Ghana: GWCL Cuts Water Supply To TOR Over GHS6 Million Indebtedness
Water supply to Tema Oil Refinery, Ghana’s only refinery, has been cut over huge indebtedness to the country’s water company (GWCL).
TOR, according to energynewsafrica.com sources owes the water company an accumulated debt of about GHS6 million.
Energynewafrica.com understands the water company cut water supply to the refinery in April after the refinery finished processing the last stock of crude oil consignment.
According to internal sources, the only thing that has saved the situation since water supply was cut is a reservoir of water which is expected to finish in the next few days.
Water is a key component in petroleum refinery and its unavailability could pose a huge challenge to TOR’s operations.
Attempts to speak to officials of the Tema branch of Ghana Water Company Limited has proven unsuccessful.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: ENI, Springfield Delay To Unitise Afina Discovery & Sankofa Field Disappointing-Says IES
The Institute for Energy Security (IES), an energy think tank in the Republic of Ghana, has described as shocking and disappointing the inability of Springfield E&P and Eni Ghana Exploration & Production Limited to implement a directive of the government to unitise the Afina discovery and the Sankofa Field at the country’s oil fields in the Western part of the country.
The two entities were directed by the country’s former Energy Minister, John Peter Amewu, about year ago to execute a Unitisation and Unit Operating Agreement (UUOA) with respect to the Afina discovery in the West Cape Three Points (WCTP2) and the Sankofa Field in the Offshore Cape Three Points contract areas.
However, barely a year after the directive was issued, IES says information available to them indicate that ENI and Springfield E&P are yet to execute the UUOA, which it says among other things, would lead to maximum economic benefits for the country and for the parties involved in the production of the unitised accumulation.
Making reference to section 34(1) of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act 2016 (2019) and citing similar principles of international practices, the IES noted that the delay in unitising the OCTP and WCTP-2 is a loss of opportunity for the country to reap maximum benefits from the economic incentives associated with unitisation of oil and gas fields.
The energy think tank called on the government to update the country on the progress so far made on its unitisation directive to Springfield and Eni, as part of its accountability on the country’s petroleum resource management to the citizens of the country.
Meanwhile, information available to energynewsafrica.com indicates that one of the parties involved has been dragging its feet in the whole process hence the delay.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Armah-Kofi Buah Honoured For His Role In Developing Ghana’s Energy Sector
A former Energy Minister under the previous government and incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembele Constituency in the Western Region of Ghana, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has been honoured at the Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Honours for his achievements in the Energy and Petroleum sector.
The awards scheme was instituted to recognise Ministers of State who had served West African nation diligently and distinguished themselves in the course of their duty to advance the development of the country.
According to a report filed by Citinewsroom.com, Armah-Kofi Buah was honoured alongside other former and current Ministers of State.
He served as a Minister for Energy and Petroleum from 2013 to 2016.
He is credited to have played a key role in the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, Act 815, Petroleum Local Content and Local Participation Regulations, 2013, L.I. 2204, the establishment of the Petroleum Commission among others, which have become the bedrock of Ghana’s petroleum Industry.
Mr. Buah, who is the four-time Member of Parliament for the Ellembelle Constituency and currently the ranking member of Trade Industry and Tourism Committee of Parliament, while accepting the award, said he would continue to do his best for Ghana in all endeavours whenever given the opportunity to serve.
“It energizes me to continue to work so hard for our country Ghana that we love so much. This serves as a morale booster and motivation for the course I have chosen as an MP. I believe that when given the opportunity to serve, you must serve with honesty, humility and loyalty to Ghana, which I will always work hard to achieve,” he said.
The former Energy and Petroleum Minister also used the occasion to acknowledge persons who played a role in his Ministerial performance and his constituents.
“Thanks to the late President J.E.A. Mills for appointing me as the Deputy Minister for Energy and Petroleum from 2009-2012 and to former President John Dramani Mahama for promoting me as the substantive Minister for Energy and Petroleum as well as the team at the Ministry. It’s very humbling to be celebrated today for our hard work that saw key transformational policies like the passage of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, 919, the development and production of 3 major oil fields thus Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa which are today the key sources of government’s revenue. The feat being celebrated today cannot go without the mention of the establishment of Ghana Gas Company that brought Ghana to indigenous gas production and curtailed the long LPG lines and the additions of new power projects like Karpowership, Cenpower, Amandi etc. to address the power crisis and our efforts to bring sanity in the downstream petroleum sector such as the price deregulation and the privatisation of the BOST storage facilities to curtail annual fuel losses.
“I dedicate this award to the good people of Ellembele and those who perished or got injured in the 2020 election. You have stood by me and trusted me to represent you for four terms totalling 16 years in Ghana’s Parliament and I don’t take that for granted at all,” he added.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah holds a Law Degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Master of Science Degree in Management from the University of Maryland, University College in the United States.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
“It energizes me to continue to work so hard for our country Ghana that we love so much. This serves as a morale booster and motivation for the course I have chosen as an MP. I believe that when given the opportunity to serve, you must serve with honesty, humility and loyalty to Ghana, which I will always work hard to achieve,” he said.
The former Energy and Petroleum Minister also used the occasion to acknowledge persons who played a role in his Ministerial performance and his constituents.
“Thanks to the late President J.E.A. Mills for appointing me as the Deputy Minister for Energy and Petroleum from 2009-2012 and to former President John Dramani Mahama for promoting me as the substantive Minister for Energy and Petroleum as well as the team at the Ministry. It’s very humbling to be celebrated today for our hard work that saw key transformational policies like the passage of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, 919, the development and production of 3 major oil fields thus Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa which are today the key sources of government’s revenue. The feat being celebrated today cannot go without the mention of the establishment of Ghana Gas Company that brought Ghana to indigenous gas production and curtailed the long LPG lines and the additions of new power projects like Karpowership, Cenpower, Amandi etc. to address the power crisis and our efforts to bring sanity in the downstream petroleum sector such as the price deregulation and the privatisation of the BOST storage facilities to curtail annual fuel losses.
“I dedicate this award to the good people of Ellembele and those who perished or got injured in the 2020 election. You have stood by me and trusted me to represent you for four terms totalling 16 years in Ghana’s Parliament and I don’t take that for granted at all,” he added.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah holds a Law Degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Master of Science Degree in Management from the University of Maryland, University College in the United States.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Petrol, Diesel Prices To Go Up Again
Fuel prices are likely to witness marginal increases on the local market beginning Monday, May 17, 2021.
Petrol and Diesel currently sell at GHS6.04 per litre.
This follows the introduction of sanitation and pollution tax of 10 pesewas each on petrol and diesel and 20 pesewas Energy Sector Recovery Levy (ESRL).
However, as the second fuel pricing window begins Monday, the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana, a consumer advocacy group in Ghana, is forecasting a further hike in fuel prices due to increase in crude oil price on the international market.
A statement issued and signed by Duncan Amoah, Executive Secretary of COPEC, said the increases on the International market translate to around GHp8/litre on the local pump prices for both petrol and diesel or around five percent on the international price index, representing a further increase of about 1.25 percent variance on the current prices.
FUEL PRICES GOING UP AGAIN IN A SPATE OF 10 DAYS
Barely a fortnight after prices at the pumps in Ghana shot up by over 12% due to the introduction of some taxes, increases in margins by the Npa and industry as well as increases on the international market fuel prices are set to go up again in the next few hours.
Geopolitical events over the past few days has led to increases in International Market Prices from $630.525/mt to around $655.625/mt for premium or petrol as of friday whiles prices of AGO or diesel has moved from $520/Mt to $545/Mt.
Lpg has also seen a little over $1.6377 increase within the period though the country’s currency has been relatively stable within the period.
These increases on the international market translates to around Ghp 8/litre on local pump prices for both petrol and diesel or around 5% on international price index representing a further increase of about 1.25% variance on current pump prices.
This variance is expected to likely reflect at the Ghanaian pumps on or before Tuesday (18/05/2021) and will eventually add on to the recent increases of over 12% a few days ago thereby bringing the cumulative increases at the Ghanaians pumps to, in excess of a cumulative nominal Ghp 68/litre or 14% increases at the pumps within a spate of under 10 days.
The trend if not checked could likely continue or escalate as the geopolitical developments are pointing to bullish sentiments on the international market in the coming days.
The country does not have seem to have in place any mitigating policies or programmes in place to cushion the average Ghanaian from these International Market price shocks as the effects reflect directly at the pumps and on pockets.
A myriad of taxes including the Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy component on pump prices which should have provided a buffer in times like these for some of these price movements has barely ever been used to cushion Ghanaians and the market around these times when needed and thus fuel prices becoming pretty unbearable on pockets.
The country’s Strategic Stocks which could have also been used to offset these price movements on the international market is currently non existent as the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation instead of holding strategic stocks has now become fully commercial in their outlook though they continue to take monies from Ghanaians at the pumps in the name of Bost margins, we believe this particular margin ought to be looked at again if we need to bring fuel prices down.
The current state of Ghana’s only National Refinery leaves so much to be desired as nothing seems to work from poor management practices and decisions as no productivity is happening there, even water has over the past few weeks been disconnected from the Refinery due to its inability to settle Ghana Water Company its indebtedness.
We call on Authorities to as a matter of urgency put concrete strategies in place to forestall these increases as it is affecting harshly the general cost of living within the country with transport operators waiting to slap increases on fares in the coming days.
Signed.
Duncan Amoah
Executive Secretary.
Algeria: Gov’t To Launch Call For Tenders For 1,000 MW Clean Energy
The Algerian government is preparing to launch a call for tenders to select a qualified company to produce 1,000 MW of renewable energy, with some conditions for foreign investors.
In terms of renewable energy production, Algeria lags behind its neighbours Morocco and Egypt.
But the country wants to diversify its electricity mix.
This is what justifies the call for tenders that Algiers is currently preparing.
The aim is to obtain a new installed capacity of 1,000 MW.
This electricity will be produced from renewable sources, the most abundant of which in this North African country is solar.
In a decree published on April 29th, 2021 in the official gazette, the Algerian government empowered Chems Eddine Chitour, the Minister of Energy Transition and Renewable Energies, to manage and supervise the entire operation.
The call for tenders, which will be launched between June and July 2021, will be divided into 10 lots of 100 MW each, open to foreign investment.
In the wake of this, the Algerian government is preparing to set up a bankable electricity purchase agreement (in dollars) for the independent power producers (IPPs) that will be selected at the end of the process.
According to Mouloud Bakli, president of the Algerian think tank Club Energia, these investors will however have to meet certain requirements, such as the use of equipment manufactured locally in Algeria. These are mainly solar panels, assembly structures and electrical cables.
Algeria already has several factories manufacturing equipment for the production of solar energy.
In the Boukherana industrial zone, near Chelghoum El Aid (400 km from Algiers), the Algerian company Milltech has a factory capable of supplying 100 MW of solar panels per year. In the wilaya of Ouargla, another factory will soon produce 160 MWp of solar panels per year. In June 2020, the Algerian company SPS (Système Panneaux Sandwiches) and Qi-Energy, a company based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, launched a joint venture for the manufacture of mounting structures for the modules.
Local sourcing of construction materials for renewable energy plants will reduce electricity purchase prices in Algeria.
According to Business France, the North African country has an installed capacity of 21,000 MW (2019). This electricity is 99% produced from hydrocarbons, notably natural gas (98%) and oil. In the Algerian Programme for the Development of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (PENREE) launched in 2012, the authorities were counting on an installed capacity of 20 000 MW of renewable energy, including 13 575 MW of capacity for solar and 5 000 MW for wind by 2030. The chances of meeting this target are slim.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Total Blackout In Kaduna State, As Labour Unions Begin Strike
Residents of Kaduna State in Northern Nigeria are living in total darkness following a blackout earlier on Sunday, May 16, 2021.
Kaduna has a population of over 6,113,503 people.
A statement issued by Kaduna Electric Utility Company explained that the current total power blackout was due to the ongoing five-day warning strike embarked by labour unions in the state.
“In compliance with the NLC directive, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN has knocked off all our 33KV lines in Kaduna State.
“Consequently, we are appealing to all communities, security agencies, and vigilante groups to be vigilant so that men of the underworld will not cash in on the situation to vandalise power supply installations.
“Any suspicious movement around distribution sub-stations (transformers) should be reported to the relevant security agency,” Abdulazeez Abdullahi, Head of Corporate Communication of the company said in a statement.
He stated that it is the collective responsibility of citizens to protect critical national assets in their neighborhoods.
Abdullahi added that the company appeals to both labour unions and Kaduna State Government “to strive at an amicable resolution for normalcy to return”.
Source: www.energynewafrica.com
Funding Utilities: CSOs, Political Activists Must Rethink-Says Norbert Anku
A former Managing Director of Enclave Power Ghana, one of the Independent Power Producers in the Republic of Ghana, Ing Norbert Anku, has called on political party activists and civil society organisations who always blame successive governments for the woes of GRIDCo, ECG and other utility companies to ‘rethink’.
According to him, he feels worried that many a time when politicians and CSOs in the energy sector are talking about the problems facing the energy sector, they leave out energy institutions and begin to play politics by accusing the government of the day.
Some parts of the West African nation have been witnessing intermittent power supply since the beginning of 2021.
This, the power transmission company, GRIDCo, has blamed on a number of issues including ongoing upgrading of its transmission network.
However, some politicians and CSOs who have shared their thoughts about the power situation in the country argue that the current situation would have been prevented if the government had given GRIDCo funding to undertake some intended projects.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with energynewsafrica.com on a number of issues, Ing. Norbert Anku called for a shift, saying politicians should not make it look like it is the government that is always supposed to provide funding for the utilities.
“The other day, I heard one of institutions saying that the government has not provided funding to GRIDCo. Nobody seems to care about the efficiency side of GRIDCo. Most of the times, the interest is to say things that rather go to put the government on the edge as if the utilities were doing well.
“People talk and it’s always political, “he said.
He said as part of the mandate of the utilities, they are required to make investments in energy infrastructure, stating that government’s interest only comes in because it is a state entity.
He questioned whether Independent Power Producers go to the government for funding if they want to undertake projects.
“If IPPs want to execute projects, do they go to the government?” he quizzed.
“If you isolate the utilities, their job involves investments so let’s not make it look like the government always has to finance them before they can function,” he said.
“So if ECG wants to buy transformers, they should go to the government? If VRA wants to buy transformers, they should go to the government? Then what are ECG, VRA, and GRIDCo set up to do?” he quizzed.
Giving empirical evidence of what happened when Volta River Authority (VRA) extended electricity to the Northern regions, Ing. Norbert Anku, who is a former staff of VRA, said the authority did not go to the government for funding but sourced for funding on their own.
According to him, the only thing the government did was guaranteeing for them.
He underscored the need for politicians and CSOs to rather put the utilities on their toes by demanding that they put strategies in place to make them efficient in their operation.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: LPG Marketers Unhappy GHS60 Million Investments Going Waste
A Cabinet decision by the Akufo-Addo-administration in the Republic of Ghana about four years ago is crippling a private investment of GHS60 million sank into Liquified Petroleum Gas retail outlets across the West African nation.
The huge investments, which were at various completion stages in 2017, hit a snag when Cabinet placed a ban on all LPG points.
That did not spare those due for commissioning particularly after a gas explosion at Atomic Junction, a suburb of Accra, the capital city, which claimed about seven lives with scores of people suffering gruesome injuries.
The Cabinet decision was to allow for proper safety, health and environmental assessment of all LPG outlets across the country.
However, four years on, the government is yet to lift the ban, thereby, leaving the outlets at risk of going waste.
Recently, energynewsafrica.com reported that Ghana’s Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh met the leadership of the LPG Marketers Association, who were lamenting over the introduction of 18 pesewas increment on LPG product, which in their view, was going to worsen the condition of consumers and also result in decline consumption.
At the end of that engagement, the Minister, who had then assumed the office as a newcomer and so not abreast with their issues, requested the leadership to put all their grievances on paper and forwarded it for action to be taken.
In view of that, the Association submitted its documented grievances to the Minister last month.
In the petition which was intercepted by energynewsafrica.com, the LPG Marketers Association noted that if the ban was not lifted immediately, the GHS60 million investments would go waste, adding that they were already under pressure to repay loans contracted to build the retail outlets.
“These outlets had gone through all the necessary rigorous regulatory processes, appraisals and received the necessary green light before commencement of acquisitions, construction and investment. In all, our members made about GH¢60 million worth of investments into the acquisition of these outlets,” a portion of their petition read.
Out of the 100, the petition said 14 of the outlets had been completed and were awaiting pre-commissioning permits from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA); 21 had received fire permits, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permits, Metropolitan Municipal and District Assembly Development (MMDA) permits, as well as NPA construction permits; and the rest had received ‘no objection’ letters and were at different regulatory permitting stages.
“Much as our Association is not against such government’s directives, it would be sad to allow our meagre and hard-earned resources to go to waste, especially when these investments were made not contrary to the law and regulations but in accordance with existing laws and regulations at the time,” it said, adding that together with regulators, the industry had since experienced a sustained period of safety.
The Association noted that following a petition and engagement with the government through the NPA, the embargo was partially lifted at the end of 2020 but the NPA was supposed to process the list of stations under construction before the Atomic Junction accident, and issue permits to enable them to operate. The association, however, noted that this has not been done.
“The above notwithstanding and considering the total investment that had already gone into the development of the stations under construction, coupled with the fact that various permits were legally obtained, the LPGMCs are urgently appealing to the government for permission to be allowed to complete all the stations under construction within a specified period and operate them.”
The Association further urged that as the new LPG policy i.e. the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM), has not yet started, so the government should allow them to complete all projects pending before the Atomic Junction accident.
“It would only be fair to allow our members to complete and operate all the outlets under construction because these same outlets will, in future, become cylinder exchange points when the CRM is eventually rolled out. Thus, this nation will avoid drowning local investments while providing employment to the youth, making significant contribution to the economy through taxes, and increasing the penetration of LPG among the population as well as reducing the dependency on wood fuels to save our forests,” another portion of the petition read.
“We believe that the issues raised above, when considered carefully and acted upon, will address our concerns and thereby lead to a vibrant LPG downstream industry in Ghana to benefit all stakeholders, especially government,” the petition said.
The Association also raised concerns about the introduction of 18 pesewas tax on LPG and urged the Minister to intervene to get it abolished.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Occidental Loses $346 Million In First Quarter 2021
U.S oil and gas firm, Occidental, has recorded a net loss of US$346 million for the first quarter of 2021 compared to a net loss of US$1.3 billion of the fourth quarter of 2020.
Oxy posted an adjusted loss of US$136 million for the first quarter of 2021 compared to an adjusted loss of US$610 million of the fourth quarter of 2021.
The First quarter after-tax items affecting comparability of US$210 million included US$445 million loss in discontinued operations related to Ecuador and Ghana and US$106 million of charges for non-core expiring domestic onshore undeveloped oil and gas leases, partially offset by US$293 million of net derivative gains and a US$79 million gain on the sale of 11.5 million limited partner units in Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES).
“Our first quarter results are a perfect example of how our ability to consistently deliver strong operational performance has strengthened our financial position. Our commitment to capital discipline contributed to first quarter free cash flow of US$1.6 billion,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Vicki Hollub in a statement.
“Occidental is well positioned to continue to use excess cash flows, coupled with asset sales proceeds, to reduce debt and other financial obligations,” he said.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Chevron Halts Gas Field Off Israel As Violence Flares Up
U.S. supermajor Chevron has complied with instructions from Israel’s energy ministry to shut down operations at the Tamar natural gas field offshore Israel after the violence between Israel and Gaza escalated in recent days.
“In accordance with instructions received from the Ministry of Energy, we have shut-in and depressurised the Tamar Platform,” Chevron said in a statement on Wednesday, as carried by Reuters.
Chevron has an interest in another gas field offshore Israel, the Leviathan gas field the biggest energy project in Israel ever, after it bought Noble Energy last year in the first major transaction in the U.S. oil industry since the pandemic started.
Currently, the Leviathan gas field continues production, and Chevron is “working with customers and the relevant regulatory bodies to ensure that natural gas supplies continue,” Reuters quoted the supermajor as saying.
Access to huge gas resources diversified Chevron’s portfolio with more natural gas resources and a position in the eastern Mediterranean very close to the Middle East and European gas markets.
“Noble Energy brings low-capital, cash-generating offshore assets in Israel, strengthening Chevron’s position in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Chevron said last October, announcing it had completed the acquisition.
Back then, the timing couldn’t have been better to bet on the Eastern Mediterranean— Israel had just normalized relations with two Arab countries, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain.
But now, the violence in the Gaza Strip and Israel has prompted the Israeli energy ministry to instruct Chevron to shut down production at the Tamar field.
The violence erupted in recent days in Jerusalem, at a site considered holy by both Jews and Muslims.
As of Thursday, at least 83 people were killed in Gaza and another seven in Israel, the BBC reports, as Hamas is launching rockets toward Israel while Israel is conducting airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.
The flare-up in the violence is the worst in the area since 2014.
Source: Oilprice.com
Eni To Splash €5.7 Bln By 2024 In Carbon-Neutrality Push
Italian oil and gas company Eni has released its 2020 sustainability report, outlining the company’s path to face the global challenges.
The company noted its total amount for investments in decarbonization, circular economy and renewables and expenditure on research and development is equal to €5.7 billion in its 2021-24 plan.
Eni reminded that The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, presented in September 2015, identifies the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which represent the common targets of sustainable development on the current complex social problems.
The company noted in its report it is taking steps to support a just energy transition, responding with concrete and economically sustainable solutions to the challenges of combating climate change and giving access to energy in an efficient and sustainable way, for all.
Eni’s business model provides for a pathway towards carbon neutrality based on an approach that looks at emissions generated throughout the life cycle of the energy products sold and on a set of actions that will lead to total decarbonisation of processes and products by 2050.
Based on these principles, in 2021, the new strategy was defined to relaunch the operational objectives in the short, medium and long term, which outline the evolutionary and integrated path of the individual businesses and which will lead Eni to carbon neutrality by 2050.
The company identified some targets in 2020, and these include a 26 per cent reduction in upstream GHG emission intensity index vs. 2014 with the target set at 43 per cent reduction of upstream GHG emission intensity index by 2025, when compared to 2014 figures.
The company also aims to eliminate routine gas flaring by 2025 and eliminate 80 per cent of upstream fugitive methane emissions compared to 2014 figures.
Eni noted that the decarbonisation of the company’s energy products and operations will be achieved through existing activities and technologies.
They will lead to a doubling of bio-refining capacity over the next four years; an increase in the production and marketing of biomethane and hydrogen; and a growth in renewable energy capacity to 60 GW by 2050, as well as the development of initiatives and systems for the storage and use of CO2.
As part of its decarbonization strategy, Eni has launched innovative systems that can access clean, safe and basically inexhaustible energy sources such as the transformation of wave energy into electricity and – still in the experimental stage – the magnetic confinement fusion of two hydrogen nuclei, which generates huge amounts of energy without the unfavorable emission of undesirable greenhouse gases.
By 2050, Eni aims to reduce hydrocarbon production in the medium term, with gradual growth of the gas component which will exceed 90 per cent by 2050.
Its bio-refining capacity will rise to 5-6 million tonnes by 2050, and the company aims to become palm oil free from 2023. It will also progressively increase electricity production from gas, combined with CO2 capture and storage projects and will use blue and green hydrogen to power its bio-refineries and other highly energy-intensive industrial activities.
Source.Offshoreenergytoday.com
Nigeria: Massive Power Outages Hit Nigeria As Grid System Collapses
Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria, is experiencing massive power cut as the country’s transmission system collapsed on Wednesday morning.
A statement issued by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), stated: “There was a total system collapse of the grid as a result of voltage collapse of some parts of grid.
“TCN commenced grid recovery immediately after the collapse from Shiroro Generating Station to Katampe TS Abuja through the Shiroro-Katampe line at 11:29am and also through Delta Generating Station to Benin Transmission Substation and has reached Osogbo and parts of Lagos,” the statement said.
While the grid restoration and power restoration gradually progress to other parts of the country, the cause of voltage collapse that precipitated this failure is equally being investigated.
The company appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience as it works assiduously to ensure full restoration of the grid and, consequently, power supply to the remaining parts of the country.
Nigerians are unhappy about with how the country’s leadership is handling the power sector.
With over 200 million populations, less than half of Nigerians have access to power with regular interruption in power supply.
Commenting on the current situation, one Nigerian said: “The problem with the power sector in Nigeria is largely poor human capital combined with bad culture of work. It’s going to take a full generation to fix this even with full privatisation of all the value chain. Some privatised power companies have done a lot of work but the old guard that damaged the sector still hang around, claiming they know and they still pollute the younger ones with the poor culture, claiming they are passing on knowledge.”
Source: www.energynewsafrica.comSYSTEM COLLAPSE & GRID RECOVERY pic.twitter.com/u4yLJs0PXy
— TCNNIGERIA (@TCN_NIGERIA) May 12, 2021
Ghana: BOST Is Being Fixed- Says Marlick Adjei
Ghana’s strategic stock oil keeping company, Bulk Oil and Storage Transport Company Limited (BOST), has revived a good number of its non-functional/broken down assets, thus, positioning the company better than it used to be about four years ago.
BOST’s assets, such as pipeline infrastructure, storage tanks, barges, tugboats and other vital installations had been deteriorating after being abandoned for years by successive leadership of the company.
Besides the deteriorating assets, the company was also saddled with total legacy debt of about US$623,602,303.
However, speaking on an Accra-based Asaase Radio’s ‘Energy 101 Programme’, which was monitored by energynewsafrica.com, the General Manager in-charge of Corporate Communication, Marlick Adjei stated that the current management of BOST, led by Edwin Provencal, has been able to fix 60 percent of the problems they inherited from the previous administration.
“About 60 percent of the problem is being fixed, as we speak,” he told the host of the programme, Emmanuel Aboagye Wiafe.
He said the current management has been able to repair and make operational 9 out of the 15 storage tanks at APD, Buipe and Bolga, which were abandoned.
According to him, both Buipe-Bolgatanga Petroleum Product Pipeline (B2P3) and Tema-Akosombo Petroleum Pipeline have been fully repaired and currently in use.
He added that its non-operational petroleum barges have been repaired and working, adding that installations of meters, fixing of pumps and loading arms had also been done.
Out of the total debt stock of US$6 million, an amount of US$573million has been paid, leaving an outstanding debt of US$50 million.
In his view, the vision and strategy being put in place by the current Managing Director has brought health to the one time ailing organisation.
“There is every hope that the BOST that Ghanaians know in the past is not what we have today. The current MD has a strategy in place and within the next few years, given the rate at which we’re reviving the equipment of the company, we will be able to make Ghana proud,” he posited.
Source.www.energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: IBEDC Salutes Muslims …Calls For Adherence To Covid-19 Safety Protocols During Ramadan Celebration
The Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), one of the power distribution companies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has extended best wishes to its esteemed customers and Nigerians on the occasion of Eid-Mubarak.
This was contained in a goodwill message from the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Engr. John Ayodele, in which he urged Muslim faithful to imbibe the virtues and morals of the Ramadan season of selflessness and piety.
Engr. Ayodele said, “IBEDC is aware that our customers are looking forward to enjoying uninterrupted services during the holidays, so, we are committed to ensuring this as much as is within our remit and control.
“Our technical crew are also available to rectify any faults that may arise during this period, but we appeal that none of our staff going about their lawful duties should be harassed or molested in any way. IBEDC would explore all available legal options to seek redress should any of our staff become a victim of harassment.”
He further pleaded with customers and all Nigerians that while celebrating the Ramadan, they should observe and adhere to the COVID- 19 safety protocols of hand washing, use of face masks and physical distancing as recommended by Nigerian Centre Disease Control (NCDC).
“It is also important that other safety precautions such as proper supervision of children to prevent electrical accidents, no cooking or trading under a high-tension wire and engagement of quacks to fix faults are equally observed,” he advised the general Muslim public.
Engr. Ayodele, finally, urged customers to take advantage of the company’s Hassle-free payment platforms- Fetswallet, Quick teller, etransact, Payarena, Jumia and USSD to pay their electricity bills promptly and vend to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
“Our payment centers will remain open during the holidays from 9am-3pm daily to attend to customers for bill payment, vending, enquiries and complaints. Customers can reach us via our Customers’ care lines 07001239999 which will be opened all through the holidays,” he said.