Oil Marketing Companies Resolute To Attain ‘Zero Injury’ -Agyeman-Duah
Kwaku Agyeman-Duah
Chairman of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs) Kwaku Agyeman-Duah says the association remains resolute in its quest to achieve ‘zero-injury’ target in all their filling station outlets.
He said the issue of health and safety are now paramount to the association because of the rise in fire explosions in recent past, which had claimed lives in and around filling stations as well as destruction of properties.
According to Mr Agyeman-Duah, their members have introduced a number of measures as part of efforts of preventing fire explosions including fixing devices that block mobile phones signal, when one attempts to make or receive call at filling stations.
Ghana has recorded more than 200 deaths since 2014 with several others sustaining various degree of injuries in explosions at filling stations.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s Petroleum Safety Week under the theme: ‘Leveraging Technology and Competence to Assure Safety at the Retail Outlet’, Mr Agyeman-Duah said: “We truly believe the cost of non-compliance to safety is more expensive than compliance.”
Consequently, we have fashioned a process to ensure that all levels of our operational endeavours are fully imbibed in safety.”
According to him, this includes peer review auditing to which the requisite logistics are in place to commence in the second half of the year.
“We also have strengthened our communication strategy to include our fortnightly publications of our newsletter. We will like to encourage everyone here present, who has the knowledge, the skill and the motivation to assist us in this bid to make our operation ‘zero-injury’ a success to come on board,” he added.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Hassan Tampuli commended the Association for consistently organising and hosting the AOMCs’ Safety Week Celebration which brings together key stakeholders with the objective of educating all on safety matters in the petroleum downstream industry.
“As the chief servant of the regulator of the petroleum downstream industry, the NPA greatly applauds your commitment in the drive to ensure safety in the industry.”
Iraq’s Oil Minister Chastises ExxonMobil For Evacuating Oil Personnel
Iraqi’s Oil Minister,Thamer Ghadhban, has described as the decision by ExxonMobil to evacuate its personnel from the troubled Arab country as “unacceptable and unjustified”.
Energynewsafrica.com understands Exxon began evacuating its foreign engineering personnel last week from the West Qurna 1 field in Iraq due to security concerns.
While Exxon neither confirmed nor denied the report last week, Iraqi officials are confirming that Exxon has removed 60 people—or all of its foreign employees.
The security issues came to light mid-week last week after the United States ordered all non-essential personnel from the country citing possible threats from Iran, presumably via the Iraqi Shi’ite militia.
Ghadhban said that Exxon’s personnel shuffling had a different motive.
“The withdrawal of multiple employees – despite their small number – temporarily has nothing to do with the security situation or threats in the oilfields in of southern Iraq, but it’s for political reasons,” Ghadhban said, adding that he had sent a letter to Iraq asking for the company to return to work in the oilfield.
Exxon’s departure seems rather prudent, however, given the late-night rocket strike near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad that the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. Iran was quick to denounce the attacks.
Iraq says that the production at the West Qurna 1 field is not affected by Exxon’s exit, with production still holding at 440,000 barrels per day.
However, Exxon’s abrupt departure from the country could put a strain on a $53 billion energy deal that is currently in the works between Exxon, PetroChina, and Iraq—the latter of which stands to rake in $400 billion over the 30-year period that the deal spans, adding more than 350,000 bpd of oil to Iraq’s capabilities.
Source: oilprice.com
TechnipFMC Inks Arctic LNG 2 Deal With Russia’s Novatek
Russian Novatek’s joint venture Arctic LNG 2 and oilfield services provider TechnipFMC have signed a contract on engineering, procurement, supply, construction and commissioning of an integrated liquefied natural gas facility with an annual liquefaction capacity of 19.8 million tons under the Arctic LNG 2 project.
The contract terms provide for the launch of the first train of the project in 2023, Novatek said on Monday.
The Arctic LNG 2 is a major liquefied natural gas development led by Novatek on the Gydan Peninsula, Russia, which will be developed using offshore platforms in northern West Siberia.
“The team, which implemented the unique Yamal LNG project in record time and on budget, has now joined an even larger and more innovative project,” noted Novatek’s Chairman of Management Board Leonid Mikhelson.
“We are confident that the accumulated experience of mutual cooperation on the construction of LNG plants in the Arctic zone will also ensure the successful and timely implementation of our new project Arctic LNG 2.”
The Arctic LNG 2 project envisages constructing three LNG trains at 6.6 million tons per annum each, using gravity-based structure (GBS) platforms. The project is based on the hydrocarbon resources of the Utrenneye field.
As of December 31, 2018, the Utrenneye field’s 2P reserves under PRMS totaled 1,138 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 57 million tons of liquids. Under the Russian classification, reserves totaled 1,978 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 105 million tons of liquids. OOO Arctic LNG 2 owns an LNG export license.
The project’s participants include Novatek (90%) and Total (10%), which signed definitive agreements with Novatek for the acquisition of a direct 10% interest in Arctic LNG 2 in March 2019.
In addition, Novatek in April entered into agreements with two Chinese companies – CNODC, a subsidiary of CNPC, and CNOOC – under which they will each acquire a 10% participating interest in the Arctic LNG 2 project.
The Arctic LNG 2 project envisages constructing three LNG trains at 6.6 million tons per annum each, using gravity-based structure (GBS) platforms. The project is based on the hydrocarbon resources of the Utrenneye field.
As of December 31, 2018, the Utrenneye field’s 2P reserves under PRMS totaled 1,138 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 57 million tons of liquids. Under the Russian classification, reserves totaled 1,978 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 105 million tons of liquids. OOO Arctic LNG 2 owns an LNG export license.
The project’s participants include Novatek (90%) and Total (10%), which signed definitive agreements with Novatek for the acquisition of a direct 10% interest in Arctic LNG 2 in March 2019.
In addition, Novatek in April entered into agreements with two Chinese companies – CNODC, a subsidiary of CNPC, and CNOOC – under which they will each acquire a 10% participating interest in the Arctic LNG 2 project. Ghana: Irate Krobo Youth Chase Out PDS staff
Reports say there is chaos at Manya Kpongunor in the Lower Manya Krobo District of the Eastern region over mass disconnection exercise being carried out by Power Distribution Services (PDS).
Energynewsafrica.com understands irate youth in the community reportedly chased out staff of PDS who were in the community to carry out mass disconnection exercise though they were accompanied by few armed police personnel.
Reports indicate that the agitating youth have mounted road blocks threatening to lynch staff of PDS should they enter any house. There is currently a gridlock on the Kpong -Odumase- Somanya road due to the action of the youth.
Meanwhile, the first team of Police officers dispatched to the scene have withdrawn as they were outnumbered by the irate youth.
The Odumase Police command has called for reinforcement from Akosombo and Akropong to help maintain law and order in the area.
PDS is embarking on a mass disconnection exercise with armed Police personnel in Somanya, Odumase Krobo and its environs.
The exercise dubbed “Revenue Mobilization” according to Somanya District Manager of PDS Ing. Edward Ochire, has become necessary due to the failure by many residents to pay their electricity bills since 2017. A situation he said has led to revenue shortfalls of the company.
Hundreds of houses have been disconnected in the ongoing exercise which started May 13, 2019 from Kpong and Nuaso communities.
One person was put behind bars for attempting to resist disconnection of his house. Since the exercise began, many of the affected residents have been trooping to the offices of PDS to pay their accumulated bills. Since the exercise began, many of the affected residents have been trooping to the offices of PDS to pay their accumulated bills ranging between Ghc3,000 and Ghc7,000″
A feud between residents and workers of ECG now PDS turned bloody in 2017 when angry residents in Somanya attacked it office for over billing.
Police vehicles were torched and properties destroyed in the violent attacks. Many residents have since refused to pay electricity bills and have threatened to attack PDS staff who attempt disconnecting their homes.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
Koti Ye Aboa, Etwe Nim Nyansa, Others Benefit From $2.3 Million Electricification Project
Hon. William Owuraku Aidoo, switching the light on to officially commission the project
About twenty-five communities in the New Abirem District in the Eastern Region have been hooked on to the national grid.
The $2.3 million rural electrification project benefited communities including Koti Ye Aboa, Etwe NimNyansa and Hwoa Ye Mmobo, all areas which gained popularity in the media last year when former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, mentioned them on the Floor of Parliament in response to a question by MP for that area on when the towns would be connected to the national grid.
Interestingly, barely one year on, these towns are now connected to the national grid.
The $2.3 million project is expected to benefit over 2,000 inhabitants of the area.
Addressing the chiefs and people at separate durbars at Koti Ye Aboa and Abohema, the Deputy Minister for Energy in-charge of Power, William Owuraku Aidoo, who commissioned the project, advised the people to take advantage of the opportunity government had offered them to create jobs and employment opportunities for the youth.
He said the connection of the communities to the national grid would pave way for many development projects to be established for the people, saying government was committed to ensuring universal access to electricity in the country.
He urged the people to pay their bills promptly so that more revenue could be generated to extend power to other communities in the country.
The Member of Parliament for the Abirem Constituency, John Osei Frimpong, said 17 communities which included Tawiakrom, Obuo Betwao and Mampong, which were not part of the first phase, would be captured in the second phase.
He said a lot of development projects were being initiated in the district in the areas of education, health and sanitation to help improve the livelihood of the people.
The Birim North District Chief Executive (DCE), Nana Raymond Damptey, urged the communities to make the best use of the power to benefit them economically.
He advised parents in the area to ensure that their children used the lights to study and not to focus on entertainment programmes on television, which could affect their education.
The Eastern Regional Marketing Manager of the Power Distribution Services (PDS), Ghana, Abraham Lincoln, advised the people to use the power economically to avoid exorbitant bills.
The Chief of Pankese, Nana Dr Boakye Darkwa III, commended the government for the project and highlighted on some challenges facing the area as schools, bad roads and lack of health facilities.
The Odikro of Koti Ya Aboa, Nana Kofi Marfo, expressed the hope that the electricity would enable students in the area to study and improve on their performance to enable more young people from the area to get to the tertiary level.
Climate Change Activists ‘Shut Down’ BP London Offices
BP’s Building in London.
Activists from environmental organization, Greenpeace, have reportedly blocked entrances to BP’s headquarters in London.
Greenpeace tweeted on Monday morning: “We’ve just shut down @BP_plc’s offices in central London. This is a#ClimateEmergency.”
Greenpeace said its activists were blocking entrances to BP’s London HQ.
“[The activists] have set up camp inside specially designed containers. BP can’t continue as if it’s business as usual in this #ClimateEmergency we’re in. #BPshutdown,” Greenpeace tweeted.
The group has said its activists are “prepared to stay there until BP agrees to stop searching for new oil & gas and take the #ClimateEmergency seriously.”
Source: Offshore Energy Today
Oil Marketing Companies Celebrate Safety Week
Kwaku Agyeman-Duah, Chairman for AOMCs
The Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs) would from today, Monday, 20th May, 2019, begin the celebration of its annual Petroleum Safety Week to raise awareness about the need for safety at the fuel stations.
This years’s Petroleum Safety Week is under the theme: ‘Leveraging Technology and Competence to Assure Safety at the Retail Outlet’.
Association of Oil Marketing Companies’ Safety Week Celebration (ASWEC) was institutionalised two years ago with the cardinal objective of educating its members and the public, focusing more attention on health, safety and environment.
Ghana has witnessed fuel explosions in recent past resulting in the death of scores of people, as well as destruction of properties.
Some of the explosions were blamed on the failure of filling stations operators to enforce safety regulations.
However, following the Atomic Junction Gas Filling Station explosion, which resulted in the death of Net 2 TV Cameraman and six others, National Petroleum Authority (NPA) intensified its effort to ensure that safety regulations were adhered to.
This seems to have yielded positive results as the country has not recorded any major explosion for the past two years.
The issue of Health & Safety is now of great importance to all industry players especially AOMCs, since petroleum products are volatile and highly inflammable.
Below is the programme outline for the Petroleum Safety Week:
DAY 1
Launch of programme
➢ Guest Speaker – Minister for Energy
➢ Special Guests of HonourInaugurate and hoist an ASWEC Flag
Safety Exhibition & Demonstration
DAY 2
Safety ExhibitionTraining/Discussion for AOMCs Members (CIE)
➢ BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS) TRAINING FOR AOMCS MEMBERS
(CIE)
➢ DISCUSSION ON FORECOURTDAY 3Safety ExhibitionSafety Training for AOMCs Members (CIE)
➢ BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS) TRAINING FOR AOMCS MEMBERS
(CIE)➢ DISCUSSION ON LPG REFILLING PLANT SAFETY
DAY 4
Launch of Safety Programme’Forecourt Day’ by OMCs/LPGMs at their various retail outlets
➢ Train their personnel at the forecourt/LPG refilling plant on Safety
➢ General Public can visit the various …..
DAY 1
Launch of programme
➢ Guest Speaker – Minister for Energy
➢ Special Guests of HonourInaugurate and hoist an ASWEC Flag
Safety Exhibition & Demonstration
DAY 2
Safety ExhibitionTraining/Discussion for AOMCs Members (CIE)
➢ BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS) TRAINING FOR AOMCS MEMBERS
(CIE)
➢ DISCUSSION ON FORECOURTDAY 3Safety ExhibitionSafety Training for AOMCs Members (CIE)
➢ BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS) TRAINING FOR AOMCS MEMBERS
(CIE)➢ DISCUSSION ON LPG REFILLING PLANT SAFETY
DAY 4
Launch of Safety Programme’Forecourt Day’ by OMCs/LPGMs at their various retail outlets
➢ Train their personnel at the forecourt/LPG refilling plant on Safety
➢ General Public can visit the various ….. Petroleum Hub’s Success Dependent On TOR – Senyo Hosi
CEO of Ghana Gas Dr Ben KD Asante (left) in a chat with Senyo Hosi(right), CEO of CBOD during the OTC, Texas,USA.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), Mr Senyo Hosi has described the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) as a necessary centre for the success of the proposed petroleum hub in Ghana.
He said even though TOR has base assets that can be developed into a variable refinery, the success of the refinery depends largely on necessary capital, good governance and management structures.
Some of the assets are tank farms, storage facilities, pipelines, mooring facilities, useful land and nearness to market.
He was speaking at a forum dubbed ‘Ghana Day’ at the just-ended 2019 Offshore Technology Conference, held in Houston, United States of America.
He asked the government to take a back seat so far as the management of TOR is concerned if TOR is to succeed, citing South Africa as an example.
Senyo Hosi
Underutilisation of assets
Mr Hosi expressed disappointment in the underutilisation of assets of TOR and other storage infrastructure in the country, citing the less than one per cent of stock tank turn.
He called for the policy to optimise existing assets to be able to get the world to appreciate the value proposition from Ghana as a petroleum hub.
Mr Hosi stated that the petroleum hub has to be thought of in terms of Ghana as a corridor and not just a particular location in Ghana. Govt should take all useful assets as an equity contribution to enter into a strategic relationship with private technical and financial institutions to revamp TOR.
TOR needs $500m to operate at full capacity each year.
TOR’s management last year revealed that it will need about $500 million in order to operate at full capacity each year.
In 2017, imports of refined petroleum products grew by 15.7% to almost $2 billion, although national consumption declined to 3.46 million tonnes.
TOR seeks partners to build 150,000 bpsd refineries. Management of the refinery is looking forward to partner an investor to establish a $3.5 billion Greenfield refinery with an installed capacity of 150,000 bpsd, more than triple of its current capacity of 45,000 bpsd.
From 2014 to September 2017, TOR was not been able to secure crude oil on its own account to refine.
It rather engaged in tolling for third parties due to lack of finance to secure crude oil supply deals.
In October 2018, TOR secured some 947,000 barrels from BP Petroleum International on credit to resume processing.
This was after TOR partially cleaned up its books and restructured its operations. TOR is the premier and only refinery in Ghana, situated in Tema, about 24km east of Accra.TOR is a 45,000 barrel per stream day (bpsd) capacity Crude Distillation Unit and supplies this quantity out of the national demand of 100,000 bpsd.
The 14,000 bpsd Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC) Unit converts atmospheric air to higher value finished products.
The total storage of the refinery for both crude oil and finished petroleum products has increased from 340,000 metric tonnes to 1,000,000 metric tonnes.
The refinery’s capacity to produce and store Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has improved from 7,560 to 10,560 metric tonnes. The refinery provides storage services for the Bulk Distribution Companies for a fee subject to availability of storage space.
With the discovery of oil and gas in Ghana, TOR aspired to position itself to expand and improve its infrastructure to ensure the reliability of petroleum products on the Ghanaian market and also to export to the ECOWAS sub-region.
TOR also intends to explore the petrochemical area of the petroleum business. The refinery was among the first eight refineries in Africa as of 1963.
It was originally named the Ghanaian Italian Petroleum (GHAIP) Company and incorporated as a Private Limited Liability Company under the Companies Ordinance (Cap 193) on December 12, 1960.
It was 100% owned by the ENI Group (Ente Nationalie Indrocarburi) of Italy. The Government of Ghana bought all the shares of GHAIP in April 1977 and became the sole shareholder.
In 1990, the name was changed to the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).
Senyo Hosi
Underutilisation of assets
Mr Hosi expressed disappointment in the underutilisation of assets of TOR and other storage infrastructure in the country, citing the less than one per cent of stock tank turn.
He called for the policy to optimise existing assets to be able to get the world to appreciate the value proposition from Ghana as a petroleum hub.
Mr Hosi stated that the petroleum hub has to be thought of in terms of Ghana as a corridor and not just a particular location in Ghana. Govt should take all useful assets as an equity contribution to enter into a strategic relationship with private technical and financial institutions to revamp TOR.
TOR needs $500m to operate at full capacity each year.
TOR’s management last year revealed that it will need about $500 million in order to operate at full capacity each year.
In 2017, imports of refined petroleum products grew by 15.7% to almost $2 billion, although national consumption declined to 3.46 million tonnes.
TOR seeks partners to build 150,000 bpsd refineries. Management of the refinery is looking forward to partner an investor to establish a $3.5 billion Greenfield refinery with an installed capacity of 150,000 bpsd, more than triple of its current capacity of 45,000 bpsd.
From 2014 to September 2017, TOR was not been able to secure crude oil on its own account to refine.
It rather engaged in tolling for third parties due to lack of finance to secure crude oil supply deals.
In October 2018, TOR secured some 947,000 barrels from BP Petroleum International on credit to resume processing.
This was after TOR partially cleaned up its books and restructured its operations. TOR is the premier and only refinery in Ghana, situated in Tema, about 24km east of Accra.TOR is a 45,000 barrel per stream day (bpsd) capacity Crude Distillation Unit and supplies this quantity out of the national demand of 100,000 bpsd.
The 14,000 bpsd Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC) Unit converts atmospheric air to higher value finished products.
The total storage of the refinery for both crude oil and finished petroleum products has increased from 340,000 metric tonnes to 1,000,000 metric tonnes.
The refinery’s capacity to produce and store Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has improved from 7,560 to 10,560 metric tonnes. The refinery provides storage services for the Bulk Distribution Companies for a fee subject to availability of storage space.
With the discovery of oil and gas in Ghana, TOR aspired to position itself to expand and improve its infrastructure to ensure the reliability of petroleum products on the Ghanaian market and also to export to the ECOWAS sub-region.
TOR also intends to explore the petrochemical area of the petroleum business. The refinery was among the first eight refineries in Africa as of 1963.
It was originally named the Ghanaian Italian Petroleum (GHAIP) Company and incorporated as a Private Limited Liability Company under the Companies Ordinance (Cap 193) on December 12, 1960.
It was 100% owned by the ENI Group (Ente Nationalie Indrocarburi) of Italy. The Government of Ghana bought all the shares of GHAIP in April 1977 and became the sole shareholder.
In 1990, the name was changed to the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). Arthur Energy Advisors Win Outstanding Energy Consultancy In West Africa
Ing. Jabesh Amissah-Arthur receiving the award
Arthur Energy Advisors (AEA), an energy consultancy firm in Ghana has been adjudged the Outstanding Energy Consultancy of the Year at the West Africa Business Excellence Awards (WABEA) held in Accra on Friday, 17th May, 2019.
WABEA was initiated to recognize the industry actors who have met a benchmark for excellence and to also celebrate innovative ideas that have advanced the boundaries of what is possible in the sub-region.
Commenting on the award the Managing Partner of AEA, Ing. Jabesh Amissah-Arthur said: “Our mission as a company is to provide high value insights, strategy and solutions to the energy sector in West Africa.”
“This award reflects our passion and commitment as an indigenous company in the region,” he added.
This is the third time since 2015 that Arthur Energy Advisors AEA has been recognized for its accomplishments in the Energy sector.
The company provides technical energy sector advisory and consultancy services in the areas of Project Definition and Development, Project Management and Execution, Energy Strategy and Resource Planning, Energy Regulation and Policy Development.
Ing. Jabesh Amissah-Arthur noted that the company has for the past eighteen (18) years provided services and valuable advice to project sponsors and other stakeholders interested in investing in the subregion.
AEA has recently been involved in the development and implementation of Renewable Energy projects including the West African Solar Corridor Initiative and is eager to play an integral role in the future development of the region.
He expressed gratitude to the staff who he described as a dedicated and hardworking team through whose efforts the company continues to excel.
“This award stands as another landmark for us as a company. We are grateful to the organizers and West Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry for this award and we are motivated to work even harder to better serve our clients and the sub-region,” Ing. Amissah-Arthur said.
Ghana: Karpowership Wins Outstanding Independent Power Producer In West Africa
Karpowership Ghana Limited was on Friday, 17th May, 2019, adjudged the Outstanding Independent Power Plant of the year at the West Africa Business Excellence Awards held in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
Karpowership was last year adjudged the Outstanding Power Plant of the year and the Most Strategic Deal of the year.
The West Africa Business Excellence Awards aims at recognizing companies and individuals who have played a significant role towards the development of various sectors in the West African region and also set a benchmark for excellence.
The award ceremony was under the theme “Propelling Outstanding Businesses to the World”.
Commenting on the award, the Corporate Communications Specialist for Karpowership Ghana Company Limited, Sandra Amarquaye said the award showcases Karpowership‘s burgeoning impact in the Power sector.
“At Karpowership every achievement we have attained is the product of a committed and dedicated team. Our goal is not only to meet the electricity demand of millions of people but to also positively impact lives through our sustainable social intervention programs executed in the communities within which we operate; including creating employment opportunities for the local economy. We work towards “one world” and contribute to increase global welfare,” she explained.
She revealed Karpowership is also a constituent part of the West African Power Pool, a regional initiative that aims to integrate the national power systems into a unified regional electricity market with the ultimate goal of providing reliable energy at competitive cost and to facilitate the cross-border trade of electricity in West Africa.
“It is fulfilling to know that the innovation and excellence we bring into the market is duly recognized,” she said.Karpowership is the only owner, operator and builder of the first Powership(Floating Power Plant) fleet in the world.Currently, the company has over 2,500 employees, and owns and operates fifteen (15) Powerships with an installed capacity of 2,800 MW, and 5,000 GW Powerships under construction.
Karpowership is operational in Gambia, Ghana, Indonesia, Lebanon, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Sudan.
The company also embarks on various social projects with a focus on education, environment and social support in the bid to give back to the communities within which it operates.
Venezuela Hit By Gasoline Shortages
Venezuela has been hit with gasoline import shortages that have caused lines at gas stations, Reuters reports, adding that local production has slumped too as the second-largest refinery in the country stopped operating.
PDVSA documents and shipping data from Reuters show that imports of fuel and diluents that are necessary to make Venezuela’s extra heavy refinable into fuels have since the start of the month dropped to 86,000 bpd from 225,000 bpd for April as U.S. sanctions bite deeper.
At the same time, the Cardon oil refinery, which has been operating at well below capacity even before the sanctions were introduced in January, halted operations because of damage to some of its units, Reuters quoted a local source as saying. Cardon has a capacity of 310,000 bpd but was processing just 115,000 bpd.
The news of the refinery suspension and the gas station lines comes on the heels of another update regarding production this time. Earlier this week, sources from Venezuela told Reuters none of its four heavy oil upgraders were operating as there was a shortage of buyers for the country’s crude after it lost its largest market in the U.S.
The report follows another one, by S&P Global Platts, which quoted a PDVSA report as saying production in the Orinoco Belt—the region where most of Venezuela’s oil riches are concentrated—had dropped to 169,800 bpd since the start of May. However, the reason given for the slump in that report was not the lack of buyers but rather the lack of tankers to carry the crude abroad.
Indeed, Venezuela has a barter deal with China and Russia that obliges it to repay sizeable loans with crude. However, the U.S. sanctions have targeted shippers, too, as part of the drive to remove Nicolas Maduro from power, and these have apparently heeded the warning.
Source: Oilprice.com
GRIDCo Wins Best Power Service Provider For Africa Award
CEO of GRIDCo Jonathan Amoako-Baah in the middle with the award.
The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has been adjudged the Power Service Provider of the Year for Africa, at the African Power, Energy and Water Industry Awards in Cape Town, South Africa.
Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo, Jonathan Amoako-Baah picked the award on behalf of the company.
Ten years ago when the company was incorporated, it has won many awards including, Outstanding Corporate Partner Award at the 2018 Annual Audit and Governance Conference organised by The Institute of Internal Auditors, Ghana.
The rest are Best Company in the Energy Sector at the 6th AGI Ghana Industry and Quality Awards, 2017; Excellence in Power Transmission or Distribution for 2015 and 2016 at the 2nd and 3rd West Africa Power Industry Convention, and 3rd Best Organisation at the 2013 Ghana Employers’ Association Awards.
GRIDCo became operational on August 1, 2008, with the mandate to develop and promote competition in Ghana’s wholesale power market, by providing non-discriminatory and open access to the transmission grid for all participants in the power market.
The Company owns and operates over 6,000 km of High Voltage Transmission lines across the country, which carry power from various generating stations to over sixty-four (64) substations for customers including distribution companies, major mining companies and some industries.
In a statement issued and signed by Joana Ohui Tetteh, for the Head of Public Relations at GRIDCo, the company said it is encouraged by the numerous recognition and awards received.
“The Board and Management of GRIDCo express their gratitude to all stakeholders for the immense support and cooperation extended to the company throughout the years, which have greatly contributed to its sterling performance,” the statement said.
“GRIDCo remains committed, and pledges to deepen its partnership with stakeholders towards the effective execution of its corporate mandate,” it concluded.
PDS’s App: Records Expose TV3’s Bridget Otoo
Bridget Otoo
Checks conducted by energynewsafrica.com regarding PDS’s APP has exposed the mischievous act of TV3’s Bridget Otoo for claiming that she has been defrauded by PDS through the APP.
Bridget Otoo, on Thursday, called on Ghanaians to desist from making any electricity payment on the new PDS app claiming that it is a scam.
According to the journalist, the application that is supposed to provide convenience to consumers to pay their light bills with ease is rather stealing from them with no service rendered.
Taking to Twitter, the journalist explained why she thinks the system is a scam aimed at defrauding unsuspecting users.
“PLEASE do not use @pdsghanaltd mobile app!!!! the officer says it’s on pilot bases, I won’t get the money I lost back, plus he won’t even advise me to use it. In. His own words “I have heard the complaint, saaaaa” He didn’t even log mine in eiiiii #Incompetent,” she posted.
“Please for your own good and safety, DO NOT USE THE ECG MOBILE APP!” she concluded.
Surprisingly, her post was given prominence by some major online portals including peacefmonline.com and modernghana.com, without cross checking from the Power Distribution Company whether her claim was genuine or out of ignorance.
However, energynewsafrica.com can confirm that PDS’s App has been working efficiently and Ms Bridget Otoo herself has used the APP severally and was duly credited.
Records available to energynewsafrica.com indicate that Ms Bridget and other customers have used the Application to purchase electricity credit for years.
Her latest purchase was on 10th May, 2019, and her meter was duly credited, albeit there was a delay in the SMS text communication to her phone.
When a customer purchases electricity via the App, the Company’s Server communicates with the meter to credit it with the purchased amount.
PDS, however, acknowledged that, sometimes, the SMS message to customers’ phones delays.
This is often due to failed internet connectivity. The text messages that delay, sometimes, accumulate and reach customers in bulk immediately the network improves, when they have started using the credit already.
This cannot be the basis to describe the App as a scam which customers have been using for years now.
Customers on the Nuri brand of meters, who have used the PDS App, can attest to the fact that it is a functioning tool.
The delayed text message challenge, which has existed for some time, according to a relaible source, is being addressed by the new Company, PDS.
.
When energynewsafrica.com’s Michael Creg Afful contacted Bridget Otoo to speak to her on the evidence of she using the App, Ms Bridget, who spoke in a harsh tone, dropped the call.
When Mr Afful called her again, Bridget Otoo disrespected Mr Afful by saying that she wanted to speak to credible media houses and warned him not to call her line again.
Incident At Chevron Phillips Baytown Plant Sends Black Smoke In Air
An “unplanned operational issue” at the Chevron Phillips plant at Baytown, Texas, occurred on Thursday morning, the Houston Chronicle reports, citing company officials and showing photos of thick black smoke rising from the plant.
There is no danger to any plant employees or the community, company officials said in a post on the Community Awareness Emergency Response, (CAER) Online portal, where plants can post advisories about events or incidents.
According to company officials, cited by the Houston Chronicle, the company is working “to minimize noise, light or smoke” after the unplanned operational issue.
The incident comes two months after a fire at the Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) storage site at Deer Park, Texas, which blazed for days and halted some ship traffic at the Houston port. Back then, residents of Deer Park and Galena Park were told to stay indoors, and schools canceled classes for several days.
In December 2018, Chevron Phillips Chemical said that it had successfully started up operations of a new ethane cracker at its Cedar Bayou facility in Baytown.
Chevron Phillips Chemical aims to expand the chemical operations with a project estimated to be worth US$5.8 billion that would create 3,500 construction jobs.
Earlier this month, Greg Garland, chief executive at Phillips 66, told the annual shareholders’ meeting that Chevron and Phillips 66 were still evaluating sites about the multi-billion-dollar expansion, the Houston
Chronicle reported.
The Sweeny and Orange locations are emerging as front runners, according to Garland, because the Cedar Bayou location in Baytown already has an ethane cracker and could face limitations in permitting. Cedar Bayou is also close to an ExxonMobil ethane cracker in the area.
Chevron and Phillips 66 are expected to make a final investment decision on the expansion project next year, and potentially start up the new facility in 2023 or 2024, Garland said.
Source: oilprice.com