Togo: Zener Energy Raises $24 Million To Acquire Assets In Guinea-Bissau
Togolese energy group Zener International Holding (ZIH) has raised CFA13.5 billion (equivalent of $24,042,742.65) through EDC Investment Corporation (EIC), a subsidiary of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), to acquire assets in Guinea-Bissau.
The funds will enable Zener to acquire the assets of Petrogal Guinea-Bissau, previously owned by Portugal’s Galp Energia, including a network of petrol stations, strategic fuel and gas depots, and aviation storage facilities across the country.
“Taking over Petrogal GB means establishing a long-term foothold in a high-potential market and promoting a vision of locally invested, forward-looking energy,” said Jonas Aklesso Daou, President of ZIH.
According to Ecobank, the transaction aligns with its ambition to support African-led economic growth. “By facilitating this takeover, we are affirming our commitment to supporting visionary African companies in key sectors,” said Paul-Harry Aithnard, Ecobank’s Regional Executive Director for the West and Central African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).
Ecobank collaborated with other regional financial institutions to complete the operation. The West African Development Bank (BOAD) contributed CFA5 billion in June, highlighting the scale of pooled financing behind the deal.
This transaction reflects a growing trend: global energy majors are gradually reducing their footprint in Africa while regional firms like Zener expand.
Analysts see this as part of broader pan-African growth and integration.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: NPA Urges Public To Secure LPG Cylinders Safely During Transportation
Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has advised the public to ensure that filled LPG cylinders are transported in a safe and secure position. According to the NPA, this helps avoid over-pressurization, which could damage the pressure relief valve, leading to gas leaks or even explosions.
The Head of Consumer Services at the National Petroleum Authority, Eunice Budu Nyarko, emphasized this during an LPG safety campaign in tertiary schools in the Upper West Region. She highlighted that cylinders should ideally be transported in an upright position to minimize risks.
“Consumers of petroleum products, especially LPG, must prioritize safety,” she stated. “Ignoring safety measures could result in fire outbreaks at homes and workplaces, leading to loss of lives, injuries, and damage to properties.”
Answering a question about the risk of wrong fuel dispensing at filling stations, Mrs. Budu Nyarko urged motorists to always confirm the type of fuel they are purchasing with attendants.
She also advised paying attention to color-coded fuel nozzles: red for petrol (Super), black for diesel, and green for high-octane (RON 95) products.
Abraham Dauda, the NPA’s Upper West Regional Supervisor for Inspections and Monitoring, warned students against using mobile phones while cooking and stressed adherence to safety protocols.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of Dr. Hilla Liman Technical University, Prof. Hamidatu Saaka Darimani, suggested that Ghana adopt Burkina Faso’s system of purchasing cylinders from licensed outlets only.
This, she believes, would protect consumers from unknowingly buying repainted or substandard cylinders.
While commending the NPA for its ongoing public sensitization efforts, Prof. Darimani stressed that safety goes beyond fire prevention; it requires a deeper understanding of the risks posed by negligence.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ukrainian Attack Cuts Power In Russia-Controlled Zaporizhzhia
A Ukrainian drone attack late on Tuesday knocked out power to areas of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region under Russian control, the Moscow-installed governor said.
Russian forces hold well over half of Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraine’s southeast.
But Kyiv maintains control of the region’s main administrative centre and its attacks have periodically knocked out electricity in Russian-held areas.
Russia in 2022 annexed the Zaporizhzhia region, along with neighbouring Kherson as well as Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine’s east, about seven months after invading its smaller neighbour.
“The reason for the power cuts in Zaporizhzhia region is yet another enemy terrorist drone attack on high-voltage equipment,” Moscow-appointed Governor Yevgeny Balitsky wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Balitsky said repair crews were restoring power and switching affected areas to reserve lines. He said the work was made more difficult “by the danger of repeat strikes and by darkness”.
Ukrainian shelling and drone attacks knocked out power in June for more than 24 hours to at least 700,000 residents across the area. That attack appeared to be the largest of its kind on Russian-held territory since the war began.
The Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, Europe’s largest with six reactors, was operating as normal, unaffected by the power cuts, the plant’s director of communications, Yevgenia Yashina, told Russia’s RIA news agency.
The plant produces no electricity but needs power for cooling and monitoring systems to maintain safety. Ukraine and Russia regularly accuse each other of staging attacks on the plant, seized by Russian forces in the first weeks of the February 2022 invasion.
In the part of Kherson region under Ukrainian control, Governor Vyacheslav Prokudin said in a Telegram post that Russian shelling killed a resident of a small town north of the regional capital.
And the governor of Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, to the north, Serhiy Lysak, also said on Telegram that Russian shelling killed a resident of Nikopol, a frequent target of Moscow’s attacks on the north bank of the Dnipro River.
Source: Reuters.com
Ghana: VRA Announces Resumption Of Public Visits To Its Generating Stations
The Volta River Authority, Ghana’s largest state-owned power generation company, has announced the resumption of public visits to its generating stations for students, professionals, stakeholders, and the general public.
VRA operates the Akosombo and Kpong hydroelectric power dams, with a total generation capacity of 1,180 MW.
Besides hydropower, VRA also operates solar plants in Lawra, Kaleo, and Navrongo.
According to a statement signed by David Adomako Mensah, Director of Corporate Affairs & External Relations Department, the initiative aims to foster transparency, public engagement, and education about the company’s operations and contribution to Ghana’s energy sector.
“All visits will be carefully coordinated to ensure the safety of both visitors and staff, preserve the operational integrity of our installations, and comply with all relevant regulatory requirements.”
To streamline the process, a Generation Facility Visit Policy has been developed.
To schedule a tour, a formal request must be made in a letter addressed to the Chief Executive, sent at least 10 working days prior to the requested visit date.
Once approved, visitors will be notified of the necessary processes and protocols, including identification requirements, visit protocols, and fees charged per age and/or category.
VRA remains committed to adding value to lives while maintaining the highest safety standards as it powers economies.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Kenya: Germany And EU Provide €52 Million Funding For KenGen’s Gogo Hydropower Plant Redevelopment And Green Resilient Electricity Project
Kenya has signed an agreement with the governments of Germany and the European Union to secure funding for the redevelopment of KenGen’s Gogo Hydropower Plant and the Green Resilient Electricity System Project (GRESP).
The German Government, through KfW, is committing €35 million, while the European Union (EU) is committing €17.94 million towards these transformative projects.
The agreement was signed by the National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary, Hon. FCPA John Mbadi, on behalf of Kenya.
The initiatives will enhance power reliability in Western and Nyanza regions, reduce grid losses, support industries, and strengthen the country’s energy security. The upgrade of the Gogo Hydropower Plant, to be implemented by KenGen Kenya, will expand its generation capacity from 2 MW to 8.6 MW.
This marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s clean energy journey and underscores KenGen’s continued role as a driver of sustainable growth and industrialization in the country.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The initiatives will enhance power reliability in Western and Nyanza regions, reduce grid losses, support industries, and strengthen the country’s energy security. The upgrade of the Gogo Hydropower Plant, to be implemented by KenGen Kenya, will expand its generation capacity from 2 MW to 8.6 MW.
This marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s clean energy journey and underscores KenGen’s continued role as a driver of sustainable growth and industrialization in the country.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Zambia: Gov’t Breaks Ground For $80M Chipata Solar Power Project
Zambia has performed a groundbreaking ceremony for the commencement of the Chipata West 100-megawatt (MW) solar power project, as part of plans to address the ongoing load shedding necessitated by drought, which reduced inflows into the Kariba hydroelectric power dam. The project, estimated at $80 million, is expected to be completed in 12 months.
The south-central African nation is hoping to develop solar power projects with the capacity to generate 1,000 megawatts. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in the Eastern Province, the Minister for Energy, Makozo Chikote, in a speech read for him by Deputy Permanent Secretary, Dr. Lewis Mwape, described the project as a beacon of progress under President Hakainde Hichilema’s New Dawn Government, noting that the development comes less than two months after the commissioning of the Chisamba 100MW solar plant.
“This project will provide clean electricity to surrounding communities, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and mitigate the impact of climate change. It is a true demonstration of our President’s vision for a fully electrified Zambia where solar contributes significantly,” the Minister said.
He outlined the government’s Solar Explosion initiative, aimed at expanding renewable energy generation, improving access to clean power, and reducing Zambia’s carbon footprint. Under the initiative, ZESCO has already rolled out solar projects in Chisamba and Serenje, with similar plants planned nationwide.
He also highlighted key reforms driving energy sector growth, including: Net Metering Regulations, Electricity Open Access Regulations and Energy Single Licensing System.
To further improve electricity access, Minister Chikote pointed to the National Electricity Advancement Transformation (NEAT) programme, which has reduced connection fees from K4,864 to K300, with the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) covering the difference.
“This means many families and small businesses who could not previously afford power will now switch on their lights,” he said.
“With projects like this, we are moving together toward a brighter, safer, more connected Zambia.”
The Chief Operations Officer of ZESCO, Mr. Peter Chamfya, reaffirmed the utility’s commitment to scaling up renewable energy, saying ZESCO is working with the private sector, including China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), and to implement the Chipata West project to help reduce the current power deficit.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
He also highlighted key reforms driving energy sector growth, including: Net Metering Regulations, Electricity Open Access Regulations and Energy Single Licensing System.
To further improve electricity access, Minister Chikote pointed to the National Electricity Advancement Transformation (NEAT) programme, which has reduced connection fees from K4,864 to K300, with the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) covering the difference.
“This means many families and small businesses who could not previously afford power will now switch on their lights,” he said.
“With projects like this, we are moving together toward a brighter, safer, more connected Zambia.”
The Chief Operations Officer of ZESCO, Mr. Peter Chamfya, reaffirmed the utility’s commitment to scaling up renewable energy, saying ZESCO is working with the private sector, including China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), and to implement the Chipata West project to help reduce the current power deficit.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Ukrainian Drones Hit Another Russian Oil Refinery
A Lukoil refinery in the Russian city of Volgograd is on fire after being hit by Ukrainian drones overnight, Andrey Bocharov, governor of the Volgograd region, said on Tuesday.
The Volgograd refinery is Lukoil’s second-biggest crude processing facility in Russia and a key fuel supplier to the southern federal district in the country.
Russia has said it had shot down 13 Ukrainian drones over the Volgograd region on August 19, the Kyiv Independent reports.
The attack on the Volgograd refinery is the latest in a series of at least half a dozen drone strikes at refineries in Russia from Ukraine since the beginning of August.
Hours before the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska last week, Ukraine said it had struck an oil refinery in Russia and a Caspian port that Moscow uses to ship weapons from Iran for the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine said it attacked the Syzran refinery, owned by oil giant Rosneft and located in Russia’s Samara region, about 500 miles from the Ukrainian border with Russia.
The refinery, one of the largest in Rosneft’s network, produces a wide range of fuels and supplies fuel to the Russian army, the Ukrainian army said last Friday.
The Tuesday attack on Lukoil’s Volgograd refinery came hours after talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, where the Ukrainian President was accompanied by the leaders of the most influential European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and Italy.
Following the talks and renewed prospects of peace in Ukraine, oil prices continued to slide on Tuesday, in anticipation of potential trilateral Trump-Zelenskyy-Putin talks that could result in a peace deal.
That would likely also result in the lifting of sanctions on Russian crude, making more of it available on global markets.
Meanwhile, Russia is set to boost its export of crude in the coming weeks, due to attacks on its refineries and halts to oil processing at these.
Source: Oilprice.com
Ghana: GRIDCo Gets New Board
President John Dramani Mahama has appointed a seven-member board of directors for the Ghana Grid Company Limited. The new board is chaired by Mrs. Kuukua Maurice Ankrah, Esq.
The new board includes Ing. Mark Awuah Baah (Acting CEO of GRIDCo), Ing. Daniel Atchule, Mr. Joshua Anaman Sackey, Mr. Muhammed Bashiru Nii Narh Alema, Hon. Solomon Kuyon, and Hon. Joseph Kwame Kumah.
At the swearing-in ceremony, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, underscored the importance of strengthening the national grid to improve power transmission across the country.
He noted that Ghana’s rising power demand requires continuous investment in both generation and transmission infrastructure.
“There is a critical need to expand the grid with additional facilities to evacuate power efficiently and reliably,” the Minister stressed.
He charged the new Board to work diligently to ensure that GRIDCo delivers on its mandate of maintaining a robust and reliable transmission network to support Ghana’s economic growth.
The Energy Minister expressed confidence in the Board’s capacity to provide strategic direction and oversight, adding that a strengthened grid system is essential for reliable electricity supply to homes, businesses, and industries nationwide.
The Chairperson, Mrs. Kuukua Maurice Ankrah, Esq., expressed her commitment to the task ahead, pledging to work diligently to meet the government’s objectives.
She acknowledged the importance of GRIDCo in ensuring reliable power transmission and contributing to Ghana’s economic development.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
He noted that Ghana’s rising power demand requires continuous investment in both generation and transmission infrastructure.
“There is a critical need to expand the grid with additional facilities to evacuate power efficiently and reliably,” the Minister stressed.
He charged the new Board to work diligently to ensure that GRIDCo delivers on its mandate of maintaining a robust and reliable transmission network to support Ghana’s economic growth.
The Energy Minister expressed confidence in the Board’s capacity to provide strategic direction and oversight, adding that a strengthened grid system is essential for reliable electricity supply to homes, businesses, and industries nationwide.
The Chairperson, Mrs. Kuukua Maurice Ankrah, Esq., expressed her commitment to the task ahead, pledging to work diligently to meet the government’s objectives.
She acknowledged the importance of GRIDCo in ensuring reliable power transmission and contributing to Ghana’s economic development.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com US: Trump Administration Bans Solar On Farmland
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has banned the use of farmland for the construction of solar installations, effective immediately.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the decision on X, saying, “Millions of acres of prime farmland is left unusable so Green New Deal subsidized solar panels can be built. This destruction of our farms and prime soil is taking away the futures of the next generation of farmers and the future of our country.”
“Starting today, @USDA will no longer deploy programs to fund solar or wind projects on productive farmland, ending massive taxpayer handouts. Also ENDING the use of panels made by foreign adversaries like China.”
Building solar installations on farmland has become a popular practice in the U.S. and, more recently, in the UK as well, as in other parts of Europe.
Solar developers can offer farmers more money to lease their land for solar than they would make from farming it, which has motivated many to accept such deals.
Yet concern about this trend has been growing as well, since farmland is used to literally produce food, and replacing food production with electricity production has sparked concerns about food security.
Reuters reports that the Department of Agriculture had previously funded over $2 billion worth of wind and energy projects via its Rural Energy for America program.
The publication also cited figures from 2020 as showing the amount of farmland “affected” by wind and solar stood at a total of 424,000 acres, which was less than 0.05% of the nation’s total farmland, which in turn stood at close to 900 million acres, again per Department of Agriculture data.
However, chances are that the amount affected by wind and solar has grown since 2020, with the Biden administration’s complete support for all forms of alternative energy with a special focus on wind and solar.
Source: Oilprice.com
Nigeria: Prez Tinubu Commissions WAGL’s 40,000 CBM LPG Vessel In South Korea
Nigeria is poised to deliver clean and sustainable energy solutions not just in-country but also across Africa and beyond, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to a press release by NNPC Limited.
He made these remarks at the commissioning ceremony of a 40,000 cubic meters (CBM) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel, christened “MT Iyaloja (Lagos),” in Ulsan, South Korea, on Monday, August 18, 2025.
The vessel, owned by WAGL Energy Limited (an NNPC Ltd./Sahara Group Joint Venture), is a dual-fuel, fully refrigerated LPG carrier. This latest addition brings WAGL’s total LPG vessel capacity to 162,000 CBM. Other vessels in the fleet include MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet.
Represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, the President commended WAGL Energy Limited, NNPC Limited, and Sahara Group for their strategic foresight, technical excellence, and unwavering dedication to expanding Africa’s role in the global clean energy value chain.
The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described WAGL’s LPG vessel as a great addition to gas development efforts in Nigeria.
The GCEO, represented by the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, added that the vessel would be crucial in realizing the impact of gas in Nigeria’s economic development.
According to him, NNPC Ltd. is deepening its commitment to ensuring LPG affordability, availability, and access nationwide.
“NNPC Ltd. is proud to be a major shareholder in this indigenous company, which, in addition to the newly commissioned MT Iyaloja (Lagos), owns four other LPG vessels in its growing fleet, delivering over 6 million MT of LPG across West Africa over the last 5 years,” he added.
Also speaking, WAGL’s Chairman/Executive Director at Sahara Group, Mr. Temitope Shonubi, noted that the company’s expansion demonstrates its vision of responsibly driving efforts aimed at bridging the continent’s critical energy infrastructure gap.
“The addition of MT Iyaloja (Lagos) embodies the spirit of progress and empowerment championed by the iconic Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, whose legacy we honor. Sahara Group is proud of its partnership with NNPC Ltd. and reaffirms its commitment to partnerships that drive energy access in Africa,” he added.
WAGL’s Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Sani Bello, stressed that the company is dedicated to expanding its integrated supply network across the entire energy value chain.
“WAGL already has plans to further expand the fleet within the next two years with the addition of a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC),” he added.
The symbolic ribbon-cutting of MT Iyaloja (Lagos), named in honor of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, MFR (the late mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu), was a performed by her granddaughter, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Alhaja Folasade Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described WAGL’s LPG vessel as a great addition to gas development efforts in Nigeria.
The GCEO, represented by the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, added that the vessel would be crucial in realizing the impact of gas in Nigeria’s economic development.
According to him, NNPC Ltd. is deepening its commitment to ensuring LPG affordability, availability, and access nationwide.
“NNPC Ltd. is proud to be a major shareholder in this indigenous company, which, in addition to the newly commissioned MT Iyaloja (Lagos), owns four other LPG vessels in its growing fleet, delivering over 6 million MT of LPG across West Africa over the last 5 years,” he added.
Also speaking, WAGL’s Chairman/Executive Director at Sahara Group, Mr. Temitope Shonubi, noted that the company’s expansion demonstrates its vision of responsibly driving efforts aimed at bridging the continent’s critical energy infrastructure gap.
“The addition of MT Iyaloja (Lagos) embodies the spirit of progress and empowerment championed by the iconic Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, whose legacy we honor. Sahara Group is proud of its partnership with NNPC Ltd. and reaffirms its commitment to partnerships that drive energy access in Africa,” he added.
WAGL’s Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Sani Bello, stressed that the company is dedicated to expanding its integrated supply network across the entire energy value chain.
“WAGL already has plans to further expand the fleet within the next two years with the addition of a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC),” he added.
The symbolic ribbon-cutting of MT Iyaloja (Lagos), named in honor of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, MFR (the late mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu), was a performed by her granddaughter, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Alhaja Folasade Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: Prof Gatsi Chairs Energy Commission Board
President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Prof. John Gartchie Gatsi, a former Dean of the University of Cape Coast School of Business and Advisor to the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, as the Chairman of the newly constituted Board of the Energy Commission Ghana.
The Energy Commission Ghana is the technical regulator for electricity and natural gas, with a mandate to regulate and manage the development and utilization of energy resources in Ghana.
The Commission provides the legal, regulatory, and supervisory framework for all energy providers in the country, including granting licenses for the transmission, wholesale, supply, distribution, and sale of electricity and natural gas.
The board members include Ing. Mrs. Eunice A. Biritwum (Ag. Executive Secretary), Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, Mr. Danny Adzei Anang, Ms. Yorm Ama Abledu, Prof. Dr. Ernest Ofori Asamoah, and Hon. Naser Mahama Toure.
Academic Credentials
Prof. Gatsi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Ghana, Legon.
He also holds a Master of Science degree in Finance and a Master of Science degree in International Accounting from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden. Additionally, he holds a PhD in Finance from the Central University of Nicaragua.
Prof. Gatsi is a Chartered Economist and a Chartered Petroleum Economist, a member of the Institute of Directors-Ghana, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Financial Management and the Association of Certified Chartered Economists (ACCE). He is also the Founder and Director of the John Gatsi Educational Foundation.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Energy Minister Inaugurates New Energy Commission Board
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor (MP), has inaugurated the newly reconstituted board of the Energy Commission of Ghana, regulator for electricity and natural gas.
The new board is chaired by Prof. John Gartchie Gatsi, a former Dean of the University of Cape Coast School of Business and Advisor to the Governor of the Bank of Ghana.
The board members include Ing. Mrs. Eunice A. Biritwum (Ag. Executive Secretary), Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, Mr. Danny Adzei Anang, Ms. Yorm Ama Abledu, Prof. Dr. Ernest Ofori Asamoah, and Hon. Naser Mahama Toure.
Addressing the new board, Minister for Energy and Green Transition John Abdulai Jinapor underscored the critical role the commission plays in Ghana’s energy sector. “Ghana is at a pivotal stage; private sector participation in the electricity distribution value chain, green transition agenda, gas as a transition fuel, and implementation of the liquid fuel-to-gas swap, competitive procurement of new generation capacity and standardization of PPAs, and attracting investment for resilient infrastructure. The Commission is the principal advisor to government on power issues.”
He emphasized that their decisions would be pivotal in enhancing progress made so far, addressing current challenges, and capitalizing on opportunities within the power sector.
The Minister further charged the new board, urging them to “provide strategic direction and visionary leadership. Be bold, innovative, transparent, and uphold good governance.”
The Board Chairman, Prof. John Gartchie Gatsi, expressed gratitude to the President and assured the Minister that the Board’s decisions would align with the government’s key priorities.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
He emphasized that their decisions would be pivotal in enhancing progress made so far, addressing current challenges, and capitalizing on opportunities within the power sector.
The Minister further charged the new board, urging them to “provide strategic direction and visionary leadership. Be bold, innovative, transparent, and uphold good governance.”
The Board Chairman, Prof. John Gartchie Gatsi, expressed gratitude to the President and assured the Minister that the Board’s decisions would align with the government’s key priorities.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com Kenya: Kingpin Behind Illegal Electricity Connections In Meru County Arrested
Kenya Power has announced the arrest of a man suspected to be a key mastermind behind illegal electricity connections in Igembe North and Igembe South sub-counties of Meru County. The suspect, Japhet Kirimi alias “Senator,” was arrested on Saturday, August 16, 2025, in Maua town after being spotted by a complainant.
Mr. Kirimi, who had previously been arrested in February 2024 for arson, had been on the run until his capture. The suspect was arrested by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations based on intelligence.
During a visit to Mpinda village, the officers established that the suspect, together with his accomplices, including Ibrahim Gituma, had constructed an extensive underground electricity network.
The illegal connections were found to be powering more than 21 borehole pumps supplying water to miraa farms in Mpinda, Kabuitu, Kanyakine, Muthucine, Mangala, and surrounding areas. Kenya Power’s Managing Director & CEO, Dr. Joseph Siror, commended the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and other law enforcement agencies for their collaboration in tackling energy theft.
“We are grateful to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and other law enforcement agencies working closely with us to weed out illegal activities within our network. Beyond financial losses, illegal power connections expose the public to the danger of electrocution and compromise the quality of electricity supply to our customers. We will not relent until all illegalities are eliminated,” Dr. Siror said.
The illegal connections caused transformer failures, with 14 transformers destroyed and replaced at a cost of KShs. 21 million. Additionally, the estimated revenue lost from supplying electricity illegally to the 21 boreholes over a period of four years stands at KShs. 90.7 million.
Hon. James Opiyo Wandayi, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary, emphasized the government’s commitment to dealing with these illegalities. “Illegal activities on the electricity network, such as theft of power and vandalism, not only compromise the quality of energy supply but also jeopardize the country’s economic development. The Government is committed to ensuring that these illegalities are dealt with in the full force of the law.”
Kenya Power is undertaking countrywide operations as part of the ongoing war on illegal installations that pose a serious danger to the public and contribute to energy losses. Illegal activities within the electricity distribution network account for commercial energy losses estimated at about 6% of the total electricity purchased from generators annually.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GNPC, Petroleum Commission Sign Strategic Partnership Deal
Ghana’s national oil company (GNPC) and the Petroleum Commission Ghana, the upstream regulator, have signed a Promotion, Marketing, and Revenue Sharing Agreement.
This partnership aims to advance the country’s upstream petroleum sector by jointly promoting and marketing data from GNPC’s Reconnaissance License on the Voltaian Basin Project.
The agreement, signed at GNPC’s Training Centre, establishes a clear structure for the joint promotion and marketing of 2D seismic and geochemical data collected by GNPC. It also outlines the process for sharing revenue generated from future data licensing activities.
This collaboration is designed to accelerate investment in Ghana’s onshore sedimentary basin and ensure fair value creation from national data resources.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of GNPC, Mr. Kwame Ntow Amoah, described the agreement as a significant step toward maximizing the value of Ghana’s data assets through transparency and cooperation between the national oil company and the regulator.
He urged all stakeholders to remain committed to unlocking the full potential of the Voltaian Basin, which he called a “lifeline” for the nation’s energy future.
“With the right investment and commitment, we can replicate the success of Ghana’s offshore sector right here onshore and lead this development on our terms,” he added.
Ms. Emeafa Hardcastle, Acting CEO of the Petroleum Commission Ghana, welcomed the agreement as a timely and forward-looking partnership. She highlighted the collaboration as a demonstration of both institutions’ dedication to advancing Ghana’s upstream agenda.
“This agreement couldn’t have come at a better time,” she stated, thanking GNPC for its sustained collaboration and promising the Commission’s full support in marketing Ghana’s resources for the benefit of all.
The Voltaian Basin Project is GNPC’s flagship initiative to unlock the country’s untapped hydrocarbon potential in its inland sedimentary basin. This new agreement marks a crucial step in that effort.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Acting Chief Executive Officer of GNPC, Mr. Kwame Ntow Amoah, described the agreement as a significant step toward maximizing the value of Ghana’s data assets through transparency and cooperation between the national oil company and the regulator.
He urged all stakeholders to remain committed to unlocking the full potential of the Voltaian Basin, which he called a “lifeline” for the nation’s energy future.
“With the right investment and commitment, we can replicate the success of Ghana’s offshore sector right here onshore and lead this development on our terms,” he added.
Ms. Emeafa Hardcastle, Acting CEO of the Petroleum Commission Ghana, welcomed the agreement as a timely and forward-looking partnership. She highlighted the collaboration as a demonstration of both institutions’ dedication to advancing Ghana’s upstream agenda.
“This agreement couldn’t have come at a better time,” she stated, thanking GNPC for its sustained collaboration and promising the Commission’s full support in marketing Ghana’s resources for the benefit of all.
The Voltaian Basin Project is GNPC’s flagship initiative to unlock the country’s untapped hydrocarbon potential in its inland sedimentary basin. This new agreement marks a crucial step in that effort.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com