Ghana: Power Producers Ordered To Charge ECG GETFund, VAT, NHIL Levies
Power producers in the Republic of Ghana have been directed to charge Getfund Levy of 2.5 percent, National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) of 2.5 percent and Value Added Tax (VAT) at a standard rate of 12.5 percent on the value of power supplies to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The directive was given by the country’s revenue authority, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The directive comes barely a month after the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Independent Power Producers, Bulk Distributors and Consumer called for the removal of these inessential taxes on electricity.
These levies and charges, he said do not only create inconvenience and burden to consumers but also weaken the capacity for growth as a nation and make distribution companies (discos) uncompetitive.
“Complete removal of these taxes and a reduction in gas price will make Ghana’s position as one of the benchmarks in the sub-region and bring visible economic relief to the country,” he stressed in an article copied to energynewsafrica.com.
However, in a statement signed by the Acting Commissioner General, Ammishadai Owusu-Amoah said the Authority’s attention was drawn to a letter purported to be an agreement between the erstwhile VAT Service and ECG and some power producers which stated that the VRA should zero rate supplies to ECG.
This, the GRA said, is in contravention to the Value Added Tax, 2013 (Act 870) which does not list supply of energy and capacity charge as one of the items that should be zero-rated.
“We wish to state that Section 36 of the Act which provides for zero-rating of supply refers to the Second Schedule of the Act. However, the Second Schedule of the Act did not list supply of energy and capacity charge as one of the items that should be zero-rated,” GRA said.
The Authority argued that “electricity and power is a taxable activity as defined in Section 5 of the Act and all supplies to ECG is also taxable.”
By these, he said they are, therefore, directing all electricity and power producers to start charging ECG the prescribed levies under the law.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Withdraw Directive Asking Power Producers To Charge VAT, NHIL, GETfund– Mutawakilu To GRA
The Minority Spokesperson on energy in Ghana’s parliament Hon. Adam Mutawakilu is demanding the withdrawal of a directive from Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) asking power producers in the West African nation to charge VAT, GETfund and NHIL levies on electricity they sell to the Electricity Company of Ghana.
A letter from the GRA dated 4th May 2020 announced the directives, indicating that such services will no longer be zero-rated.
Reacting to the issue in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, Hon. Mutawakilu, who is the Member of Parliament for Damongo said the decision if implemented will increase the cost of electricity to unbearable levels.
“You are all aware that on the 9th of April, President Nana Addo addressed the nation with respect to COVID-19. In that address, he did indicate that consumers of electricity will be given a relief of 50%. Ghanaians welcomed it wholeheartedly and he did indicate that it will take effect from 1st May even though many consumers were not able to access that relief on the given date.”
“What Ghanaians did not know and more particularly, residential consumers who are the majority of consumers is that President Nana Akufo-Addo was giving the residential consumers the relief on the right hand and using the left hand to take back the relief. On May 4, 2020, a letter from GRA directed ECG to charge GETFund levy, National Health Insurance Scheme and VAT on residential consumers of electricity and that means that if you do the arithmetic, consumers will be paying 18.125% more on what they are consuming currently. We call on GRA to withdraw the levy,” Mutawakilu said.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: 8 Persons Arrested For Engaging In Illegal Fuel Trading At Sea
A combined team of Ghana Maritime Authority and Marine Police in the western region of the Republic of Ghana have arrested eight persons for engaging in illegal fuel trade on high sea popularly known as bunkering.
The suspects are currently in the custody of Marine Police while investigation is ongoing.
Ghana: Maritime Authority Seeks Help Of Supreme Court To Seize, Destroy Boats Used In Illegal Fuel TradeAccording to the authorities, the suspects are all Ghanaian citizens. Speaking to energynewsafrica.com, the Western Regional Director of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Captain William Eson Thompson, said the Ghana Maritime Authority, the Western Navy and Marine Police have been collaborating to patrol the sea at night. He said unlike previous operations where they left the sea early they decided to stay a little longer this time around and just when they were about winding up their monitoring they chanced on the suspects and arrested them. According to him, the suspects are all young people. “We’re building our dockets and we will be prosecuting them,” he said. Capt. Thompson said the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) are taking inventory of the quantity of the product. Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Maritime Authority Seeks Help Of Supreme Court To Seize, Destroy Boats Used In Illegal Fuel Trade
Ghana’s Maritime Authority, the regulator of the maritime industry in the West African nation, says it will soon acquire the power from the Supreme Court to seize and destroy wooden boats used for illegal fuel business.
Director General of the Authority, Mr Thomas Kofi Alonsi said the legal department of the Authority has been instructed to go to court and obtain the necessary orders that will allow the regulator to lawfully seize and destroy these boats.
Mr Alonsi said this when he met with security chiefs at the Western Naval base.
He said the illegal fuel trade along the coast in the Central and Takoradi enclaves had assumed alarming proportions.
The growing activities of illegal boats, locally called ‘dendeys’, is becoming a menace in the area.
Disguised as fishing boats, these massive wooden vessels, with the storage capacity of tens of thousands of litres, propelled by twin-outboard motors, go to the high seas, mostly at night, where criminal oil tanker ships dock.
Tons of fuel is pumped from the tankers into the dendeys (wooden boats) which sail to different beaches and discharge their content into waiting road fuel tankers on the blind side of tax and other regulatory authorities.
The state loses large amounts of revenue and regulators lose levies as a result of these illegal activities of fuel smugglers.
As if that is not enough, large quantities of fuel, mostly diesel, spill on the beaches, thereby causing pollution and other environmental hazards.
This illegally procured fuel which is usually of low quality end up on the market, having escaped the regulatory scrutiny and quality assurance of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), posing serious risks to vehicles.
At the meeting between the Ghana Maritime Authority, the Head of Marine Police, DCOP Iddi Seidu, and the Western Naval Command, Commodore E.A. Kwafo, the Acting Flag Officer Commanding of the Western Naval Command, painted a bleak picture of risks posed by the ‘dendeys’.
“We are rearing a monster which will one day consume all of us,” he said tersely.
Commodore Kwafo said the owners of these boats, if not stopped, may become emboldened and may start using their boats to cart other illicit products such as weapons and drugs.
He praised the GMA for instituting night patrols which have led to the arrest and seizure of some ships and dendeys engaged in illegal bunkering.
The Director General of GMA, Mr Thomas Alonsi, who was accompanied by his two deputies, Messrs Daniel Appianin and Yaw Antwi Akosa, as well as the Head of Legal and Board Secretary, Mrs Patience Ella Diaba, commended the Naval Command and the Marine Police for detailing armed men to provide security for the night patrols.
He said it was fiercely urgent for the illegal fuel dealers to be reined in and put on a leash.
“The building of these boats is itself in violation of the GMA’s regulations because by law, they are required to obtain a permit from us to build such vessels. My officers here, however, tell me no one has ever applied for any such permit.”
Mr Alonsi said beyond that, the boats are supposed to be registered and licensed to go to sea but none of the dendeys is registered or licensed or even marked.
“This is not right,” he said.
The Head of the Ghana Maritime Authority at Takoradi, Captain William E. Thompson, explained that destroying the boats would achieve a number of things – make it unprofitable to engage in fuel smuggling, protect fuel consumers from substandard products and generate revenue for the state.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Disguised as fishing boats, these massive wooden vessels, with the storage capacity of tens of thousands of litres, propelled by twin-outboard motors, go to the high seas, mostly at night, where criminal oil tanker ships dock.
Tons of fuel is pumped from the tankers into the dendeys (wooden boats) which sail to different beaches and discharge their content into waiting road fuel tankers on the blind side of tax and other regulatory authorities.
The state loses large amounts of revenue and regulators lose levies as a result of these illegal activities of fuel smugglers.
As if that is not enough, large quantities of fuel, mostly diesel, spill on the beaches, thereby causing pollution and other environmental hazards.
This illegally procured fuel which is usually of low quality end up on the market, having escaped the regulatory scrutiny and quality assurance of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), posing serious risks to vehicles.
At the meeting between the Ghana Maritime Authority, the Head of Marine Police, DCOP Iddi Seidu, and the Western Naval Command, Commodore E.A. Kwafo, the Acting Flag Officer Commanding of the Western Naval Command, painted a bleak picture of risks posed by the ‘dendeys’.
“We are rearing a monster which will one day consume all of us,” he said tersely.
Commodore Kwafo said the owners of these boats, if not stopped, may become emboldened and may start using their boats to cart other illicit products such as weapons and drugs.
He praised the GMA for instituting night patrols which have led to the arrest and seizure of some ships and dendeys engaged in illegal bunkering.
The Director General of GMA, Mr Thomas Alonsi, who was accompanied by his two deputies, Messrs Daniel Appianin and Yaw Antwi Akosa, as well as the Head of Legal and Board Secretary, Mrs Patience Ella Diaba, commended the Naval Command and the Marine Police for detailing armed men to provide security for the night patrols.
He said it was fiercely urgent for the illegal fuel dealers to be reined in and put on a leash.
“The building of these boats is itself in violation of the GMA’s regulations because by law, they are required to obtain a permit from us to build such vessels. My officers here, however, tell me no one has ever applied for any such permit.”
Mr Alonsi said beyond that, the boats are supposed to be registered and licensed to go to sea but none of the dendeys is registered or licensed or even marked.
“This is not right,” he said.
The Head of the Ghana Maritime Authority at Takoradi, Captain William E. Thompson, explained that destroying the boats would achieve a number of things – make it unprofitable to engage in fuel smuggling, protect fuel consumers from substandard products and generate revenue for the state.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com Nigeria: NNPC Rakes ₦211.62billion From Petroleum Products Sales In February
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced that its Downstream subsidiary Company in charge of bulk sales and distribution of petroleum products, Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), recorded ₦211.62billion sale of white products in February 2020.
A release by the corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, explained that the figure (₦211.62billion), contained in the February, 2020, NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR), was significantly higher compared to the previous month’s record which stood at ₦151.79billion.
The February 2020 MFOR also indicated that total revenues recorded from the sales of white products for the period February 2019 to February 2020 stood at about ₦2.6trillion, with petrol contributing about 98.06 per cent of the total sales value of about ₦2.5trillion.
The report stated that about 1.7billion litres of white products were sold and distributed by PPMC in the month of February 2020 compared with about 1.2 billion litres sold in January 2020. This comprised about 1.7 billion litres of PMS and 1.09million litres of AGO. Also, there was sale of 0.01million litres of special product, Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) in the month.
Total sale and distribution of white products for the period February 2019 to February 2020 stood at about 21billion litres) and PMS accounted for 20.8billion litres or 98.73 per cent. During the period under review, a total of 32 pipeline-points malfunctioned or were vandalized, representing about 47 per cent decrease from the 60 points recorded in January 2020. These comprised 22 pipeline breaches, eightweld failures and two pipeline ruptures.
Mosimi area accounted for 78 per cent of total cases, the Port Harcourt axis 16 per cent and all other routes accounted for the remaining 6 per cent.
In respect of natural Gas off-take, commercialization and utilization, out of the 241.74Billion Cubic Feet (BCF) of gas supplied in February 2020, 146.54BCF was commercialized, consisting of 35.83BCF and 110.71BCF for the domestic and export market respectively, translating to a total supply of 1,235.56million Standard Cubic Feet per day (mmscfd) of gas to the domestic market and 3,817.40mmscfd of gas supplied to the export market for the month.
During the period, the report said 699mmscfd was delivered to gas-fired power plants to generate an average power of about 3,064MW, compared with January 2020 when an average of 640mmscfd was supplied to generate 2,683MW.
The 55th edition of the MFOR indicates an increased trading surplus of ₦3.95billion compared to the ₦1.87billion surplus posted in January 2020.
The 111 per cent growth in the month, the report stated, was largely attributable to improved performance of the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), as a result of its low expenses put at over 100 per cent. Other reasons cited for the increased trading surplus are the reduced deficits post by the downstream units, refineries, as well as the NNPC corporate Headquarters. Dr. Kennie Obateru Group General Manager Group Public Affairs Division Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: COVID-19: NNPC To Extend Delivery Of Medical Facilities, Infrastructure To States Not Covered
The Group Managing Director of Nigeria’s National Oil Company, NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, has assured states that have not yet benefited from medical facilities and infrastructure support from the company and her partners in the ongoing intervention initiative that they would have their share.
According to him, the National Oil Company’s coordinated support would eventually reach them, explaining that inhabitants of the concerned states are a constituent of the 200 million Nigerians who are the shareholders of NNPC.
Mallam Kyari disclosed this in Abuja during the inauguration of the Thisday Dome COVID-19 Testing, Tracing and Treatment Centre equipped by Industry stakeholders and other corporate bodies among which are the NNPC, Sahara Group, CA-COVID and China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC.
“NNPC is owned by the 200million Nigerians. We have a primary responsibility to stand with the country and our citizens at any time to ensure that we fight COVID-19 together. We are doing this with the support and the guidance of the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, pulling together the entire Oil and Gas Industry to bring support to the country,” Mallam Kyari quipped.
He stated that in order to have a coordinated approach in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the NNPC, as the leader in the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry, brought all her partners together to deliver medical consumables and infrastructure.
“One of the many things we did is to bring our partners on the table and one of our great partners is the Sahara Group with whom we have many businesses. We have Downstream businesses and we also have Upstream businesses with the group. It is common knowledge that for every Oil and Gas business in Nigeria, NNPC is a partner, either as a direct equity holder or as a cash-contributing partner. Therefore, everything done in this Industry is with the support of the NNPC,” the NNPC GMD enthused.
Mallam Kyari expressed profound happiness over the completion of the COVID-19 testing, tracing and treatment Centre, saying that the NNPC would continue to support all her partners to deliver more medical facilities and infrastructure in all states of the federation.
The NNPC GMD stated that NNPC and all her partners would set up permanent healthcare structures in all the six geo-political zones, adding that the aim was for the facilities to outlive the COVID-19 period and be of great use to Nigerians after the pandemic.
Mallam Kyari averred that the Corporation had also upgraded one of her medical facilities in Abuja to receive and treat COVID-19 patients, revealing that it equally supported the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital with facilities that would enable her treat COVID-19 patients.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Sahara Group, Tope Shonubi, applauded the NNPC for the support extended to the group in providing medical equipment to humanity in the face of the global pandemic.
Inaugurating the Centre, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce, Boss Mustapha, applauded the NNPC and all her partners for supporting the Federal Government in the fight against COVID-19.
The facility is a one-stop shop that could deliver Coronavirus report of 200 samples collected within 24 hours, and boasts of an Intensive Care Unit, Ventilators and a 54Gene laboratory.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Norway: Gov’t Takes $41 Billion From Oil Fund To Bolster Economy
The Norwegian government has hinted of using a record US$ 41billion from its US$1-trillion petroleum revenue fund, which is the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund to counter the economic slump from the COVID-19 pandemic and low oil prices this year.
The government of Western Europe’s largest oil producer, whose wealth fund has amassed more than US$1 trillion from petroleum revenues over the decades-proposed on Tuesday a revised budget for 2020, which calls for using US$41 billion (419.6 billion Norwegian crowns) from the fund.
This sum would account for 4.2 percent of the estimated value of the fund at the beginning of this year.
Norway has rarely used more than 3 percent of the Government Pension Fund Global, as Norway’s oil fund is officially known.
“‘Increased spending has been a necessity in the current situation – both to avoid an even sharper downturn and to help healthy companies through the crisis so they can create jobs and growth when normal circumstances return,” Finance Minister Jan Tore Sanner said in a statement.
Norway’s economy has been hit by the social distancing measures like every other country around the world, while the oil and gas sector – a major contributor to the economy – is also suffering from the low oil prices after oil demand crashed in the pandemic.
Last week, Norway slashed its key policy rate to 0 percent in a surprise move, citing the oil price crash and the sharp drop in economic activity as a result of the pandemic.
“The downturn is amplified by the severe impact of the pandemic on surrounding countries and by a sharp fall in oil prices. Lower oil prices have contributed to weakening the krone exchange rate,” Norges Bank said in a statement, after delivering what analysts described a ‘surprise’ cut by 25 basis points to zero.
In a bid to support global efforts to prop up oil prices and ease the glut, Norway has decided it would cut its crude oil production by 250,000bpd in June, and then maintain a 134,000-bpd lower rate of production for the rest of 2020. This is the first time Norway has joined oil production cuts since 2002.
Then, Norway reduced its production rate by 150,000 bpd over the first half of the year, after oil fell below $20 a barrel following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Ghana: MiDA Takes Delivery Of Transformers For Pokuase BSP Project
The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), the implementing agency for the Ghana Power Compact II, has taken delivery of all the six major transformers procured for the ongoing Bulk Supply Point Project at Pokuase, a suburb of Accra, capital of Ghana.
A statement issued by the Communications and Outreach Unit of MiDA and copied to energynewsafrica.com said the six major transformers for the project arrived in the country from Turkey on April 27, and May 4, 2020, respectively.
The transformers, which came in two sizes, 145 MVA and 39 MVA, would support the operations of Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited for efficient and reliable power supply in Pokuase, Kwabenya, Adenta, Oyibi and some other communities in Accra and Nsawam in the Eastern Region of the West African nation.
The statement said the transformers had been subjected to Factory Assessment Tests in the presence of the officials of MiDA, ECG, GRIDCo and other stakeholders committed to the project.
The arrival of the six transformers with its related equipment, MiDA said marked a significant milestone in the construction in the of the first 330kV Bulk Supply Point in Accra, which would be the largest substation in Ghana after completion.
Upon completion, the BSP Project would supply reliable electricity to 350,000 residents within its catchment area, including businesses, public institutions and health facilities.
Meanwhile, work on the Pokuase BSP project is about 61 percent completed and is scheduled to be handed over to ECG and GRIDCO at the end of the first Quarter of 2021.
Due to the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, MiDA and the project contractors have put in place the necessary safety protocols to safeguard the health of workers undertaking the construction works and residents within the project catchment area.
“MiDA is delighted by the fact that the current global challenge posed by the Coronavirus pandemic notwithstanding, such vital equipment has reached Ghana on time and will enable the contractor to complete the project on the scheduled time.”
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Meanwhile, work on the Pokuase BSP project is about 61 percent completed and is scheduled to be handed over to ECG and GRIDCO at the end of the first Quarter of 2021.
Due to the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, MiDA and the project contractors have put in place the necessary safety protocols to safeguard the health of workers undertaking the construction works and residents within the project catchment area.
“MiDA is delighted by the fact that the current global challenge posed by the Coronavirus pandemic notwithstanding, such vital equipment has reached Ghana on time and will enable the contractor to complete the project on the scheduled time.”
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission Reappoints 12-Member Dispute Resolution Panel
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has reappointed a twelve (12) member Dispute Resolution Panel for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
A statement issued by the Commission said the decision was in line with Section 42.1.3 of the Market Rules, which empowers the Commission to constitute the Panel and Section 42.3.8(c) of the Market Rule that permits the reappointment of members for a second term.
The functions of the panel, as spelt out in Section 42.3.7 of the Market Rules, include the arbitration and settlement of disputes between market participants in the Nigerian electricity market, which include the System Operator (SO), the Market Operator (MO), and other licensees engaged in the trading of electricity.
While reconstituting the dispute resolution panel, the Commission advised market participants to take advantage of the channel of alternative dispute resolution for the resolution of disputes in the electricity industry in line with the provisions of the Market Rules.
Members of the reconstituted panel are Olufunmilayo A. Roberts, Adeyemi Akisanya, Augustine Mamedu, Adeyemi A. Oyedele, Hussaini Mohammed, Okechukwu J. Chiazor, Ajagbe E. Oyetunde, Onagoruwa Bolanle, Ezekiel Osarieme, Batholomew C. Onyejekwe, Nnena Ejekam, and Sadiku Folorunsho.
Djibouti: Green Energy Production Gets Boost As AfDB Approves $3.22 Million Support
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved, additional funding of $3.22 million for the geothermal exploitation project in the Lake Assal region of Djibouti.
This financing is in addition to the earlier $6.83 million and previous $14.68 million approved by the Bank’s board of directors in June 2013 and May 2018 respectively, bringing its total contribution to $24.73 million.
The project for which this additional funding is intended aims to improve the quality of life of the Djiboutian population through the increase of green energy production capacity, the reduction of oil imports, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Its objective is to explore the geothermal steam field of Lake Assal, located in the centre of the country, and to confirm the characteristics of the geothermal resource.
This additional financing from the Bank will allow the cleaning of well number 2 and make more tests for all the wells in order to collect reliable data, intended for a feasibility study, with an acceptable risk profile for a commercial exploitation.
In a three-phase programme, exploration of the field in question will first be carried out to confirm the characteristics of the geothermal resource; next will be the development of the geothermal field and the construction of a power plant with a capacity of 20MW; and finally the extension of the capacity of this plant to 50MW.
This project is also part of a geothermal energy development programme and will help build the first such plant in Djibouti.
It will ultimately increase the green energy production capacity of this country in the Horn of Africa, increase access to electricity, thanks to a more reliable and more efficient source of energy.
It will also reduce Djibouti’s oil imports and greenhouse gas emissions. By improving its access to electrical energy, it will contribute to improving the quality of life of the Djiboutian population.
Namibia: Minister of Energy, Oil & Gas Sector Players To Discuss Future Of Energy Industry In Exclusive Webinar
The African Energy Chamber is expected to present an exclusive webinar with the Namibian Minister of Energy. Hon. Tom Alweendo on Friday, May 15, 2020 at SAST.
Hosted by African Oil & Power, the open to public webinar will explore the future of the Namibian energy industry in the context of the current global climate.
As 2020 was planned to be a strong year for exploratory drilling in the country, the conversation will look at the state of the country’s upstream industry and its development potential.
Hon. Tom Alweendo will be joined by Nj Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, in the discussion moderated by Namibian Lawyer and Energy Specialist, Gawie Kanjemba, and Africa Oil & Power Field Editor, Thomas Hedley.
In light of Namibia’s push to develop a sustainable and clean energy industry, participants will also discuss the country’s key energy infrastructure and power projects with a particular focus on gas-to-power and renewable energy.
“In Namibia particularly, after 30 years of independence, we have grown the economy over ten folds and remain one of the countries with the highest GDP per capita in Southern Africa,” said Hon. Tom Alweendo.
“Exploring resources like oil & gas can translate into a tool for transforming the economy even further. The shareholders of Namibian resources are the Namibian people, it is thus important to work with organizations like the Africa Energy Chamber and Africa Oil & Power, to map out a future that speaks best for Africa,” he added.
“Our next Africa energy series of webinars takes us to a true African energy frontier and we are honored that Hon. Tom Alweendo is joining us in this conversation,” declared NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber.
“Namibia has a tremendous potential for energy investments across the value-chain and should not be overlooked when it comes to building a sustainable and inclusive growth in Africa.”
As international oil companies farmed-down their interests in Namibia’s offshore, a series of leading independents came in and invested, raising hopes to see world class discoveries in the near future. These notably include Chariot Oil & Gas, Tullow Oil, Africa Energy Corp, AziNam, BW Energy, Chariot Oil & Gas, Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas, Global Petroleum, Impact Oil & Gas, Maurel & Prom and Tower Resources. The country is also home to the giant Kudu gas field, where 1.3 Tcf was gas was discovery in 1974. The block is currently operated by BW Energy, who remains committed to finding a viable commercial development option for the field. Kudu’s development is seen as key to resolving the energy crisis in Namibia and developing strong gas-to-power capacity.
COVID-19: African Energy Chamber Issues Urgent Advisory Guidelines For The Management And Safety Of Oil Workers
Amid the ongoing effects of lockdowns in oil and gas-producing countries such as Nigeria, Angola, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan and Cameroon, the African Energy Chamber hereby issues pragmatic commonsense advisory guidelines for governments, oil companies and personnel.
This is aimed at mobilizing, demobilizing and putting back the continent energy sector to work safely across the continent.
In light of the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic, the oil & gas industry has been heavily strained, increasing the need to pay critical attention to workers’ safety and putting in place procedures to ensure their transitioning in and out of the workplace.
Currently, travel restrictions have forced oil operators to maintain their personnel for extended periods of time on remote sites, increasing the risks of Lost Time Injury.
“We must always prioritize the health, safety and well-being of brave oil workers who continue to defy insurmountable odds to keep energy production ongoing across the continent,” NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber has stated.
“All upstream oil & gas operators are experiencing similar challenges due to reduced workforces and extended periods of lockdown and travel restrictions. Our guidelines put the safety of workers, host communities and oil operators at the core of the industry’s operations and sector recovery.”
“These non-exhaustive guidelines will assist operators and governments in ensuring the movement and safety of offshore and onshore oil workers so oil & gas operations can continue while preventing any additional spread of Covid-19,” concluded Ayuk.
In order to ensure that oil & gas health and safety standards and practices adapt to a new normal, the African Energy Chamber has worked with its partners to issue this new set of advisory guidelines. These guidelines notably take into account local regulations in host countries, and are heedful of the need to protect local communities from exposition to any potential Covid-19 transmission.
Such advisory guidelines notably include a series of agreements and protocols governing health monitoring and travel authorizations given to oil workers before, during and after their mobilization on site.
They take into account the best international healthcare practices in order to ensure both a safe continuation and resumption of onshore and offshore activities, while preserving the health of oil workers, host countries and host communities.
The guidelines can be downloaded on (www.EnergyChamber.org)
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
UAE To Cut Oil Production Further By 100,000 BPD In June
The United Arab Emirates plans to cut its oil production further in June, UAE Minister of Energy and Industry Suhailbin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei has revealed.
The production cuts, according to Al Mazrouei, will increase by another 100,000 bpd next month, after already reducing its oi production “in line with the OPEC+ agreement” in May.
This comes after the OPEC member increased its production to more than 4 million bpd in April, when Saudi Arabia was also busy adding crude oil into the global supply glut at a time when the world was shutting down in response to the coronavirus, crippling the demand for crude.
This comes at a time Saudi Arabia, too, has said it would cut beyond its promised cuts next month.
Kosmos Energy Sinks Deeper, Loses $183million In First Quarter Of 2020Saudi Arabia has pledged as part of the OPEC agreement to cut its production to 8.5 million bpd, but said this week that it would cut to 7.492 million bpd in June, after the Saudi energy ministry ordered Aramco to cut bigger. Oil prices had rallied earlier on Monday on this news that even more oil production would be taken out of the mix next month. But by 2:30pm ET, WTI had slipped 3.31% on the day, with the Brent benchmark slipping nearly 5% back below $30 per barrel. Kuwait also announced that it would cut its oil production even more than the OPEC+ agreement called for, by an additional 80,000 bpd in June. But the move to cut additional barrels by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE was seen not as a positive move, but as an out-of-options move as Middle East producers find themselves without buyers. Today’s announcement of additional cuts could, therefore, spark fear instead of confidence as the market views it as a reflection of the true state of the market. Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Accra: Areas Experiencing Power Outage Will Be Restored By 5PM-GRIDCo
Ghana’s power transmission company, GRIDCo, has assured residents of Accra, who are currently experiencing power outage, that power will be restored at about 5pm today (17:00GMT).
According to the company, the outage has been caused by snapping of one of its major transmission lines in the Accra East area at about 6:53am Monday, May 11, 2020.
A statement issued by GRIDCo said: “The situation requires emergency attention and engineers are currently working around the clock to resolve the problem as soon as possible.”
“The maintenance team has assured that power will be restored to the affected areas before 5pm today” the statement said.
GRIDCo apologised for any inconvenience caused and adding that it remains committed to its mandate of delivering reliable power supply.
Press Statement – Power Outage In Parts of Accra East – May11, 2020.pdf
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com