A Malian delegation from the National Office in-charge of regulating petroleum products, is expected to pay a courtesy call on the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) in the Republic of Ghana, on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.
The purpose of the visit is to discuss matters relating to the supply and re-export of petroleum products from Ghana to Mali.
In 2016 Ghana began supplying gasoline and gas oil to landlocked countries such as Mali from the Petroleum Depot in Bolgatanga.
Ghana is expected to become the hub for the distribution of refined petroleum products in the West African sub-region in the near future.
Ahead of the visit by the Malian delegation, CEO of the CBOD Senyo Hosi commented that: “this is a very important visit for us. The Mali industry is an important market for our members. And as we look at improving the utilization of our infrastructure, something that was significantly covered in our 2018 Industry Report, there is the need for us to increase Ghana’s share of the supply route to the landlocked markets of which Mali is one. Our share is currently very low so we need to explore ways of improving the nature of the service and also managing the risks associated with the nature of the services.”
Mr. Hosi said the CBOD and its members “look forward to a very fruitful engagement with our Malian regulators and counterparts alike. We’re hoping to see the beginning of a stronger and more constructive relationship going into the future”.
The Malian delegation will also meet with the petroleum downstream regulator, National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Bulk Oil Storage & Transportation Company (BOST) and other stakeholders.
Source: CBOD
The Institute for Energy Security, an energy think-tank in the Republic of Ghana, is predicting that fuel prices on the local market in the West African country will remain largely stable during the first pricing window in March.
The think-tank, in its analysis, pointed to relative stable prices of gasoline and gasoil on the international market, as well as the 1.32 percent upward reverse in price of International Benchmark – Brent Crude.
However, it said competition between Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to control and gain more market shares may result in selling price of fuel falling marginally within the first pricing-window of March 2020.
Oil prices reverse upward briefly within the second Pricing-window under review as implied demand destruction was less than expected.
However, oil prices fell on Friday, 21st of February, as OPEC+ decided not to move its March meeting forward while Russia indicated that it currently has no intentions to cut production further. Brent crude rallied marginally by 1.32% from $55.89 per barrel to close at $56.63 per barrel on average terms during the period under review
Fuel prices at the pump experienced reduction across some major Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) including Goil, Total Ghana and Zen Petroleum in the Pricing-window under review as projected by the Institute for Energy Security (IES).
While Goil and Total Ghana shaved-off 1.28% and 0.91% for Gasoil and Gasoline respectively, Zen Petroleum gave away a whopping 6% for Gasoline and Gasoil to sell at Gh¢4.92 per litre; thus making Zen petroleum the OMC with the least selling price.
However, the second Pricing-window of February 2020 saw some OMCs maintaining their prices at the pump to record a national average price of Gh¢5.41 and Gh¢5.40 for Gasoil and Gasoline respectively.
Within the period under review, Benab Oil, Nick Petroleum, Frimps, Champion and Cash Oil, joined Zen Petroleum as OMCs that sold the least-priced Gasoline and Gasoil on the local market relative to others in the industry as found by IES Market-scan.
S&P’s Platts benchmark for fuels shows average Gasoline price rallying by 0.51% to close at $539.50 per metric tonne, from a previous average of $536.77 per metric tonne; while Gasoil declined by 0.23% to close trading at $502.20 per metric tonne, from a previous average of $503.38 per metric tonne.
“Data collated by IES Economic Desk from the Foreign Exchange market shows the Cedi appreciated by 4.98% against the U.S. Dollar, trading at an average price of Gh¢5.34 to the U.S. Dollar over the period under review; from a previous rate of Gh¢5.62 recorded in the first Pricing-window of February, 2020. The positive relationship of the Ghana Cedi to the US Dollar can largely be attributable to less uncertainty and low demand for the US Dollar for business transaction in the Covid-19 stricken nation – China, the world largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity $27.309 trillion,” Raymond Nuworkpor, Research & Policy Analyst at IES said.
Liberia’s National Police have arrested scores of residents of Jalloh Shop Community along the Pipeline Road, Paynesville, following protest over demand for electricity.
The residents placed a roadblock on the main route from Jalloh Shop Community to other places, causing several vehicles to remain in a queue for hours.
The residents placed specific reference to National Port Authority Managing Director, Bill Twehway, whom they alleged is benefiting from electricity while they remain in darkness.
They complained that the lack of electricity has resulted to them using commercial current which is too costly for them.
However, their action who was deemed unlawful by the police who arrested several of the protesters and taken away to unknown destinations.
According to frontpageafricaonline.com, the protest caused a serious delay to many users of the road.
Daniel Deshield, District Coordinator of Montserrado County told frontpageafrica.com that the citizens concern is ‘cardinal,’ because the hydro tension line of the Liberia Electricity Corporation passes through the district and residents are not benefiting from electricity.
“This same district also hosts the site for the waste management program, in Wein Town and that government should come to the rescue of residents.
Deshield said the residents were peaceful while staging the protest and he sees no reason while police will arrest them for speaking out.
“They were peaceful and their action did not lead to any casualty, but we are surprise to see officers of the LNP arresting them,” Deshield noted.
“Every citizens must be treated equally and no one man is better than the other.”
He expressed frustration over the fact that the community also hosts the pipeline for water supply to Monrovia when it lacks pipe-borne and electricity.
Another resident, Moses Mator said they were disappointed while few people were enjoying electricity comfort while several others remain in darkness.
“This is total discrimination and we cannot bear it any longer. We are calling on President Weah attention to our plight,” Mator stated.
Mato said, in spite of the “arrest and intimidation” by LNP, residents will continue coming out until President Weah take an action to address their plights.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Somalia has agreed on an initial roadmap with the Shell/ExxonMobil joint venture focused on the next steps towards the exploration and development of certain offshore hydrocarbon blocks.
This co-created roadmap will enable the conversion of prior agreed concessions into Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) under the provisions of the Petroleum Law, the ministry said in a statement.
This builds on the agreement signed in Amsterdam on June 21, 2019, which led to the receipt of $1.7 million from the Shell/ExxonMobil joint venture from historical surface rentals and other incurred obligations on offshore blocks.
In adherence to the revenue sharing agreement, this payment was re-distributed among Somalia’s Member States for independent allocation. The processing and distribution of this sum among the member states demonstrate the strength of Somalia’s revenue-sharing agreement and provides a model for future treatment of funds arising from petroleum exploration and production, the ministry said.
The Ministry said it was committed to creating an attractive fiscal and regulatory environment for independent and international oil companies to enter offshore Somalia.
Commenting on the initial roadmap, Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed, the Minister of Petroleum & Mineral Resources, said: “I am delighted we have agreed on an initial roadmap with the Shell/Exxon joint venture. This gives us confidence in our ability to explore any offshore hydrocarbon potential further. We have a long relationship with the Shell/Exxon joint venture and look forward to this continuing as we seek to provide the building blocks we need to grow our economy.”
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Current developments in the global economy indicate that more employers are increasingly embracing science and technology in order to make the delivery of goods and services more efficient.
The oil and gas industry is one of the key sectors that heavily depends on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The operations under this sector requires people with STEM background to research and develop innovative products and technological energy solutions for the common good of humanity.
It is therefore imperative that we encourage the study of STEM to prepare students towards meeting the demands of a tech-driven economy in the coming years.
However, despite efforts made over the years to narrow the gender gap in STEM education, major inequalities persist. Girls are significantly under-represented in STEM subjects and fields in many settings and this could be associated with socio-cultural factors.
Global Perspective on Girls in STEM
According to a UNESCO report titled “Cracking the code: girls’ and women’s education in STEM”, the gender disparity in STEM education is striking. In higher education, only 35% of all students enrolled in STEM-related fields are female. Women continue to drop out of STEM disciplines in disproportionate numbers during their higher education studies, while transitioning to the world of work and even during their career cycle.
STEM Breakfast Meeting
In line with the Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 17, Vivo Energy Ghana, the Shell licensee, in partnership with the African Business Centre for Development Education (ABCDE) organised a breakfast meeting on the theme ‘the Promise of E-learning to the study of STEM; special focus on girls’.
The programme, which falls under Vivo Energy’s broader initiative dubbed VE-STEM, brought together about 200 stakeholders from the diplomatic corps, private sector, government agencies, international development agencies and school authorities.
The objectives of the programme were to discuss ways to make STEM education attractive, increase awareness in career opportunities that exist in the world of science and technology, especially among female students, and garner private sector support.
On the panel was the Managing Director of Vivo Energy, Mr Ben Hassan Ouattara, Mrs Petra Asamoah a board member of ABCDE, Dr Thomas Tagoe, the General Secretary of the Ghana Science Association, and Ms Melody Boateng, the National Professional Officer for the Natural Sciences Sector of UNESCO. Also, in attendance was the National Science Coordinator of the Ministry of Education, Madam Olivia Opare and Kingsley Boachie who represented the Honourable Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.
Private Sector Involvement
Contributing on the panel discussion, the Managing Director of Vivo Energy Ghana, Mr. Ben Hassan Ouattara said technology gives equal access to all users, irrespective of gender, location and time. Access to computers and the internet for research to complement classroom teaching and learning will be a great resource to girls. Improved access to technology for women and girls, especially in remote and marginalised communities will also encourage girls to pursue STEM courses.
Speaking on the role of the private sector in STEM education, Mr. Ben Hassan Ouattara encouraged players in Ghana’s private sector to get involved in the promotion of STEM Education in Ghana. According to him, an investment in STEM Education would benefit the private sector immensely.
“Companies and organisations can offer internship opportunities to provide a chance for girls and women to learn more about the different fields under STEM. The private sector can also offer job-shadowing programmes or organise career fairs to boost the interest of girls in STEM. Vivo Energy Ghana, under its Graduate Talent Programme, gives learning and development opportunities to STEM students to ensure that their capacities are fully developed for the job market.
UNESCO on Girls in STEM
The Special guest of honour, Mr Abdourahamane Diallo, Country Director for UNESCO, encouraged all to send the right messages to girls to change the perception they have about STEM: “I would like to use this opportunity to encourage all of us to advocate for the right messages to be sent to our girls. We must tell our girls that the world needs STEM and STEM needs women.”
The panel member from UNESCO, Mrs Melody Boateng also stated that UNESCO is very keen to promote women as leaders in STEM fields. She also encouraged all to make the necessary investment in STEM education to make the agenda a successful one.
Importance of E-learning in the Promotion of STEM Education
A Board Member and mentor of the ABCDE, Mrs. Petra Aba Asamoah, in her submission spoke on how e-learning creates a level playing field for all to study STEM. “E-learning creates the opportunity for us to put the solution in the hands of these females because technology is non-judgemental and not gender-biased,” she said.
She added that this informed ABCDE’s decision to partner eCampus an EdTech company with an app which makes learning fun and interactive to provide eLearning solutions to students. She was grateful that Vivo Energy had agreed to support and signed on for free 500 students, 300 of which are girls.
Graduate Talent Forum on STEM
The Human Resources Manager of Vivo Energy Ghana, Mrs Mercy Amoah who was the host of the second session of the programme, dubbed Graduate Talent Forum explained the Vivo Energy Graduate Talent Programme to participants and talked about the right skill-set for a successful career in the corporate world. Participants included students from selected universities and technical institutions in Ghana, including the University of Ghana and Accra Technical University.
According to her, Vivo Energy’s Graduate Talent Programme gives young graduates, especially in STEM, the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, while building the company’s talent pool for future opportunities.
Together with other HR managers from the Volta River Authority and the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Mrs Amoah encouraged more girls to embrace STEM and take up jobs mainly dominated by males.
Commitment by Vivo Energy
Vivo Energy Ghana, under VE-STEM, will continue to invest and work with the relevant stakeholders, to advance the study of STEM and encourage more students especially females to pursue opportunities in these fields.
Source: Vivo Energy
Nigeria’s President H.E. Muhammadu Buhari has directed immediate disciplinary actions against security operatives at the West African nation’s land borders for releasing 295 tankers of smuggled petroleum products without authorization.
The President said he was “disheartened” by the action of the security operatives.
Nigeria’s land borders have been closed since August 2019 to checkmate smuggling of arms and food items.
After the closure, the Federal Government directed that petroleum products should not be supplied to fuel stations within 20 kilometers of the borders.
However, in a statement, presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said while the operation has been relatively successful, some security officials have been sabotaging the government’s efforts.
“The border drill has been hugely successful and has led to the interception and seizure of large quantities of foods, materials, minerals and petroleum resources illegally trafficked across our borders. The President commends the security agencies for a job well done.“He, however, finds it disheartening to learn that 295 smuggled petroleum tankers were released without due authorization on 17th December, 2019 by some security officials charged with the responsibility of protecting our borders.“Sequel to this act, the National Security Adviser (NSA) was directed to set up a Board of Inquiry to investigate the crime, and it was recommended to the President that all officials (civilian or security operatives) found to have connived to undermine government’s efforts should be withdrawn from the border drill and severely sanctioned by their respective organizations.“The President has accepted the recommendations and directed the immediate withdrawal and replacement of all those found culpable.”
He has also directed that their respective organizations should initiate immediate appropriate disciplinary actions to them.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
The Chairman of Ikeja Electric, Kola Adesina, has revealed that by June this year the government together with power distribution companies (discos) will sign a performance improvement plan for the supply of energy.
The agreement will outline the expectations from both the government and the power sector investors, in terms of accountability, reports THISDAY.
“The government has constituted a body; they are reviewing the document and the hope is that by the middle of this year, we would have a sign off on the performance improvement programme.
“So, we are signing another performance improvement plan agreement with the regulator. This new agreement is flowing from the power sector recovery plan,” Adesina said.
He continued: “So, we now have a roadmap that we are now creating. In that roadmap, the expectation is that the government would play its own part, the critical success factors would be made available by government, then we can be held accountable for our performance or lack of performance in the future.”
Adesina reiterated the need for a cost-reflective tariff in the sector. He called for a change in orientation among electricity consumers, saying, “they need to know that this electron is not a national cake”.
He added: “Once government steps into the pricing of a commodity that is required for the success of that nation, for the prosperity of the nation, from an intervention or subsidy perspective, you have then introduced distortion into the system.
“Now, to cure that distortion is a bit of work, which is the reason why we are all arguing today; why things are not working and why exactly desperate measures are required.
He noted that the UK had exactly the same structure as Nigeria until Margaret Thatcher stepped in.
“If you recall from history, it was a bit of a problem. The same uproar, the same noise was made by the British, but the woman [Thatcher] insisted, that no, I am going to do it and I am going to do it well. Today, electricity supply is different in the UK, nobody is talking about the supply of power any more.
“That was because they went through that transition. It was tedious, it was rough, it was challenging, but they were able to overcome those teething problems and today they are supplying electricity in an uninterrupted manner,” Adesina stated.
He revealed that there is an ongoing collaboration between the Ikeja Disco and Eko Disco, being spearheaded by the Lagos State government, to improve power supply in the state, so as to enhance productivity.
“The Lagos state government has a sense of determination and urgency around electricity,” he said.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
EG LNG, the LNG liquefaction and export terminal located on Equatorial Guinea’s Bioko Island, has celebrated the loading of its 700th LNG cargo.
The terminal has been successfully operating for thirteen years, and remains one of sub-Saharan Africa’s landmark energy project.
Operated by Marathon Oil Corporation with shareholders Marubeni, Mitsui & Co and state-owned Sociedad Nacional de Gas (SONAGAS), EG LNG has been a key contributor to the socio-economic development of Equatorial Guinea.
The plant allowed for the monetization of the Alba gas field and delivered its first cargo on May 24th, 2007.
The plant was inaugurated by H.E. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in October 2007, and has been delivering LNG to global markets ever since, including South America, Europe and Asia.
The plant is a source of pride for Equatorial Guinea and Africa, and is at the centre of the Punta Europa complex, currently undergoing expansion and diversification to further monetize domestic gas.
“We sincerely congratulate all the team of EG LNG on this remarkable achievement and on making the entire nation proud,” declared H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons.
“Through projects such as EG LNG, the country has positioned itself as an African energy leader and will continue to provide the right environment for companies to invest in such assets and lead Africa towards greater prosperity.”
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Control of the world’s fastest-growing economy and its massive offshore oil fields are up for grabs Monday as Guyana votes in national elections.
The business-friendly administration of David Granger is seeking re-election, facing Irfaan Ali of the People’s Progressive Party, who is pledging to renegotiate some oil contracts.
The winners in what is forecast to be a close election will shepherd the remote, jungle-clad nation through a bonanza that the International Monetary Fund says will propel economic growth of 86% this year, the fastest in the world. The offshore deposit, which Exxon Mobil Corp. first successfully drilled in 2015, is so large relative to the population of 780,000 that by the middle of the decade Guyana may overtake Kuwait and become the world’s largest per capita crude producer.
“The oil is flowing, the money is flowing and whoever wins, the day after they take office, they can start spending it,” said Christian Wagner, America’s analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, a risk consultancy.
The winner will lead the 65-seat national assembly for a five-year term, just as production is starting at the offshore fields, which are estimated to hold the equivalent of 8 billion barrels of crude. Energy companies including Hess Corporation, China’s CNOOC Ltd. and Tullow Oil Plc have invested in the country.
For the oil industry, a win for the opposition People’s Progressive Party would test the country’s commitment to contract law. It’s a touchy subject in a country that has been criticized for giving away its resources too cheaply.
“Granger has hand-held companies during this phase of exploration and production,” said Raul Gallegos, a Bogota-based director at Control Risks, an international consulting firm. “In the oil and gas community, companies are naturally nervous about a change.”
A Global Witness report recently criticized Granger’s government for signing an “exceptionally bad” contract with Exxon that deprives the country of $55 billion over the life of the deal. Exxon and Granger disputed the findings.
Some other contracts “are even more lopsided than that of the Exxon contract,” Ali said in a statement in January.
Rather than re-write contracts, in practice an Ali government would probably try to get companies to commit to more social spending and job creation, while also setting stricter terms in future contracts, Wagner said.
Maplecroft estimates that the Ali-led opposition has a 75% chance of winning the presidency.
Heavy Spending.
Government revenues are forecast to rise 37-fold to $10 billion a year in a decade, according to Oslo-based research company Rystad Energy.
Given the stakes, whoever loses is likely to contest the result in the courts, Rystad said. Such a challenge would test the institutional strength of a country that’s only had two democratic changes of government in its history.
Both sides have floated plans to create thousands of jobs, spend heavily on education and build out roads and other infrastructure. The country is braced for a rapid transitioning from a relatively poor exporter of sugar, gold and bauxite, into one of South America’s richest countries.
End to Poverty
“Guyanese will never be poor again,” Granger told a crowd early this year launching the campaign for the political alliance, known as the Partnership for National Unity. “That oil wealth belongs to you, and this government will make sure you benefit from this oil wealth.”
Results from the vote, which will determine the make-up of the national assembly as well as who controls the presidency, are not likely to be announced for several days as electoral authorities gather ballot boxes from remote settlements. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and there’s no run-off.
Independent polls are rare in the country, but observers expect a close election, said David Hinds, a Guyanese political scientist who teaches Caribbean and African diaspora studies at Arizona State University.
The world’s best-performing economy borders Venezuela, which is undergoing the world’s deepest slump. Guyana has a long-standing territorial dispute with its neighbor.
Source: worldoil.com
The first batch of Ghanaian employees of UK oil and gas firm, Tullow Ghana Ltd, who are part of those being laid off in a redundant exercise, have exited with hefty packages, energynewsafrica.com can report.
Sources within Tullow Oil told energynewsafrica.com that the firm was generous with the Ghanaian workers.
Our sources said the firm paid the ex-employees three months’ salaries for each year and multiplied them by the number of years they have worked with the firm. This is in addition to their Provident Fund.
“They are being paid three months’ salaries each year. So if someone has worked for ten years, you will multiply ten by three and that is a lot. Don’t forget that they have Provident Fund so it’s not terrible as it seems,” enerynewsafrica.com sources said.
The second batch of employees who are affected by the redundancy exercise, energynewsafrica.com understands would be exiting the firm in June and December respectively.
Tullow Oil Plc has resorted to redundancy exercise as part of efforts to stay competitive following challenges it faced with its operations in Ghana and other parts of Afria.
The firm is cutting back 35 percent of its global workforce with Ghanaian labour force expected to see 25 percent cut back.
In December last year, Tullow’s shares fell by 60 percent following announcement by Tullow’s CEO, Paul McDade and Angus McCoss, Exploration Director that they had quit the firm.
More than £1.05bn was wiped off Tullow’s market value, leaving the company reeling, valued at £801.7m.
The company is yet to announce a new CEO after the resignation of Paul McDade.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Over 20 municipalities in the Western Cape Province in South Africa are ready to go ahead with the procurement of energy directly from Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
This is line with Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s declaration in his February Budget Speech, that the “government will do whatever it takes to ensure a stable electricity supply.
“It is our number one task. Determinations to implement the Integrated Resource Plan of 2019 are finalised and await the concurrence of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).
“It will shortly be possible for municipalities in financially good standing to purchase electricity from IPPs.”
Speaking to the Cape Argus, Economic Opportunities MEC David Maynier said: “This is the perfect opportunity for municipalities who wish to procure electricity from IPPs in the Western Cape.
“The sooner this happens the sooner we can start pursuing a new energy future in the Western Cape.
“I will be announcing new spending plans to support this energy transition when I table my Provincial Budget on March 10.”
According to the Chairperson of the standing committee on finance, economic opportunities and tourism, Deidré Baartman, “nineteen municipalities in the province already have regulator-approved feed-in tariffs.
“The minister should have gone a few steps further and introduced a solar rebate as an incentive for households to install solar power,” Baartman stated.
Norwegian oil and gas firm, Equinor has made an oil discovery near the Gudrun field following the conclusion of the drilling of wildcat wells 15/3-12 S and 15/3-12 A in the central part of the North Sea.
Equinor received drilling permits for the two North Sea wells in November 2019. The wells are located in production license 025 where Equinor is the operator.
The wells were drilled about 11 kilometers southeast of Gudrun, 4 kilometers southeast of the 15/3-4 (Sigrun) oil and gas discovery and 220 kilometers west of Stavanger. The wells were drilled as sole risk wells by Equinor and Neptune Energy Norge.
The primary and secondary exploration targets for wildcat well 15/3-12 S were to prove petroleum in Middle and Upper Jurassic reservoir rocks (the Hugin and Draupne Formations), respectively.
The well encountered three separate oil-filled reservoir zones of 9, 4 and 9 meters in the Hugin Formation, which are about 100 meters thick.
The reservoir zones mainly have moderate reservoir quality. The oil/water contacts were not encountered.
The exploration target for wildcat well 15/3-12 A was to prove petroleum in Upper and Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks (the Draupne and Hugin Formations), respectively. The well encountered the Draupne and Hugin Formations with respective thicknesses of about 85 and 120 meters. Both formations are water-bearing. There are indications of oil in a thin, three-meter sandstone layer in the Sleipner Formation in the Middle Jurassic.
Preliminary estimates place the size of the oil discovery between 1.0 and 2.7 million standard cubic meters (Sm3) of recoverable oil. The development of the discovery as a tie-in to the Gudrun field will be considered.
No formation tests were performed, but extensive volumes of data have been collected and samples have been taken.
These are the 10th and 11th exploration wells in production license 025, which was awarded in licensing round 2-A in 1969.
The wells 15/3-12 S and 15/3-12 A were drilled to respective vertical depths of 3652 and 3796 meters below sea level, and respective measured depths of 3771 and 3999 meters below sea level. Both wells were terminated in the Sleipner Formation in the Middle Jurassic. The water depth at the site is 109 meters. The wells have been permanently plugged and abandoned.
The wells were drilled by the West Phoenix drilling rig, which will now drill wildcat well 6507/8-10 S in production license 889 in the Norwegian Sea, where Neptune Energy Norge is the operator.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s technical electricity regulator, Energy Commission has organised a two-day training programme for some selected journalists in the West African nation who report on energy issues.
The training programme, which took place in the Ga East Municipality in Accra, was aimed at helping the journalists to get deeper understanding of the role of the Energy Commission in the country’s energy sector as well as build on their stock of knowledge regarding terminology in the sector.
Topics discussed included institutional framework of the Energy Sector, Introduction to Energy: What is Energy; Forms of Energy and Energy Terminologies and Unit, the Concept of Renewable Energy, Energy Access Issues, Gender Issues in the Energy Sector, and Local Content and Local Participation in the Energy Supply Industry.
Opening the training programme, the Chairman of the Energy Commission, Professor George Panyin Hagan noted that the media play important role in the society and have a lot of influence.
Ing. Rev. Oscar Amonoo-Neizer, Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission
He said it was, consequently, important for the Commission to build the capacity of the media in order for them to understand the functions of the Commission to be able to communicate their message well for their audience
He was hopeful that with the starting of such engagements, the journalists would become active group people who would be leading discussions on energy issues.
Prof Hagan hinted that the Commission would, in the future, introduce a course in energy to allow those who want to pursue energy reporting as a profession to enroll.
He emphasised that Ghana’s access to energy is about 85 percent and challenged the journalists to see energy as human rights and champion it.Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
A former Chief Executive Officer of the national oil company of the Republic of Ghana, GNPC, Alex Kofi Mould has lashed out at the Government of Ghana, describing it as a government which lacks knowledge of the management of the petroleum industry.
His description of the government follows a statement by the country’s Ministry of Energy in response to his earlier comment on the amendment of the Aker Energy /AGM petroleum agreement, in which he accused the government of bestowing massive historical damage to the oil and gas sector.
Alex Mould who is also a financial analyst questioned the motive of the government in rushing the Aker Energy petroleum amendments for approval when due processes had not been followed.
“Sadly, these amendments also provide sweeping tax exemption for Aker and AGM, its subcontractors and sub sub-contractors. No withholding taxes in the case of AGM itself, and a reduced withholding tax rate of 5 percent instead of the 15 percent withholding tax for any work or services or supply or use of goods, both to domestic and international transactions.
“It is reckless to exempt withholding tax for international transactions; this is akin to surrendering taxing rights to a foreign state because the foreign state will apply tax on its worldwide income and will result in permanent revenue loss for Ghana. Additionally, exempting withholding tax on domestic transactions may lead to tax evasion as the trail is lost; eventually resulting in large scale tax loss due to avoidance,” he said.
However, the Energy Ministry, in a press statement, accused the former GNPC CEO of misinforming the public and especially industry players with his bogus analysis of the issue.
According to the Ministry, the amendments to the Petroleum Agreements of Aker Energy and AGM were to provide regulatory certainty and incentives to support the realisation of Aker’s Pecan Project and increase investment in the AGM block respectively.
“These incentives have already yielded positive results for the country as AGM recently announced crude oil discoveries following an accelerated drilling campaign,” the Ministry explained.
“It is important to state that in the amendments of the AGM Petroleum Agreement, we negotiated a higher net gain for Ghana. We reduced our commercial paid interest and the subsequent exposure of GNPC but raised the free carried interest of the state. This resulted in a Benefit-Cost ratio of 19 in favour of Ghana against 11 in the original Agreement.
“The Ministry wishes to advise Mr Mould and others who conduct themselves in similar ways to contact the appropriate institutions where they lack information on any issue in the oil and gas sector. As former CEO of GNPC, he cannot rely on uninformed commentators for information on critical subjects like petroleum for the purpose of conducting analysis for public consumption. Our doors are always open,” the Ministry advised.
This response from the Ministry has not sit well with Alex Mould, thereby prompting yet another response to the issue.
In a statement during the weekend Mr Mould said: “it is truly sad to think that the Energy Ministry and for that matter President Akufo-Addo’s government genuinely has so little understanding of this industry.
“It does so by amending the regulations that have industry-wide application. This was pure favouritism. However, it will lead to a stampede of International Oil Companies looking for similar treatment (and perhaps that is what MoE wants).
“The rules were clear-the problem was simply that Aker sought special extra-legal treatment and MoE was willing to bend over backwards to please Aker. When it talks about incentives to support the realisation of Aker’s Pecan Project Government is either unforgivably naïve or disgracefully dishonest (or both),” he emphasised.
“If Aker did walk away, it would simply lose its rights and would not be entitled to compensation. Any moderately seasoned negotiator would have called Aker’s bluff immediately.
“If the intention was to increase investment, then, the SDWT Amendment agreement would capture Aker’s enhanced work and expenditure commitments. No such commitments are given in the Amendment Agreements.
“MoE is claiming (with no shame) that amendments to a Petroleum Agreement ratified on December 22, 2019, led to an oil discovery six months earlier in June 2019?! Even if MoE is referring to the Amendments it presented to Parliament in April last year, the claim makes no sense. At the time that Aker started drilling in June, Parliament had not ratified any amendments.
“I should also point out that the two wells Aker drilled in June were not in any way ‘accelerated’. They were wells due in the Initial Exploration Period under the original PA. And since MoE is promising an accelerated drilling campaign, it should tell the public when the next well is expected. Can MoE deny that Aker’s current programme does not include any new drilling before the third quarter of 2021? Is this the ‘acceleration’?” he quizzed.
Click on the link below for the full statementPress Statement By Alex MouldSource:www.energynewsafrica.com
The programme, which falls under Vivo Energy’s broader initiative dubbed VE-STEM, brought together about 200 stakeholders from the diplomatic corps, private sector, government agencies, international development agencies and school authorities.
The objectives of the programme were to discuss ways to make STEM education attractive, increase awareness in career opportunities that exist in the world of science and technology, especially among female students, and garner private sector support.
On the panel was the Managing Director of Vivo Energy, Mr Ben Hassan Ouattara, Mrs Petra Asamoah a board member of ABCDE, Dr Thomas Tagoe, the General Secretary of the Ghana Science Association, and Ms Melody Boateng, the National Professional Officer for the Natural Sciences Sector of UNESCO. Also, in attendance was the National Science Coordinator of the Ministry of Education, Madam Olivia Opare and Kingsley Boachie who represented the Honourable Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.
Private Sector Involvement
Contributing on the panel discussion, the Managing Director of Vivo Energy Ghana, Mr. Ben Hassan Ouattara said technology gives equal access to all users, irrespective of gender, location and time. Access to computers and the internet for research to complement classroom teaching and learning will be a great resource to girls. Improved access to technology for women and girls, especially in remote and marginalised communities will also encourage girls to pursue STEM courses.
Speaking on the role of the private sector in STEM education, Mr. Ben Hassan Ouattara encouraged players in Ghana’s private sector to get involved in the promotion of STEM Education in Ghana. According to him, an investment in STEM Education would benefit the private sector immensely.
“Companies and organisations can offer internship opportunities to provide a chance for girls and women to learn more about the different fields under STEM. The private sector can also offer job-shadowing programmes or organise career fairs to boost the interest of girls in STEM. Vivo Energy Ghana, under its Graduate Talent Programme, gives learning and development opportunities to STEM students to ensure that their capacities are fully developed for the job market.
UNESCO on Girls in STEM
The Special guest of honour, Mr Abdourahamane Diallo, Country Director for UNESCO, encouraged all to send the right messages to girls to change the perception they have about STEM: “I would like to use this opportunity to encourage all of us to advocate for the right messages to be sent to our girls. We must tell our girls that the world needs STEM and STEM needs women.”
The panel member from UNESCO, Mrs Melody Boateng also stated that UNESCO is very keen to promote women as leaders in STEM fields. She also encouraged all to make the necessary investment in STEM education to make the agenda a successful one.
Importance of E-learning in the Promotion of STEM Education
A Board Member and mentor of the ABCDE, Mrs. Petra Aba Asamoah, in her submission spoke on how e-learning creates a level playing field for all to study STEM. “E-learning creates the opportunity for us to put the solution in the hands of these females because technology is non-judgemental and not gender-biased,” she said.
She added that this informed ABCDE’s decision to partner eCampus an EdTech company with an app which makes learning fun and interactive to provide eLearning solutions to students. She was grateful that Vivo Energy had agreed to support and signed on for free 500 students, 300 of which are girls.
Graduate Talent Forum on STEM
The Human Resources Manager of Vivo Energy Ghana, Mrs Mercy Amoah who was the host of the second session of the programme, dubbed Graduate Talent Forum explained the Vivo Energy Graduate Talent Programme to participants and talked about the right skill-set for a successful career in the corporate world. Participants included students from selected universities and technical institutions in Ghana, including the University of Ghana and Accra Technical University.
According to her, Vivo Energy’s Graduate Talent Programme gives young graduates, especially in STEM, the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, while building the company’s talent pool for future opportunities.
Together with other HR managers from the Volta River Authority and the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Mrs Amoah encouraged more girls to embrace STEM and take up jobs mainly dominated by males.
Commitment by Vivo Energy
Vivo Energy Ghana, under VE-STEM, will continue to invest and work with the relevant stakeholders, to advance the study of STEM and encourage more students especially females to pursue opportunities in these fields.
Source: Vivo Energy 
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com 