NYSE To Delist Diamond Shares After Bankruptcy Filing
Offshore drilling contractor, Diamond Offshore Drilling has received a delisting notice from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
According to Diamond Drilling, it received notification from NYSE Regulation that it has determined to start proceedings to delist the company’s shares of common stock.
NYSE Regulation determined that the company was no longer suitable for listing after the company’s disclosure that it and select subsidiaries have filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Diamond said it does not presently anticipate exercising its right to appeal NYSE Regulation’s delisting determination.
The company added that it expects that its common stock will be quoted on the OTC Pink markets.
NYSE listing for several other offshore drilling contractors is at risk due to the difficult market situation.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Venezuela: Maduro Appoints One Of America’s Most Wanted As New Oil Minister
Venezuelan government is looking to reverse the radical decline in its oil industry with two new appointments–one which involves putting a fugitive drug trafficker at the helm of its troubled oil industry.
Tareck El Aissami, previously Minister of Industries and National Production–and a current member of America’s 10 Most Wanted—will replace Manuel Quevedo as Oil Minister. The second appointment places the cousin of late president Hugo Chavez at the helm of state oil company PDVSA.
El Aissami was recently added to the United States’ list of 10 most wanted fugitives on charges of drug-trafficking after three years ago he was sanctioned for drug trafficking. He was later accused of violating the sanctions by receiving payments for facilitating the transportation of drugs, Reuters reports.
Venezuela has been fighting hyperinflation and persistent basic goods shortages as well as inexorably declining oil production brought about by a combination of under investment, mismanagement, and U.S. sanctions.
From more than 2 million bpd, its output has fallen to just 700,000 bpd.
It may fall further now that the United States is pressuring Chevron and Halliburton into leaving the country. The U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control tightened Venezuelan oil sanctions earlier this month that pretty much prohibit both U.S. companies from doing business in the country. Chevron’s joint venture with PDVSA produces about 200,000 bpd of heavy crude.
In February, Nicholas Maduro declared an energy emergency that also aimed to overhaul the country’s struggling oil industry. It seems it hasn’t worked so far, with gasoline shortages worsening so much that the government began to shut down fuel stations across the country.
Venezuela produces little gasoline because its refinery network is in the same state of disrepair as its oil industry as a whole. It also imports little after imports from the United States stopped. Venezuela was the one that suspended imports from the U.S. amid the escalating row between the two.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan oil has fallen to below $10 per barrel. This is the lowest in more than twenty years.
Source: Oilprice.com
Ghana: Covid-19: Senyo Hosi Urges Businesses To Reposition Themselves For Future Eventualities
The Chief Executive Officer of the Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) in the Republic of Ghana, Senyo Hosi is urging businesses in the West African nation to learn from the impact of coronavirus pandemic and position themselves and take advantage of future eventualities.
According to him, if businesses in the West African nation had been well prepared, they could have taken advantage of the demand for hand sanitisers in the United States and become exporter of the product and raked in foreign exchange.
The outbreak of the coronavirus, which has killed over 200,000,000 globally with the U.S, alone, recording 58,900 deaths, has resulted in the high demand for hand sanitisers.
The situation has compelled the U.S oil and gas firm, ExxonMobil to configure its refinery at Louisiana to start producing sanitisers for donation to fight the Covid-19.
Contributing to a discussion on the impact of the coronavirus on businesses and opportunities coronavirus presents, on ‘AM Show’ on Joy News Channel, in Ghana, Senyo Hosi noted that countries like Vietnam and Thailand have established themselves as rice exporters while India is noted for medicine export globally.
He, however, said the same cannot be said for Ghana and many other African countries.
He noted that Ghana is heavily dependent on imports and called for a paradigm shift by revolutionising the agricultural sector so that some of the imported products can be home grown.
Senyo Hosi was of the firm believe that Ghana, and for that matter, Africa needs to start producing more things themselves instead of depending on imports.
“Take sanitisers for example: A lot of demand is coming from the U.S. If we had positioned ourselves and possibly shut our borders earlier, we would have become global exporter of sanitisers and other PPE,” he said.
He underscored the need for the government to make sure that companies which have been supported to produce sanitisers and other PPE due to the outbreak of coronavirus become sustainable and not allowed to fade away after containment of the situation.
“Are we going to be able to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) like we currently have some companies doing? What sustainable interventions are we going to have from government to make sure that these people will not just go beyond this immediate coronavirus problem and probably have these business thrive over 30 years or more?
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Energy Minister Suggests Ways To Deal With Fall In Future Oil Prices
Ghana’s Minister for Energy, John- Peter Amewu has suggested that the country should build what he calls a sliding skill behaviour into its fiscal regime to ward-off shocks of low oil prices in future.
According to him, without that, the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and governments would continue to suffer anytime oil prices fall.
Amewu made this suggestion in an exclusive interview with energynewsafrica.com.
Oil prices on the international market have plummeted due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, which has slowed demand for the commodity.
Crude oil prices went as low as $11.78 (WTI) and $17.73 (Brent) on April 22, 2020.
“So, maybe, this is a lesson for us to begin to look into a sliding skill into our fiscal regime to address this fluctuating oil price,” Mr Amewu indicated.
The Energy Minister noted that Covid-19 has had a negative effect on all global economies and Ghana is not an exception.
Touching on Ghana’s upstream sector, he said companies like Aker Energy has postponed the development of PECAN project because most of the expatriates they need to bring cannot come because the country’s land and air borders have been shut because of the outbreak of coronavirus.
“Covid-19, as you rightly put, has had a lot of impact on some of these companies so yes, it is true they postponed their development activities but that doesn’t mean they will not come back when the situation calms. Most of these companies will come back,” he explained.
Commenting on how the government intends to sail through this Covid-19 period, Mr Amewu noted that it has thrown the country’s budget out of gear, but he trusted the Finance Minister to undertake financial re-engineering to cushion the Ghanaian economy in this trying times.
Addressing whether Ghana would engage oil exploration companies in this Covid period, he said low price could be the bargaining power of these companies so, the government would wait for a stable price period to engage them in future.
“Government’s budget has been hit extensively in terms of the revenue… billions of dollars have been lost as a result of the fall in oil price but the Finance Minister is on top of the game, he is trying to restrategise and relook at some of our expenses to expand and see where he can get some extra sources of funding to address some of these problems. So I think we are on course as a country,” he assured.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
African Energy Chamber Calls On Bank Of Central African States To Relax Forex Rules
The African Energy Chamber has joined oil industry stakeholders in calling on the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) to relax its currency controls rules adopted in June 2019.
Last year, the BEAC introduced new rules controlling the flows of currency in Central Africa in a bid to promote financial transparency and ensure that oil revenues stay within local economies and local banks. While the Chamber continues to support sound and transparent revenue management and distribution across the oil & gas industry, these specific rules have created a very unattractive environment for foreign investors seeking to invest in CFA union states.
The new rules notably state that all foreign exchange transfers over $1,680 be vetted for approval by the bank, and that all export proceeds above $8,400 be repatriated in 150 days to a local bank account. Unfortunately, such controls are causing transaction delays and preventing foreign investors to repatriate proceeds from their investment, which is a key condition of any attractive investment jurisdiction. With such controls and rules in place, CEMAC will suffer and becomes less attractive to credible investors.
H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea, had quickly reacted and called the measures deadly for the local oil & gas industry, stating that they could destroy economies and make it impossible to attract investments. Local and regional entrepreneurs will suffer and the oil sector will see a decline in investment.
Given the current scenario of historic low oil prices and COVID-19 pandemic, the Chamber is urgently calling on the BEAC to listen to industry voices and concerns and relax such currency controls to maintain the region’s attractiveness as an investment destination.
“The FX Regulations adopted in June 2019 make it very difficult for our companies to compete and create employment, and render our business environment very unattractive for foreign investors. Given the worsening of the region’s economic outlook in light of the COVID-19, the industry needs urgent action on the relaxing of these FX Regulations,” declared H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons.
Following the release of Africa’s Energy Commonsense Agenda this week, the Chamber believes that reforming business environments across Africa should be a priority for every regulator and all central banks, in order to ensure swift economic recovery and make the continent more competitive on the global stage.
The African Energy Chamber’s Call to Action was released this week and is available to download for free on www.EnergyChamber.org. It details 10 measures that form part of a Commonsense Energy Agenda for Africa to recover from the current crisis.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
How Africa’s Oil & Gas Industry Can Bounce Back From COVID-19 Pandemic And Oil Price War (Article)
The double crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse in oil prices is taking a toll on African economies and the African energy industry. An unstable and precarious oil prices environment has resulted in substantial cuts in state budgets and public spending, in losses of contracts and hundreds of thousands of jobs put at risk. Because bouncing back from this historic crisis will require strict and bold government action, the African Energy Chamber has released today its Call to Action, detailing 10 measures that form a commonsense energy agenda for Africa, which is now accessible to download for free at www.EnergyChamber.org.
The impacts of the current crisis are wide and affecting both Africa’s most promising exploration prospects, but also its multi-billion-dollar landmark projects such as BP and Kosmos Energy’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project in Mauritania and Senegal or ExxonMobil and Eni’s $30bn Rovuma LNG project in Mozambique.
Oil projects are suffering even more. In Ghana, the development of the Pecan Field has been thrown into very uncertain waters. Aker Energy cancelled its letter of intent sent to Yinson Holding this year to charter, operate and maintain the Pecan FPSO, set to be Ghana’s next big oil offshore development. Woodside Energy’s Sangomar Offshore Oil Project, Senegal’s very first oil venture that was sanctioned early this year, will be facing financing delays.
FID on Shell’s Bonga South West Aparo project in Nigeria, for which the invitation to tender was released to contractors early last year, could also not see FID this year. Delays in the execution or sanctioning of these projects will severely impact African economies whose local goods and services were set to benefit from billions of dollars of subcontracting opportunities.
“Our commonsense approach advocates for measures that will support the continuity of business operations and future sector growth. The oil and gas industry will only work for Africans when we set fair policies and treat oil and gas companies as partners who drive our progress,”NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber noted.
“As the voice of the energy industry, we will continue to work with the public and the private sector and other stakeholders to revitalize the African oil and sector by putting Africans back to work,” Ayuk added.
While the immediate impact on the continent’s biggest oil & gas project is already being felt, a much bigger one will result from the deferral or cancelling of drilling plans. Across oil & gas basins, drilling projects are being put back on the shelves or terminated. It is the case of Valaris’ drilling activities for Chevron in Angola, of BW Energy’s drilling operations on the Marin Dussafu Permit in Gabon, of the much-awaited exploratory drilling by FAR in The Gambia, of early termination of drilling works of Maersk in Ghana’s Jubilee and TEN Fields, or of Tower Resources’ force majeure on the Thali PSC in Cameroon. No country is sparred, and such delays will further defer discoveries of new fields, and development drilling to ramp up Africa’s daily output.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent effect on oil demand and prices, the African Energy Chamber has been leading the dialogue between the public and the private sector on advocating for measures to support our industry and its jobs. While the Chamber believes that market forces need to determine the industry’s future and advocates for limited government across the industry, the time calls for urgent actions. We cannot let our companies and industry collapse for the fear of loosing jobs and investments that would sustain our economies for decades to come. It is worth bearing in mind, that activity in and income from Africa’s energy sector generates significant amount of demand and services from other non-oil and gas sectors of the economy.
Key measures amongst the Africa’s Commonsense Energy Agenda released today are the extension of PSCs and work program adjustments to boost exploration and ensure the resumption of drilling activities. While exploration is a major part of our Call to Action, the Chamber also strongly advocates for tax relief on services companies, reforms of upstream fiscal regimes, banking and financial support, regional content development, incentives to infrastructure projects, and bold actions on removing fuel subsidies.
The African Energy Chamber will continue to call on governments, regulators and private companies to work together on finding the right solutions that work for their country and operations. We have the tools in our hands to quickly open new markets for our oil and gas businesses and create new jobs for our continent.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Vaalco Energy Given Delisting Warning By NYSE
U.S-based oil and gas company, Vaalco Energy has received a continued listing warning from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), giving Vaalco until the end of the year to regain compliance.
According to Vaalco, the company was notified by the NYSE that the price of the company’s common stock had fallen below the NYSE’s continued listing standards.
The NYSE requires that the average closing price of a listed company’s common stock should not be less than $1 per share for a period of over 30 consecutive trading days.
Under the NYSE rules, Vaalco can regain compliance if on the last trading day in any calendar month the common stock has a closing price of at least $1 per share and an average closing price of at least $1 per share over the 30 consecutive trading-day period ending on the last trading day of such month.
As required by the NYSE, the company plans to notify the NYSE of its intent to cure the deficiency and restore its compliance with the NYSE continued listing standards.
The company said it was committed to working with the NYSE to regain compliance and maintain the listing of its common stock.
The company has until 1 January 2021 to regain compliance with the NYSE’s continued listing standards under recently adopted rules by the NYSE that permit listed companies additional time to regain compliance due to the current economic environment.
Another U.S. oil and gas company has also recently received the NYSE listing warning.
In addition, the NYSE listing of several offshore drilling contractors is also at risk, including Noble Corporation, Seadrill, Pacific Drilling, and Valaris.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
ADNOC, ADPower Launch Joint Tender For Middle East Sub-Sea Power Transmission Network
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, and Abu Dhabi Power Corporation, ADPower, have announced the issuance of a joint tender for a first-of-its-kind project in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region.
The joint tender sets out to develop and operate the region’s first high-voltage, direct current, HVDC, sub-sea transmission system, that will connect ADNOC’s offshore production facilities to ADPower’s onshore electricity grid using state-of-the-art technology, ADNOC said in a statement.
This innovative project, initiated by ADNOC in line with its continued objective to drive efficiencies and bolster resilience, brings together two vital UAE entities.
Together, ADNOC and ADPower will deliver valuable long-term synergies in national infrastructure and jointly attract international partners to Abu Dhabi. In addition, this milestone project demonstrates the two entities’ commitment to continuously drive responsible and sustained investment and value creation for Abu Dhabi and the UAE, and support the ongoing development of the national economy in this complex and challenging period.
The project is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of ADNOC’s offshore facilities by up to 30 percent through ADPower’s efficient onshore power production. It also offers power supply cost optimisation potential for ADNOC’s offshore facilities and will drive operational efficiency and system reliability by replacing the existing offshore localised gas turbine generators with diverse, more efficient and environmentally sustainable sources of energy, including renewable and nuclear power.
The project also offers potential for ADNOC to more effectively utilise its rich gas – currently used to power the offshore facilities – for higher-value purposes, allowing ADNOC to generate additional revenue for ADNOC and Abu Dhabi.
Commenting on the tender issuance, Yaser Saeed Al Mazrouei, ADNOC Upstream Executive Director, said, “We are very pleased to partner with ADPower on this innovative project that is a logical result of ADNOC’s transformation journey, directly supporting our value creation and sustainability strategy as well as our objective to remain one of the world’s lowest-cost oil producers and lowest-carbon emitters in our industry.
“This project will meet our future offshore power needs, even as our fields mature, using diverse and sustainable sources. It will lower ADNOC and the UAE’s carbon footprint, whilst at the same time enabling ADNOC to utilise the natural gas currently used to power our offshore facilities for higher-value purposes. Equally, the project will deliver operational expenditure reductions in the long run as well as lasting strategic benefits as we continue to drive sustainable value and responsible investment opportunities that stimulate economic growth for Abu Dhabi and the UAE in the current market environment.”
Omar Alhashmi, Executive Director Asset Management at ADPower, said, “As we continue to accelerate the transformation of Abu Dhabi’s water and electricity sector, ADPower is pleased to partner with ADNOC on this important, innovative, large-scale effort. Working together, we are reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s global position as we implement this first-of-a-kind mega project that will not only create synergy between two critical industries, but drive the Emirate’s economic growth through long-term value creation.”
Requests for proposal have been sent to international companies that have the requisite experience to partner with ADNOC and ADPower on this important infrastructure project for Abu Dhabi. The transmission system will comprise two independent sub-sea HVDC transmission links and converter stations that will connect to ADPower’s onshore electricity grid – operated by its subsidiary, Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company, TRANSCO – and provide a total installed capacity of 3,200 megawatts. Commercial operation is expected in 2025.
This significant capital project will be funded through a special purpose vehicle jointly owned by ADNOC (30 percent stake), ADPower (30 percent stake) and the selected developers and investors (40 percent stake). The project is to be executed on a build, own, operate and transfer, BOOT, basis. The successful bidders, alongside ADNOC and ADPower, will develop and operate the transmission system, with the full project being returned to ADNOC at the end of the transmission agreement.
Drilling Through A Broken Oil Market, Repercussions For Our Local Market (Article)
By: Raymond Nuworkpo
International Brent Crude plummeted momentarily on Tuesday, 21st April, the lowest since 21yrs ago but recovers a day after to hover around $20 a barrel. As the novel Coronavirus lockdown grind down many facets of our lives i.e. a grounded airline industry, a drowning hospitality sector, a quandary health industry, a crumpled supply chain industry, etc, the energy industry is not an exemption as the lockdown spurt through the world’s largest economies, leaving the market swamped by cratering demand and unmanageable oversupply.
Crude oil price plunged by 54.18% on average terms, starting the year on a high of $66.74 to close the first quarter of 2020 by $30.58 a barrel. According to the IEA, consumption is expected to crush by 29 million barrels per day. The ballooning supply glut is further collapsing oil futures and its market structure as the world grapple for an evaporating storage capacity.
Sunday, 12th of April, 2020 saw a virtual gathering of the world’s biggest oil producers, in an unprecedented and enthusiastic bid to salvage the global oil market by agreeing a historic production adjustments. Historic because of the volume of the cut and also the duration, as the production cuts are expected to last for two years.
However, the ambitious deal intended to rescue the broken oil market that was claimed to be championed by U.S President Donald Trump has been brushed off by the unprecedented and thunderous plummeting of the U.S Shale’s may futures falling below zero on Monday, 20th April, due to low liquidity and limited available storage capacity. U.S shale is traded in America Benchmark – West Texas Intermediate (WTI) while we in Ghana concern ourselves with International Benchmark – Brent Crude.
According to IEA, partial or total lockdowns are in force in 187 countries and territories, and although they are different in scope, activity in the transportation sector has fallen dramatically almost everywhere. IEA expect that global oil demand in 2020 will fall by 9.3 million per day (mb/d) versus, erasing a decade of growth. It is worthy to note that an estimated 60% of global oil demand is used in the transport sector and with about 3 billion people in lockdown; the demand for the black gold is terribly low.
The price war recently witnessed between Saudi Arabia and Russia, has also exacerbated the current crisis of ballooning and unmanageable oversupply. Russia resistance to deeper oil production cuts proposal by OPEC+ led Saudi Arabia during OPEC 178TH extraordinary meeting has led flooding of the market with crude oil with a collapsing demand and an overwhelmed storage capacity.
As different conspiracy theorists advance various reasons for the price war, i.e. an indirect attempt to collapse U.S Shale Industry, to drive prices low to kill a thriving Renewable industry, retaliation by Russia because of Trump’s sanctions on Nordstream, Rosneft Trading, for Saudis to establish themselves as a market leader, etc, theorists fell short to project a broken energy market that may never recover it demand prospects ever again.
While U.S Shale companies file for bankruptcy and other oil majors such as Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Italy’s Eni SpA, Norway’s Equinor ASA and French major Total SA are taking prompt steps to augment their financial strength and resilience by reducing spending, investment, freezing recruitment and terminating their share buyback strategies.
African countries are facing triple blow of loss of revenue, loss of investment and loss of market share due to collapsing oil prices as result of cratering demand, supply glut and dwindling storage capacity. The plummeting oil prices is not only making it extremely difficult for oil producing African countries to raise the needed petroleum receipts to help combat the novel Coronavirus but driving away investment by big oil majors in oil prospecting and development as well as ceding of market shares to other foreign countries with cheaper crude prices due to relatively low production cost.
Ghana is not immune to the devastating impact of the destruction of crude oil consumption as we have seen our projected petroleum receipts for 2020 shredded into pieces. With our benchmark pegged above $62 a barrel at the beginning of the year, prices of International Benchmark – Brent Crude is currently languishing around $20 per barrel, a whopping 70% reduction in our benchmark.
As government mourns drastic reduction in its petroleum revenue, we have to wipe our tears as the institution mandated to hold our strategic reserve is unable to acquire and store crude products for the future benefits of Ghanaians.
The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited – BOST, due to poor management, improper planning, lack of efficiency, illogical sequencing of policies, etc in recent times are unable to fully take advantage of current happenings on the global oil market unlike other countries like China, America etc that are buying cheap products to fill their strategic reserves.
Restrictions in movement has also taken devastating toll on Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) as their sale has taken thunderous hit of 70% from an average sale volume of 5000 before lockdown to an average sale volume of 1500. Some of the Oil Market Companies are virtually wallowing in debts as they have to borrow to lift products as well as pay their mandatory tax to Ghana Revenue Authority on any lift.
On the local market, there has been a 15% average reduction for the consumers in the first quarter of 2020. While this is modest relief to the, trotro drivers, commuters, market women, farmers etc, it is worthy to note that a stable market is more desirable to a volatile market. Stable oil market ensures thriving companies on supply chain of the local oil market, providing essential services to consumers, providing employments, contributing to government’s revenue basket.
As the world continue to battle Covid-19 and witness historic turbulence in the crude oil market, it is very important for oil producing countries (OPEC & NON – OPEC Members) to consider a more deeper cut sooner than later while world strategic reserves are made available to absorb some of the excess barrels on the market. Locally, government must begin to have a conversation around providing relief packages for OMCs in terms of extending the duration of payment of tax by OMCs after they lift crude products.
We are indeed in extraordinary times, kindly stay at home to save lives and save your community. If it becomes necessary to step out, please wear your nose masks, observe all the social distancing and health protocols. I leave you with one of my favourite verses in the bible – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong & courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
The writer is a Research & Policy Analyst with Institute for Energy Security
Ghana: Minister Urges Electricity Users To Cooperate With ECG, NEDCo
Ghana’s Minister for Energy, John-Peter Amewu has urged consumers of electricity in the West African nation to cooperate with the power distribution companies- Electricity Company of Ghana and Northern Electricity Distribution Company-as they are working to replace some obsolete equipment in all their operational areas.
The replacement of the obsolete equipment has become necessary because they cause power interruptions.
The exercise is likely to result in pockets of outages in some areas.
ECG provides electricity to the southern parts of the West African nation while NEDCo serves the northern part of the country.
A statement signed by the Managing Director of ECG, Kwame Agyeman-Budu, said: “In undertaking these system improvement works, some will require local outages to create a safe working environment.
“The company will, therefore, ensure that affected customers are informed accordingly. We entreat our customers and the general public to report all faults to our customer service center on 0302-611611 or via the Company’s official social media handles (@ecgghofficial),” the statement concluded.
Speaking to the media in Tema after commissioning a 330 kV/161 kV interconnection auto transformer funded by GRIDCo and Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited, Mr Amewu said the exercise is in the interest of the country and urged all consumers to cooperate.
According to him, the completion of the exercise will end the interruptions in power supply across the country.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: TOR Workers Give President Marking Scheme For New MD
Some concerned workers of Ghana’s only refinery, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), have given President Nana Akufo-Addo some guidelines to consider for the appointment of a new Managing Director of the company.
The workers want the President to consider someone who is an entrepreneur/innovator, business oriented, have strong financial background, have international and local links, ability to listen and respectful, moderately young and knowledgeable in the oil and gas sector and someone who believe in ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ agenda.
In their view, a person with these aptitudes would help to position the national assets.
The concerned workers’ call follows the resignation of Mr Asante K. Berko, who is being dragged to the U.S District Court Eastern District of New York for allegedly paying bribes to Ghanaian officials to secure power project for a client when he was an executive staff of Goldman Sachs.
Sources within the refinery indicates that Mr Ato Morrison, General Manager in-charge of Technical Services has been asked to act until a substantive MD is appointed.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
COVID-19 Increases Risk For UK’s Energy Sector While India Remains Stable
GlobalData has released two new reports exploring the impact of COVID-19 on the energy sector in the UK and in India.
In India, the research company expects COVID-19 to have a minimum impact on the country’s renewable energy industry.
The disruption on logistics and supply chain of the Coronavirus is expected to remain low. Recently, India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced that clean energy projects have not been affected by the falling electricity demand following a nationwide lockdown.
“In case of solar PV, India has the option of turning to domestic manufacturers for PV modules in a scenario where the supply from foreign manufacturers becomes a hurdle. This would boost the morale of the domestic manufacturers and minimize the damage caused to the sector.
“Although countries like Australia expect to have a significant drop in the number of fresh monthly installation, India does not expect any such major impacts to come its way after the lockdown period comes to an end,” concludes Das.
India’s solar sector supporting COVID-19 response
According to GlobalData, India’s silicon PV manufacturer Central Electronics plans to put together its technical expertise to ramp-up the production of ICU ventilators in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Somik Das, Senior Power Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Ventilator shortage has been an issue that the government has been closely monitoring, and several steps are being taken to ensure hospitals are well equipped and face no shortage of ventilators that are essential in managing the critical COVID-19 patients.”
The data shows there are only 8,432 ventilators in the public sector in India. The scarcity is mostly present in the major pandemic hit areas. For instance, Mumbai has 800 to 1,000 ventilators, while states such as Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh have 1,500 and 1,800, respectively.
Hence, it is clear that other manufacturing entities, from other sectors, need to join hands and repurpose their pipeline schedules to help the nation with the supply of this medical equipment.
Das concludes: “Central Electronics joins a growing list of solar companies, like Tesla Solar, that is now venturing into the development of ventilators to help fight back against the COVID-19 pandemic.”
UK energy market uncertain
In the UK, however, the research firm highlights how changes in energy demand patterns are encouraging uncertainty in the UK’s energy sector as residential demand increases whilst commercial and industrial sectors reduce slightly.
The commercial and industrial sectors are only expected to reduce their demand heavily in the event that employees continue to work remotely for another two months, according to National Grid Electricity System Operator.
The increased consumption in the residential sector would not be able to offset the reduction in the consumption in industrial and commercial sectors. This would eventually lead to a drop in electricity prices.
Somik Das, Senior Power Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “With schools, hospitals and offices in lockdown, the UK’s dependable power grid should have minimal challenges to cater to the residential sector where the demand is expected to spike.
“Renewable energy developers pondering over the COVID-19 economic uncertainty will resort to short-term fixed power purchase agreements (PPAs) and such PPAs will ensure price certainty and protection.
“As long as the UK avoids reductions in basic fuel supply, and staff at power stations do not collectively fall ill, there is little to worry about. However, if maintenance regimes are not met at individual plants, there is a risk some may have to be shut down. As the nation lives through the pandemic, it is stringent on not letting the focus shift from boosting renewables.”
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Christine Roche On Completing The Acquisition Of 3D Seismic On Angola’s Kwanza Shelf (Interview)
| Following a recent announcement from PGS that they had completed the acquisition of 3D seismic on Angola’s Kwanza shelf, we spoke with Christine Roche, New Ventures Manager (and regular AOW speaker!). Christine has worked with PGS for 6 years building wide-ranging experience in New Ventures and Basin Studies. She has significant exposure to large 2D and 3D MultiClient projects used for frontier exploration and in mature producing basins with a special focus on Congo, Angola and Gabon. She works on identifying and developing new opportunities and projects within the New Ventures team. She uses combination of her geoscience background and business development and client relationship experience to build the PGS data library. |
ExxonMobil Begins Sanitizer Production In Louisiana To Support Combat Against COVID-19
U.S. oil supermajor ExxonMobil says it had reconfigured its chemical plant at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, into a facility to make medical-grade sanitizer which will be donated to COVID-19 response efforts in Louisiana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Exxon has modified the manufacturing equipment at its chemical plant in the Baton Rouge area to produce, blend, package, and distribute sanitizer.
The company will be distributing the initial production of 160,000 gallons of medical grade sanitizer – enough to fill nearly 5 million 4-ounce bottles – to medical providers and first responders.
Exxon has boosted its monthly production of the key ingredient in sanitizer- isopropyl alcohol—by around 3,000 tons at its chemical manufacturing facility in Baton Rouge. To produce, package and distribute hand sanitizer, the company has bought additional ingredients and modified equipment in Baton Rouge and at a lubricants plant in nearby Port Allen, Louisiana.
Earlier this month, Exxon said that it had boosted production of critical raw materials for masks, gowns, and hand sanitizer used by medical professionals and first responders.
While it increases production of sanitizer, Exxon is axing capital expenditure for this year by $10 billion in response to the oil demand and oil price collapse.
The most significant reductions will take place in the Permian Basin. Exxon’s capital investments for 2020 are now expected to be 30 percent lower, at around $23 billion, down from the previously announced capex of some $33 billion.
As the world now needs more sanitizer than oil, international oil majors are taking part in the fight against the pandemic with donations and with increased production of chemical substances and raw materials for critical components of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Royal Dutch Shell, Total, BP, Exxon, Chevron, and Eni are helping with donations, research, and production of PPE.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com