The President of the Republic of Ghana, H. E Nana Akufo-Addo will, on Saturday, October 10, 2020, commission a 6.85MWp solar park in Lawra in the Upper West Region.
The Lawra Solar Park is the first phase of the 17MW solar park being constructed by Ghana’s largest power generation company, Volta River Authority (VRA) in the region.
President Akufo-Addo, in February this year, cut the sod for VRA to commence the construction of 13MW and 4MW solar power projects at Kaleo and Lawra respectively.
The original capacity of the Lawra Solar Park was 4MW, but energynewsafrica.com understands there was a technical improvement and this resulted in the enhancement of the capacity without extra cost.
The 13MW, the second phase of the project, has reached an advanced stage.
The solar parks are part of the VRA’s vision to diversify its sources of power into clean and renewable energy generation.
The project is being funded through a loan facility from KFW, a German financial institution, at the cost of 23 million Euros.
In addition, the Government of Ghana, through the Volta River Authority, is contributing 8.12 Million Euros in Project Development and Management activities.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has cut the sod for the construction of a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) bottling plant at Axim in the Western Region.
When completed, the plant would be able to fill 24,000 cylinders per day.
The LPG bottling plant which is expected to be completed by the ending of 2021 will be used for the cylinder recirculation model project to serve Western, Western North and Central Regions of the West African nation.
Dr. Bawumia who performed the sod-cutting during his two-day Western Regional tour said the gas bottling plant would help to reduce gas accidents in the country
“This bottling plant is in line with the new policy government introduced. You all heard the big gas accident we had some few months ago around Haatso where fire erupted at the gas filling station which killed people. It is after that government urged that we introduce less risky way of distributing gas. This resulted in the approval of the concept of gas bottling plant facilitated by NPA and the Ministry of Energy. It is as a result of our good governance that Axim is going to have this gas bottling plant. So you should support us to have four more years to continue such good programmes.”
The General Manager of Technical Services at the Ghana National Gas Company, Robert Asmah speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony said the Ghana National Gas Company has been given the mandate to complete the project by 2021.
“The objective is to ensure that Ghanaians have access to safe, clean and environmentally friendly LPG for increased domestic and commercial usage by the year 2030. As a result, Ghana National Gas Company issued a licence by the National Petroleum Authority to build and operate an LPG bottling plant to serve Western and Western North and Central Regions. Axim in the Nzema East Municipality was chosen as the suitable local after a feasibility study was carried in the three regions to site the plant. Through the assistance of the Chiefs, a 64 acre land has been acquired for the project.”
“All the technical designs and requirements for the project have been completed. The construction of the plant for the cylinder recirculation model project requires installation of LPG storage tanks, offloading points for LPG mobile tracks, maintenance building for testing of cylinders and storage facility for both filled and empty cylinder bottles. There would be an installation of fire water tanks, loading bay and parking lot for the LPG bullet tracks. In addition, there would be an installation of automatic cylinder filling hall which is designed to have an installation capacity of filling 2,400 cylinders per day. When completed, the project will create direct and indirect jobs for the locals. Ghana Gas is expected complete and operationalize the project by the end of 2021.”
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana
Government in October 2017 through the National Petroleum Authority rolled out the cylinder recirculation model project which focuses on consolidating activities in the LPG value chain with a special purpose to reduce health, safety, security and environmental risk exposure.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
The Digital Energy Festival for Africa kicks off on 20 October when four of Clarion Events’ leading energy brands join forces with an unprecedented six-week tour de force of quality content and engagement from one point of entry, making it the largest ever energy event for the African continent.
The organisers of Africa Energy Forum, African Utility Week & POWERGEN Africa and the Oil & Gas Council’s Africa Assembly and the leading energy journal ESI Africa will jointly host the Digital Energy Festival from 20 October to 26 November 2020.
Several other Clarion Events’ market-leading trade publications are also partners in the digital offering, including Smart Energy International, Power Engineering International, Renewable Energy World, Hydro Review and Mining Review Africa.
Over 5,000 attendees are expected to register for the festival, which will employ AI technology to match attendees with relevant content and networking opportunities for a personalised event experience over the six-week period. As well as over 120 programme experiences the event will also feature an online marketplace of products hosted by sponsors and exhibitors. The event will be marketed to a combined energy database of over 200,000.
Inspired by 5th Industrial Revolution
Amidst the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the energy sector in Africa, the organisers of the Digital Energy Festival seek to address critical issues such as pivoting to digital, new financial models and innovative power generation sources to allow attendees to make decisions and formulate recovery plans.
Africa Energy Forum organiser EnergyNet’s MD Simon Gosling says he was inspired by Pratik Gauri’s vision of the 5th Industrial Revolution as the overriding theme for their sessions. Gauri is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper.
“We are looking at the role of energy in social economic development,” EnergyNet MD Simon Gosling explains, “and how we can be more profitable by being more responsible and so attract new investors. That is what we are trying to look at through the past 22 years of hosting Africa Energy Forum: focusing on profit and purpose.
“In a continent that is so polarised by energy access, we want to highlight the new ways of seeking investments, which will come out of the private sector and the multilaterals who are investing in the purpose of investments. Looking at it through a gender lens, new technologies and efficiencies so decreasing carbon footprints, trying to marry that purpose and profit balance.”
The show will go on
Chanelle Hingston is the Group Director, Power & Energy at Clarion Events Africa, the organisers of the award-winning African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa, Future Energy East Africa, Future Energy Nigeria and the Utility CEO Forums for the last 20 years.
“It is inspiring to be part of such a unique joint venture with two other leading players in the energy events sector. Each one of us as event organisers has a strong team with a different and distinctive focus on the many-faceted energy sector. For example, we are well known for always gathering world-class experts for our water-focused discussions as part of our event.
“Since the start of the pandemic we have had to postpone our live event twice but, along with our partners and customers, we have fully embraced the digital tools available to us to keep the conversation going. As we proclaimed recently: ‘The show will go on,’ and being part of the Digital Energy Festival is a continuation of celebrating and supporting our continent’s power and energy professionals, projects and pioneers. We look forward to engaging with our long-standing partners online again and also welcoming new faces to our platform.”
Unique partnership
Iain Pitt is the founder of the Oil & Gas Council’s Africa Assembly: “Reflecting the significance of Africa to our membership, we have developed a unique partnership that offers the opportunity for valuable connections, which are as close to the real world as possible. Building integrated energy businesses with production, cash flow and development pipelines has never been more important in Africa.
“The Digital Energy Festival will replicate many of the live event experiences our members have come to expect from the Council, whilst giving exclusive access to an additional four premium African energy networks simultaneously.”
Digital Energy Festival For Africa
The extensive Digital Energy Festival programme will comprise a variety of formats, including interactive boardrooms, country spotlights, video networking, high-level roundtables, digital dialogues, industry masterclasses, fireside chats, technology presentations, energy marketplace, VIP coffee mornings, TV interviews, webinar recordings, industry awards, women in power sessions, virtual keynote sessions, a quiz programme for attendees and student initiatives.
The African Energy Forum topic and speaker highlights include:
Ministers Roundtable with confirmed attendance from ministers from Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Morocco, Uganda, and São Tomé & Príncipe.
– Fireside chat with Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and UN Special Representative to the Secretary General for Sustainable Energy for All.
– South Africa Country Spotlights with Eskom & the IPP Office
– AfDB “Utility of the Future” Competition
– African Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) Solar Awards
For more information on and to book for Africa Energy Forum’s sessions, click here.
The Oil & Gas Council’s Africa Assembly session and speaker highlights:
– Digital Dialogue Investment Focus – what next for African Oil & Gas?
– Digital Dialogue: There is no future for frontier exploration
– Fireside chat: Ayotola Jagun, Chief Compliance Officer and Company Secretary, Oando
– Fireside chat: Fathima Hussain, Managing Director, Oil & Gas Corporate Finance, Standard Chartered Bank
– Digital Dialogue: Exploration & Production – is it too late for Africa to profit from its resources?
To view and book for the Oil & Gas Council’s sessions, click here.
African Utility Week & POWERGEN Africa’s programme and speaker highlights:
– The virtual opening keynote will focus on private sector participation in the African power sector.
– Fireside discussion with Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, South Africa.
– Utility CEO Forum: Pan-Africa and Municipal Leaders Forum.
– “Women in Energy” panel of CEOs sharing advice and discussing the challenges on their journey to C-level.
– “Doing Business in Africa” series with special focus on Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Senegal, opened by Dr. Albert Butare, Former Rwandan Minister of State In Charge of Energy, Water and Communication and CEO, Africa Energy Services Group Ltd, Rwanda.
Click here to view this programme in more detail and to register. Registration for Digital African Utility Week and
POWERGEN Africa is free.
ESI Africa’s programme and speaker highlights:
– Digital Dialogue: Unpacking South Africa’s 2,500MW “no regret” nuclear decision
– Digital Dialogue: The Role of Nuclear in the Green Energy Future
– Digital Dialogue: Guide to Wheeling Frameworks as a Realistic Energy Solution
– Digital Dialogue: The African mini-grid market – Progress and obstacles
– Digital Dialogue: Balancing Act – Negotiating Tenable PPAs for IPPs and Private Buyers
Ghana’s Ministry of Energy has promised to supply about 500 solar lanterns to East Ada District Assembly for onward distribution to settlers of island communities in the area.
Energy Minister John-Peter Amewu made the promise following a request by the District Chief Executive of East Ada, Sarah Dugbakie Pobee, that the people in the island communities in the area need solar lanterns to provide them with light at night.
Mr. Amewu, speaking at a sod cutting ceremony for the construction of mini-grids electricity for Alokpem, Azizakpe and Aflive, said the Akufo-Addo-administration was determined to ensure that island and lakeside communities get access to electricity through the deployment of decentralised mini-grid systems.
He said the government is currently implementing the rural electrification scheme to make electricity available and affordable to stimulate economic activities in all rural communities in the country.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business has been awarded a contract of US$47 million for a substation project in Benin.
The nation’s biggest high-voltage substation contract has been awarded through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) – a United States foreign assistance agency established by the US Congress.
This is a critical grid project as only one-third of Benin’s population has access to electricity and total per-capita consumption is low due to limited access and availability.
At the same time, rapidly growing demand for power, inadequate maintenance, and insufficient investment has stressed Benin’s national electrical grid, creating power outages that hurt businesses and hinder social services.
Under the contract, GE will supply four substations, including gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) and seven substation extensions. The scope covers the most important high-voltage substation in the country, Vedoko, and is strategically placed to help strengthen the country’s transmission backbone. GE will also work on upgrading the substations in Maria-Gleta, Berecingou, Djougou, Bohicon, Natitingou and Parakou.
“In recent years in Benin, there has been a lot of attention and investment in the country’s energy arena. The distribution of electricity to its citizens is a critical enabler to helping make dreams come true, to supporting their aspirations as they take on the challenges of daily modern life,” said Gabriel Degbegni, National Coordinator at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
This is the second contract GE’s Grid Solutions has received through MCC’s $375 million power-sector focused agreement, or compact, with Benin. The first contract, a turnkey distribution management system project involving telecommunication infrastructure and substation adaptations, was awarded in 2018 and is currently being executed.
That project was designed to strengthen the country’s grid and manage electricity losses that result during energy transmission, since Benin imports some of its electricity from neighboring countries.
The new substations that GE will install as part of the latest project will be integrated into the distribution management system.
Both GE projects improve grid reliability, allowing additional energy capacity supply to support growth, boost productivity and generate more economic opportunities.
GE will provide a turnkey solution with design supply, civil work, local transportation and installation commissioning as part of the latest project. The supply includes all balance-of-plant and high-voltage substation equipment, GIS, power transformers, circuit breakers, disconnectors and earthing switches, instrument transformers, capacitors, and control and protection services. The entire project is expected to be completed in early 2022.
“Energy is a key component for on-going development in Africa,” said Eric Amoussouga, CEO GE SSA Francophone at GE’s Grid Solutions. “We are honored to be awarded this critical grid project in Benin, supporting the country’s modernization efforts around its power sector. Moreover, additional energy capacity will help foster economic development and boost local area growth.”
GE’s Grid Solutions will set up an office in Benin to provide training and skills through a local team.
The local team will be hired via subcontractors to directly impact the economy.
The project builds on Grid’s continued commitment to Africa where the business is also upgrading three 225 kV substations in Cote d’Ivoire. Announced last year, that project aligns with GE’s commitment to provide scalable power solutions in partnership with governments and utilities to meet West Africa’s growing energy needs.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Aleph Commodities Ltd, an investment and energy trading company headquartered in London, along with co-investors, has acquired a majority stake in InterTank Nordic AB, an independent storage management and operations company in Sweden.
InterTank manages over 1 million cubic meters of storage capacity across more than 20 facilities in Europe and the Middle East.
The acquisition provides a platform for further investment in tank storage and related infrastructure with a special focus on renewables, and underlines Aleph’s commitment to expand and grow its energy asset business.
The acquisition also provides a framework for ESG investments, as Aleph and InterTank seek to jointly develop opportunities in the renewable energy sector.
Neal Kumar, Partner at Aleph Commodities, said “InterTank is a strategic platform for further infrastructure and downstream investments.
The partners in Aleph are pleased to invest and grow the business under Fredrik Lilja’s leadership of InterTank.
There are many areas of synergies, where the joint team can leverage InterTank’s first class operations and Aleph’s access to new markets in Southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa”.
Fredrik Lilja, CEO of InterTank, said “We are very happy to team up with Aleph and are looking forward to working together to grow and expand our business with targeted investments in carefully selected high quality storage assets with a special focus on renewables and bio oils.”
InterTank’s existing management team and staff will remain in place.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
The Indian Government has approved a standardised bidding process for the marketing of natural gas.
The move is part of effort of the Indian government to bring reforms in natural gas marketing.
Per the reforms producing company cannot participate in the bidding process. However, its affiliate companies can participate in the bidding process.
Speaking to the journalists, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) will suggest an e-bidding platform for users.
He noted that producers will have a choice to opt for a platform adding that there process will be transparent and open bidding process to be conducted for price discovery.
The regulator will also suggest a panel of e-bidding platforms to the producers.
Gas producers will have a choice to opt for a platform and get the best market determined price for their gas.
With the changes in gas pricing regime, government hopes that its objective of developing a gas-based economy will get the necessary push.
Pradhan said the changes will also help increase domestic gas production by an additional 40 million standard cubic meters a day (mmscmd), from the current 84 mmscmd.
Government has already given marketing and pricing freedom for gas from blocks awarded under the Discovered Small Field Policy (DSF), Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) and Coal Bed Methane (CBM) contracts, and discoveries from difficult fields such as deep water, ultra-deep water and high pressure-high temperature areas.
The new changes approved by the Cabinet will allow gas from all such fields to discover pricing under a common e-bidding platform.
While allowing reforms in pricing, the government has left the existing production of gas from nomination fields untouched.
Accordingly, such gas blocks would continue to be guided by a 2014 government-set formula that takes average rates from global trading hubs to determine domestic prices twice a year – in April and then in October.
Under this formula, the current gas price is at $1.79 per million metric British thermal unit (mmBtu) for the six-month period beginning October 1. Gas producers have been critical of this low pricing that adversely impacts investments in the upstream sector.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
The President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday, October 7 commissioned streetlights project in the Upper East Regional capital, Bolgatanga.
The President, reportedly switched on the lights last night to lighten the streets of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital roundabout that had been in darkness for years.
The President is currently touring the Upper East Region as the West African nation prepares for Presidential and Parliamentary Elections on December 7, 2020.
According to MyNewsGh.com, the commissioning of the streetlights was done amid show and display of excitement from the people in the region, who expressed gratitude to the President for remembering them and providing them with streetlights.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Siemens Energy & partners are holding a major Middle East and Africa-focused virtual conference, entitled ‘Shaping the Energy of Tomorrow’, from October 19 – 21, 2020, to drive forward the sustainability and decarbonization agenda at a defining moment in the energy industry.
With the long-term impacts of Covid-19 and a fundamental shift in energy markets still being realized, now is the moment for the energy industry to collaborate to realize a future that is sustainable, efficient, affordable and accessible, in line with the ideals laid out by UN Sustainable Goal 7.
The MEA Energy Week conference is being held in partnership with the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK); the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ghorfa); the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit (GMIS); and Masdar, a global leader in renewable energy and sustainable urban development, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi government’s Mubadala Investment Company.
The world-class speaker line-up currently features numerous regional ministers, CEOs, energy and finance industry leaders and Siemens Energy experts for the eight panel sessions.
To date, ministers from Benin, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria and the UAE will participate in the conference. Senior executives from Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company, ADNOC, Crescent Petroleum, DEWA, Euler Hermes, Masdar, Mubadala and Saudi Aramco have also confirmed their participation.
The panelists will address the numerous challenges and opportunities that the energy industry faces amid the twin goals of improving access to energy and meeting growing demand on the one hand, while also doing so in an environmentally and financially sustainable manner.
Topics such as financing sustainable energy projects, integrating renewables into grids, incorporating digitalization and automaton, decarbonizing hydrocarbon intensive industries, and utilizing green hydrogen, will be at the forefront of panel discussions.
The launch of this important and timely event comes shortly after the listing of Siemens Energy on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on September 28, following a spin-off from Siemens AG. An estimated one-sixth of the world’s power generation is already based on technologies from Siemens Energy. With this important legacy comes significant responsibility; to help shape the direction of the future of energy sector, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and decarbonization, for the benefit of society.
“Around 850 million people on our planet still lack access to reliable electricity, this must be improved. As an independent company, Siemens Energy has the entrepreneurial flexibility to help shape the global transformation of the energy markets in a sustainable and economically successful manner,” said Dietmar Siersdorfer, Siemens Energy Middle East Managing Director.
“But this change can only be achieved with global awareness, willingness to adapt and strong partnerships. That is what makes this event so important. The impressive list of participants highlights the desire to collaborate on finding solutions to the challenges.”
“The ‘Shaping the Energy of Tomorrow’ virtual conference is a remarkable initiative that aims to create an excellent platform to discuss the essential economic challenges of today and tomorrow. The event brings together energy industry leaders and policymakers at a time of potentially drastic change for the energy industry,” said Dr. Volker Treier, Chief Executive of Foreign Trade and Member of the Executive Board, DIHK.
“Together with Siemens Energy, Arab decision-makers and energy experts joining this conference, we are aiming to generate more collaborations to advance a sustainable energy future through the implementations of ambitious agendas and the adoption of new technologies and innovations,” said Abdulaziz Al-Mikhlafi, Secretary General Ghorfa Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Shaping the path of the energy transition, could be realized only via dialogue and addressing challenges, to ensure sustainable transformation and support the economic recovery following COVID-19”.
“We must continue to focus our effort to change the way we live our lives in order to get ahead of global issues such as climate change that are facing humanity today. This means turning discussions into actions, as seen with our recently launched global initiative – The Green Chain, which aims to decarbonise industry, deploy Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies for global good, accelerate the use of clean energy, and promote social responsibility across borders,” said Badr Al-Olama, Head of the Organising Committee for the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS).
“If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we need to prepare today to deliver a sustainable future tomorrow – we need to work together to make the transition to a clean energy world. ‘Shaping the Energy of Tomorrow’ aligns with Masdar’s mission to advance the development of viable sustainability solutions, and we look forward to engaging with Siemens Energy and other partners at this pivotal time for the energy sector,” said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Oil and gas companies with assets across the Gulf of Mexico have begun to evacuate workers from offshore platforms and rigs in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Delta – the sixth hurricane this year to disrupt output in the Gulf.
Hurricane Delta is the 25th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season and is sustaining wings of 225 kilometres per hour. It is already a dangerous Category 4 storm which will move from the Caribbean, scrape across Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, and re-enter the Gulf of Mexico.
According to offshoreenergytoday.com, Shell on Tuesday said it was in the process of shutting in production at all nine of its assets and evacuating all personnel on board as well as finalising the safe pause on its drilling operations.
BP stated that forecasts indicated that the storm would move across central and northeast Gulf of Mexico in the next few days. As a result, BP began evacuating personnel from its platforms and assets and started shutting in production.
The four offshore drilling rigs contracted to BP are also in the process of securing their wells to safely evade the storms. BP added that it was securing and preparing to close its Houma Operations Learning Center in Louisiana.
Chevron, Equinor, and BHP were all shutting in production on platforms and evacuating workers to facilities onshore.
W&T Offshore is another that started evacuations with preparations for shut-ins on its Gulf of Mexico assets.
On Monday, the company made an operational update in which it stated that Tropical Storm Cristobal impacted W&T’s second-quarter 2020 production while Hurricanes Hanna, Marco, Laura, Sally and Beta caused production shut-ins during the third quarter of 2020.
Since tropical storm activity in the Gulf of Mexico is continuing in early October and due to the hurricane season extending until November 30, W&T said that there remains the potential for additional tropical weather impact to production and costs in the fourth quarter of 2020.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is also monitoring Hurricane Delta, and according to operator reports, it forced the closure of 29.22 per cent of offshore crude oil production in the U.S.-regulated northern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, while it shut-in 8.59 per cent of the natural gas production.
U.S. shale oil output has been able to mitigate the market impact of hurricane shut-ins but it is worth noting that there have been six storms starting with Tropical Storm Cristobal in June that have affected U.S. offshore oil and gas operations this year.
Ghana is looking at establishing a Renewable Energy Authority to spearhead the promotion of renewable energy and the full implementation of the Renewable Energy Act 2011 (Act 832) in the West African nation, energynewsafrica.com can report.
This is contained in the Amended Renewable Energy Act 2011 (Act 832) which is currently before Cabinet for awaiting approval and onward submission to Parliament for deliberation, sighted by energynewsafrica.com.
The review of the Act was to ensure active participation of the private sector in achieving the government’s goal of scaling up the penetration of renewable energy in the energy mix.
Government of Ghana, in 2011, passed the Renewable Energy (RE) Act and committed itself under the UNFCCC Paris Agreement on climate change to increase the penetration of the other renewable energy resources by 10/percent mainly from, solar, wind biomass, tidal wave and small hydro power by the year 2030.
According to Section 53 of the amended Renewable Energy Act 2011(Act 832) sighted by energynewsafrica.com, it states that: “Until such time that a Renewable Energy Authority is established, (a) the Renewable Energy Directorate under the Ministry of Energy shall oversee the implementation of renewable energy activities in the country; (b) the Minister may designate any public entity to;(i) execute renewable energy projects initiated by the state or in which the state has an interest; and (ii) manage the assets in the renewable energy sector on behalf of the state as in (i). (iii) undertake a renewable energy activity and any other clean energy alternative activity for the purpose of generating electric power.”
Pursuant to section 53(b) of the Act, the Bui Power Authority Act 2007 (Act 740) has therefore been amended to allow them to assume the role of the Renewable Energy Authority.
Section 25 (1) of the Amended RE Act 2011, Act 832 emphasizes the need for competitive procurement scheme for the purpose of attracting a competitive market rates for electricity generated from renewable energy sources stating that the competitive procurement scheme shall consists of (a) a tendering process; and (b) an auction scheme.
It adds that a public utility shall not negotiate for a Power Purchase Agreement with a generator of electricity or contract power for electricity generated from renewable energy sources unless the contracted power has gone through an open competitive and transparent procurement process.
The Amended Act also makes it mandatory for fossil fuel based electricity suppliers and companies that contribute to greenhouse gas emission to invest in non-utility scale renewable energies to offset their greenhouse emissions.
“A Fossil fuel based wholesale electricity suppliers, a fossil fuel producer, and any other companies that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions shall invest in non-utility scale renewable energies to offset their Green House Gas emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change.”
Speaking to the Director for Renewable and Alternative Energies at the Ministry of Energy, Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo, who confirmed that the Amended Renewable Energy Act has been forwarded to Cabinet, said the Amended Act has scrapped feed –in- tariffs and replaced with a competitive bidding scheme.
A “feed-in-tariff scheme” is a policy that obliges distribution utilities to buy electricity generated from renewable sources at a higher fixed price over a long period of about 20years to guarantee return on investment.
He explained that at the time the RE act was enacted, the cost of generating electricity from renewable especially solar was so high that distribution utilities were reluctant to buy the power and hence the need to introduce the feed in tariff policy to compel them to buy the power at a higher price of above 18 US Cents /kWh for distribution at a lower price. Today price of electricity from utility scale renewable energy source is now a good choice and should no more be an obligation.
He said instead there has been introduction of a net-metering scheme for the purpose of encouraging self-generation of electricity from renewable energy sources on a power cost reduction or climate change mitigation basis and not for income generation.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
U.S oil and gas supermajor, ExxonMobil has hinted of cutting about 1,600 jobs in Europe as part of efforts to rein in costs.
“It is anticipated that up to 1,600 positions would be impacted by the end of 2021 across the company’s affiliates in Europe. Country-specific impacts will depend on the company’s local business footprint and market conditions,” the company said in a statement posted on its website.
According to ExxonMobil, the proposed changes are subject to local information and consultation processes as applicable in each country and result from insight gained through reorganizations and work-process changes made over the past several years to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
“The impact of COVID-19 on the demand for ExxonMobil’s products has increased the urgency of the ongoing efficiency work,” the statement added.
Europe remains an important market for ExxonMobil, as evidenced by recent major investments.
“However, significant actions are needed at this time to improve cost competitiveness and ensure the company manages through these unprecedented market conditions,” the statement concluded.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s Minister for Energy, John Peter Amewu has cut sod for the construction of three mini-grids solar power project to connect three island communities in East Ada District in the Greater Accra Region in the Republic of Ghana.
The three mini-grids, with each having a capacity of 50kVA, when completed would deliver green and sustainable electricity to about 300 households or about 2,100 people and 30 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Alopkem, Azizakpe and Aflive communities.
The project which is being funded with a US$2 million grant from the Swiss Government would be executed by Messrs Techno Trama Ambienta of Spain.
Speaking at the sod cutting ceremony, Mr. John-Peter Amewu said when the project is completed, it would be handed over to the Volta River Authority whose mandate covers the operations and activities on the Volta River, own, manage and operate all the mini-grid facilities on islands in the Volta River.
Mr. John-Peter Amewu performing sod cutting ceremony while other dignitaries look on.
According to him, the project forms part of the last mile electrification strategy of the government to provide access of electricity to islands and lakeside communities where grid extension is a major challenge.
He explained that government is implementing the rural electrification scheme to make electricity available and affordable to stimulate economic activities in all rural communities in the country.
However, for island and lake-side communities where grid electricity cannot be extended in the immediate future, the strategy is to deploy decentralized mini-grid systems similar to what is at Pediatorkope.
The Minister hinted that feasibility studies are almost completed for 54 additional mini-grids to be installed in Afram Plain South, Sene , Krachi West, Krachi East, Krachi-Ichumuru, Kpandai, Yeji, Nkwanta South and Nkwanta North Districts.
“The beneficiary communities have already been selected and sites for installation works identified. Procurement process is underway for the award of contract to install and connect approximately 4000 households in these Districts,” he said.
Mr. Amewu who commended the Swiss Government for providing funding for the project charged the contractor to execute the project as quickly as possible and in strict adherence to all the quality standard measures in the contract as well as Covid-19 protocols.
Deputy Minister for Energy in charge of Power, William Owuraku, who said feasibility studies for the construction of mini grids electricity in the area was done about four years ago, was excited that the three inland communities are going to be connected to electricity just as it had been done for those in Pediatorkope.
He pledged his commitment to ensure that the project is executed on schedule.
The District Chief Executive for East Ada, Sarah Dugbakie Pobee, who commended the Ministry of Energy and the Swiss Government for the funding, urged the beneficiary communities to lend their support for the contractors to ensure that the project is completed on time.
Some dignitaries who witnessed the sod cutting ceremony were Director for Renewable and Alternative Energies at the Ministry of Energy, Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo, Ing Seth Mahu, Swiss Ambassador to Ghana; H. E. Philipp Stalder , Executive Secretary of Energy Commission, Ing Rev. Oscar Amonoo-Neizer, and James Dimitrus.
Swiss Ambassador to Ghana; H. E. Philipp StalderSarah Dugbakie Pobee, District Chief Executive for East Ada in the Greater Accra RegionExecutive Secretary of Energy Commission Ing. Rev Oscar Amonoo-Neizer (Right)William Owuraku Aidoo, Deputy Minister for Energy in-charge of Power, Republic of GhanaSource: www.energynewsafrica.com
Executive Secretary of the African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARA), Engr. Anibor Kragha has called for urgent upgrading of oil refineries and their associated storage and distribution infrastructure to prevent the number of premature deaths caused by air pollution in the developing countries.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), each year, air pollution causes seven million premature deaths with 600,000 being children.
“Not only do we need cleaner fuels but also cleaner vehicles to achieve the cleaner air that will prevent the premature deaths that developing economies around the world have experienced.
“To achieve that, we need to urgently attract the requisite financing needed to upgrade our refineries and complementary pipelines, depots and terminals, with rigorous analysis of the socio-economic and supply security benefits of each of these investments, which may often compete with each other,” Mr Anibor Kragha said in a press statement ahead of the ARA WEEK 2020 Conference that was postponed due to constraints imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ARA Week is held annually in Cape Town, South Africa, in March. However, this year’s event is being held as an online virtual conference from October 5-7, 2020.
With reference to the contention by environmental lobbyists that Africa must leapfrog technology improvements to embrace alternative, less carbon-intensive solutions rather than invest in hydrocarbon fuels, ARA argues that such an approach fails to understand the complexities of African fuel and energy supply chains and could actually make the problem worse by delaying necessary investments to supply cleaner fuels across the continent.
Anibor Kragha
Mr Kragha said: “Whether through product imports or refinery investment, Africa needs both project and trade financing for improved port and storage logistics to meet petroleum products shortfalls. But what is often forgotten is that, Africa needs to embrace the improvements to our vehicle maintenance and controls required to assure that the clean fuels supplied deliver the desired objective of cleaner air; with all the well-documented consequent benefits to public health and economic development.”
ARA has prioritised a two-step path to the future: first, clean fuels and second, climate change mitigation policies.
Mr. Kragha applauded the policies of his predecessor, Joël Dervain, in laying out the policies needed by the downstream (supply, refining, storage, distribution and marketing) sector of the oil industry.
Ultimately, an economic, efficient, safe, secure and sustainable supply chain for clean fuels is essential to address public health concerns, avoid energy poverty and drive industrial expansion and trade across Africa.
“The key is to define ‘sustainable’. Only then can we secure the financing for the projects required to upgrade our refineries and infrastructure and deliver efficient supply chains for clean fuels to let Africa catch up with the rest of the world on the climate change agenda,” he concluded.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
“The objective is to ensure that Ghanaians have access to safe, clean and environmentally friendly LPG for increased domestic and commercial usage by the year 2030. As a result, Ghana National Gas Company issued a licence by the National Petroleum Authority to build and operate an LPG bottling plant to serve Western and Western North and Central Regions. Axim in the Nzema East Municipality was chosen as the suitable local after a feasibility study was carried in the three regions to site the plant. Through the assistance of the Chiefs, a 64 acre land has been acquired for the project.”
“All the technical designs and requirements for the project have been completed. The construction of the plant for the cylinder recirculation model project requires installation of LPG storage tanks, offloading points for LPG mobile tracks, maintenance building for testing of cylinders and storage facility for both filled and empty cylinder bottles. There would be an installation of fire water tanks, loading bay and parking lot for the LPG bullet tracks. In addition, there would be an installation of automatic cylinder filling hall which is designed to have an installation capacity of filling 2,400 cylinders per day. When completed, the project will create direct and indirect jobs for the locals. Ghana Gas is expected complete and operationalize the project by the end of 2021.”
BP stated that forecasts indicated that the storm would move across central and northeast Gulf of Mexico in the next few days. As a result, BP began evacuating personnel from its platforms and assets and started shutting in production.
The four offshore drilling rigs contracted to BP are also in the process of securing their wells to safely evade the storms. BP added that it was securing and preparing to close its Houma Operations Learning Center in Louisiana.
Chevron, Equinor, and BHP were all shutting in production on platforms and evacuating workers to facilities onshore.
W&T Offshore is another that started evacuations with preparations for shut-ins on its Gulf of Mexico assets.
On Monday, the company made an operational update in which it stated that Tropical Storm Cristobal impacted W&T’s second-quarter 2020 production while Hurricanes Hanna, Marco, Laura, Sally and Beta caused production shut-ins during the third quarter of 2020.
Since tropical storm activity in the Gulf of Mexico is continuing in early October and due to the hurricane season extending until November 30, W&T said that there remains the potential for additional tropical weather impact to production and costs in the fourth quarter of 2020.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is also monitoring Hurricane Delta, and according to operator reports, it forced the closure of 29.22 per cent of offshore crude oil production in the U.S.-regulated northern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, while it shut-in 8.59 per cent of the natural gas production.
U.S. shale oil output has been able to mitigate the market impact of hurricane shut-ins but it is worth noting that there have been six storms starting with Tropical Storm Cristobal in June that have affected U.S. offshore oil and gas operations this year.
The Minister hinted that feasibility studies are almost completed for 54 additional mini-grids to be installed in Afram Plain South, Sene , Krachi West, Krachi East, Krachi-Ichumuru, Kpandai, Yeji, Nkwanta South and Nkwanta North Districts.
“The beneficiary communities have already been selected and sites for installation works identified. Procurement process is underway for the award of contract to install and connect approximately 4000 households in these Districts,” he said.
Mr. Amewu who commended the Swiss Government for providing funding for the project charged the contractor to execute the project as quickly as possible and in strict adherence to all the quality standard measures in the contract as well as Covid-19 protocols.
Deputy Minister for Energy in charge of Power, William Owuraku, who said feasibility studies for the construction of mini grids electricity in the area was done about four years ago, was excited that the three inland communities are going to be connected to electricity just as it had been done for those in Pediatorkope.
He pledged his commitment to ensure that the project is executed on schedule.
The District Chief Executive for East Ada, Sarah Dugbakie Pobee, who commended the Ministry of Energy and the Swiss Government for the funding, urged the beneficiary communities to lend their support for the contractors to ensure that the project is completed on time.
Some dignitaries who witnessed the sod cutting ceremony were Director for Renewable and Alternative Energies at the Ministry of Energy, Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo, Ing Seth Mahu, Swiss Ambassador to Ghana; H. E. Philipp Stalder , Executive Secretary of Energy Commission, Ing Rev. Oscar Amonoo-Neizer, and James Dimitrus.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
