Gambia: NAWEC Announces Emergency Shutdown Of Bijilo Primary Substation
The Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has shut down the Bijilo Primary Substation to fix a defective underground cable.
In a statement, the company said the current power outage resulting from the repair has been extended until 7:00 PM today.
“This will allow our team to safely and completely repair the defective cable,” NAWEC said.
NAWEC apologised for any inconvenience this may cause and requested the public’s patience and understanding as it works to resolve the issue as swiftly and safely as possible.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: Interim NTCSA CEO Scheppers Returns To Eskom
The Interim Chief Executive Officer of the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), Segomoco Scheppers, is returning to Eskom Holdings, South Africa’s power utility, after concluding his secondment.
Mr. Scheppers was seconded to lead the transition and operationalize the NTCSA business in July 2024 due to his extensive experience in the Transmission Division, having joined Eskom in 1993.
He served at the NTCSA while the executive search process was underway to appoint a permanent Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the subsidiary.
In a statement, NTCSA said Scheppers was shortlisted for the permanent role, but the Board has not yet identified the candidate to lead the business into its next phase.
The NTCSA Board praised Scheppers for his leadership at the NTCSA.
“We owe Segomoco a huge debt of thanks for the skills he brought to bear to take the transmission business to a point of separation and creating the NTCSA as a wholly owned subsidiary of Eskom Holdings,” said Priscillah Mabelane, NTCSA Board Chairperson.
“The NTCSA serves as an important catalyst in the country’s evolving energy supply industry and ending the vertical integration business model for the benefit of consumers.”
“He played a critical role in delivering the NTCSA that is designed to provide the benefits of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act (ERAA), that paves the way for the necessary reforms in South Africa’s electricity sector, including the establishment of a competitive electricity market that will contribute meaningfully to South Africa’s energy security and inclusive economic development,” concluded Mabelane.
The statement said a formal announcement will be made in due course regarding the appointment of an Interim Chief Executive Officer (ICEO) of NTCSA to maintain the continued execution of the strategy, including bringing an accelerated Transmission Development Plan (TDP), ongoing operational unbundling activities as required by legislation, and establishing a fair, competitive market for electricity.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria Sets Higher Oil Production Target
Nigeria’s government has set a new, significantly higher, production target for the national oil company, aiming for 2.5 million barrels daily by the end of this year.
“When the new NNPC management visited me, I increased their oil production target to 2.5 million bpd from the initial two million barrels given to them by the President,” Nigeria’s petroleum resources minister, Heineken Lokpobiri told the Sun on the sidelines of the Oil Technology Conference Africa Energy Forum. Lokpobiri believes the new target would be easy to hit based on the fact that Nigeria reached the same level of production during the pandemic despite the lack of any targeted investments in oil production growth. “The 2.5 million bpd oil production is easily realisable because all the bottlenecks against our oil production are being addressed,” the official said.
Production data shows Nigeria has not produced oil at a rate of 2 million bpd in the past decade, with the peak at close to that figure back in 2016. Since then, production has been in a more or less gradual decline.
Pipeline vandalism and oil theft are two reasons for this, as they discourage additional investments that are much needed for a reversal in production trends. Another reason has been Big Oil strategy that has seen the supermajors curb their presence in Nigeria in favor of other locations with better prospects.
However, Exxon just made a decision to invest $1.5 billion in deepwater oil development in Nigeria. The investment will be made between 2025 and 2027 to revitalize production in the Usan deepwater oilfield, Nigeria’s Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission said this week.
According to Lokpobiri, the problems of pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta are also being addressed, which should facilitate production growth. This just leaves one problem: OPEC+ production control commitments. In this, Nigeria is in luck as Saudi Arabia recently reversed its course, switching from production control to growth.
Zimbabwe: Court Jails Unemployed Man For 10 Years For Stealing Electrical Cables
Zimbabwean court has sentenced Rothman Changara, a 36-year-old unemployed man from Ruvimbo Phase 2 in Chinhoyi, to 10 years in prison for stealing and burning ZESA electrical cables.
The convict’s actions disrupted power supply and endangered critical infrastructure.
According to the state, the incident occurred on February 8, 2025, at around 03:00 hours in Cold Stream, Chinhoyi.
The complainant, a 53-year-old self-employed man, was awoken by the sound of something falling outside his house. Shortly after, the electricity went out.
When he stepped outside to investigate, he discovered that a 30-meter weather deck cable used to transmit power from a ZESA line to his meter box had been cut and stolen.
In a quick response, the complainant and a neighbor observed a distinct shoe print at the scene and decided to track it.
Their search led them to Gadzema Rank, where they noticed a large fire.
Upon approaching, they found the offender actively tending to the flames, which were being used to burn the outer insulation of electricity cables, a common method used to extract copper for resale.
When questioned, the offender failed to give a satisfactory explanation for the origin of the cables.
The shoe print at the fire site matched the one from the crime scene, linking him directly to the theft.
He was arrested on the spot, and the burnt copper wires were seized as evidence.
The wires, weighing approximately 5kg, were weighed at Zimpost and matched the description and value of the stolen cable.
The court found that he acted unlawfully and intentionally caused damage to ZESA infrastructure.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Zambia: ZESCO To Commission 100MW Solar Power Plant In Chisamba By End Of May
The Republic of Zambia is set to commission the Chisamba 100-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) project, executed by ZESCO Limited, at the end of May, this portal can report.
The project, which commenced in 2024, marks a significant shift from depending on hydropower.
Ahead of the project’s commissioning, ZESCO Limited’s Managing Director, Justin Loongo, toured the site alongside the media to enable them to appreciate the company’s efforts in addressing power outages in the country occasioned by prolonged drought.
“We have told Power China [the contractor] that this project was initially 200MW, signed by ZESCO in 2020 and novated to Kariba North Bank Expansion Corporation to do the first phase, which is 100MW. We have, therefore, told Power China that they must continue with the project so that by next year, we can have 200MW of electricity injected into the national grid,” he said.
The Chisamba 100MW solar PV project is part of the government’s strategic direction towards reducing overdependence on climate-risky hydroelectric power.
The Managing Director further disclosed that ZESCO is simultaneously implementing various solar projects across the country.
“We are replicating this solution in many places across the country. From here, our next stop is Serenje, where we have 25MW. The first 25MW will be commissioned this year in June, and an additional 25MW in September,” Eng. Loongo said.
“In Mansa, we are doing another 50MW. We hope this will be brought online by December this year. In Mumbwa, we have another project with the contractor already mobilized. We hope a 50MW will also be injected into the grid in Mumbwa. So, this year, we are implementing many solar solutions to ensure that load shedding is minimized,” he concluded.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
“We have told Power China [the contractor] that this project was initially 200MW, signed by ZESCO in 2020 and novated to Kariba North Bank Expansion Corporation to do the first phase, which is 100MW. We have, therefore, told Power China that they must continue with the project so that by next year, we can have 200MW of electricity injected into the national grid,” he said.
The Chisamba 100MW solar PV project is part of the government’s strategic direction towards reducing overdependence on climate-risky hydroelectric power.
The Managing Director further disclosed that ZESCO is simultaneously implementing various solar projects across the country.
“We are replicating this solution in many places across the country. From here, our next stop is Serenje, where we have 25MW. The first 25MW will be commissioned this year in June, and an additional 25MW in September,” Eng. Loongo said.
“In Mansa, we are doing another 50MW. We hope this will be brought online by December this year. In Mumbwa, we have another project with the contractor already mobilized. We hope a 50MW will also be injected into the grid in Mumbwa. So, this year, we are implementing many solar solutions to ensure that load shedding is minimized,” he concluded.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: Rainstorm Causes Power Outage In Parts Of Tamale
The Northern Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCo) says a storm on the evening of May 7, 2025, has cut power supply to parts of Tamale township. The storm affected several feeders, thereby cutting power supply to parts of Tamale.
A release issued by the Corporate Communications outfit of NEDCo on May 7, 2025, mentioned that the affected areas include Gemani, Gbanyamni, Tuunaayili, Gurugu, Vittin, Yendi Road, Salaga Road, TTH, Kukuo, SSNIT Flats, Koblimahagu, Adubilyill, and their environs.
NEDCo apologized for the inconvenience caused to its cherished customers and assured that relentless efforts by the company were underway to overcome the challenges and restore power as soon as practicable.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: I’ll Sack You If Future Dam Spillage Causes Flooding – Mahama Tells VRA CEO, Deputies
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stern warning to the current leadership of the Volta River Authority (VRA) to ensure that any future Akosombo Dam spillage does not cause flooding as witnessed in 2023.
According to President Mahama, if the catastrophic Akosombo Dam spillage recurs, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Volta River Authority and deputies will be dismissed or forced to resign.
Addressing the nation on Wednesday, May 7, to mark his first 120 days in office, President Mahama emphasised that lessons had been learnt and firm steps were being taken to prevent another disaster.
Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor recently inaugurated a technical committee, headed by former VRA Chief Executive Ing. Kirk Koffi, to investigate the causes of the previous flooding and propose sustainable solutions.
President Mahama said the committee, under Ing. Koffi’s leadership, had proposed key measures, including a controlled spill flood plan and new engineering interventions downstream to better manage flood risks.
He stressed that implementing these recommendations would be immediate and mandatory.
“I’ve instructed that these strategies be executed without delay,” he stressed.
Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, President Mahama made it clear that the current VRA leadership would be held fully accountable for any failure to act effectively.
“I’ve made it clear that if these measures are not carried out properly and we face another damaging flood due to VRA negligence, the CEO and top deputies will be required to resign or will be removed from office,” he warned.
The Akosombo Dam spillage in 2023 had disastrous effects, displacing thousands and drawing harsh public criticisms over the VRA’s lack of preparedness.
With this firm stance, President Mahama has signalled a new era of accountability and proactive disaster management in the face of growing climate challenges.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Methane Data And Transparency Continue To Improve, But Emissions Remain Far Too High
Methane emissions from fossil fuels remain at stubbornly high levels, according to the IEA’s latest global tracking update, which notes that efforts to bolster data collection and monitor methane leaks are making progress.
The Global Methane Tracker 2025, out today, presents the IEA’s latest sector-wide emissions estimates, based on the most recent data from satellites and measurement campaigns, and examines different abatement options along with their associated costs.
Methane abatement is a crucial opportunity to reduce near-term global warming at a time when temperatures worldwide have set record highs for two years in a row.
“Tackling methane leaks and flaring offers a double dividend: it alleviates pressure on tight gas markets in many parts of the world, enhancing energy security – and lowers emissions at the same time,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “However, the latest data indicates that implementation on methane has continued to fall short of ambitions.
The IEA is working to ensure that governments and industry have the tools and knowledge they need to deliver on pledges and achieve the goals they have set.”
The 2025 update of the Global Methane Tracker adds several new elements, including country-level historical emissions data; an interactive tool to explore international methane initiatives; and estimates of emissions from abandoned fossil fuel facilities.
The report also features a fully open-access model for exploring methane abatement pathways in the oil and gas industry.
The fossil fuel sector accounts for nearly one-third of global methane emissions from human activity today. According to the report, record global production of oil, gas and coal – along with limited mitigation efforts to date – have kept methane emissions from the energy sector worldwide above 120 million tonnes annually.
The IEA estimate is considerably higher than the levels implied by official reporting, but data transparency is improving. There are now more than 25 satellites in orbit that can provide vital insights. Very large leaks from oil and gas facilities detected by satellites rose to a record high in 2024.
New analysis in this year’s Tracker also found that abandoned oil and gas wells and coal mines together contributed around 8 million tonnes to global methane emissions last year. Taken together, these sources would be the world’s fourth-largest emitter of fossil fuel methane.
According to the report, around 70% of annual methane emissions from the energy sector could be avoided with existing technologies. Meanwhile, a significant share of abatement measures could pay for themselves within a year, since the gas that is captured can be resold.
The analysis finds a huge range in methane emissions intensities across different countries and companies, with the best outperforming the worst by a factor of 100. Raising awareness and spreading readily available best practices are essential to narrow this gap, it notes.
According to new analysis published in the Tracker update, current methane pledges by companies and countries cover 80% of global oil and gas production.
At the moment, however, only around 5% of global oil and gas output demonstrably meets a near-zero methane emissions standard.
The Tracker finds that addressing methane emissions and flaring would improve energy security by creating additional natural gas supply.
Methane abatement could have made around 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas available to markets in 2024, on par with Norway’s total gas exports.
A further 150 billion cubic metres of natural gas is flared globally each year, the majority of which is part of routine practices and can be avoided.
Based on today’s policies, deploying targeted methane mitigation solutions in the fossil fuel sector would prevent a roughly 0.1 °C rise in global temperatures by 2050. This is comparable to eliminating all the carbon dioxide emissions from heavy industry worldwide.
Source: IEA
Nigeria: Exxon To Invest $1.5 Billion In Deepwater Oilfields
U.S. supermajor ExxonMobil plans to invest as much as $1.5 billion in deepwater oil and gas exploration and development offshore Nigeria, the local regulator, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has said.
Exxon sold last year its onshore assets to local firm Seplat Energy, but is committed to offshore exploration and development in the country.
At the end of 2024, Nigeria’s regulators finally approved – after two years – Seplat Energy’s proposed acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) from ExxonMobil.
Now the U.S. supermajor is committing to developing its offshore position in Nigeria.
Exxon plans the $1.5 billion investment between 2025 and 2027 for revitalizing production in the Usan deepwater oilfield, Nigeria’s NUPRC said.
The U.S. energy giant targets a final investment decision (FID) on the project for late in the third quarter of this year, subject to approval of its final Field Development Plan, as well as internal and partner funding approvals.
Shane Harris, ExxonMobil’s Managing Director in Nigeria, said that the planned capital investment reflects ExxonMobil’s confidence in Nigeria’s upstream potential and its dedication to playing a pivotal role in the country’s oil and gas production growth.
During a meeting with NUPRC chief executive Gbenga Komolafe this week, Harris also confirmed Exxon’s support for the regulator’s “Project 1 Million Barrels” initiative, which aims to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2.4 million barrels per day (bpd) in the medium term.
Nigerian authorities have been clamping down on oil theft and have been supportive of an increase in oil and gas output in recent months.
The Nigerian government aims to boost the country’s oil production by 1 million bpd by December 2026, from the current 1.75 million bpd.
Oil theft and pipeline vandalism have long plagued Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas industry, driving majors out of the biggest OPEC producer in Africa and often resulting in force majeure at the key crude oil export terminals.
Source: Oilprice.com
Nigeria: Ekperikpe Wants Nigeria To Turn Gas Potential Into Prosperity
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has underscored the need for Nigeria to take decisive and unified action to tap into the country’s vast natural gas reserves.
Nigeria holds over 210 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, Africa’s largest and among the top ten globally.
According to Minister Ekpo, this resource is a divine gift, but it comes with a responsibility—to use it for sustainable development, job creation, industrialization, and global energy security.
Delivering a keynote address at a session hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) on Tuesday in Houston, Texas, U.S., at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Ekpo reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria into a globally competitive, gas-powered economy.
The theme of the session was “Harnessing Nigeria’s Gas Potential for Domestic Utilization and Global Export Market”. He said, “Potential alone does not generate growth; action does.”
The minister commended PETAN for showcasing Nigeria’s innovation on the world stage and emphasized that the country’s Decade of Gas initiative, under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, is central to national energy transformation.
Ekpo stressed that innovation and technology, including digital oilfield solutions, low-carbon gas processing, and emissions monitoring, will be key drivers in this transformation. He called for greater investment in R&D and closer collaboration between academia, startups, and the private sector.
Addressing the financing challenge, the minister noted that Nigeria must make its gas projects bankable and ESG-compliant to attract global investment amid shifting energy transition priorities.
He commended the efforts of Nigeria’s regulatory agencies, the NMDPRA and NUPRC, for fostering investor confidence through transparency and efficiency.
Ekpo emphasized the need for indigenous companies to take the lead in this new energy era. “The future of gas in Nigeria is not just for multinational corporations; it belongs to every capable Nigerian entrepreneur ready to act.”
“Nigeria’s gas potential is vast, but it is only through decisive, collective action that we can transform that potential into prosperity—both for our people at home and for our position on the global stage,” he added.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
South Korea: MOTIE Unveils Plans For Massive 3.2 GW Offshore Wind Project
South Korea has announced an ambitious plan to develop a 3.2 GW (3,200 MW) offshore wind cluster in Sinan-gun, South Jeolla Province.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) made the announcement after a meeting of the New and Renewable Energy Expert Committee.
The offshore wind complex is planned to be built in waters off Sinan, approximately 300 kilometers southwest of Seoul, by 2033.
The complex is expected to consist of ten offshore wind farms with a combined production capacity of 3.2 GW, equivalent to the output of two nuclear power plants.
In 2018, the government set a 2030 offshore wind target of 12 GW in its Renewable Energy 3020 Implementation Plan.
This target was reaffirmed by former President Moon Jae-in in 2020. As of 2022, South Korea aims to reach 14.3 GW of offshore wind power by 2030.
Last year, MOTIE awarded 1,886 MW in capacity across four fixed-bottom offshore wind projects and one floating wind farm.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Zambia: Energy Board Approves Energy Investment Projects Valued At $370 Million
Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has approved 62 license applications and eight construction permits for petroleum, electricity, and renewable energy projects, valued at approximately $370 million.
This development reflects the ERB’s ongoing commitment to promoting a transparent and supportive regulatory environment that encourages sustainable investments in line with national energy policies.
The steady growth in investments highlights the country’s favorable regulatory framework and the ERB’s efforts to streamline approval processes for investors to participate in the value chains.
To maintain this momentum, the ERB remains focused on strengthening investor confidence through predictable, safe, and efficient regulatory processes that support timely application reviews and project implementation.
These licenses will play a critical role in ensuring energy availability, enhancing operational efficiency, and promoting access to modern energy services and equipment across the country.
According to a statement issued by the ERB, three major construction permits were approved in the electricity and renewable energy sub-sector:
- The Kalumbila-Kolwezi Interconnector Project (KKIP)
- A 100 MWp Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power Plant to be developed by Sun Share Energy Limited in Chief Moono’s area, Mumbwa District, worth $75 million
- An 8 MWp off-grid Solar PV Power Plant integrated with 20 MWh battery storage to be developed by Sany International (Zambia) Industrial Company Ltd at Ruida Mine, in Kasempa District of North-Western Province, with an investment of $8 million
US Gulf Oil Output Could Rise To 2.4 Million Barrels Per Day, Industry Leaders Say
Oil output from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico can continue growing despite market uncertainty created by the most geopolitical volatility in decades, oil and gas industry leaders said on Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s global tariff announcements since last month have contributed to a decline in oil prices and fears of an economic downturn.
This will make it harder for oil producers to follow his call of “drill, baby, drill.”
U.S. oil prices have fallen about 20% since early April, closing at $57.12 a barrel on Monday.
Prices have also been pressured by a decision from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies to accelerate output increases, as well as Saudi Arabia’s warning that it can withstand a prolonged period of lower prices.
“We’ve never been in a situation where we have so much geopolitical volatility,” Occidental Petroleum (OXY.N), CEO Vicki Hollub said during a panel discussion at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston on Monday.
Investments in offshore projects are longer cycle and take into account decades of production.
Shale has a shorter production cycle, with wells turned on and off quickly in response to prices.
“I believe over the next few years we will see a strong, resilient, robust, offshore market,” said Girish Saligram, chief executive officer of oilfield service company Weatherford.
Operators will remain focused on offshore and an easier regulatory environment and permitting processes will help, Saligram added.
The Trump administration last week said it would implement an emergency permitting process for energy projects on federal lands, slashing approval times that typically take months or years to at most 28 days.
U.S. Gulf oil output could jump to as high as 2.4 million barrels per day from the current level of roughly 1.8 million bpd, said Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association.
Advances in technology, including artificial intelligence, are also helping production, executives said.
“We’re seeing that today with the projects that are coming online, highly sophisticated projects that are overcoming a lot of the challenges that we saw 20 years ago,” Milito said.
Last year, Chevron delivered an industry first as it started production in a U.S. Gulf of Mexico field under extreme subsea pressures of up to 20,000 pounds per square inch.
The Trump administration plans to hold a lease sale for the U.S. Gulf in June as had been planned by former President Joe Biden’s administration.
That will be critical for the industry because shale oil production will eventually plateau and begin to decline, making it important to grow offshore exploration, Hollub said.
“We have to find a way to get more out of the Gulf of Mexico, and that’s got to happen in a big way,” she said
Offshore production from the U.S. Gulf accounts for about 15% of total U.S. crude output.
Industry leaders pointed to inflation as another challenge.
Tariffs are going to have an effect on costs and dilute margins, Weatherford’s Saligram said, adding the company was trying to mitigate the cost impact through supply chain management and passing along higher costs to customers.
Magda Chambriard, CEO of Brazil’s state-owned oil company Petrobras, told a panel his company was challenging its local suppliers and challenging international supplies on cost.
“We need to find a way to make these (offshore) projects feasible’ amid volatility and inflation impacting development costs,” said Renata Baruzzi, Petrobras’ chief of engineering.
Source: Reuters
ExxonMobil’s Q1 2025 Profits Drop 7%, Generates $13 Billion In Cash Flow
American oil and gas supermajor ExxonMobil Corporation has reported a 7.3% decline in its net profits during the first quarter of 2025, reaching $7.7 billion, compared to $8.2 billion in the same quarter of 2024.
ExxonMobil attributed the drop in net profits to the significant decline in industry refining margins, weaker crude prices, lower base volumes from strategic divestments and higher expenses from growth initiatives.
Also, increased oil and gas production volumes from the Permian and Guyana, additional structural cost savings and favorable timing effects have helped offset the decrease in net profits.
The supermajor generated strong cash flow from operations of $13.0 billion and free cash flow of $8.8 billion and distributed $9.1 billion to shareholders, which included $4.3 billion in dividends and $4.8 billion in share repurchases, consistent with the company’s annual $20 billion share-repurchase program through 2026.
Commenting on the first-quarter results, Chairman and Chief Executive of ExxonMobil, Darren Woods, said, “In this uncertain market, our shareholders can be confident in knowing that we are built for this. The work we have done to transform our company over the past eight years positions us to excel in any environment.”
He said that since 2019, the strategic choices they made to reduce costs, grow advantaged volumes, and optimize their operations have strengthened quarterly earnings power by about $4 billion at current prices and margins.
According to him, “This year, we’re starting up 10 advantaged projects that are expected to generate more than $3 billion in earnings in 2026 at constant prices and margins.”
He said the company will continuously leverage its competitive advantage to enable the company to excel in the current market environment and deliver on its plans through 2030 and far into the future.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com