Niger Redraws Preserve Borders To Allow Exploration
The government of Niger is shrinking the borders on one of its nature preserves to allow oil and gas exploration.
The government will partially declassify its Termit and Tin-Toumma Nature Reserve to allow China’s CNPC to operate three oil blocks in the area.
The blocks were awarded to the company in June 2008, four years prior to the 100,000 sq km preserve being created.
The CNPC expansion project in this area is part of Niger’s policy to increase national oil production to 110,000 bpd in the coming years.
The Termit and Tin-Toumma Nature Reserve is considered by UNESCO as one of the last bastions of the Saharan fauna because of its low human presence.
Halliburton Wins Drilling And Completion Job On Woodside’s Senegal Project
Australian energy giant Woodside has awarded US oil services provider, Halliburton nine conditional contracts for drilling and completion services for SNE Field Development Phase 1 offshore Senegal.
The drilling campaign, which is due to start in late 2020 or early 2021, is for drilling and completing 18 wells with up to eight optional wells over an estimated 3-4 year term, Halliburton said on Monday.
The contracts awarded include drilling, logging, cementing, lower completions, e-line/slick line, coiled tubing and well testing services.
“We are excited to win this work and to provide services from our multiple product service lines on what is likely to be the first deepwater oil development in Senegal,” Shannon Slocum, senior vice president of the Eurasia, Europe and Sub-Sahara Africa region for Halliburton said.
“In addition to our services, Halliburton will invest in Senegal through constructing facilities, hiring local staff and potentially utilizing local vendors/suppliers.”
Initial engineering work will begin in Perth, Australia, later this year, and then will transfer to Dakar, Senegal in 2020.
This multi-contract award follows an earlier conditional award to Halliburton in December 2018 for drilling and completion fluids services.
Woodside is the operator of the Rufisque Offshore, Sangomar Offshore and Sangomar Deep Offshore (RSSD) joint venture, which contains the SNE field.
The Phase 1 development concept for the SNE field is a stand-alone FPSO facility with subsea infrastructure. It will be designed to allow subsequent SNE development phases, including options for potential gas export to shore and for future subsea tiebacks from other reservoirs and fields.
The contract for front-end engineering design (FEED) for the SNE field development
Phase 1 FPSO vessel was awarded last February to Japan’s MODEC. The FPSO will be designed to produce around 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with the first oil production targeted in 2022. The FPSO will be moored in water depth of approximately 800 meters.
The Phase 1 development concept for the SNE field is a stand-alone FPSO facility with subsea infrastructure. It will be designed to allow subsequent SNE development phases, including options for potential gas export to shore and for future subsea tiebacks from other reservoirs and fields.
The contract for front-end engineering design (FEED) for the SNE field development
Phase 1 FPSO vessel was awarded last February to Japan’s MODEC. The FPSO will be designed to produce around 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with the first oil production targeted in 2022. The FPSO will be moored in water depth of approximately 800 meters. U.S. Exempts Oil Majors From Venezuela Sanctions
After the U.S. president signed an Executive Order on August 5 blocking all Venezuelan government property in the United States, the sanctions were interpreted as having put Venezuela into the same category as North Korea, Iran, or Cuba.
“While this is not an embargo, this significant action is in response to the continuing usurpation of power by Maduro and persons affiliated with him,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement on August 6.
As a result of the sanctions, U.S. citizens or permanent residents will generally be prohibited from entering into transactions with the Venezuelan government and its subsidiaries, while U.S. banks will be required to block all payments related to the Venezuelan government in U.S. dollars.
However, international law firm Watson Farley & Williams argued that the new sanctions do not equate to an embargo.
WFW noted that U.S. oil and gas company Citgo was broadly exempted from the sanctions and was unlikely to ever become subject to these sanctions.
“Interestingly, Citgo is permanently exempted from the sanctions targeting the GoV, whereas its exemption from the sanctions targeting PdVSA expires after 18 months,” the firm said.
The order also permits oil and gas companies Chevron, Halliburton, Schlumberger Limited, Baker Hughes and Weatherford International to continue transacting with PdVSA in Venezuela. The license only covers transactions with PdVSA and its subsidiaries, not other Venezuelan government entities. The license applies only to contracts in effect prior to July 26, 2019, and is set to expire on October 25, 2019.
“In a literal sense, the sanctioning of the Venezuelan government should not be thought of as an “embargo” of Venezuela,” WFW said. “Trade between U.S. persons and non-government-owned Venezuelan parties generally remains permitted, unlike in the case of embargoed countries.”
“Even if the sanctions technically are not an embargo, they succeed in shutting down much trade with Venezuela, which has a similar economic effect to an embargo.”
U.S. attorneys Freehill Hogan & Mahar advised shipowners that it was unclear whether ocean transportation of cargoes (other than shipments of food, medicine and clothing which continue to be exempt) would be construed as being “material assistance” to the Venezuelan Government and thus expose shipowners to sanctions for doing so.
“However, with the intent behind the whole sanctions regime to be as forceful as possible and when read in conjunction with warnings issued by leading figures in the U.S. administration, there is clear scope for the sanctions to be aggressively interpreted and expose any shipowner carrying cargoes for the benefit of the Venezuelan Government – including PdVSA – to the full force of U.S. sanctions, potentially including designation,” Freehill noted.
The Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry said the new sanctions imposed by the U.S. part of a series of “arbitrary measures of economic terrorism against the Venezuelan people.”
Venezuelans supporting President Nicolas Maduro staged protests against the new sanctions on August 7.
Ghana: GRIDCo Allays Fears Of Power Outages As Karpowership Goes Off National Grid
Power transmission company in the Republic of Ghana, GRIDCo, has assured the general public that the relocation of 470MW Karpower Barge currently in Tema to Secondi, in the Western part of the country, will not have adverse impact on electricity supply to consumers.
According to GRIDCo, there is adequate generation capacity to meet power demand during the period that the barge would be temporarily disconnected from the national grid.
“GRIDCo will keep stakeholders updated on the power supply situation as and when it is necessary,” a statement issued by the public relations department of GRIDCo said.
Karpowership Ghana Company Limited, announced yesterday that it would, on Tuesday, 13th August, 2019, decommission the 470MW power badge.
This, the company explained, is in preparation for the relocation of the powership to the Western Region.
A statement issued by the Communication Department of the company said: “The Powership will depart from the Tema Fishing Harbour on Thursday, August 15 and would berth at its new location within the Sekondi Naval Base on Friday, August 16.
“In the light of the relocation, the Powership would be off the national grid for a maximum period of 17 days to enable us carry out various pre-commissioning works to successfully connect to the 330kV transmission lines in Sekondi,” the statement said.
The relocation is in line with government’s strategic policy for the Powership to utilize natural gas from the Western Enclave.
This would save the government millions of dollars annually.
“Karpowership would keep all its stakeholders informed on further updates about the project,” the statement concluded.
Source: energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: CBOD Urges BDCS To Revise Trade Credit To Reduce Fuel Prices
The Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributor(CBOD) in the Republic of Ghana has advised Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs) to revise their trade credit tenor from the current forward foreign exchange rate from the average 60-day to 30-day forward rate.
It stated that the adoption of a 30-day forward rate instead of a 60-day forward rate can reduce pump prices by about 2%.
This, the chamber said would help reduce consumer prices at the pump.
These are contained in the CBOD Petroleum Price Outlook, which is the price indicator for the first selling window of August 1 to 15, 2019.
The forward forex rate used is the average of the quoted indicative forward forex rate from major oil financing banks adjusted by the covered-interest parity pricing model.
The 60-day forward rate is computed as the average of selected major oil financing banks.
It is to be applied for the first selling window of August 2019 is GHS5.60 for $1.
Source: myjoyonline.com
Nigeria: Dangote Refinery To Be Operationalised In 4Q 2020
The Dangote refinery is not expected to come onstream until the end of 2020 due to issues with the importation of steel and other equipment, according to executives at the company in a Reuters report.
The 650,000 bpd Dangote refinery will make a significant contribution to aiding Nigeria in addressing its refined petroleum products problem and the need to spend a big piece of its budget on importing fuel.
A Dangote executive said the company could start using the refinery’s tank farms as a depot to warm up operations.
“We will be able to complete the (refinery) project by the end of next year – mechanical completion,” Devakumar Edwin, Group Executive Director of Dangote said.
Ghana: KARPOWERSHIP Shuts Down In Preparation For Relocation
Karpowership Ghana Company Limited, one of the independent power producers in the West African nation, Ghana, has announced that its 470MW Karadeniz Powership Osman Khan in Tema will be off the grid on Tuesday, August 13, 2019.
This is in preparation for the relocation of the powership to the Western Region.
A statement issued by the Communication Department of the company said: “The Powership will depart from the Tema Fishing Harbour on Thursday, August 15 and would berth at its new location within the Sekondi Naval Base on Friday, August 16.
“In the light of the relocation, the Powership would be off the national grid for a maximum period of 17 days to enable us carry out various pre-commissioning works to successfully connect to the 330kV transmission lines in Sekondi,” the statement said.
The relocation is in line with government’s strategic policy for the Powership to utilise natural gas from the Western Enclave.
This would save the government millions of dollars annually.
“Karpowership would keep all its stakeholders informed on further updates about the project,” the statement concluded.
It is not clear whether the shutdown would lead to power outages.
Meanwhile, power transmission company, Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), is expected to issue a statement to this effect.
Source: energynewsafrica.com
Guyana: Tullow Makes First Oil Discovery On Orinduik License Offshore
Tullow Oil has made an oil discovery at its Jethro-1 exploration well, drilled on the Orinduik license offshore Guyana.
The Jethro-1 was spud in early July, using the Stena Forth drillship. It was drilled to a Total Depth of 4,400 meters in approximately 1,350 meters of water.
Tullow said on Monday that evaluation of logging data confirms that Jethro-1 is the first discovery on the Orinduik license and comprises high quality oil bearing sandstone reservoirs of Lower Tertiary age.
The well encountered 55m of net oil pay which supports a recoverable oil resource estimate which exceeds Tullow’s pre-drill forecast. Tullow will now evaluate the data from the Jethro discovery and determine appropriate appraisal activity.
According to Tullow, this discovery significantly de-risks other Tertiary age prospects on the Orinduik license, including the shallower Upper Tertiary Joe prospect which will start drilling later this month following the conclusion of operations at the Jethro-1 well.
The non-operated Carapa 1 well will be drilled, later this year, on the adjacent Kanuku license to test the Cretaceous oil play.
Tullow is the operator of the Orinduik block with a 60% stake. Total holds 25% with the remaining 15% being held by Eco(Atlantic) Guyana Inc.
Commenting on the discovery, Chief Executive Office of Tullow Oil, Paul McDade said: “This substantial and high value oil discovery in Guyana is an outcome of the significant technical and commercial focus which has underpinned the reset of our exploration portfolio. It is an excellent start to our drilling campaign in the highly prolific Guyana oil province. We look forward to drilling both the Joe and Carapa prospects in our 2019 drilling campaign and the material follow-up exploration potential in both the Orinduik and Kanuku licenses.”
In a separate statement on Monday Eco Atlantic said that Jethro-1 is a significant oil discovery.
Colin Kinley, COO and Co-Founder of Eco Atlantic, said: “Jethro is a fantastic find for us. This discovery was made due to our team at Eco and Kinley Exploration stepping out beyond the conventional exploration plays and seeking new resources through old-fashioned exploration science.
“The Jethro-1 well confirms the continuance of the petroleum system onto the Orinduik Block, up dip from the prolific discoveries on the Exxon-operated Stabroek Block. The well has resulted in a mitigation of risk of the presence of quality reservoir sands, seal and trap parameters. We have multiple drilling targets on the block with similar geophysical characteristics and we are moving the Stena Forth drillship immediately to its next target, Joe-1. The Joe-1 location is just a short move to a shallower target, and is expected to spud mid-August.
“The Orinduik Block, and the corner of the block where Jethro is located, were selected and pinned for drilling long before the first Exxon discovery.”
Gil Holzman, CEO and Co-Founder of Eco Atlantic stated: “This is a transformational event for the Company, and we now need to strategically plan for an even brighter future. With multiple targets to consider, and Joe as the next prospect to be drilled, we will now pursue our evaluation of the timing for wells to develop the Jethro field and to expediently bring it on production. We are funded for at least six additional wells.
The non-operated Carapa 1 well will be drilled, later this year, on the adjacent Kanuku license to test the Cretaceous oil play.
Tullow is the operator of the Orinduik block with a 60% stake. Total holds 25% with the remaining 15% being held by Eco(Atlantic) Guyana Inc.
Commenting on the discovery, Chief Executive Office of Tullow Oil, Paul McDade said: “This substantial and high value oil discovery in Guyana is an outcome of the significant technical and commercial focus which has underpinned the reset of our exploration portfolio. It is an excellent start to our drilling campaign in the highly prolific Guyana oil province. We look forward to drilling both the Joe and Carapa prospects in our 2019 drilling campaign and the material follow-up exploration potential in both the Orinduik and Kanuku licenses.”
In a separate statement on Monday Eco Atlantic said that Jethro-1 is a significant oil discovery.
Colin Kinley, COO and Co-Founder of Eco Atlantic, said: “Jethro is a fantastic find for us. This discovery was made due to our team at Eco and Kinley Exploration stepping out beyond the conventional exploration plays and seeking new resources through old-fashioned exploration science.
“The Jethro-1 well confirms the continuance of the petroleum system onto the Orinduik Block, up dip from the prolific discoveries on the Exxon-operated Stabroek Block. The well has resulted in a mitigation of risk of the presence of quality reservoir sands, seal and trap parameters. We have multiple drilling targets on the block with similar geophysical characteristics and we are moving the Stena Forth drillship immediately to its next target, Joe-1. The Joe-1 location is just a short move to a shallower target, and is expected to spud mid-August.
“The Orinduik Block, and the corner of the block where Jethro is located, were selected and pinned for drilling long before the first Exxon discovery.”
Gil Holzman, CEO and Co-Founder of Eco Atlantic stated: “This is a transformational event for the Company, and we now need to strategically plan for an even brighter future. With multiple targets to consider, and Joe as the next prospect to be drilled, we will now pursue our evaluation of the timing for wells to develop the Jethro field and to expediently bring it on production. We are funded for at least six additional wells. Egypt: IFC, MIGA Ink Deal For 252MW Wind Farm
IFC and MIGA, members of the World Bank Group have signed an agreement to support the development of a 252MW wind farm by Lekela in Egypt’s Red Sea governorate.
In a statement, the IFC noted that it will provide $84 million in financing while MIGA will offer $122 million in financial guarantees, helping to bolster the production of clean energy, lower generation costs, and diversify the country’s energy mix.
The wind farm, West Bakr Wind, located in the Gulf of Suez, is expected to produce over 1,000 gigawatt-hours per year, at a tariff well below the average cost of generation in Egypt.
The project is set to power more than 350,000 homes and avoid more than 550,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
It is part of the government’s Build, Own, Operate framework and a key pillar of targets to generate 20% of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2022, reducing Egypt’s reliance on natural gas.
“The West Bakr Wind project will play an important role in supporting the diversification of Egypt’s generation capacity by delivering a best-in-class and competitively priced clean power in the country,” Chris Antonopoulos, CEO of Lekela said.
Antonopoulos added: “As our first project in Egypt, we see a great opportunity with wind here, and we look forward to working in the country for years to come.”
The IFC’s contribution, in the form of much needed US-dollar-based long-term financing, includes a loan of up to $26 million and $58 million from IFC’s innovative syndications platform, the Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Programme.
MIGA is providing guarantees of up to $122 million to help Lekela manage non-commercial risk. IFC and MIGA are also providing key environmental and social guidance to safeguard an important migratory bird flyway.
The project highlights the World Bank Group’s strategy in Egypt to help the government meet its renewable energy targets, and free up natural gas resources for export to generate foreign exchange.
“We are committed to supporting the government’s programme in Egypt and boosting the production of clean, wind-generated electricity,” Walid Labadi, IFC Country Manager in Egypt, Libya, and Yemen said.
“The Lekela wind farm will help lower the average cost of electricity generation in Egypt and boost private sector participation in this key sector, while sending a strong signal to the market about our commitment to the country’s renewable energy programme,” Labadi said.
In addition, the project supports private sector development and financing in a key sector, building on the World Bank Group’s success with the landmark Benban Solar Park in promoting well-structured, bankable projects.
“We are delighted to continue working with investors, such as Lekela, who have deep expertise and a long-term commitment to developing renewable solutions in Africa,” said Sarvesh Suri, Director for Operations in MIGA. “This project will deliver reliable, clean energy to hundreds of thousands of domestic consumers.”
The IFC and MIGA’s engagements complement the World Bank Development Policy Financing programme, a new $1 billion programme signed in December 2018 to support the second generation of Egypt’s reform programme, which will focus on developing the private sector while enabling inclusive growth.
Source: IFC/MIGA/energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: Eskom To Resume Work On Failed Transformers
South African power utility Eskom has announced they are ready to resume with operations to replace failed transformers in Ivory Park, Johannesburg.
The assets’ failure is due to illegal connections and meter bypasses, which resulted in network overloading.
Eskom met with Ivory Park councillors, officials from the City of Joburg and the taxi association on Thursday, 1 August 2019 in an effort to enable Eskom technicians to work safely in the area.
However, the meeting collapsed as there was no agreement reached on the process to engage the community.
“We would like to urge the community of Ivory Park to collaborate with Eskom to adequately deal with this matter by allowing us access to the area so that we can conduct audits, remove illegal connections, disconnect bypassed meters and issue fines for the contraventions. The intention for the preceding activities is to avoid the repeat of damage to the equipment and electricity network,” Motlhabane Ramashi, Eskom’s operations and maintenance senior manager in the Gauteng Operating Unit said.
According to the utility, it has a schedule and a plan in place that outlines how and when the replacements of failed equipment will be executed.
The parastatal said in a statement that the process is consistent with its operations, which applies throughout Eskom Gauteng and will not be deviated from.
The utility said that it is not in a position to continuously replace failed mini-substations and pole-mounted transformers in areas where the residents are not paying for their electricity.
Non-payment of electricity does not only impact on the security of supply for paying customers but also contributes to increased energy and revenue losses coupled with increased operational costs.
This is not sustainable and not in line with Eskom’s revenue management practices. The non-payment further frustrates efforts to improve on Eskom’s financial and operational objectives.
The community of Ivory Park, surrounding areas, and others in similar conditions in Gauteng are urged to collaborate with Eskom to ensure supply is restored and paid for.
“Eskom employee safety will take priority at all times and the community can assist by submitting a written commitment to Eskom guaranteeing its staff safety and non-interference while they perform their work,” concluded Ramashi.
Source:esi-africa.com/energynewsafrica.com
Aker Energy To Announce Competitive Bidding For Drilling And Well Contracts In September
Norwegian oil and gas firm Aker Energy, operator of the Deepwater Tano Cape Three Point (DWT/CTP) Block offshore of the Western Region of the Republic of Ghana is set to open tender for well drilling contracts in September 2019.
“Latest by September, we will issue expression of interest and then award the contracts beginning of next year,” Edward Owusu-Manu, who is the Supply Chain Manager at Aker Energy, disclosed this to energynewsafrica.com.
He added that after the issuance of the Expression of Interest, the company would then go through certain internal and external approvals including approval from petroleum commission in line with the Petroleum (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulations 2013 LI 2204.
Meanwhile, Aker Energy has held a seminar to build the capacity of local suppliers that the firm would deal with during its production activities offshore.
According to Edward Owusu-Manu, the conference had become necessary to acquaint prospective suppliers of the company with operational requirement.
“We are trying to go to the market for drilling and well services contracts, so we find it important that we actually engage instead of just sending emails to our suppliers,” he said.
“It is important that we start looking at the strategy especially for drilling and wells. So, this is to prepare our suppliers in anticipation of the drilling that will start sometime next year,” he added.
He said Aker Energy would comply with local content regulations of the country.
This follows concerns on local content participation raised by some suppliers at the event.
“We are aware that with this new development, there might be new companies that might want to come into the industry and it is a requirement by the local legislation for every international company to partner; link up with any local company and then form joint ventures to be able to provide that service,” Mr Owusu-Manu stressed.
Some of the issues discussed bordered on Technical and/or upcoming opportunities, Procurement processes, Quality, Health, Safety, Security and Environment (QHSSE) in the company’s, procurement process, Taxes (Reimbursement, Cash Refund and Withholding Taxes), among others.
The conference saw about 200 participants, both local and international.
Aker Energy has assured its prospective suppliers of fairness in its tender process.
Currently, Aker Energy is awaiting approval of its Plan of Development (POD) from the government to commence drilling operations on its allocated oil block offshore by 2020.
Source: energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Profile Of PowerAfrica Conference Speakers
With barely a week for the West African country, Nigeria, to host this year’s PowerAfrica Conference in Abuja, energynewsafrica.com brings you the profile of some of the speakers billed for the four days’ conference.
This year’s Power Africa Conference, which is the 6th edition, is expected to bring together academics, professionals and other stakeholders to review the state of power and energy challenges in Africa and proffer sustainable solutions.
The theme for the conference is: ‘Power Economics and Energy Innovations in Africa’.
Sreekumar Nhalur Sree is keen to use his professional skills towards making Energy a catalyst for sustainable development. He joined Prayas (Energy Group) in 2000 after working in the industry for 14 years in ‘IT applications to power’.
He works to improve electricity service to the poor and democratize sector governance. This is through policy analysis, regulatory interventions and capacity building of civil society groups.
He also devotes some time to the Hyderabad section of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers; Knowledge In Civil Society, a trust involved in strengthening knowledge commons in Science & Technology and Ananda Bharathi, a school for under-privileged girls.
Education: Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT- Bombay, 1984 Masters Degree in Power Systems Engineering from IIT-Kharagpur, 1988
James R. (Jim) White (Moderator) James R. (Jim) White has been the training director of Shermco Industries, Inc., in Irving, Texas since 2001. He is a certified electrical safety compliance professional (CESCP) through the NFPA and one of approximately 130 Level IV senior certified technicians through NETA.
A principal member for Shermco Industries on the NFPA Technical Committee “Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance” (NFPA 70B), he represents the National Electrical Testing Association (NETA) and is also an alternate member of NFPA Technical Committee “Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace” (NFPA 70E), a principal representative of NEC Code Making Panel CMP-13, and principal representative of ASTM F18 Committee “Electrical Protective Equipment For Workers.”
White is a senior member of IEEE and past chairman (2008) of the IEEE Electrical Safety Workshop. In 2011, he received the IEEE/PCIC “Electrical Safety Excellence” award, and in 2013 he was honored with NETA’s “Outstanding Achievement Award.”
John Nelson John Nelson, Founder and Senior Consultant, started NEI in 1982 and continues to dedicate his life to the company he created. John has an extensive engineering background and possesses a wealth of instrumental knowledge. He is an IEEE Life Fellow, the highest honor bestowed upon an engineer.
Also, John has authored dozens of technical papers on topics such as protection, arc-flash, grounding, and safety. To this day, John spends a majority of his time on-site and in the field rather than at his desk.
This gives him knowledge and perspective on power systems that is unparalleled in the industry. John received his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1975
Daleep C. Mohla Daleep C. Mohla’s dedication to developing safer equipment and promoting safety standards has helped reduce the number of electrical-related accidents in the workplace over the past 25 years.
With experience designing and constructing the electrical infrastructure of petrochemical facilities while with Union Carbide from 1976 to 2001, Mohla employed his “safety by design” concepts, examining each infrastructure design aspect to maximize safety, resulting in many innovations. To spread his safety concepts, Mohla became very involved in the standards field, assisting in creating new standards and modifying existing ones.
During the 1990s, Mohla served as chair of the Electrical Functional Team of the Process Industry Practices group, convincing industrial entities to share electrical safety designs.
Mohla continues to contribute his expertise to the standards process today, serving multiple IEEE Standards Association Working Groups related to petrochemical industry safety and arc flash hazard analysis and recommended practices to improve electrical safety.
An IEEE Fellow, Mohla is currently a principal consultant with DCM Electrical Consulting Services, Inc. in Missouri City, Texas.
Ghana: The Future Of The Petroleum Downstream Industry Under Hassan Tampuli
The influence of a regulatory authority’s work over an industry like the petroleum downstream may not be as apparent, as perceived by the general Ghanaian public.
Nonetheless, as the regulator for the downstream petroleum industry, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has over the past few years been embarking on strategic initiatives that are designed to efficiently bring relevance to all industry players, while emphasizing compliance to the Authority’s standards and criteria, for operating within the downstream industry.
Safety is deliberately a constant feature in all of the Authority’s campaigns, as it endeavors to deliver maximum satisfaction to the Ghanaian consumer, as well as various stakeholders within the sector.
At the 3rd Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GHIPCON), the Chief Executive of NPA, Mr Alhassan Tampuli revealed that the sector has “contributed over GHS86 billion to Ghana’s GDP representing an average of about 8% per annum in the period 2013 to 2018”.
This is testament to the downstream petroleum industry’s significance to Ghana’s economy. The growth in consumption of “15% from 3.4million Mt in 2017 to 3.9 million Mt in 2018”, according to Mr Tampuli, makes safety a key feature in regulation.
With the petroleum downstream consisting of everything from fuel refinery to delivery to the final consumer, safe storage and transportation of products is crucial. Hence, the NPA’s Safety Campaign, which was launched in 2017.
Recent occurrences reveal this campaign’s importance, and the need to laud NPA for the initiative’s successes.
At least 50 people died, and 101 sustained severe injuries when a petrol tanker exploded in Benue, Nigeria.
Despite the lives lost and injuries caused, the damages extend beyond the accident. This confirms the potential hazard posed by Bulk Road Vehicles (BRVs).
Adherence to safety measures would have prevented this accident. But simple statements of concern aren’t enough to ensure safety.
The causes, are interrelated in a conspicuous chain of events. Media reports suggest siphoning of fuel by villagers, who live around where the BRV toppled over due to poor state of the road as the cause. But the driver’s negligence, or the BRV’s poor condition may have been the cause.
Therefore, much as the NPA and industry players are working with Roads and Highways Department to make roads motorable, the NPA is not relenting on its efforts.
To curb such occurrences, the Authority under Mr Tampuli is taking proactive measures, including; licensing of BRVs, rigorous inspection of BRVs, pre loading inspection of BRVs, training of BRV drivers, and installation of tracking devices on BRVs.
In line with NPA Act, Act 691, 2005, BRVs that fully meet licensing requirements are licensed prior to approval to load petroleum products from licensed depots. A total number of 3,468 BRVs have been licensed. But BRVs still operate illegally, causing the NPA to collaborate with the security agencies to prevent illegal operations.
Also, BRV inspection companies, with DVLA licensing have been licensed by the Authority to inspect BRVs, before they are licensed biannually.
Again, loading depots are authorized to inspect all BRVs before loading, to ensure that they have authorization and are safe to load, before allowing them to load petroleum products.
In line with the Road Traffic Regulations 2012, L.I 2180, the NPA collaborates with the DVLA and Road Safety Limited to develop modules for training and certification of BRV drivers in defensive driving and safe handling of petroleum products.
These trainings help to prevent accidents and crimes like the diesel tanker driver and his mate, who set a tanker on fire in the Eastern Region. They emptied and sold its 54,000 litre diesel load worth GHC280, 260. This theft would have cost the BRV owner so much without tracking of the BRV.
The NPA installs tracking systems on BRVs for independent monitoring to confirm delivery of petroleum products, from loading depots to various discharging points nationwide.
Current installation of,1000 more digital tracking devices to augment what exists will further restrict the criminals like the tanker driver and his mate, diverted diesel meant for Yendi, and sold the entire load before setting the BRV ablaze.
Through these strict measures, the USD12million losses recorded annually by the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF) will be prevented, and efforts increased to ensure effective and efficient distribution of fuel nationwide.
The NPA’s task is great. But under Mr Tampuli’s leadership, and staff efforts at the NPA, though daunting, the challenge posed by the expected growth of the industry is surmountable, and requires collaboration from all stakeholders.
Source: Ijahra Musah Larry
Tanzania: 61 People Killed In A Fuel Tanker Explosion
At least 61 people have been killed and 70 injured when a fuel tanker exploded on a busy road in Tanzania, government spokesperson Hassan Abbas said.
The vehicle overturned on the road in Morogoro, 175 kilometers (109 miles) west of Dar es Salaam, according to Kebwe Stephene, the regional commissioner of Morogoro.
An eyewitness said the truck was going at speed and was trying to avoid a motorcyclist on the main road near Msamvu bus station. The driver appeared to lose control and the truck overturned.
The bus station serves as a major hub for passengers traveling to other parts of Tanzania and is a popular spot for boda-bodas, motorbike taxis common in the region.
Stephene said the crash attracted a large crowd. When someone noticed the truck’s cargo was leaking, many rushed to get buckets and containers to collect the fuel.
According to eyewitnesses, there were more than 150 people at the scene when the truck exploded around 20 minutes after the accident.
“We just heard an explosion and then the motorbikes were falling all over the place, we were running around,” said Hamza Jones, one of the witnesses. “I fell down there because everyone was trying to run and so they were pushing each other,” he added
Photographs of the incident show large flames and thick black smoke rising from the wreckage and dozens of motorbikes scattered around.
Abbas said authorities believe many of the dead are people who were trying to collect the fuel from the truck.
The explosion happened around 8:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. ET). Abbas said the rescue operations finished by 3 p.m. local time. The scene was cordoned off and all bodies were removed from the scene into a local hospital for identification, he said.
Those injured in the blast were treated at the government-run Morogoro Referral Hospital, Abbas added.
The road connecting Morogoro with Dar es Salaam, the country’s most populous city and former capital, is one of Tanzania’s key throughways, used to transport imports and exports to and from the coast.
Source: cnn/energynewsafrica.com
According to eyewitnesses, there were more than 150 people at the scene when the truck exploded around 20 minutes after the accident.
“We just heard an explosion and then the motorbikes were falling all over the place, we were running around,” said Hamza Jones, one of the witnesses. “I fell down there because everyone was trying to run and so they were pushing each other,” he added
Photographs of the incident show large flames and thick black smoke rising from the wreckage and dozens of motorbikes scattered around.
Abbas said authorities believe many of the dead are people who were trying to collect the fuel from the truck.
The explosion happened around 8:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. ET). Abbas said the rescue operations finished by 3 p.m. local time. The scene was cordoned off and all bodies were removed from the scene into a local hospital for identification, he said.
Those injured in the blast were treated at the government-run Morogoro Referral Hospital, Abbas added.
The road connecting Morogoro with Dar es Salaam, the country’s most populous city and former capital, is one of Tanzania’s key throughways, used to transport imports and exports to and from the coast.
Source: cnn/energynewsafrica.com