A Deputy Minister for Energy in the Republic of Ghana, William Owuraku Aidoo, has called on Ghanaians to patronise the locally-made electrical cables and accessories to boost the country’s economy and also encourage the cable manufacturers to remain in business.
“I urge all Ghanaians to patronise Ghanaian-made electrical wiring materials,” he said.
The Deputy Minister made the call in his keynote address at the launching of ‘Syllabus and Guidelines for the electrical wiring regulations, 2011(LI 2008) and the USAID/WAEP’ sponsored electrical wiring certification scholarship scheme.
Some of the local companies into the production of cables are Tropical Cables and Conductors Ltd, Reroy Cables and Nexans Kabelmetal Ghana Ltd.
The Deputy Minister also called on Ghanaian businesses to take advantage of the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative being spearheaded by the government to establish factories to produce electrical wiring cables and accessories.
A Scottish court handed BP (BP.L) a win over Greenpeace on Thursday after the environmental group tried to void the energy company’s licence to exploit a North Sea oilfield, saying the climate impact of the end-use of oil should not affect permits.
Greenpeace had said the emissions from the ultimate consumption of the oil – rather than just the smaller amount of emissions from the extraction process – should be the criterion for granting a licence.
It also said there had been errors in the consultation process preceding the granting of the permit.
UK regulators approved the 20,000 barrels per day Vorlich field, off the coast of Aberdeen, Scotland, in 2018 and it started producing in late 2020.
Judge Colin Sutherland of Scotland’s Court of Session in a ruling on Thursday said Greenpeace had the opportunity to engage in the process before the permit was granted.
“The question is whether the consumption of oil and gas by the end user, once the oil and gas have been extracted from the wells, transported, refined and sold to consumers, and then used by them are ‘direct or indirect significant effects of the relevant project’. The answer is that it is not,” the judge said in his decision, seen by Reuters.
“It would not be practicable, in an assessment of the environmental effects of a project for the extraction of fossil fuels, for the decision maker to conduct a wide ranging examination into the effects, local or global, of the use of that fuel by the final consumer.”
Typically permits are granted according to how emissions-efficient the extraction process itself is.
Greenpeace said it would seek an appeal before the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
“We will not give up the fight for the climate,” Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said in a statement.
BP’s emissions from operating and powering assets such as oilfields, known as Scope 1 and 2, were 54 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent last year, while those of the end-use of its products, known as Scope 3, were 328 million tonnes.
BP has pledged to become a net zero company, including its Scope 3 emissions, by 2050.
It had no immediate comment on Thursday’s ruling, which follows a series of legal actions brought by climate campaigners that are increasingly turning to the courts to try cut fossil fuel use. They have scored wins in cases against energy major Royal Dutch Shell
Source: Reuters
A top executive of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) says the privatization of Nigeria’s electricity sector has been a curse and increased the suffering of Nigerians.
According to Comrade Kayode Martins, Chairman of the Oyo State Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress, privatization has benefited few, leaving the majority of Nigerians to suffer.
Speaking at a public symposium organised by the Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE), Oyo State, themed: ‘Privatization of Electricity, Curse or Blessing?’, Comrade Kayode Martins pointed out that electricity privatization would have been a greater benefit to Nigerians particularly the artisans if it were sold to the right handlers.
He lamented that some youth and artisans have become jobless due to epilepsy power supply by the Distribution Company of Nigeria (DISCO).
Mr Martins noted that those benefiting from the rot would say there is nothing wrong with the power sector because it is a blessing for them.
He said the government has failed to play its part.
“PHCN was not sold; the government still has 40% stake but it has failed to play its part. We are blessed with a lot of resources in this nation…power privatization would have been a blessing if the management were committed to the right person, but it rather had the people suffering,” he noted.
The convener of the Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE), Oyo State, Comrade Akinbodunse Shedrak described privatization as a waste of money because the government is still pumping money into a system that is not yielding positive results.
“We were promised that every house in Nigeria will be metered within three months before the privatization. The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission is one of the problems electricity consumers are having,” Shedrak emphasised.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
The Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc has appealed to residents in communities at Okeho (LGA) in the Oyo State in Nigeria to remain calm, assuring that their power supply situation would soon improve.
A statement by the Chief Operating Officer of the Company, Engr. John Ayodele said that 132KV-line supplies the 11 LGs from the Oyo town to Iseyin, Okeho, Otu, Paapo, Ago-Are up to Saki, and this puts a lot of pressure on the infrastructure, which is the reason for its poor performance.
In response to this challenge, the Federal Government has commenced the construction of a new 132KV-line to augment and improve the present supply.
“In addition, we are about to energize the control room at Ogan to enable effective supply arrangement by stepping down the 33KV line to 11KV to serve the communities better,” he promised the customers.
Engr. Ayodele further said that Okeho is on service band E, which means that they should get an average supply of four hours daily, but currently, they get an average of five hours. Also, in line with the NERC stipulated tariff, the communities are billed monthly on a cumulative average of computerized daily supply in compliance with the capping policy.
“IBEDC is a customer-centric organization, and we are working on metering our customers to put an end to the billing issues. As soon as we begin more deployment of meters under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) or any other scheme approved by NERC, we shall continue to meter our customers based on the service band categorization for ease of distribution,”
Engr. Ayodele said.
He, on that note, pleaded with the esteemed customers at Okeho to remain patient and embrace constructive dialogue to ensure better outcomes.
Ghana’s second-largest state owned power generation company, Bui Power Authority (BPA) says the shutdown of Atuabo Gas Processing will not lead to power outages in the West African nation.
According to the Authority, it will make available all its four units totaling 404 Megawatts to compensate for any shortfall in power supply.
Aside making the four units hydropower plant available, the Authority is operating its 50MWp solar farm, which is the largest in Ghana and West Africa.
Part of the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant operated by Ghana National Gas Company was shutdown on Monday, October 4, 2021 for routine maintenance.
This has curtailed gas supply from 250MMcfd to 120 MMcfd to power plants in the Western power exclave from . The Bui power plant which usually comes online during peak periods is therefore, coming in to save the situation.
“Bui power is coming to save the situation because we are ordered to run all our 4 turbines and solar plants 24/7,” Chief Executive Officer of BPA Mr Samuel Kofi Dzamesi told energynewsafrica.com.
During the first half of the year, the Bui Power Plant was doing it’s normal peaking operation due to the relatively low level of water in the Bui reservoir.
The Bui reservoir is however currently almost full due to influx of water from Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso into the Black Volta which is the source of water for Bui reservoir.
At a meeting recently the BPA CEO, Mr Samuel Kofi Dzamesi assured the CEO of Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Mr Ebenezer Essienyi that his outfit will make all their generating units available during the period to avoid load shedding and the need to procure liquid fuel for the thermal power plants.
During the meeting, the newly-appointed BPA’s CEO expressed his gratitude to the GRIDCo CEO and staff for the effective collaboration in managing the Bui reservoir to avoid or prevent spillage this year.
In order to ensure that GRIDCo meets the high power demand during Christmas period, BPA stressed that GRIDCo provide prior information about the usual Christmas peak load dispatch which GRIDCo agreed to send a detailed dispatch schedule to BPA.
GRIDCo indicated that most thermal power plants will shut down in the first quarter of the year for their planned maintenance activities and, therefore, BPA should ensure that the Bui generating units are available to supply power to meet the demand during the period.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s premier oil refinery, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has discovered that 18 drums of electrical cables worth and GHS10.4 million has disappeared from its Technical Storehouse.
The disappearance of the electrical cables was detected in April 2021.
Additionally, the company discovered that on 4th September 2021, 105, 927 litres of gas oil, which belongs to a BDC client, disappeared.
It also detected the disappearance of an LPG product belonging to a client between 2012 and 2015, as a result of which TOR was indebted to the client to the tune of USD4.8 million, as confirmed by an Ernst and Young audit.
It further detected the wrongful loading of 252,000 litres of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) instead of regular kerosene into BRV trucks at the loading gantry between 21st and 25th September 2021.
These revelations were contained in a statement issued on Monday, October 5, 2021, by TOR’s Interim Management Committee (IMC).
The statement also cited the issuance of an unauthorized letter admitting debt liability to TOR with attendant computation of interest without the approval of the IMC and loss of Naphtha to a BDC client.
The three IMC chaired by Ing. Norbert Anku was constituted in June 2021 after the dismissal of the Managing Director of TOR Mr Francis Boateng and his deputy Mr Herbert Ato Morrison.
The statement confirmed the interdiction of some staff of the refinery for their roles in causing financial loss to the company as earlier reported by energynewsafrica.com.
“The Interim Management Committee (IMC) at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Ltd. has, as part of its ongoing mandate to conduct Technical and HR audits, and also access viable business partnerships for the Refinery have concluded that consistent product and financial losses need to be eradicated if the Refinery is to meet its vast potential.
Hence the IMC has committed to establishing a ‘zero-tolerance culture for unacceptable product losses’, commenced investigations into several product storages and transfer losses recorded in the company over some time.
“Consequently, several workers who hold various positions of responsibility and accountability concerning the transfer of products have been queried and interdicted pending the outcome of investigations.
“The IMC, however, wishes to reiterate that the investigations will be carried out with due consideration to a fair process. We implore everyone to be patient and not jump to any conclusions until investigations have been completed.
“Individuals who are found not responsible nor accountable for the financial and product losses would be fully restored while those found responsible and accountable in the chain of command (concerning product losses during storage, movement and transfer will be dealt with accordingly.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Gasoline and diesel shortages have eased in London and southeast England and the situation in the rest of Britain has improved further, according to an industry group representing independent fuel vendors.
The Petrol Retailers Association said 15% of forecourts in and around the capital were dry, down from 22% on Sunday, but 21% still had only one grade of fuel.
Britain deployed military tanker drivers on Monday to help deliver fuel after a chaotic week of panic-buying.
“Whilst there has been a significant reduction in dry sites, these areas are still lagging behind in having both grades of fuel available compared to the rest of the UK,” said Gordon Balmer, the PRA’s executive director.
Across the rest of the country, 86% of sites reported having both grades of fuel while 3% had only one grade and 11% were dry, the PRA said.
Source :Reuters
The Management of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) is demanding the arrest and prosecution of the youth of Tamale who went on a rampage at the company, vandalizing some of their offices.
Speaking exclusively to Energynewsafrica.com, the Corporate Communications Manager of NEDCo, Maxwell Kotoka was of the view that arresting the culprits and allowing the laws of Ghana to deal with them would serve as a deterrent.
He explained that the management of the company had met with Yaa-Naa to help fashion out strategies to ensure peace to enable their staff to resume work safely.
“Management wished that we had not reached or didn’t get to this far, but that is where we find ourselves. But as I have told you, we are in talks and negotiating with our staff and urging them to come back to work,” he noted.
According to him, the workers would have loved to go out to work but human lives are worth more than the revenue.
Mr Kotoka observed that the company was doing in-rolls until the setback but expressed the hope that a swift solution would be found for the challenges.
For the workers to resume work, he called for their safety, stressing that though the security agencies were protecting their offices, offering the same kind of service to workers would go a long way to help heal the process.
Meanwhile, the Overlord of the Dagbon State, Nidan Ya-Na Abubakar II, has advised the youth to desist from any action that would further disturb the peace of the Tamale metropolis.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has commended the Ghana Energy Awards (GEA) as a great initiative for the energy sector, particularly given the stringent processes attached to its organisation and the integrity of the people featured on its panel.
“I think that you’re onto something great. I’m impressed by the credibility of the people associated with the awards through the Awarding Panel,” he said and added that in recognition of the nature of the awards scheme, he would, henceforth, personally encourage and facilitate the participation of all agencies under his Ministry in subsequent events.
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh made these comments when a delegation from the Ghana Energy Awards called on him at the Ministry.
The visit was to brief the Minister on the upcoming ‘5th Ghana Energy Awards’, which is scheduled for 19th November 2021 at the Labadi Beach Hotel, in the capital of Ghana.
The delegation was led by Lawyer Kwame Jantuah, an Energy Consultant, who is the Chairman of the GEA Awarding Panel.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister for Energy
He was accompanied by Professor Felix Asante, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, in charge of Research, Innovation and Development; Dr Lawrence Tetteh, Economist, renowned Evangelist, who are Panel members; Ing. Henry Tenor, Chief Executive of the Energy Media Group, the Event Director; Nicholas Frimpong-Manso, MD of GP Business Consulting, Co-organiser of the event; with Patricia Danful and Cornelius Atiase from the Awards Secretariat.
The Ghana Energy Awards aims at recognising players in the energy sector through awards and acknowledging their accomplishments in the public and private sectors, as well as the non-governmental space.
According to the Awards Secretariat, the Ghana Energy Awards, since its institution in 2017, has built a name and brand within the sector that ensures continued interest from the sector itself.
Categories for this year include the Energy Personality of the Year, CEO of the Year, Excellence in Digital Service Delivery, Energy Institution of the Year, Digitalisation Project of the Year, Energy Company of the Year, Rising Star and Energy Reporter of the Year.
The 5th Anniversary Ghana Energy Awards is under the theme: ‘Digitalised Energy Sector: The Key For A Resilient Economic Future’.
According to the Chairman of the Awarding Panel, Lawyer Kwame Jantuah, an influencing factor on the choice of theme was the realisation of the government’s intent to digitalise a lot of institutions.
“We felt that the energy sector companies and institutions have made a lot of progress in digitalising their operations. So, we felt it was the right time to award those taking digitisation seriously and encourage others in the sector to follow suit,” Lawyer Jantuah said.
He further noted that at the close of the nominations’ window, the Awarding Panel undertakes a thorough and independent scoring process, with final output by the validators, Mazars Ghana.
“We go through this rigorous process to keep the scheme security proof and ensure a fair competitive environment,” he said.
The organiser of the Awards, Ing. Henry Teinor disclosed that before the main awards ceremony, the Secretariat embarks on varied pre-event activities including the Media Launch, Energy Personalities Outreach Programme, Courtesy Calls on the industry, Site Visitation to nominees’ projects sites and participation in the Renewable Energy Fair Exhibition.
He said nominations for the 5th Anniversary Ghana Energy Awards is officially opened until 20th October 2021. Applicants can visit www.ghanaenergyawards.com to file nominations or call 055 930 0631 for sponsorship or other enquiries.
The Ghana Energy Awards is organised by the Energy Media Group, in partnership with GP Business Consulting and endorsed by the Ministry of Energy and the World Energy Council Ghana, with validation by Mazars Ghana.
Industry partners include the Volta River Authority, Bui Power Authority, Ghana Gas, Energy Commission, Meinergy Technology, Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Sunon Asogli Power, COPEC Ghana and the Association of Oil Marketing Companies.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ivorian President His Excellency Alassane Ouattara and Claudio Descalzi, Chief Executive Officer of Eni have met to discuss the progress of Eni’s activities in the country, following the giant offshore oil discovery of Baleine 1-X.
The Italian oil and gas giant announced in September a major oil discovery in block CI-101, in what was the company’s first exploration well drilled in the West African nation.
The Baleine-1x well was drilled using the Saipem 10,000 drillship.
At the meeting last week, Eni CEO and President Ouattara discussed Baleine’s appraisal and fast-track development plans.
According to Eni, President Ouattara highlighted his strong political will to support investments and a fast time-to-market through an effective collaboration from his Government.
The discovery, which took place 20 years after the last commercial discovery in the area, opens up a new exploration concept in a mature basin, Eni said.
“Baleine’s potential is estimated in excess of 2 billion barrels of oil in place and about 2.4 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of associated gas. Its significant gas volumes will contribute to power generation in Ivory Coast, strengthening the country’s role as a regional energy hub,” Eni said.
Eni also said that President Ouattara and Descalzi had discussed on how to deliver a net-zero carbon development project, complementing oil and gas with renewables and other decarbonization initiatives such as UN REDD+ programs for the protection of primary forests and biodiversity.
Also, the duo discussed ways to boost local content development of local content, facilitating the participation of local people and businesses in Eni’s industrial activities, through transfer of skills and knowledge and the reinforcement of communities’ skills assets.
To enhance capabilities and human resources, Eni Corporate University (ECU) and Ecole Supérieure du Pétrole et de l’Energie will collaborate, too.
Fourteen top management executives of the state-owned Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) in the Republic of Ghana have been interdicted for petroleum products losses running into over US$14 million.
A three-member Interim Management Committee (IMC) chaired by Ing. Nobert Cormla-Djamposu Aku uncovered the massive rot at the struggling state oil refinery spanning from 2012, energynewsafrica.com’s sources within the refinery have revealed.
The IMC was constituted by the country’s Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, to undertake technical and human resource audits as well as receiving and assessing viable partnerships for TOR.
This was after the dismissal of the Managing Director of TOR, Mr Francis Boateng, and his Deputy, Mr Ato Morrison, in June this year.
According to energynewsafrica.com’s sources, the ICM has been working tirelessly and scrutinising the transactions of the refinery since 2012.
A document intercepted by energynewsafrica.com named Daniel Osei Appiah, Director for Finance; Abraham Quayson, Head of Production; Julius Ogo at the RFCC; Christopher Boateng, Movement of Product Unit; Daniel Fugah, Production Unit; Kobina Takyi Koomson, Production Unit; Matthew Adu-Gyamfi, Production Unit; William Frimpong, Production Unit, Emmanuel Tetteh Doku, Movement of Production Unit; Edmond Kojo Baiden, Movement of Product Unit; George Kweku Gaisie, Finance Department; Joseph Akure, Finance Department; Abu Osman, Distribution; and Victor Dekayie, Import & Export (Shipping).
These persons were interdicted on Tuesday, September 28, 2021.
Energynewsafrica.com understands that some of the managers, supervisors and union executives have appeared before the National Intelligence Bureau Ghana for the role they played in the losses of the refinery.
According to energynewsafrica.com’s sources, the IMC uncovered US＄4.5 million in losses at one department while it uncovered US$10 million in another department.
The technology group Wärtsilä has signed a 5-year long-term Operation & Maintenance (O&M) agreement with Lafarge Africa Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading building material producers.
The agreement covers the 100 MW Lafarge Ewekoro power plant, which provides a dedicated supply of electricity to the company’s concrete and cement manufacturing processes.
Signing of the O&M agreement took place in July 2021, and is an extension of a previous 10-year agreement.
The captive Ewekoro plant was supplied and commissioned by Wärtsilä in 2011. It consists of six Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines, operating primarily on gas, but with the flexibility to automatically switch to liquid fuel in case of a disruption to the gas supply.
Similarly, should the quality of the gas supply be disrupted, the Wärtsilä engines will continue to operate efficiently, delivering an assured and reliable power supply to the facility.
Unlike gas turbine plants, the engines will also function efficiently with a low-pressure gas supply, thus providing a huge advantage given the region’s vulnerability to such interruptions.
The captive power plant provides the cement production facilities steady supply of electricity and an efficient use of available natural gas as primary fuel. By having Wärtsilä operate and maintain the power plant, the customer can focus on its core business to deliver construction materials to Nigeria.
“We have benefited significantly from the efficient way by which Wärtsilä has operated and maintained this plant for the past ten years, and we had no hesitation in extending the agreement for a further five years. An uninterrupted reliable supply of electricity is essential to our production, and having our own power plant, built, operated and maintained by Wärtsilä, gives us this assurance,” said Lanre Opakunle, Strategic Sourcing Director, Power & Gas, Middle East & Africa, Lafarge – a member of Holcim Group.
“Lafarge has been a customer with whom we have built a strong relationship over a number of years. Their readiness to renew this O&M agreement is a clear indication of satisfaction with our performance, and of how it supports the achievement of their business goals,” commented Marc Thiriet, Energy Business Director, Africa West, Wärtsilä Energy.
The scope of the agreement includes the operating crew, performance guarantees, plant availability, and spare parts.
Wärtsilä has also supplied Lafarge with another 100 MW power plant located in Mfamosing, Nigeria. With a total of 200 MW of generating capacity to the same customer, Wärtsilä has established a high level of trust that validates the efficiency of the company’s flexible and reliable technology.
Since 2010, Wärtsilä has had a strong presence in Nigeria with a total installed capacity of 667 MW. The company locally employs approximately 90 people. In Africa, Wärtsilä has an installed footprint of more than 7000 MW.
The India government has hiked the price of natural gas by 62 per cent, energyworld.com has reported.
Natural gas is used to produce electricity, make fertilizers and turned into CNG to use as fuel in automobiles and cooking gas for household kitchens.
This is the first increase in rates since April 2019 and comes on back of firming benchmark international prices but does not reflect the spurt in spot or current price of liquefied natural gas (LNG) witnessed during the last couple of weeks.
The oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) said the rates paid for gas produced from fields given to state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL) will be USD 2.90 per million British thermal unit for the six-month period beginning April 1.
Simultaneously, the price for gas produced from difficult fields such as deepsea, which is based on a different formula, was hiked to USD 6.13 per mmBtu from the current USD 3.62 per mmBtu.
This is the maximum price that Reliance Industries Ltd and its partner BP plc are entitled to for the gas they produce from deepsea blocks such as KG-D6.
The increase in gas price is likely to result in a 10-11 per cent rise in CNG and piped cooking gas rates in cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, industry sources said.
It will also lead a rise in cost of generating electricity but consumers may not feel any major pinch as the share of power produced from gas is very low.
Similarly, the cost of producing fertiliser will also go up but as the government subsidises the crop nutrient, an increase in rates is unlikely.
At the last revision in April this year, rates paid to ONGC were left unchanged at UD 1.79, while the deepsea gas price was cut from USD 4.06 per mmBtu to USD 3.62.
A USD 1 increase in gas price results in Rs 5,200 crore revenue for ONGC on an annualised basis. After accounting for taxes and other levies, it translates into Rs 3,200-3,300 crore in EBDITA for the company, sources said.
Gas prices were last raised in April 2019 and have since only fallen due to a drop in global benchmark rates.
The Ghana National Gas Company has announced that it will shutdown its Atuabo Gas Processing Plant from Monday, October 4 to Monday, October 18, 2021.
The planned shutdown is to allow for routine maintenance of the facility to improve upon the Atuabo Plant’s capacity of continuous productivity, as well as prolong its lifespan.
In a statement issued by the Corporate Communications Unit of Ghana Gas it said the planned outage is consistent with other shutdown planned by upstream and downstream players.
“All key stakeholders including Ghana Gas, Tullow Oil, ENI, Volta River Authority and MLE, have put in place necessary mechanism to reduce the shutdown duration which would have taken a total of 49 days to 14 days”.
During the Maintenance Shutdown, there shall be an installation of High Integrity Pressure Protection System (HIPPS) and maintenance works on the replacement of Small Bore Piping (SBP), Heat Exchanges cleaning, replacement of damaged Product Cooler, replacement of defective valves, re-calibration of of our Safety Critical Equipment including Pressure Safety Valves (PSVs).
The statement explained that “the key benefit of this shutdown is to enhance operability and reliability of our processing transportation infrastructure.”
The statement assured the stakeholders that Ghana Gas would work with all its partners to ensure system stability during the shutdown and minimise the impact on power supply.
Energynewsafrica.com understands that some of the managers, supervisors and union executives have appeared before the National Intelligence Bureau Ghana for the role they played in the losses of the refinery.
According to energynewsafrica.com’s sources, the IMC uncovered US＄4.5 million in losses at one department while it uncovered US$10 million in another department.
