Ghana: GNPC Allocates US$10 Million For Petroleum Hub ProjectHe stated, however, that the wind of change is not taking place as much as it should in sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Babajide, who has over 20 years’ experience in the oil industry and one of the world’s leading offshore production experts, was of the view that sub-Saharan Africa, China, and India are places where oil demand is rising, unlike the UK, North America, among a host of advanced countries, where a lot of new technologies are coming into play. “However, in Africa, it is still the only commodity that can satisfy the demands of an increasing population, an expanding middle class, and in some cases, the main source of governments’ earnings. We still have a lot of oil,” he asserted. Dr. Babajide explained that as a result of the enormous deposits of oil and gas, operators and service companies are doing what they can to optimize production cost and continue producing the commodity. “As stated, a lot of these African countries do depend substantially on oil revenue for survival. Oil still plays a large role in these sub- Saharan countries’ economies, accounting for up to 40 percent of GDP and 80 percent to 90 percent of governments’ earnings,” he stated. The Director of National Oilwell Varco, the largest Oilfield equipment manufacturing company in the world, said 90 percent of the earnings of the Government of Nigeria come from oil and the same as Angola, Gabon and the rest of oil-producing countries in sub- Saharan Africa. With these figures, he was convinced that the shift to renewable energy at the expense of oil and gas in sub-Saharan Africa has not been the focus for now, and this must change. “There is no push for anything different. They are still aggressively trying to source foreign exchange, which for the most part, they can only do that through oil,” he opined. According to him, wind energy, electric cars and a lot of other renewable energy options and integrated gasification in the combined cycle, IGCC from coal have to come into play. Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Sub-Saharan Africa Has No Choice Than To Stick To Fossil Fuel-Dr Babajide Agunbiade.
Noble Energy Shareholders Approve $4.1 Billion Sale To Chevron
Somalia: Seven Offshore Oil Blocks Offered To Investors In Maiden Licensing Bid RoundNoble’s Leviathan in Israeli waters, one of the world’s biggest offshore gas discoveries of the last decade, began pumping gas from the field late last year. While 89% of Noble shareholders voted in favor of the deal, just 60% voted for merger-related executive payouts, according to regulatory filings. Proxy adviser Glass Lewis had recommended voting for the deal but against “excessive” executive payments, which would be triggered by the sale of the company. The deal has become even cheaper for Chevron since it was announced in July with a value of $5 billion, as shares of both companies have traded down alongside oil. The deal is worth about $4.1 billion based on Friday’s closing price for Chevron of $71.19. Noble investors will receive 0.1191 shares of Chevron for each Noble share. Activist investor Elliott Management Corp, which took an undisclosed stake in Noble but never came out publicly against the deal, declined on Friday to say how it voted its shares or whether it has sold or kept its stake. The deal is expected close early this quarter. It comes during a tumultuous year for the oil and gas industry and “the hurdles remain high for corporate deals,” said Jennifer Rowland, analyst with Edward Jones. “Any deal that requires significant cost savings or a higher oil price to justify the price paid will not be well-received.” Chevron last year walked away from a deal for Anadarko Petroleum and took a $1 billion break fee, a decision that looked even better as oil prices cratered. Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: NERC Calls For Abolition Of Electricity Tariff Subsidy
Nigeria: Inconsistent Policies Frustrating Investments In Oil Sector — Total MD“But you cannot continue to defer the review indefinitely because you should look at electricity supply as a value chain. Generation companies are spending money to produce electricity and TCN (Transmission Company of Nigeria) is transmitting that electricity to the distribution companies.” NERC said NERC added that electricity is a commodity somebody has to pay for and rates review cannot be postponed indefinitely. “If you continue to defer the rates review, unless government has the resources to fill in the gap, the implication is that you will see service plummeting significantly. “This is because at the end of the day, the generators will not be paid. And if the generation companies are not paid, it means that they will not be able to pay for gas. And so the 3,000 megawatts, 4,000MW and occasionally 5,000MW that we are getting now will significantly come down,” NERC said Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Equatorial Guinea, Russia Officially Break Ground On Their Geological Mapping Project In Río Muni
Equatorial Guinea: Russia’s Rosgeo, MMH Sign Hydrocarbon Exploration ContractEqually important, the program marks the re-entry of Rosgeo into Equatorial Guinea following successful operations of its subsidiary JSC Zarubezhgeologia back in the 1970s when its activities formed the basis for Equatorial Guinea’s geological exploration industry. “This is a historic moment for Equatorial Guinea as we welcome once again long-standing partners of our country to explore onshore Río Muni. We expect this region of Equatorial Guinea to become a new natural resources hub both for onshore oil & gas operations but also for mining and minerals. Upcoming exploration activities will provide the foundation for this next phase of growth in our industry, and having Rosgeo on the ground gives us confidence and faith for a successful exploration campaign,” declared H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons. The Rio Muni area is believed to be one of the most promising exploration frontiers in Equatorial Guinea, which could turn the country once again into a hotspot for natural resources exploration. Increased exploration is expected not only to help in sustaining and increasing domestic output of oil and gas, but also in proving additional reserves in key minerals to help Equatorial Guinea further diversify its economy. Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Libya’s Post-War Oil Exports Near 300,000 Barrels Per Day
South Africa: Sasol Books US$5.2 Million Loss In First Half Of 2020Hariga has loaded two tankers of one million barrels each in the past two weeks. The loading programs are preliminary and Libya may export more than the schedule suggests. The country, home of Africa’s largest oil reserves, pumped around 1.2 million barrels a day at the start of the year, before the blockade shut down most ports and fields. State energy firm National Oil Corp. is evaluating security at Libya’s four other onshore oil ports — including Zawiya, which handles crude from Sharara, the nation’s biggest field — before restarting them. Mercenaries involved in the civil war still occupy or are located near some of them. Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: CBOD Donates Projectors To University Of Cape Coast’s Faculty Of Arts
German Energy Investors Have A Bright Future In A Post-Covid 19 AfricaSenyo Hosi encouraged corporate Ghana to lend their support to academia to help in developing the skills of Ghana’s youth with the right resources. He also commended the UCC for its strides in education. In 2019, Senyo Hosi participated in a roundtable discussion organised by UCC on the topic: ‘Preparing Graduates for the World of Work: The role of Universities’.
Oil Price Slide Continues On Trump’s Positive Coronavirus Test
Ghana: Minister Rallies Support For $50 Billion Petroleum Hub Project In Western Region
Ghana: Four New Oil Refineries In The OffingThe petroleum hub, which will occupy a land space of about 20,000 acres, would have four refineries each with a capacity of 150,000bpd, two oil jetties, storage tanks for crude and two petrochemical plants. The project, which is a private sector led initiative, is expected to be completed by 2030. Addressing stakeholders in the Western Region at a three-day Inception Launch and Data Validation Workshop for the development of ‘Master Spatial Plans’ for the project at the Bonyere Traditional Area, the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah noted that investments in the petroleum hub project are expected to transform the economy through export tax of about $1.56 billion by 2030, increase GDP by about 70 percent and create jobs in excess of 780,000. According to the Minister, indigenes from the Western Region need to hone their skills and capacities, reposition themselves to enable them participate meaningfully in this wealth creation, along the value chain of petroleum downstream sector and create synergies as indigenous/local businesses. Okyere Darko Mensah tasked the participants to contribute their quota to help inform the government in shaping policies which will trigger growth and put Ghana in a very strategic economic position in the West African sub-region and on the global stage. “I entreat you to participate effectively in the workshop and make your inputs known. I will also entreat the chiefs and people of this area to ensure that the peaceful environment of the project is maintained. We, at the Regional Coordinating Council, will continue to play our coordinating, monitoring and evaluation role to ensure that this project is delivered in record time for the benefit of Ghana as a whole,” the Minister assured. Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Cameroon: Ghanaian Businessman, Togbe Afede XIV, Explores Opportunities In The Power Sector
Nigeria: Stop Singing Praises And Work To Resolve Power Problems –Nigerians Tell Power MinisterThe team was also privileged to meet with His Excellency the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cameroon, Dr Joseph Dion Ngute. The Prime Minister, on behalf of the President and the people of Cameroon, welcomed his guests and expressed the hope that Sunon Asogli Power and Africa World Airlines would invest in Cameroon. The Prime Minister, who is also a traditional leader, expressed excitement about Togbe Afede’s plans to promote collaboration among African traditional leaders. He stressed the importance of Africa to Africa collaboration in moving the continent forward. Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: It Makes No Sense For Oil To Be Sold Cheaper In Nigeria Than Saudi Arabia —Buhari
ExxonMobil To Proceed With Payara Development Offshore Guyana
Nigeria: Stop Singing Praises And Work To Resolve Power Problems –Nigerians Tell Power Minister
Nigeria has 12,500 MW of installed generation capacity, being largely dependent on hydropower and fossil (gas) thermal power sources; 12.5% and 87.5% respectively. However, only 3,500 MW to 5,000 MW is typically available for onward transmission to the final consumer. NIGERIA ENERGY SECTOR OVERVIEW Nigeria is the largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa, but limitations in the power sector constrain growth. Nigeria is endowed with large oil, gas, hydro and solar resource, and it already has the potential to generate 12,522 megawatts (MW) of electric power from existing plants, but most days is only able to generate around 4,000 MW, which is insufficient. Nigeria has privatized its distribution companies, so there is a wide range of tariffs. Generation Capacity • Installed Capacity: 12,522 MW • Thermal: 10,142 MW • Hydro: 2,380 MW • Reached Financial Close: 3,034 MW • Power Africa 2030 Pipeline: 11,750 MW Connections • Current Access Rate: 45% • Rural: 36% Urban: 55% • Households without Power: 20 million • Target: Universal access by 2030 • Power Africa New Off-Grid Connections: 454,432 • Power Africa New Grid Connections: 496,723 Source:www.energynewsafrica.comIn the near future, we Nigerians will be able to look back with pride and say the administration of President @MBuhari fixed & transformed the Power sector.
— Engr. Sale Mamman (@EngrSMamman) September 30, 2020
We are on the right track!


