Victor Osadolor, and the Interim Managing Director, Bada Akinwumi, have been driving the operations of the company since then.
As of December 2021, the new helmsmen announced that the entitlements of the protesting staff had been cleared and tasked them to be more dedicated to their services.
According to unnamed sources in a report by Daily Trust, the removal of the GMs and the restriction of some other top officials of the DisCo appointed by the previous management was a move by the interim management to ensure there is sanity while working with staff they believe could be loyal to them.
“Since they came on board, they have been careful in their communication approach and they fear that the majority of the top officials of AEDC are still loyal to the ousted board and management driven by KANN Utility,” said an official.
Another official noted that the interim management was to operate until UBA had recovered its outstanding loan while helping to reposition the company.
“For now, it is not a permanent thing; once they recover their loans, they will hand over to KANN but for the meantime, some staff may suffer especially those they perceive are loyal to KANN.
“Some of the expatriates were redeployed from their respective departments to the IMD’s office and later, he asked them to work from home, which in itself, signifies that they want to keep them away from the core of daily operations.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
A fuel tanker carrying 40,000 litres of petrol was on Friday gutted by fire and exploded in Kaase , a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, destroying several make shift structures in the area.
The incident reportedly occurred when some people were engaging in fuel siphoning.
Eyewitnesses say while some individuals were using gallons to engage in the illegal act, a tricycle whose engine was running nearby, emitted sparks which caused the explosion.
Reports suggested that the affected area is a hideout for individuals engaged in illegal fuel siphoning activities.
Ashanti Regional Fire Commander, Rashid Nisawu, said the persons engaged in the siphoning of fuel failed in their attempt to douse the fire, which later spread to other parts of the area.
It took personnel of Ghana National Fire Service several minutes to bring the fire under control.
No casualty has been recorded but a number of families have been displaced.
The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has officially taken over the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
The corporation has therefore appointed Mr Kunle Ogunba San, to act as the Receiver/Manager Nominee in the receivership action.
The action follows the judgment by a Federal High Court on September 8, 2021, which granted orders in favour of AMCON as Receiver/Manager of Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing (IEDM) Limited, IBEDC’s core investor, over default in Loan Service Agreement.
The takeover was announced in a notice by Chief Operating Officer of IBEDC, Engr. John Ayodele, to staff of the firm on January 20, 2022.
Ayodele in his statement said that the Receiver/Manager was at the headquarters of IBEDC on January 20, 2022, to formally take charge of the power firm.
The statement reads, ”Further, to the judgement wherein the Federal High Court on the 8th of September 2021 granted preservative orders in favour of Asset Management Corporation AMCON, (being the Receiver/Manager of Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited); the court has appointed Mr Kunle Ogunba Esq.SAN to act as Receiver/ Manager Nominee in the receivership action.
”Based on the foregoing the Receiver/Manager came in today 20th January 2022 to the IBEDC Headquarters to take charge formally and subsequently met with the Management team. Therefore, I hereby wish to inform all staff that there is no cause for alarm. We are assured of job security which entails our position/ duties In the company, being entitlements to our salaries and other benefits etc.
‘’On behalf of the Management I urge us all to kindly go about the efficient discharge of our duties to ensure a speedy and mutually beneficial resolution.
‘’I wish us all the best, while I appeal that we continue to remember IBEDC In our prayers.’’
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Government of Ghana has completed the payment of the 250 Megawatts Ameri Power Plant procured from the UAE-based Africa & Middle East Resources Investment Group.
This makes the plant the bonafide property of the West African nation.
The power plant, which is on the wheel and currently in the western part of Ghana, will soon be wheeled to Anwomaso near Kumasi to stabilise the power supply in that part of the country.
The Ameri power plant was procured in 2015 by the erstwhile government when the West African nation was experiencing an erratic power supply due to a shortfall in electricity generation.
The plant cost US$510 million and it was to be managed by its owners for five years and later transferred to the Government of Ghana under the Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) agreement.
The Ameri deal was one of the numbers of power deals signed under the past administration which generated public anger with the then opposition, the New Patriotic Party, accusing the then administration of ripping the nation.
After negotiations between the government and the Ameri Group, the latter waived over US$2 million of the cost of the plant.
Officials of the country’s Ministry of Energy, led by one of its Deputy Ministers, William Owuraku, on Thursday, January 20, 2022, were in Takoradi for the official handing over of the plant.
“I am happy to announce that the government is satisfied that the rectification works recommended have effectively been carried out by Ameri and that the plant, at the end of the BOOT agreement, is fit for purpose,” William Owuraku Aidoo stated.
He said the government is committed to providing consistent power to the people of Ghana.
“President Akufo-Addo’s government remains committed to a vision of a stable, robust, affordable power supply as key to industrial growth and the exigencies of the 21st-century living standards.
“We promised to keep the lights on, and under the leadership of Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Ministry of Energy is doing exactly that despite a few challenges,” the Deputy Minister added.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Africa will, by 2030, witness an increase in the number of nuclear power plants as several countries have begun processes to join nuclear power producers in the world.
The demand for electricity across Africa is expected to grow many times by 2050.
And in a bid to meet the demand and also drive industrialisation, most countries believe nuclear power is the best option to achieve this goal.
So far, only South Africa operates nuclear power plant at Kornberg.
Last year, Egypt awarded a contract to Rosatom, a Russian nuclear power firm, to build a 4.5 Gigawatts (4500Megawatts) power plant and it is expected to begin soon.
Seven other African countries namely Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan and Kenya have advanced in processes towards establishing nuclear power plants by 2030.
An article published by energy for growth noted that seventeen other African countries have also taken steps towards becoming ready and could be potential markets by 2050.
Recently, the European Union made a proposal that recognises gas and nuclear power as green energy.
Although this proposal has divided the Union block, some industry players especially those in developing countries, have welcomed the move.
In an interview with GNA, Dr Stephen Yamoah, Executive Director of Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), described the EU’s proposal as a positive development and good news for Ghana.
He said the development means more countries are realising the important role that nuclear plays as a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy source.
“Nuclear is certainly green and that is not debatable. Nuclear does not emit CO2 and it is one of the surest ways we are to decarbonise the environment.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Two staff of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) who worked at the Security Department of the refinery met their untimely death on Wednesday in a bizarre accident on the Accra-Tema motorway when they were on their way to work.
The deceased, Moses Anawe and Felix Agyekum, were said to have been working in the refinery for over twenty years.
They were said to be travelling from Accra in a saloon car to work when the accident occurred at about 5:30 am on Wednesday.
According to sources within the refinery, a Sino Tipper Truck with registration number GN-6708-21 , fully loaded with sand from Tema and heading to Accra on the section of the motorway, knocked a vehicle which overtook the truck and crossed the median of the road to crash the victim’s Opel Astra with registration number GW 5819-10 on the other side of the road, killing them.
The remains of the deceased are currently at the Tema General Hospital morgue.
The sad development has affected the morale of the security personnel at the refinery.
The driver of the truck is currently is in the grips of the Airport Police.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s National Oil Company (GNPC) has commenced a further 2D seismic data survey on the West African nation’s unexplored Voltaian Basin.
The company awarded a contract to a Joint Venture Chinese firm, BGPBAY in December last year to undertake the studies.
GNPC has already acquired several Regional 2D seismic data over the basin, processed and interpreted the data about a year ago.
However, the company wants another phase of 2D seismic to be undertaken because the first and second phases of 2D data covered a bigger area of the basin and were regional in nature.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GNPC, Benjamin Kweku Acolatse told energynewsafrica.com that the company has identified two areas, in the north and southern areas of the basin and is planning to acquire a further 1655 line kilometers of closely spaced 2D seismic data within the two areas for the third phase of the study.
Mr Benjamin Kweku Acolatse, Deputy CEO of GNPC in -charge of Finance and Administration
He continued that “when the third phase of 2D seismic survey is completed, we will interpret the results, integrate this with the geochemistry information which would also help us identify more leads within the two areas.
He said the company would move a step further to undertake 3D seismic data acquisition after the successful completion of the ongoing studies.
He said the company is hoping that they should be able to start an onshore well drilling campaign in 2023 and drill some wells to test some prospects that would be identified in the area.
“After the 3D, we will open our doors for partnership with international oil companies which are interested in partnering with us to further explore the basin,” Mr Benjamin Acolatse stated.
According to him, GNPC is determined to push its operatorship agenda through the Voltaian Basin.
So far, several potential leads have been delineated in the Voltaian Basin and energynewsafrica.com can confirm that the Government will complete the demarcation of blocks for open competitive bidding in the not too distant future.
However, two blocks have been reserved for exploration by the government for the state-owned Ghana National Petroleum Corporation which aims to engage in exploration activities in collaboration with an established international oil firm to acquire the requisite expertise and experience to evolve into a major upstream operator itself over the coming years.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) is set to finance the assembly and deployment of 200,000 solar home systems (SHS) across West African nation.
The sovereign wealth manager will provide $24 million (₦10 billion) under the “Solar Power Naija” programme.
NSIA will partner with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to deploy the solutions.
The Nigerian Ministry of Power will provide technical and advisory support to NSIA in this process.
The Solar Power Naija program is an initiative of the Federal government that aims to provide energy access to 5 million households, or 25 million Nigerians in rural areas and underserved urban areas.
The program also aims to create about 20,000 manufacturing, assembly, and installation jobs, leading to the deployment of over 500,000 SHS by 2023.
Engie Energy Access, a subsidiary of the French group Engie, has commissioned a solar mini-grid on Lolwe Island in Uganda.
This project, which will be followed by others, was implemented through a joint venture with Equatorial Power, a company based in the Ugandan capital Kampala.
Access to electricity for the people of Lolwe is now guaranteed.
This change is due to a solar mini-grid recently commissioned as part of a partnership between Engie Energy Acces, the subsidiary of French giant Engie, and Equatorial Power, a company based in Kampala, Uganda.
The solar power plant recently commissioned by the Engie Equatorial joint venture has a capacity of 600 kWp.
The plant is connected to an electricity storage system, and distributes electricity via a mini-grid on Lolwe Island, located in Lake Victoria, the largest lake on the African continent, covering more than 68,000 km2. The mini-grid supplies 3,000 households on the island.
The Lolwe mini-grid also provides electricity to 700 businesses. The facility also has an industrial site with a pumping station, water distribution and purification plant, as well as fish drying facilities and ice-making facilities for preserving fish products before export to the rest of Uganda and abroad.
“For us, electricity is not an end in itself, but a means to provide other essential services such as clean water, agribusiness and electric mobility. It is this vision that we believe will have a real impact on rural communities and bring sustainable financial and social development to the African continent,” says Riccardo Ridolfi, CEO of Engie Equatorial.
In Lolwe, the joint venture is acting as an incubator, financing the installation of energy-efficient equipment and machinery to help the development of this remote community.
The company plans to replicate this model of sustainable development infrastructure in other localities in the Lake Victoria region.
Gillian-Alexandre Huart, CEO of ENGIE Energy Access, comments: “The Lolwe mini-grid’s distributed renewable technology and integrated business model will significantly improve the lives and economic perspectives of the underserved communities living far from the grid. The Lolwe mini-grid is setting the stage for the next generation of decentralized energy infrastructure, and will help to accelerate universal energy access.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Tullow Ghana Limited, the lead operator of Ghana’s Jubilee and TEN oilfields, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ghana Navy to provide security services at the two oil fields for five years.
According to a press statement issued by Tullow Ghana Ltd, the Jubilee partners will provide a total of 23.5 million dollars during the five-year contract period.
The statement said a vessel has been acquired for the Ghana Navy with funding from the GCB Bank, explaining that it will provide asset protection in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the TEN and Jubilee fields.
The five-year contract commenced on 1st January 2022 and will run until 31st December 2026.
The Deputy Managing Director, Cynthia Lumor said, “The Jubilee partners’ commitment to supporting the retooling of the Ghana Navy is mutually beneficial to both parties.
“This partnership will ensure the protection of the Ghanaian waters by providing security services in the TEN and Jubilee fields and along the coast of Ghana. We believe that this will further strengthen the relationship between Tullow Ghana and the Ghana Navy.”
Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu commended the Jubilee partners for the collaboration, saying: “Tullow Ghana and the Jubilee partners have demonstrated commitment to sustainable production by this collaboration.
“The Ghana Navy will ensure that we fulfill our contractual obligations to ensure a secured maritime space for the safe operation of the TEN and Jubilee fields.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Consumers of fuel in Kenya will not enjoy any reduction in fuel prices at the pumps despite a drop in the landed cost of the commodity.
This is because the East African nation’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has retained pump prices for petroleum products despite a drop in the landed cost.
The landed cost of imported Super petrol decreased by 4.1 per cent from US$627.80 (Sh71,206) per cubic metre in November to US$601.97 (Sh68, 276) in December.
Diesel decreased by 5.71 per cent from $600.22 (Sh68,078) to US$565.92 per cubic metre, while kerosene decreased by 4.89 per cent to US$574.85 (Sh65,194) per cubic metre.
A litre of petrol currently retails at Sh129.72 (US$1.14) in Nairobi, while diesel is sold for Sh110.60 (US$0.97) per litre.
Kerosene is being retailed at Sh103.54 per litre.
EPRA Director-General, Daniel Kiptoo said the government would utilise the Petroleum Development Levy to cushion consumers “from the otherwise high prices.
“The prices are inclusive of eight per cent VAT in line with provisions with the Finance Act and the revised rates of excise duty adjusted for inflation,” Kiptoo said.
This comes amid concerns by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) over the government defaulting on compensation under its fuel subsidy initiative introduced mid-last year.
In November, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority cut margins for the oil marketers to keep pump prices unchanged after a public outcry on rising pump prices.
Billions of shillings, however, remain unpaid, leaving OMCs’ cash flow dented.
They now want the government to pay interest on the delayed funds, a cost that will be passed to taxpayers.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Dr Isaac Dsamani disclosed that arrangements are being made to relocate the victims from the St Michael’s Parish Hall– Shelter House–to a more secured and convenient location tomorrow Monday, January 24, 2022, while rebuilding efforts of the Appiatse community start.
About 13 were killed and over 50 were injured last Thursday when a vehicle carrying a mining explosive was hit by a motorcycle, sparking a fire and explosion.
The explosion led to the destruction of the entire Appiatse Township.
According to sources within the refinery, a Sino Tipper Truck with registration number GN-6708-21 , fully loaded with sand from Tema and heading to Accra on the section of the motorway, knocked a vehicle which overtook the truck and crossed the median of the road to crash the victim’s Opel Astra with registration number GW 5819-10 on the other side of the road, killing them.
The remains of the deceased are currently at the Tema General Hospital morgue.
The sad development has affected the morale of the security personnel at the refinery.
The driver of the truck is currently is in the grips of the Airport Police.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com 
So far, several potential leads have been delineated in the Voltaian Basin and energynewsafrica.com can confirm that the Government will complete the demarcation of blocks for open competitive bidding in the not too distant future.
However, two blocks have been reserved for exploration by the government for the state-owned Ghana National Petroleum Corporation which aims to engage in exploration activities in collaboration with an established international oil firm to acquire the requisite expertise and experience to evolve into a major upstream operator itself over the coming years.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com 
The Deputy Managing Director, Cynthia Lumor said, “The Jubilee partners’ commitment to supporting the retooling of the Ghana Navy is mutually beneficial to both parties.
“This partnership will ensure the protection of the Ghanaian waters by providing security services in the TEN and Jubilee fields and along the coast of Ghana. We believe that this will further strengthen the relationship between Tullow Ghana and the Ghana Navy.”
Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu commended the Jubilee partners for the collaboration, saying: “Tullow Ghana and the Jubilee partners have demonstrated commitment to sustainable production by this collaboration.
“The Ghana Navy will ensure that we fulfill our contractual obligations to ensure a secured maritime space for the safe operation of the TEN and Jubilee fields.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com 