When Anadarko Petroleum Corp. confirmed last year it would be constructing a $20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Mozambique, this was major news.
Mozambique’s first onshore LNG plant would be creating tens of thousands of jobs – and contributing to sustainable, long-term economic growth that would impact millions of people.
Two additional LNG projects have been announced since then: the $4.7 billion Coral FLNG Project by ENI and ExxonMobil, and the $30 billion Rovuma LNG Project by ExxonMobil, ENI, and the China National Petroleum Corporation. While these two have been postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the original LNG Mozambique project has been moving forward.
French oil major Total acquired the project and finalized project funding in July, even in the face of recent terror attacks in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, where Total’s LNG plant will be constructed.
That’s why it’s so disheartening to learn that a UK-based environmental group is pursuing actions that could jeopardize the project’s timely progression, all in the name of preventing climate change. Friends of the Earth has said it will initiate a legal challenge against the UK’s decision to provide $1 billion in funding for the Mozambique LNG project.
Never mind the project’s importance to everyday Africans. Never mind its potential to grow and diversify the economy. Never mind that projects like this are just what Mozambique needs to address its energy poverty, or that the Mozambique government has invested considerable time and resources into making this LNG project possible.
This is not the first time that not so well informed radical activist have attempted to interfere with Africa’s energy industry in ways that do not help poor Africans but serve their own interest. International organizations, including the World Bank, and private investors, under pressure by environmental groups, have been dropping support for African fossil fuel production. A lot of poor people are suffering from this and hundreds of millions more will if we to change direction.
I find it stunning that, during a time when much of the world is talking about the need to respect black perspectives, environmental groups seem to have no qualms about dismissing African voices.
As I’ve said in the past, I agree that climate change should be taken seriously. And I understand the risks it poses to Africa. The thing is, why are non-African organizations trying to dictate how African countries address those risks? The message in this case seems to be that “they know best.” That idea is insulting, and interfering with an African country’s efforts to build up its economy – simply because fossil fuels are involved – is completely unacceptable.
A ‘Missed Opportunity?’ Really?
UK Export Finance (UKEF) is one of eight export credit agencies to provide funding for Total’s Mozambique LNG project, which includes the construction of a two-train liquefaction plant with a capacity of 12.9 million tonnes per year.
UKEF’s $1 billion commitment includes awarding $300 million in loans to British companies working on the gas project and guaranteeing loans from commercial banks worth up to $850 million. The UK’s parliamentary under-secretary for the Department for International Trade, Graham Stuart, has pointed out that Total’s LNG project could be transformational for Mozambique and create 2,000 jobs in the UK as well.
But Friends of the Earth has said they will seek a judicial review into the UK government’s decision to help finance a project that, as they put it, will “worsen the climate emergency.” The group’s director, Jamie Peters, also expressed his disappointment in a letter to the UK government. The UKEF’s funding decision, Peters said, represents a “lost opportunity” for the UK to be a world climate leader.
My question to Mr. Peters is, what about Mozambique’s opportunities? To help everyday people improve their lives? To earn a decent living? To have a reliable source of energy? I’m talking about an opportunity to nudge the average life expectancy in Mozambique above 59 years, where it stands now.
The Mozambique LNG project is poised to make those things possible. As far as I’m concerned, losing that opportunity would devastating.
What Mozambique Stands to Gain
I can’t overstate the far-reaching implications and potential that Total’s Mozambique LNG project represents for local businesses, communities, and individuals.
Total estimates that its plant will generate about $50 billion in revenue for Mozambique’s government during its first 25 years in operation. That revenue can be directed toward much-needed infrastructure, educational programs, and economic diversification programs.
Consider direct foreign investment in Mozambique: Total’s US$25 billion investment in the LNG plant is more than twice Mozambique’s current GDP.
How about the plant construction project? Not only will it generate tens of thousands of local jobs, but it also will provide training opportunities for local people. Indigenous companies will be contracted to provide goods and services.
This pattern will continue once the plant is operational. Locals can train for and take a wide range of positions, including professional and leadership roles. Over time, subject matter experts who can share their knowledge in Mozambique, and with other African companies, will be cultivated. And, once again, the plant will be looking to local companies to provide products and services.
LNG Can ‘Empower’ Mozambique
In addition to these far-reaching economic opportunities, the LNG produced at the plant will provide affordable energy for Mozambique.
The need is urgent. Only about 29% of the population has access to electricity today. Medical care is hindered. Education is impacted. And sustainable economic growth is an uphill climb.
Earlier this year, I praised the government of Mozambique for negotiating for part of the LNG production to be diverted to the domestic market, meaning it can be used for power generation. Since then, the government secured financing for a 400MW gas-fired power plant and transmission line to Maputo, the country’s capital, which will dramatically improve power reliability there.
By the way, when the Mozambique government ensured that some of the plant’s LNG production would be available for domestic use, it also laid the foundation for monetization and economic diversification. In Mozambique, LNG will be available to serve as feedstock for fertilizer and petrochemical plants. It can be exported by pipeline to neighboring companies. And that, in turn, can help Mozambique build even more infrastructure and contribute to even greater widespread prosperity.
Mozambique Has Been Working for This
I’d also like to point out that the thought and preparation that the Mozambique government has put into making its natural gas operations beneficial for the country as a whole since approximately 180 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves were discovered there in 2010.
Mozambique’s national oil company, ENH, hired global energy research and consulting firm Wood Mackenzie to help it prepare for the responsibility of managing and selling its corresponding portion of the resources. Since then, ENH formed a consortium with international oil and gas trader, Vitol.
The government also has sought the support of more experienced energy producers and international partners. Earlier this year, President Filipe Nyusi met with Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and signed an agreement for support on natural gas resource management.
But even before that, Mozambique laid the foundation for a successful oil and gas industry with the new Petroleum Law of 2014. And with that legislation in place, the country completed a successful bidding round for exploration blocks. These efforts, along with careful negotiations with international oil companies, are what brought Mozambique to where it is today: on the cusp of becoming a major LNG producer. And these efforts are what will make Mozambique’s LNG industry a success, not just in terms of government revenue, but also in improving the lives of everyday people.
We Must Put People First
Mozambique is not asking for aid to lift its people out of poverty. It’s attempting to capitalize on its own natural resources. The government isn’t trying to make a quick buck. It’s working to lay a foundation for long-term growth. And efforts like the ExxonMobil and Total Mozambique Projects are more than an opportunity for international oil companies, or even Mozambique’s government. They have the potential to improve the lives of millions of everyday people.
I recognize the need to protect our planet and prevent climate change. But interfering with financing for Africa’s fossil fuel projects is not the right path. We must not dismiss the value of projects like these or their ability to make meaningful changes for the better in Mozambique. And we must not put environmental ideals ahead of the pressing needs that are facing people right now.
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Source: NJ Ayuk
The Chief Executive Officer of Total, Patrick Pouyanné and Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi met to discuss an intensifying Islamic State-linked insurgency in the country’s north, where the French oil giant is building a massive natural-gas project.
According to Bloomberg report, for more than a month, militants have occupied a town about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of where Total is spending $20 billion to extract natural gas from below the ocean and export it to European and Asian customers. The violence is now creeping toward Total’s Mozambique LNG project in the far northeast.
Recent videos that appear to show abuses, including torture and executions of civilians, by Mozambique’s army suggest the Cabo Delgado province has become increasingly lawless. Total last month said it signed an agreement with the government for a joint task force to provide security to the project. Hundreds of Mozambican soldiers had already been guarding the site.
“The security situation in Cabo Delgado was at the core of the discussion between President Nyusi and Patrick Pouyanné,” a Total spokesperson said of the Sept. 12 meeting in Maputo, the capital.
“The government of Mozambique recently reiterated its commitment to respect international humanitarian law.”
Two days after the meeting, a widely shared video of men in military uniform gunning down a naked woman caused a public outcry in the country. Amnesty International said it has verified the men as government soldiers and that the incident occurred near a town less than 100 kilometers from the LNG project.
A statement from the presidency about the meeting didn’t mention security. The Mozambican government has consistently tried to downplay the insurgency since it began nearly three years ago. The state has also rejected accusations by rights groups that its military is committing abuses and has blamed the insurgents for fabricating the videos.
The execution of the woman was carried out by the same forces who protect the natural-gas projects, according to the Center for Democracy and Development, a local non-governmental organization.
“There is no way to dissociate the LNG companies from this situation, as the army is in Cabo Delgado to protect above all the LNG projects,” Adriano Nuvunga, who heads the center, said in an interview.
“Total unequivocally denounces and condemns all forms of violence,” the company said. “The Group is concerned by the violence in Cabo Delgado, which affects local communities first and foremost.”
The memorandum of understanding the company signed with the government includes specific clauses to report, investigate and address any grievance closely or remotely related to the joint task force protecting the project, Total said. The agreement “includes very strict provisions on the respect of human rights,” it said in an emailed response to questions.
The violence has cost more than 1,900 lives and displaced at least 250,000 people in one of the poorest regions of the world. The European Union’s parliament this week declared “grave concern” and urged the authorities “to take effective and decisive action in countering the Islamist insurgence and to protect all citizens of Cabo Delgado.”
If not stopped, the insurgency could grow and spill over into neighboring countries, threatening regional stability, the EU said.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Energy News Africa Ltd, the online publisher of energynewsafrica.com, in the Republic of Ghana, has signed a partnership deal with African Utility Week & POWERGEN Africa, one of Clarion Events Africa’s award-winning flagship events.
Clarion Events Africa is part of the Clarion Events Group’s Clarion Energy Series, which runs over 40 events that cover the oil, gas, power and energy sectors, making it the group’s largest portfolio.
African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa takes place annually during May in Cape Town, South Africa.
Due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the organisers have postponed the 20th live, in person edition of this popular conference and exhibition to 2021.
However, the African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa will take place as a digital event from 24-26 November 2020 and forms part of the Digital Energy Festival. The ‘Digital Energy Festival’ unites African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa, Africa Energy Forum and the Oil & Gas Council, under one banner, forming Africa’s largest, all-encompassing digital energy platform.
According to the partnership, energynewsafrica.com will support the organisers in publicity in order to reach more players in the energy industry across the continent for both the digital and live events.
The partnership will enable readers of energynewsafrica.com, who would attend the 2021 African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa event to enjoy 10% discount on the registration fees.
Commenting on the partnership, Managing Editor of energynewsafrica.com, Michael Creg Afful said they were excited to enter into a partnership with African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa.
Michael Creg Afful, Editor of Energynewsafrica.com at a hydropower generation site in Ghana
He said the aim of energynewsafrica.com is to support building a resilient energy sector in Africa through the sharing of credible energy-based information with industry players in Africa and beyond.
“We believe that this partnership will afford us the opportunity to share the vital information that the industry players require for the recovery of the sector following the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Energy is very critical to the development of the continent and we can all attest to the fact that energy has played a critical role in the fight against Covid-19. ”
He adds: “Unfortunately, we have seen some countries like South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, etc. having serious problems in the energy sector. Countries that are going through power crises need the right information to turn the situation around and so we see this partnership as an opportunity to assist in sharing ideas from experts that can help solve problems in Africa’s energy sector,” Mr. Afful stated.
“At African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa, both in our 2020 digital and 2021 hybrid formats, is looking forward to working with energynewsafrica.com by connecting with industry elites and professionals within the energy sector in Ghana and the rest of Africa.
The Digital African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa offers an inspiring online platform with world-class speakers, live discussions, digital networking and product showcases as we address industry hot topics and trends through our invited industry leading experts, relevant content and learnings. Through the media partnership with energynewsafrica.com we aim to attract regional role-players to our free-to-attend digital event in 2020 and hybrid event in 2021 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre,” says Chanelle Hingston, Group Director: Power & Energy Africa, Clarion Energy.
Clarion Events Africa is a multi-award-winning Cape Town-based exhibition and conference producer across the continent in the infrastructure, energy and mining sectors. Other well-known events include the Utility CEO Forums, Future Energy East Africa, Future Energy Nigeria, Nigeria Mining Week, Africa Mining Forum and DRC Mining Week.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Maersk Drilling has set an ambitious target of lowering the intensity of CO2 emissions from its drilling operations by 50% by 2030.
The target is supported by Maersk Drilling’s strategic focus on efficiency gains, which also leads to reduced CO2 emissions.
“Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our society today, and we want to do our part in addressing this. The global demand for energy is rising and the expert consensus is that renewable energy will not be able to replace all traditional energy production within the foreseeable future. Therefore, the answer must be to provide affordable energy, including oil and gas, while keeping CO2 emissions under control. Our contribution to a sustainable energy future is to significantly reduce emissions from our operations and to explore ways to store CO2,” says CEO Jørn Madsen.
The reduction target will place Maersk Drilling as a leader among drilling contractors, and initiatives so far include the first-ever rig to operate on shore power and the upgrade of two of the world’s largest jack-ups to hybrid, low-emission rigs. In addition, Maersk Drilling recently announced that it has, amongst other, joined a consortium maturing one of the most progressed CO2 storage projects in Denmark.
Maersk Drilling’s emissions reduction target is in line with most oil and gas companies’ 2030 targets and supports the ambitions of the Paris Agreement.
“Sustainability is an area of concern, also for our customers, and by being a leader in low-emission offshore drilling, we maintain a differentiated offering which can help customers in reaching their targets. Investing in climate action is a key focus area for us and we are committed to being at the forefront, leveraging our vast experience with operating in Norway, where sustainability requirements are very high,” says CEO Jørn Madsen.
Maersk Drilling estimates that about half the target can be achieved via further efficiency gains and known technical solutions and concepts, while the other half will be facilitated by investments in innovation in this space. The target will be measured as tonnes CO2 emissions relative to three parameters: contracted days, drilled meter, and revenue, with 2019 being the baseline year.
In addition to the emissions reductions target, Maersk Drilling’s sustainability strategy contains initiatives within a range of areas, including a target of increasing the share of onshore female leaders to 30% across all leadership levels.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria will soon commission seven new modular refineries which are at the various stages of completion, Mr. Sarki Auwalu, the Director for the Department of Petroleum Resources, has revealed.
“By 2022, Nigeria will become a net exporter of petroleum products because all these refineries under construction will come on-stream,” he said.
According to him, the West African nation is looking at about 750,000 barrels of oil per day.
He said with the government championing the move to convert vehicles to be able to use Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Compressed Natural Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas, only rich individuals would be using petrol to power their cars in two years’ time.
Auwalu said an industry-wide consultation was being facilitated to ensure a smooth and quick transition to cleaner automotive fuel under the government’s autogas policy.
According to him, the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that majority of vehicles in Nigeria are fueled by autogas in the next few years.
He gave the indication last Wednesday during the visit of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to the DPR headquarters in Lagos.
Describing gas as a cheaper and cleaner alternative to petrol, he said deepening gas utilisation would mitigate the impact of the recent petrol deregulation.
Auwalu said, “Nigerians should have a choice of energy they want to use. That is price freedom. We want motorists to switch to autogas (CNG, LPG, or LNG) because it is cheaper and cleaner than petrol.
“In the next two years, PMS will be for people who have money. We believe that this will reduce the cost of transportation, which will positively affect other sectors of the economy.”
He said engagement with stakeholders on the conversion and colocation of autogas at existing petrol stations across the country had already started.
According to him, with a proven gas reserve of 203 trillion cubic feet, Nigeria is a major gas country, but unfortunately, gas utilisation is only about 5.5 per cent, which is still very low despite the progress made in the last 10 years.
The DPR helmsman said that apart from autogas, the government was also committed to utilisation of gas for industries, power, agriculture and cooking, adding that it had demonstrated this commitment through various initiatives and policies.
He noted that the 10 per cent contribution of the petroleum sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product was unacceptable as it had the potential of contributing more.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
The Nigerian Hotels Association, the Network for Electricity Consumers Advocacy of Nigeria, the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, Hotel Owners Forum, Abuja, and Power Up Nigeria have kicked against increases in power tariff and petrol price.
At a joint press conference in Abuja on Friday, the groups rejected the hikes and demanded an urgent reversal, stressing that the hardship imposed on individuals and businesses by the COVID-19 pandemic would be worsened if the increases in petrol price and electricity tariff persist.
In a speech jointly signed by the presidents of NHA, FTAN, HOFA, Power Up Nigeria and read by the NECAN Secretary, Uket Obonga, the groups said it was unfortunate that the Federal Government had chosen to increase the plights of Nigerians.
“It is sad to note that while other nations are enacting policies and taking measures to cushion the hardship imposed on their citizens by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government has chosen to place an unpardonable burden on Nigerians.
“This burden is not only the electricity tariff increase but also the hike in the pump price of petrol at a time that the people are suffocating under a distressed economy,” the group in a statement carried by punchng.com.
They added, “It is very unfortunate that the Federal Government could allow itself to be misled into believing that tariff increase is the silver bullet that will shoot the sector revenues to Eldorado.”
The groups argued that the root cause of the revenue problems in the power sector had remained unattended to.
According to them, this was not the first time that power distributors were agitating for tariff hike, as the past Multi Year Tariff Order reviews that ended up increasing the price of electricity did not yield the desired result.
They said, “Recall that as soon as the MYTO 2015 order came into effect on February 1, 2016, the power distribution companies began another quest for further increase.
“They flagrantly disregarded the provisions of the MYTO path and energy charges contained therein, as the Discos went ahead to choose which tariff rate to use in determining bills given to the customers.
The groups argued that the incessant request for tariff increase had become a hypothetical exercise rather than the solution to the sector’s revenue problem.
“We therefore wish to state categorically that we reject the September 1, 2020 tariff increase as ordered by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission,” they said.
They added, “We call on the Federal Government to rescind the increase because we note that there is nothing put on the ground to cushion the effect of the dual increase of the end user tariff and the pump price of petrol.”
They drew the attention of Nigerians to the fact that the new MYTO order had built performance target which the Discos were expected to meet in the course of the implementation of the order.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Sasol South Africa, an integrated chemical and energy company is partnering with the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (the Alliance) to extend its efforts to lessen the impact of litter on the environment.
In celebration of World Cleanup Day 2020, Sasol South Africa will participate in the ALL_TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEANUP, a global initiative to remove litter, one piece at a time from the environment.
“We encourage Sasol South Africa employees, partners and individuals to participate and spread the word about ALL_TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEANUP. Our actions, bolstered by measurement over the two-week period, will help create positive change in the effort to rid the planet of litter,” said Thabiet Booley, Senior Vice President of Sasol’s Base Chemicals business said in a statement.
“Litter in the environment is a global challenge with local solutions, and we’re committed to safely joining together to reduce waste in our communities. Through the ALL_TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEANUP initiative participants may choose to clean up on their own, with a small group, or with family members. Whomever participants choose to participate with, everyone is encouraged to follow all local and regional COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safest experience possible.
Beginning on World Cleanup Day 2020 (Saturday, September 19) and extending for the ensuing two weeks, volunteers from the Alliance, employees of participating member and non-member companies, partners and individuals around the world will rally to discover, identify, collect and dispose of any litter they find.
Leveraging the global network of the Alliance’s nearly 50 members, the ALL_TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEANUP expects to educate more than one million individuals about the importance of litter clean up.
The two-week window to participate in the ALL_TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEANUP gives participants the choice to take part when they are comfortable in doing so and physically distanced given their local communities’ COVID-19 safety guidance.
Litterati, winner of the Alliance and Plug and Play’s incubator program in the United States, developed the app that serves as the centerpiece to unite ALL_TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEANUP participants. The Litterati app allows for pickup efforts to be monitored with concrete data, which in turn makes it possible for changes of lasting impact—from behavioural shifts to corporate packaging changes and more. Litterati uses artificial intelligence technology to identify the litter captured in geo-tagged photos. All participants will use the app to upload photos of each piece of litter collected in order to measure and track participation throughout the two-week campaign.
In addition to Sasol South Africa employees, partners such as Plastics SA, which represents all sectors of the South African Plastics Industry including polymer producers and importers, converters, machine suppliers, fabricators and recyclers, will support the Litterati campaign for all inland clean-ups scheduled until end October 2020.
In KwaZulu Natal, the Inkwazi Isu project, which is a collaboration between Sasol and various stakeholders aiming to holistically address the pollution problem in the Amanzimtoti Catchment area, will utilise the app in support of clean up campaigns planned for World Clean-Up day on 19 September. Sasol, as a member of the South African Initiative to End Plastic Waste which is aimed at value chain collaboration to end plastic waste in the environment will also be able to use the app.
Further supplementing these efforts, award-winning youth and education initiative TED-Ed has created virtual lesson plans and videos about the issue of litter in the environment. The video-based lessons will be available on TED-Ed’s free and award-winning educational platform and translated into several languages. Visit AllTogetherCleanup.org to access the TED-Ed lesson plans and videos.
“The scale of the global litter challenge can feel daunting, but growing participation in World Cleanup Day has demonstrated that individuals are eager to do their part,” said Jacob Duer, President and CEO, Alliance to End Plastic Waste. “Through the ALL_TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEANUP, the Alliance and our members are determined to further reduce litter in our mission to end plastic waste in the environment.”
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Tullow Ghana Limited (TGL), a subsidiary of Tullow Oil Plc, has supported 2,170 final year Junior High School (JHS) students in the Western Region of the Republic of Ghana in their 2020 Basic Examination Certificate Examination (BECE).
A press statement issued and copied to energynewsafrica.com noted that as part of the company’s ‘Educate to Innovate with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Project’, TGL partnered with Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF) to provided a sustained extra tuition for students in 21 schools.
Tullow said it utilised various platforms including mobile STEM Clinics, revision sessions with the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) examiners and the first ever Tullow STEM radio programmes.
It said the students, who were drawn from 21 project beneficiary schools of Tullow’s Educate to Innovate with STEM project, received extra tuition and participated in practical experiments in Mathematics, Science and English Language.
The Educate to Innovate with STEM Project is one of TGL’s STEM initiatives aimed at promoting and supporting STEM education at the pre-tertiary level.
The project is implemented by YBF, with support from the Ghana Education Service, in seven coastal districts namely Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly, Shama, Jomoro, Ellembelle, West Ahanta Districts and East Nzema Municipal Assembly of the Western Region.
“In the last three years, the Project has supported approximately 10,000 students at Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) levels in the 21 Project beneficiary schools with after school tuition lessons in STEM, practical Science lessons, industrial site visits and mentorship support,” the statement said.
Cynthia Lumor, Corporate Affairs Director, Tullow Ghana commented: “Tullow Ghana is committed to promoting STEM education and building the capacity of our youth in STEM. We are proud of the support we provide in STEM development and excited to have also found innovative solutions such as Tullow’s STEM radio school to prepare students during the COVID restriction period. Through the Safe School Model structure being run under Educate to Innovate with STEM, we have been able to adequately prepare final year JHS students for their BECE examinations and we wish them every success as they start their examinations on the 14th September.”
In furtherance of its commitment to Shared Prosperity in Ghana, Tullow Ghana supports STEM development with initiatives from kindergarten to tertiary education.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
A report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) has shown that electricity production in Europe as at June 2020 was 831.0 TWh.
This figure represents two percent lower than that of June 2019.
The report further explained, however, that, electricity production recorded 7.8 percent higher than recorded in May 2020.
“Total production during the first six months of 2020 was 4, 974.4 TWh compared to 5, 184.6 TWh during the same period in 2019,” the report said.
These decreases in electricity production were attributed to the Covid-19 crisis and the impact of lockdown measures throughout Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD) member countries.
It indicated that in June 2020, after record low levels in April and May, production in OECD recovered to being closer to historical levels as lockdown measures eased.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Fénix Benin, a subsidiary of Fénix international, a supplier of domestic solar systems, has signed a partnership deal with Canal+ Benin, a subsidiary of the French group Canal +, specialised in the distribution of pay-tv channels.
The two companies will distribute solar home kits accompanied by decoders, Canal+ satellite dishes and a “special package”.
The agreement will also enable the populations of this West African country to benefit from a one-year subscription to a Canal+ “special package” of 120 TV and radio channels.
This is a new challenge for the Engie Fénix Benin Company created in November 2018. The group has already provided more than 70,000 Beninese households with access to electricity.
It is the “Fénix Power TV+4″ solar kit, marketed in 2019 by Engie Fénix Bénin, which will be associated with the various products of Canal+ Bénin? The solar system consists of four lamps, two shades, a 125 WH battery, a 24″ or 19” TV + antenna and three solar panels with a combined capacity of 50 W.
According to 24heures au Bénin, the new offer from Engie Fénix Benin and Canal+ Benin costs 360,000 CFA francs (nearly 549 euros).
The solar kit distribution company in Benin intends to use pay-as-you-go (pay-per-use) to facilitate the distribution of this new product to households in urban, semi-urban and rural areas.
The company also indicates that the offer can be purchased on credit with payment spread over one or two years depending on the means and possibilities of payment of the purchaser.
A few months earlier, in July 2020, the Canal + group signed a similar agreement with the British home solar kit supplier Bboxx.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has recorded an increased trading surplus of ₦20.36billion in July 2020 compared to the ₦2.12billion surplus in June 2020 in its operations.
Dr. Kennie Obateru, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the corporation, in a release in Abuja, explained that details of the figures captured in the July 2020 NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR) indicated that the 858 per cent overall upswell in performance was largely due to the 178 per cent rise in the surplus posted by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), NNPC’s flagship Upstream entity.
The release stated that the NPDC’s impressive result was bolstered by the continuous improvement in global crude oil demand for the third consecutive month.
Similarly, the report said the corporation’s fortune was further enhanced by the 739 per cent increased profit posted by the Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL) and a 51 per cent growth in performance by Duke Oil Incorporated, both companies of NNPC.
Returns from NNPC Retail Limited and Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC) during the period under review also grew by 28 per cent and 24 per cent respectively, owing to increased sales and improved debt collection.
In the Gas sector, Gas production in July 2020 increased by 2.19 per cent at 236.34Billion Cubic Feet (BCF) compared to output in June 2020; translating to an average daily production of 7,623.98Million Standard Cubic Feet of gas per day (mmscfd). Likewise, the daily average natural gas supply to gas power plants stood at 707mmscfd, equivalent to power generation of 2,421MW.
For the period July 2019 to July 2020, 3,079.64BCF of gas was produced, representing an average daily production of 7,812.11mmscfd during the period.
Period-to-date Production from Joint Ventures (JVs), Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) and NPDC contributed about 70.88 per cent, 20.37 per cent and 8.75 per cent respectively to the total national gas production.
In the Downstream Sector, to ensure continuous stability in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supply and effective distribution across the country, 1.02billion litres of PMS translating to 32.95mn liters/day were supplied for the month.
The July NNPC MFOR stated that the corporation has continued to diligently monitor the daily stock of PMS to achieve smooth distribution of petroleum products and zero fuel queue across the Nation.
The report noted that during the period under review, 36 pipeline points were vandalized, representing about 9 per cent increase from the 33 points recorded in June 2020.
Atlas Cove-Mosimi and Aba-Enugu network accounted for 28 per cent each, while PHC-Aba and the other locations recorded 14 per cent and the remaining 31 per cent respectively.
NNPC in collaboration with the local communities and other stakeholders continuously have strived to reduce the menace of pipeline vandalism.
The July NNPC MFOR is the 60th edition in the series meant to sustain effective
communication with stakeholders.
www.energynewsafrica.com
Like an elderly man wobbling into a party and trying to fit in with young kids by using “hip new lingo”, General Motors – days after seeing its partnership with Nikola come under fire – has now come out and said it is going to now be exploring options in the “aerial taxi” market.
This is, of course, a market that hardly exists. But it certainly sounds cool, doesn’t it?
GM will be looking at potentially building the “aerial cars” as part of a broader initiative looking for growth in related transportation markets, according to CNBC.
General Motors CEO Mary Barra alluded to the idea on Monday of this week, claiming that the production of such vehicles could fit with the company’s plans to develop electric vehicles and its Ultium electric battery. She said at the RBC conference: “We believe strongly in our EV future and not just for vehicles.”
She continued: “The strength and flexibility of our Ultium battery system opens doors for many uses, including aerial mobility.”
The news was also followed on Wednesday by GM announcing it would be building EV systems and motors in a push to vertically integrate itself with other automakers.
Air taxis are also called vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. They use electric motors instead of gas powered jet engines and are designed specifically to avoid traditional runways. They fly shorter, low level routes and could alleviate congestion on roads in crowded areas.
GM’s push into the market is part of a broader plan to look at “other transportation markets for growth”. The company’s initiative is being headed up by Alan Wexler, who reports directly to Mary Barra.
Perhaps he has noticed that competitor Hyundai has already teamed up with Uber in January of this year to develop electric air taxis. Hyundai has also pledged $1.5 billion to developing urban air mobility by 2025.
Toyota has also looked at the idea, entering into a $590 million investment round with air taxi startup Joby in January. Daimler and Geely have both invested in Volocopter, based in Germany.
By Zerohedge.com
On October 8th will, unite key experts from Operators, geos, governments and more to discuss new ventures and opportunities in the region, with quickfire data presentations and ample opportunity for audience Q&A. The Speakers include:
• Hon. Fafa Sanyang, Minister of Energy & Petroleum, The Gambia
• Dr. Ainojie ‘Alex’ Irune, COO, Oando Energy Resources
• Christine Roche, Manager, New Ventures AMME, PGS
• Eugene Toukam, Commercial Director – Sub Sahara Africa, Baker Hughes
• Chris Hindle, Director, Critical Resource
•
Digital technologies are likely to be a key talking point, with the COVID-19 pandemic having accelerated their adoption in the oil and gas space.
PGS’ Christine Roche commented: “Many areas [in West Africa] are relatively under-explored with abundant opportunities. Using the latest acquisition and imaging technology, new datasets will improve knowledge of the subsurface petroleum systems and reduce exploration risk”.
Fellow speaking company, Baker Hughes, also has a wealth of data and experience to share on which current technologies are helping to boost production and enhance oil recovery in West Africa. The E&P tech company was recently awarded contracts on BP’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim natural gas project offshore Mauritania and Senegal.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, gas is also likely to emerge as a key discussion point.
Participating speaker and Oando Energy Resources COO Dr. Ainojie ‘Alex’ Irune certainly sees it playing a significant role in Africa’s energy transition.
He recently commented: “It’s interesting that we hold 500 tcf of gas and are not the industrial hub of the world.
China does not hold that much gas in reserves, we certainly do”.
With huge announcements regarding the Train 7 project and AKK pipeline recently coming from Nigeria, there is certainly a lot of ground to cover.
Brought to you by Africa Oil Week (AOW), AOW Virtual (https://bit.ly/33hfpTf) (7-8 October 2020) is a free to attend online conference aimed at reigniting African oil, gas and energy. True to AOW’s roots, the conference will be packed full of strategic outlooks, debates, and a much-anticipated government bidding round. It will offer AOW’s global oil and gas audience a platform to discuss insights, challenges and opportunities post COVID-19.
Hundreds of C-level executives from across the value chain are expected to attend, as well as government representatives from countries including Somalia, The Gambia, South Africa and the USA. Plus, AOW Virtual is CPD certified, so attending sessions will count towards your continuing professional development. Register now for free (https://bit.ly/33hfpTf).
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
“Flatten the curve.” Do you remember that phrase? It was on everyone’s lips back in the spring, when the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic began rampaging across the world in earnest.
At the time, the idea was that the best way to combat the germ known as SARS CoV-2 was to go home and stay there long enough for hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities to build up the capacity needed to handle the expected flood of new patients.
Most of us expected that this departure from routine would be a temporary thing. We hoped it wouldn’t last long — that we’d be able to return to our normal routines after a brief disruption, with confidence that all necessary safeguards were in place.
Of course, it didn’t turn out that way. We spent far more time than we expected sheltering in place, unable to visit friends and family, attend school, or go to work in the usual manner. Many of us lost our jobs and saw our businesses fail, and the cumulative result of all these individual disasters was that the global economy took a sharp downward turn.
We Still Need To ‘Flatten the Curve’ … But How?
Along the way, of course, we’ve learned quite a bit more about SARS CoV-2 — how it makes people sick, how to treat it more effectively, what kind of resources our medical providers need most, and so on. But we’ve also stopped talking about “flattening the curve.” Even in places where hospitals and clinics have been able to build up their stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, and other necessities, we’ve moved on to other topics.
In my view, this is a mistake. I’d like to explain why I think so.
It’s not because our understanding of the virus has changed over time.
It’s not because we’ve seen infection rates rise after the lifting of lockdown orders.
It’s not because we don’t have a vaccine yet. It’s not because the idea of “flattening the curve” seems callous when more than 900,000 people out the nearly 28 million infected around the world have already died of COVID-19.
It’s because we need to rethink the idea of what “flattening the curve” means.
And I believe President Macky Sall’s call for African debt relief is a good place to start that rethinking.
The President’s Perspective
First, let’s look at what President Sall has to say. In late August, the Senegalese leader urged members of the G20 group of countries to continue helping African nations balance their obligations to creditors with their obligations to their own citizens in the face of a deadly pandemic. Speaking to a group of business leaders at the French Entrepreneurs’ Conference, he noted that the group had taken up his call for a moratorium on the collection of debt from impoverished countries in Africa and elsewhere in April. He suggested that this moratorium be extended into 2021 rather than allowed to expire at the end of 2020.
“For the most part, and for all African countries, internal efforts will not be enough to lessen the shock of COVID and revive economic growth,” he said. “We need more financial capacity, which is why, with other colleagues, I have made a plea for substantial relief of Africa’s public debt and private debt on terms to be agreed upon.”
What the President’s Words Mean
Sall’s statements reflect the fact that the emergence of SARS CoV-2 was not a one-off event that sparked a short-term crisis, but rather the start of a struggle that will take a long time to resolve. They recognize that the outbreak is likely to be a drag on the world economy for years to come — and that the countries battling COVID-19 outbreaks need time to build up their capacity to fight back.
What’s more, the president’s words advance the idea that African states will be in a better position to meet their financial obligations in the future if they take the time and the trouble to address the public health situation first. Indeed, he made a point of stressing that Africa takes its financial commitments seriously, since he mentioned debt relief and not debt forgiveness. (He also suggested that members of the G20 group offer debtors the same kind of breathing room they have granted themselves, such as temporary exemption from rules limiting debt to 3% of GDP or less.)
In other words, Sall is asking the G20 group to give Africa time and space to flatten the curve. He may not have used those exact words, but that appears to be his goal. He is hoping creditors will agree to suspend business as usual so that African states can build up their capacity for economic growth, just as regular citizens of many countries around the world agreed to disrupt their usual routines of work and school and leisure activities so that hospitals could build up their capacity for patient care.
Sall also understands that this flattening of the economic curve is not a simple process. He knows it will take more than one round of deferred payments to compensate for the economic consequences of the pandemic, and that is why he has now asked the G20 to extend the debt moratorium, which was originally due to expire at the end of 2020, into next year.
Compensating for the Setbacks of the Last Six Months
And make no mistake: Africa needs that extra time. The continent has suffered enormously over the last six months.
On the economic front, the pandemic has triggered a global recession that has caused millions of salaried African workers to lose their jobs. Meanwhile, many more millions have seen their livelihoods dwindle or disappear because restrictions on movement have stifled the informal sector and forced the closure of small businesses. Additionally, the continent has experienced shortages of fuel and other essential goods as a result of disruptions in the supply chain.
Some parts of Africa have also weathered political disruptions. Mali suffered a coup in mid-August, following more than two months of anti-government demonstrations. Libya’s civil war, pitting the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli against Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA), has continued to grind on, effectively crippling the country’s lucrative oil industry. Investors in liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Mozambique have grown more nervous since a militia with ties to the Islamic State group, also known as Daesh, seized control of a key port in Cabo Delgado state.
Under other circumstances, African fossil fuel producers might have been able to use their reserves to help build up the cash needed to cope with the consequences of COVID-19. After all, as I explained in my latest book, Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Doing Deals, the oil and gas industry has the potential to serve as a springboard, amplifying and accelerating economic growth. It can create opportunities for economic diversification and — through petroleum companies’ research and investments — help pave the way to the creation of a renewable energy sector.
Unfortunately, though, world oil prices crashed earlier this year, partly because of the competition between Russia and Saudi Arabia for market share and partly because the pandemic undercut energy demand. Prices hit historic lows in late April. And since they have yet to recover completely, African producers will need more than oil and gas to compensate for the setbacks they have experienced this year.
A Necessary Step: Debt Relief
That’s where debt relief comes in.
Debt relief will help African states weather the storms caused by the pandemic.
Debt relief will help African states take the steps needed to help people go back to work or build up their businesses.
Debt relief will help African states re-establish stability following political disruptions.
Debt relief will help African states make up for the sharp decline in oil and gas revenues and begin building renewable energy sectors.
Debt relief is necessary to flatten the curve. It’s what will give Africa time and space to start carving out a path towards recovery — to take the steps necessary to bring new investment to the oil and gas industry, to build Africa’s sustainable energy sector, to expand business and residential consumers’ access to electric power, to revive small businesses, to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, to foster job creation, and to remove red tape and regulatory obstacles.
Asking for More: Debt Forgiveness
Senegal’s president understands this — and I hope the leaders of the G20 group’s members do, too. I hope they can see how reasonable it is for impoverished countries in Africa and other regions to ask for what they need to flatten the curve.
But I’d also like to take it a step further. I’m going to ask for more.
I’m going to ask for debt forgiveness. I’m going to suggest that members of the G20 group agree to forego payments from African debtors — specifically, from eligible African debtors. And by eligible debtors, I mean countries that commit themselves to a forward-looking agenda that includes wide-ranging and market-oriented reforms, as well as safeguards for economic freedom, good governance, free trade, and investment in education.
All of these points are in line with the ideals that have helped most G20 member states achieve so much with respect to economic growth. What’s more, they are exactly the sort of things that African states ought to do in order to maximize their chances of building up the momentum lost as a result of the pandemic — and to extend their recovery far into the future, beyond the point when vaccines, cures, and more effective treatments remove the threat of COVID-19.
I hope that G20 lenders to Africa will see it my way. I hope they will agree to help Africa do as much as it can to flatten the curve.
Source: NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber
Tullow said it utilised various platforms including mobile STEM Clinics, revision sessions with the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) examiners and the first ever Tullow STEM radio programmes.
It said the students, who were drawn from 21 project beneficiary schools of Tullow’s Educate to Innovate with STEM project, received extra tuition and participated in practical experiments in Mathematics, Science and English Language.
The Educate to Innovate with STEM Project is one of TGL’s STEM initiatives aimed at promoting and supporting STEM education at the pre-tertiary level.
The project is implemented by YBF, with support from the Ghana Education Service, in seven coastal districts namely Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly, Shama, Jomoro, Ellembelle, West Ahanta Districts and East Nzema Municipal Assembly of the Western Region.
“In the last three years, the Project has supported approximately 10,000 students at Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) levels in the 21 Project beneficiary schools with after school tuition lessons in STEM, practical Science lessons, industrial site visits and mentorship support,” the statement said.
Cynthia Lumor, Corporate Affairs Director, Tullow Ghana commented: “Tullow Ghana is committed to promoting STEM education and building the capacity of our youth in STEM. We are proud of the support we provide in STEM development and excited to have also found innovative solutions such as Tullow’s STEM radio school to prepare students during the COVID restriction period. Through the Safe School Model structure being run under Educate to Innovate with STEM, we have been able to adequately prepare final year JHS students for their BECE examinations and we wish them every success as they start their examinations on the 14th September.”
In furtherance of its commitment to Shared Prosperity in Ghana, Tullow Ghana supports STEM development with initiatives from kindergarten to tertiary education.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com 
General Motors CEO Mary Barra alluded to the idea on Monday of this week, claiming that the production of such vehicles could fit with the company’s plans to develop electric vehicles and its Ultium electric battery. She said at the RBC conference: “We believe strongly in our EV future and not just for vehicles.”
She continued: “The strength and flexibility of our Ultium battery system opens doors for many uses, including aerial mobility.”
The news was also followed on Wednesday by GM announcing it would be building EV systems and motors in a push to vertically integrate itself with other automakers.
Air taxis are also called vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. They use electric motors instead of gas powered jet engines and are designed specifically to avoid traditional runways. They fly shorter, low level routes and could alleviate congestion on roads in crowded areas.
GM’s push into the market is part of a broader plan to look at “other transportation markets for growth”. The company’s initiative is being headed up by Alan Wexler, who reports directly to Mary Barra.
Perhaps he has noticed that competitor Hyundai has already teamed up with Uber in January of this year to develop electric air taxis. Hyundai has also pledged $1.5 billion to developing urban air mobility by 2025.
Toyota has also looked at the idea, entering into a $590 million investment round with air taxi startup Joby in January. Daimler and Geely have both invested in Volocopter, based in Germany.
By Zerohedge.com
