The Government of Ghana says it has paid all debts it owed the country’s power distribution company, Electricity Company of Ghana up to December 2019.
According to the country’s Minister for Energy, John -Peter Amewu, the Akufo-Addo administration paid GHS2 billion annually to cover its bills.
Speaking at a press conference organized by the Information Ministry, Mr. Peter Amewu said the payment of the debts has given government credit balance of GHS500 million to pay for electricity bills for January to April 2020.
“In 2016 when the NDC left power, the total amount owed the ECG was GHS2.63 billion. The NPP government on assumption of office ensured that it was current on all bills incurred during its tenure from 2017 to date. Ladies and Gentlemen, on the average, government under H. E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has paid two million annually to cover its bill with the Electricity Company of Ghana. Indeed, at the end of 2019, all government bills with ECG had been paid and government had a credit balance of GHS500 million with ECG. Ladies and Gentlemen with an average bill payment of about GHS100 million per month, the credit balance of over GHS500 million is enough and more than enough to pay for government bills from January to April 2020.”
The Minister added that should the Power Reconciliation Exercise be completed, government will be in a conformable position to inform viable consumers of electricity that the energy sector is gradually moving out of debt.
“It is also interesting to note that an unreconciled additional payment of GH¢4.14 billion has also been made to various small suppliers of power producers which is yet to be credited government under the ongoing Power Reconciliation Exercise,” he added.
He has urged its customers to practice energy consumption habits during their stay at home amid the novel Coronavirus pandemic.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
The outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, which has affected world economies including Ghana, has not spared the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) sector of the Ghanaian economy.
In Ghana, LPG is used for cooking as well as powering of vehicles.
However, the consumption of the commodity has declined in the West African nation over the last three months, and this has been linked to the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
Ghana has recorded over 5,735 cases of Coronavirus with 1,754 recoveries and 29 deaths.
The situation has made the government place a ban on social gathering and shut down hotels, bars and restaurants.
Speaking to energynewsafrica.com in an interview, Vice Chairman of LPG Marketing Association of Ghana, Gabriel Kumi said LPG consumption has declined to between 15 percent and 20 percent.
“The LPG consumption has declined since the inception of COVID-19. If you look at the consumption, even though domestic consumption has seen 10 percent increment if you look at the industrial consumption, the chopbars, restaurants and hotels are no longer operating so, obviously, there has been a dip in domestic consumption of LPG. About 40 to 45 percent of LPG is being consumed by taxis and commercial vehicles…But during the lockdown, there was slow activity so it also slowed consumption.
Mr Gabriel Kumi, Vice Chairman of LPG Marketing Association of Ghana
“In all, if you look at the figures, LPG consumption has dropped between 15 and 20 percent,” Mr Kumi posited.
Mr Kumi revealed that the current situation has compelled LPG retailers across the country to adopt cost cutting measures in a bid to continue to stay in business and become competitive.
The sector employers about 6,000 people but Mr Kumi noted that the figure has been slashed by 10 percent.
Among other cost cutting measures being adopted by the employers in the LPG sector, Mr Kumi explained include slashing of salaries of staff by 50 percent.
Making an argument about the cost of LPG consumption in relation to the impact of the Coronavirus, Mr Kumi, said: “This is one of the reasons why we kicked strongly against the new LPG margin by our regulator, the NPA. We believe the idea is being made for the Ghanaians to pay too much for LPG. We believe the product is chocked by consistent and continuous introduction of taxes.”
He argued that the country stands to gain more revenue on it when it cuts taxes on LPG to allow more consumption than imposing more taxes on the product.
“This is why we have called for a total removal of taxes from LPG to make the product more affordable to the ordinary Ghanaian so that it can increase consumption to save our environment and save mother Ghana from environmental destruction,” he explained.
The LPG Marketing Association vice Chair, further noted that globally, the product’s use is on the rise, but in Ghana, its use is on the decline at worse, it is stagnated, because of the taxes we have imposed on its use.
He advised parents to place their cylinders outside their kitchen to save children who are at home because of school closures to prevent gas accidents in their homes.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Tema-based Wang Heng Co. Ltd, producers of Sol cement in the Republic of Ghana, has presented quantities of facemasks to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to enable the company fight the Coronavirus pandemic.
According to Wang Heng, as a partner of ECG in the power sector, it behoves on it to support the effort of ECG in ensuring its staff are safe.
General Manager of Wang Heng Co. Ltd. Nana Obokomatta IX, who presented the items on behalf of the company, expressed concern about the havoc COVID-19 continues to wreck on the nations’s economy and lives.
He urged Ghanaians to adhere to all the safety protocols in order not to get infected or spread the virus.
Receiving the items, Managing Director of ECG, Kwame Agyeman-Budu expressed gratitude to Wang Heng for the gesture.
He said the items had come at a time when ECG was spending so much on personal protective equipment to make sure that staff, as well as customers, are safe on their premises to transact business.
“We’re in a very difficult time to keep the safety of our staff. We’re spending so much money to ensure the COVID-19 safety protocols,” he said.
Mr Agyeman-Budu advised staff of ECG across the company’s operational areas to endeavour to practise physical distancing, handwashing with soap under running water and wearing of facemask.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
The Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons has signed the very first mining contracts in the country’s history.
The country signed five mining contracts with three different companies.
This follows the conclusion of the country’s first mining bidding round last year, EG Ronda 2019.
The agreements include one gold exploration contract in Block (I) with Manhattan Mining Investment Co; three prospecting contracts with Blue Magnolia Ltd in Block (B) for bauxite and precious metals, Block (K) for gold, and Block (H) for gold, uranium, iron, bauxite, basic metals and rare earth minerals; and finally one prospecting contract with Shefagold in Blocks (N) and (O) for platinum, palladium, silver, chrome, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, iron ore and related minerals.
“Mining is a key contributor to economic growth and jobs creation across West and Southern Africa, and we truly believe that it is time that Equatorial Guinea enters the race and starts developing its potential in minerals,” H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons said.
“The development of this industry is central to the government’s economic diversification agenda and is expected to create thousands of jobs in the future,” he added.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons (MMH) had published a new regulatory framework for mining operations in the country. The new regulation applies to all exploration and exploitation activities by both foreign and local companies that wish to operate in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. The newly appointed contractors are expected to start exploration activities at the earliest in the Rio Muni area, which is highly prospective in minerals such as gold, diamonds, base metals, iron ore and bauxite.
The move notably aligns with Equatorial Guinea’s Economic Diversification Policy designed by the Government following its Second National Economic Conference, and follows the successful approval of the Mining Law by the National Bicameral Parliament. Given Equatorial Guinea’s heavy reliance on hydrocarbons to support its economy, mining and minerals are seen as a key sector to diversify national output, increase revenue generation and create jobs. Under the ongoing Year of Investment 2020 for instance, the MMH is promoting key projects in the mining and minerals industry, notably including an industrial mining area with a gold refinery.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
The African Energy Chamber is urging oil producing nations in Africa to allow chartered flights carrying oil and gas industry personnel and medical equipment’s to land.
The chamber noted that few oil-producing countries like Nigeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and others have allowed a much-needed rotation of oil sector workers.
However, the Chamber believes the current arrangement by international oil companies such as ExxonMobil in Equatorial Guinea must be expanded across all oil-producing states and governments should immediately facilitate these movements.
According to the Chamber, upon arrival in oil cities, all personnel on board should go under mandatory quarantine in full compliance with the Advisory Guidelines for the Management and Safety of Oil Workers.
Because of sustained lockdowns and travel restrictions globally, oil workers have been forced to stay on site longer and work extra hours, increasing the risk of lost time injury across oil industry operations.
“Whether oil companies have been forced to maintain personnel on site for extended periods of time or withdraw their workers altogether, the situation is no longer viable. Oil workers need to be able to rotate safely in and out of the work sites, and fields need to be maintained and operated by sound and rested personnel,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber.
“We urge oil-producing countries to work with oil and air companies to adhere to the Chamber’s Advisory Guidelines and ensure a safe movement of oil sector personnel across the continent. We continue to have positive dialogue with governments and the industry and we are confident about a solution very soon,” he added.
Amid extended travel restrictions, the African Energy Chamber is urging all stakeholders to put the safety of oil workers and the ability of oil companies to continue operating at the top of industry priorities. Several additional special flights can and should be organized in and out of African oil producing countries.
There is also a space for commercial airlines to operate special charter flights between key oil countries such as Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, South Sudan, Angola, Ghana and Nigeria on a bi-monthly basis in which oil companies could book seats for their personnel.
Without such movement taking place, production across African oil & gas fields could be greatly impacted and the safety of our workers could put in jeopardy.
The African oil sector has already been brutally hit by Covid-19 and the oil price crash. We need to show a lot more commonsense and pragmatism as we work on a comeback. Adding to the pain with restrictions that handicap the industry will only lead to a longer and slower recovery.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
The Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company has offered solar power system-owning customers the chance to operate under new net metering rules.
The state-owned utility has also started tendering for a total 500 MW of solar generation capacity, according to Reuters.
The national power transmission company has launched the program for solar system owners with smart meters, the cost of which can be included in the fee for securing net metering access, if necessary.
As with other net metering schemes, the state-owned body stressed only electrical unit credits would be included in household bills, not cash payments. “Net metering is beneficial to the utility and the nation at large through the saving of foreign currency, as there will be less power imports,” tweeted Zetdc.
Tender
Reuters has reported on a public notice issued by Zetdc today which appears to indicate the utility has opened a tender for 500 MW of solar generation capacity.
“The Zimbabwe Electricity and Distribution Company (Zetdc) is intending to contract 500 MW of PV solar plants of varying capacities at different identified strategic locations,” Reuters quoted the utility as stating in the document.
In January, the World Bank said it was helping the Zimbabwean government introduce a competitive tendering program for procuring large scale PV power projects under the recently completed National Renewable Energy Policy.
The nation is in desperate need of power generation capacity and solar offers a cheap, scalable solution.
Zimbabwe had only 12 MW of installed solar capacity at the end of December, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. Only 1 MW of solar was added to the country’s grid last year.
Iran has warned the United States of America not to interfere with any Iranian fuel shipments to Venezuela in Caribbean waters, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has said.
This follows reports that the U.S. could consider measures in response to those shipments.
Last week, a senior U.S. Administration official told Reuters that the United States was looking into measures that it could take in response to shipments of fuel from the Islamic Republic of Iran to the regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.
Crisis-hit Venezuela is now reeling from severe U.S. sanctions on its oil industry, years of lack of investments in maintaining its dilapidated refineries, the coronavirus pandemic, and low oil prices. Fuel shortages in the South American country sitting on top of the world’s largest oil reserves are more acute than before.
Iran and Venezuela, both under strict U.S. sanctions, have reportedly boosted their cooperation in recent months. Last month, U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams said that Maduro’s regime in Venezuela is paying Iran in gold for help with Venezuela’s crumbling oil industry.
According to tanker-tracking data provided to Reuters by Refinitiv Eikon, at least one tanker has loaded fuel at an Iranian port and is currently traveling to Venezuela.
“Following the release of reports suggesting U.S. officials had threatened to harass Iranian tankers carrying fuel to Venezuela, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in a letter to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, warned the United States about sending troops to the Caribbean Sea with the aim of interfering with the transfer of Iran’s fuel to Venezuela,” Iran’s foreign ministry said on Sunday.
In addition, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Seyyed Abbas Araqchi, summoned the ambassador of Switzerland, which represents the U.S. interests in Iran, and “asked the top diplomat to relay to Washington officials Iran’s serious warning over any possible threat by the U.S. against Iranian tankers,” Iran said.
“Zarif stressed that the U.S. must give up bullying on the world stage and respect the rule of international law, especially free shipping in the high seas,” Iran’s foreign ministry said.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
The Managing Director of Tullow Ghana, a subsidiary of Ireland -based Tullow Oil Plc, Mr Kweku Andoh Awotwi, is set to retire from the company on 30th June this year.
Mr Awotwi is the first Managing Director of Tullow Ghana to be promoted to Executive Vice President of Tullow Oil plc.
A statement issued by the company, said Wissam Al Monthiry has been appointed to replace Mr Awotwi when he leaves at the end of June.
The statement noted that during his tenure, the TEN fields produced its 50th million barrel of oil; there was very good progress in the TRP project which is now in its final stages with the Oil Offloading System being ready for installation; and his operations team have delivered significant improvements in the stable production of oil and gas from our two FPSOs.
Mr Kweku Awotwi built strong relationships with Government and was a key player in the development of the current legislative framework for the company to pursue its Near Field Exploration Opportunities.
Most recently, Kweku has provided leadership to the Ghana team during a turbulent period for the company and the sector, overseeing substantial organizational changes.
“Wissam Al Monthiry, the incoming Managing Director, brings to Tullow extensive experience of operations management, asset development and a track record of safe production operations. He spent 17 years with BP in various upstream operations leadership and asset management positions around the world. Earlier in his career, Wissam worked for Goldman Sachs as a Corporate Finance Analyst focused on the energy sector. Wissam will spend the majority of his time in Ghana, with Cynthia Lumor taking on greater responsibility for Tullow Ghana’s key government relationships,” the statement said.
Dorothy Thompson, Executive Chair of Tullow Oil Plc, commented today: “Kweku has led the business through turbulent times for both the company and the sector. We all wish Kweku well in his retirement and thank him for his significant contributions to Tullow.”
Kweku Awotwi, Executive Vice President, Tullow Ghana commented: “I would like to thank the Tullow Ghana team for all their support and assistance since I joined the company and wish them and Tullow well for the future. I shall watch their progress with great pride and interest.”
On his part, Wissam Al Monthiry, the incoming Managing Director of Tullow Ghana said: “I am looking forward to building on the strong foundations established by Kweku and ensuring Tullow continues to play a key role in Ghana’s oil and gas industry.”
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
French oil major Total has discontinued the acquisition of Occidental Petroleum’s assets in Ghana in an effort to preserve its financial flexibility.
The story of the purchase and sale agreement between the companies started back in 2019 with Total swooping in for Anadarko’s African assets during Occidental’s attempt to close a deal for the takeover of Anadarko.
Sprinkle in a little bit of Chevron and its attempt to outbid Occidental and Warren Buffett trying to get in on the fun, and the story becomes much more complex to unravel.
U.S. oil major Chevron was first to make a bid in April 2019 for the takeover of Anadarko by offering a stock and cash transaction worth $33 billion, or $65 per share. In combination with the shares, the offer rises to a much larger sum of $50 billion.
Occidental’s offer came less than two weeks later in the form of a 50-50 cash and stock transaction valued at $57 billion.
Since Anadarko informed Occidental the negotiations between the two could “result in a superior offer”, Oxy revised its offer which resulted in a successful takeover bid on 10 May 2019. Chevron said the day before that it would not be increasing its initial bid for the takeover.
The French oil major was interested in several assets in four countries. Namely, in Mozambique, the company was looking to buy a 26.5 per cent participating interest and operatorship in Area 1 where a 12.8 million tonne per year LNG project was largely derisked.
Area 1 contains more than 60 Tcf of gas resources, of which 18 Tcf will be developed with the first two train project which is expected to come into production by 2024.
South Africa was another interesting location where Total was looking towards some exploration licences close to its Brulpadda discovery.
The acquisition of Anadarko’s Algerian assets was focused around a 24.5 per cent participating interest and operatorship of blocks 404a and 208 – which hold the Hassi Berkine, Ourhoud, and El Merk fields – in the Berkine basin in which Total already owned 12.25 per cent.
In Ghana, Total wanted a 27 per cent participating interest in the Jubilee field and a 19 per cent participating interest in the TEN fields.
Overall, these assets represent around 1.2 billion boe of 2P reserves, of which 70 per cent is gas, plus 2 billion boe of long-term natural gas resources in Mozambique.
Total has already wrapped up a $3.9 billion acquisition of Anadarko’s Mozambique LNG project interest in September 2019 as well as the buy of the assets in South Africa.
Under the purchase and sale agreement between Total and Occidental for Anadarko’s Ghana and Algeria assets, the two are linked.
Namely, the sale of the Ghana assets was conditional upon the completion of the Algeria assets’ sale. As part of an understanding with the Algerian authorities on the transfer of Anadarko’s interests to Occidental, Occidental would not be in a position to sell its interests in Algeria.
As a result, the sale to Total would not be able to go through and the subsequent Ghana asset sale buy would have to be discontinued.
Total said on Monday that, given the extraordinary market environment and the lack of visibility that the group faces, and in light of the non-operated nature of the interests of Anadarko in Ghana, Total decided not to pursue the completion of the purchase of the Ghana assets and to preserve its financial flexibility.
Patrick Pouyanné, Total chairman and CEO, said: “This decision not to pursue the completion of the purchase of the Ghana assets consolidates the Group’s efforts in the control of its net investments this year and provides financial flexibility to face the uncertainties and opportunities linked to the current environment”.
Sixteen international and national organisations, representing the global hydropower sector, have set out guiding principles for energy infrastructure policy in the COVID-19 recovery.
The organisations represent hydropower developers, operators, manufacturers, researchers and innovators including the world’s largest hydropower producers in China, US and Canada.
Their statement, coordinated by the International Hydropower Association (IHA), sets out how the coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated hydropower’s resilience and critical role in delivering power and water supplies to communities and essential services.
Widespread uncertainty and liquidity shortages have however put financing and refinancing of many hydropower projects at risk. In some regions, new and upgrade projects have also been halted, contributing to a fall in confidence regarding future investments and operations.
The 16 organisations call on policy-makers to recognise hydropower’s vital importance to the clean energy transition, due to the unique services it provides to integrate and support variable renewables such as solar and wind.
“As the single largest source of renewable electricity with unique flexibility services to support the integration of variable renewable energy, hydropower will be vital to the future energy system. All countries that have achieved 100 per cent renewable electricity have relied heavily on hydropower.
“Furthermore, hydropower delivers vital means of managing freshwater, providing supplies for agriculture, homes and businesses, and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events such as floods and drought.
“Yet hydropower’s contribution in maintaining system reliability has not been properly recognised, incentivised by policymakers or appropriately valued by the market,” the statement said.
The hydropower and generator associations set out the following principles for green and resilient infrastructure stimulus packages as they call on decision-makers to build more sustainable hydropower projects.
Ensure the recovery facilitates the development of sustainable hydropower projects as an essential part of the energy transition and wider development strategy to help kick-start our global economy. This should include modernisation and rehabilitation projects.
Focus on sustainable hydropower development to ensure that economically viable and shovel-ready projects can commence.
Where possible and within reason, fast-track planning approvals to ensure the development and modernisation of hydropower projects can commence as soon as possible to help stimulate the economy.
In regions where this applies, extend any construction deadlines for hydropower projects that have previously benefited from government programmes to secure the finance already committed.
Given the increasing need for long-duration energy storage such as pumped storage, work with regulators and system operators to develop appropriate compensation mechanisms that recognise and value all the attributes hydropower provides to the grid.
Not only maintain but increase the ambition of renewable energy and climate change targets which incorporate the role of sustainable hydropower development. This will instill much-needed confidence in the sector.
The organisations, in addition, stress the importance of all projects adopting good environmental, social and governance practices in line with the internationally recognised Hydropower Sustainability Tools.
Signatory organisations
Worldwide – International Hydropower Association (IHA)
Canada – WaterPower Canada
China – China Society for Hydropower Engineering
Colombia – ACOLGEN
Indonesia – Indonesia Hydropower Association
Kyrgyzstan – Small Hydropower Plants Association of the Kyrgyz Republic
Mexico – Mexican Association of Hydroelectricity
Mongolia – Small Hydropower Association Mongolia
Norway – Energy Norway
Norway – International Centre for Hydropower (ICH)
Poland – Polish Hydropower Association / TEW
Poland – Polish Association for Small Hydropower Development
Russia – Association “Hydropower of Russia”
Uganda – Hydro Power Association of Uganda
United Kingdom – British Hydropower Association
USA – National Hydropower Association (NHA)
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has approved Eskom’s request to recover R13.3 billion as part of the power utility’s regulatory clearing account (RCA) application for the 2018/19 year.
The RCA application is a mechanism allowing Eskom to adjust for any over- or under-recovery of revenue for a particular year due to events which differ from initial assumptions made when the energy regulator granted tariffs.
The RCA balance will be recoverable from the standard tariff customers, local Special Pricing Arrangement (SPA) customers and international customers.
The Reasons for Decision (RfD) will follow once the applicable requirements, including, but not limited to, the confidential treatment of some information, have been finalised, NERSA said in a statement.
The energy regulator also underlined that it records that certain governance failures occurred in Eskom.
“However, at the time of this decision and although some of the adjustments were effected in the decision, the extent of the governance failures or amounts associated therewith had not been fully quantified,” said NERSA in a statement.
The statement continued: “Upon the completion of any investigations by any organ of state or commission into these governance failures, and if the failure is quantified, the energy regulator may, in future Eskom revenue applications, effect adjustments to Eskom’s revenue, based on the relevant outcome of the investigation.”
NERSA received Eskom’s RCA application for the 2018/19 financial year, totalling R27,323 million in August 2019.
The regulator reviewed the application for compliance with the fourth Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD4) Methodology and Minimum Information Requirements for Tariff Application (MIRTA) requirements.
NERSA noted it that made the decision after conducting the due regulatory process, which included publishing Eskom’s application and inviting written comments from stakeholders from 3 December 2019 to 20 January 2020.
The energy regulator also conducted public hearings in eight of South Africa’s nine provinces from 3 to 24 February 2020. The public hearings afforded interested and affected stakeholders the opportunity to present their views, facts and evidence.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Energy is widely regarded as a major determinant of economic prosperity of any State. It is accepted as a crucial ingredient that propels any economic activity, and indeed the pillar of wealth creation. Especially in the developing world, the provision of a greater access to energy has been suggested by some as vital in helping grow their economies and improve the lives of the poor. Onakoya et al. (2013) finds the output of the energy sector (electricity and the petroleum products) usually consolidating the activities of the other sectors which provide essential services to direct the production activities in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, commerce et cetera. Kumi (2017), recognizes electricity as playing a significant role in undertaking daily activities from cooking, lighting, heating to powering machines in the industrial sector. As the need for quality healthcare delivery, education, transport, effective communication, mineral exploration and agricultural expansion increases; the need for energy similarly increases.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA 2019), energy access policies continue to produce result, with 2018 data showing promising signs. The number of people without access to electricity fell from almost 1 billion in 2017 to 860 million, a record in recent years. IEA’s latest analysis of Africa Energy Outlook 2019 show, in Africa the number of people gaining access to electricity doubled from 9 million a year between 2000 and 2013 to 20 million people between 2014 and 2018, outpacing population growth. As a result, the number of people without electricity access, which peaked at 610 million in 2013, declined slowly to roughly 595 million in 2018. In developing Asia, almost 1 billion people have gained access to electricity, with 94 percent of the region having access to electricity in 2018, compared to 67 percent in 2000.
Though greater efforts have been made over the past decades to provide energy to as much percentage of the population as possible by individuals, firms and governments, recognizing energy as essential for humanity to develop and thrive, it is the adoption in 2015 of new United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that defined a new level of political recognition of the importance of energy to development. It places energy at the heart of both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. And for the very first time, United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) contain a target to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy remain the focus of SDG7. According to McCollum et al. (2017), SDG7 is underpinned by three targets: ensuring universal access to energy services (7.1), increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix (7.2), and improving energy efficiency (7.3).
The Linkages
The United Nation (UN) recognizes electricity access as crucial to the achievement of many of the other SDGs. In a 2018 Policy Brief on achieving universal access to electricity, the United Nation suggest that providing connections to households is not enough to ensure economic and social development. Electricity needs to be available reliably and affordably not only for households to access meaningful services, but also for income generating activities and public services.
According to the intergovernmental organization, ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030 will open a new world of opportunities for billions of people through new economic opportunities and jobs, empowered women, children and youth, better education and health, more sustainable, equitable and inclusive communities, and greater protections from, and resilience to, climate change. That energy (including electricity) is only useful to the extent that it provides useful services and drives actions. Therefore, while it is important to measure energy access directly, the true impact is on enabling the success of other SDGs.
Energy access has been described severally as the missing Millennium Development Goal (MDG), as energy services can contribute to a large extent to the attainment of all SDGs. Achieving the goals of SDG7 therefore will impact, and be impacted by progress along the many other SDG dimensions:
SDG1 (No poverty), SDG8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure): The developed part of the world have found reliable and affordable energy as an enabler to goods and services that has enriched and extended lives. Reliable and consistent supply of affordable energy is more vital to modernizing agriculture, increasing trade, empowering women, saving lives, improving transportation, expanding industries, improving education, providing clean water, and powering communications; serving as building blocks for escaping poverty and enriching lives.
The IEA sees access to modern energy as the “golden thread” that knits together economic growth, human development and environmental sustainability. The Deployment of renewable forms of energy and energy-efficient technologies can stimulate innovation and reinforce industrial and employment objectives.
SDG5 (Gender equality), SDG2 (Zero hunger), and SDG6 (Clean water and sanitation): Energy access would increase the number and range of opportunities for women, thus reducing the inequality gaps that exist. For instance, access to energy may afford women the chance to work from home and thereby generate an independent source of income, reduce the importance of physical gender differences in the labour force, and Public outdoor lighting would increase security for women and girls though public outdoor lighting, potentially enabling them to continue autonomous activities outside their households after dark.
Also, energy remains a vital input to agriculture to ensure efficient food production, and food security. Irrigation pumps may be electrically powered can increase crop yields, increase the value of the products and generate economic and employment gains. Electricity is required for food refrigeration so as to reduce spoilage, and increases access to food. Moreover, a lot of energy is required to install and operate water extraction, transport and treatment systems to provide clean water and sanitation.
SDG3 (Good health and wellbeing): It is estimated by the IEA that nearly 4 million people die prematurely on annual basis from the use of polluting fuels and technologies in households for cooking, heating and lighting, without adequate ventilation. The body suggests that the provision of modern energy access for all can lower the premature death toll by around 1.8 million people per year in 2030. Thermal comfort (heating and cooling) and refrigeration are key to good health and nutrition, which highlights the need to ensure access to affordable and reliable energy. Use of energy-efficient appliances such as clean cook-stoves is fundamental to improving indoor air quality. Energy’s contribution to food conservation along the supply chain helps avoid the health risks associated with bacterial contamination. Moreover, health care facilities require reliable electricity to function and power medical devices. Also refrigeration enables rural populations to store the medicines and vaccines necessary for ensuring community health.
SDG4 (Quality education): Squire (2015) studied the effect of access to electricity on school attendance and educational attainment, and finds that although reduction in education was accompanied by an increase in childhood employment; suggesting that improved labor market opportunities due to electricity access led to the increased drop-out rates, the study also finds evidence that increases in adult employment was driving children to stay home (and have opportunity to learn) to compensate for parents going off to work.
A 2014 report prepared for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) by the Consultant Benjamin Sovacool, indicate clearly that electrification can enable classes to be taught early in the morning or late at night, enabling the use of modern mass media tools in the classroom such as the internet and televisions. That schools with access to electricity have better staff retention, outperform non-electrified schools on key educational indicators, and can in some cases enable broader social and economic development of communities. Also McCollum et al. (2017) argue that energy provides well-lit, well-heated and well-cooled schools and households; essentials for creating learning spaces for children and adults. Information and communication technologies, on which modern education is based, also require energy input. It is a key element of science education, and better inclusion of energy in school curricula may foster better science literacy at all levels of society. Conversely, quality education is an enabling factor in achieving SDG7, given that knowledge and skills influence the feasibility of implementing access solutions from technical, financial and political perspectives.
SDG13 (Climate action): Reliable modern energy access can improve the resilience of households and communities to a changing climate, despite electricity generation contributing a large share of global CO2 emissions. Dagnachew et al. (2018) analyzed trade-offs and synergies between achieving universal electricity access and climate change mitigation in Sub-Saharan Africa. The results shows a strong synergy in emissions reduction and investment savings, particularly driven by the regions’ efficiency improvements of household appliances. On the other hand, climate mitigation policies are projected to increase the cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour (kWh), depending on fossil fuel share in the mix. Therefore, they conclude that because increasing electricity access can have notable consequences for global climate change, climate policies will need to be combined with complementary policies such as pro-poor tariffs, fuel subsidies, and cross subsidization to protect the poor from increasing electricity prices. According to IEA, cost reductions in renewables, storage and energy efficiency as a result of deployment globally will facilitate rural electrification, with little or no climate change risk.
Ghana’s largest power generation company, Volta River Authority (VRA) has revealed that about 400 structures have been marked for clearance in both North-East and Upper East Regions before the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam would commence.
The estimated cost involved in resettlement and compensation has not been known yet, but plans are far advanced in addressing this challenge before the project comes into full force.
Project Coordinator for the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam project, Kwaku Wiafe revealed this in an interview with the media.
He said that the project, worth over GHc900 million awarded to China Power, is to be solely financed by the Government of Ghana.
Mr Wiafe has also indicated that the compensation of affected farmers and owners of structures would be paid by the government, hence, surveys are underway to ascertain actual areas to be affected by the project.
“The compensation will be borne by the government, and part of the work of the team will be to assess how much we will have to pay and who will be paid,” he stated.
He has, therefore, appealed to residents in affected areas to cooperate with them in order to realise the main objective of the much awaited project that would serve as a game changer in the northern part of the country.
However, preparatory works for the project will begin in June for actual work to commence in September 2020.
Meanwhile, the project has a duration of 52 months and when completed, will have an irrigation, electricity and a host of other components to propel economic growth in the country.
The Board of Directors of Ghana’s only refinery, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), has appointed Ing. Herbert Ato Morrison has appointed as the Deputy Managing Director in charge of operations.
Prior to his appointment, Ing. Ato Morrison was the General Manager in charge of Technical Services.
In January this year, Ing. Ato Morrison was appointed as Acting Managing Director following the resignation of Isaac Osei, a former MP for Subin and former CEO of COCOBOD.
An internal memo signed by Jane Ohenewa Gyekye (Mrs), who is a General Manager (HR&Admin), and sighted by energynewsafrica.com, reads: “At an Emergency meeting of the Board of Directors on 5th May, the following appointments were made: Managing Director, Francis Adu Boateng, and Deputy Managing Director (Operations), Ing. Ato Morrison.
“Kindly give them required support,” it said.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com