Ghana: IWD 2020: Minority Leader Hails Kadija Amoah’s Appointment As Country Manager Of Aker Energy
Ghana’s Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has hailed the appointment of Kadijah Amoah as the Country Manager of Aker Energy Ghana.
Madam Kadijah Amoah was appointed in February this year to succeed Jan Helge Skogen after the company restructured its leadership.
Mrs Amoah, a Ghanaian citizen, is a lawyer by training and holds degrees in law and political science, a master’s degree in international business, and awaits the award of a postgraduate diploma in strategy and innovation.
Prior to joining Aker Energy, Mrs Amoah was a Senior Foreign Lawyer at Clifford Chance Germany, one of the largest law firms in the world.
Speaking to a Ghanaian radio station, Joy FM on the International Women’s Day, he said, “I hail the appointment of first Ghanaian Chief Executive Officer of Aker Oil, notwithstanding the critical issues we raised as a Minority. She needs to go beyond personal carrier success to institutional and organisational success of Aker in Ghana and not just rely on the extraordinary incentives of the government.”
Mr Iddrisu stressed that the Ghanaian society needs to give capable women the opportunity to contribute their quota to its socioeconomic development.
“Women empowerment and policies aim at enhancing more space for women within the
Public space contribute to addressing a long standing historical problem of dominated patriarchal society in Ghana,” he said.
The Tamale South legislator was of the view that the new Aker Energy Country Manager has a big task ahead to make her company competitive in Ghana and beyond in the industry.
source: www.energynewsafrica.com
IET Ghana Celebrates Engineers
The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana, has congratulated engineers in the West Africa nation as the world celebrates World Engineering Day.
The Council of IET applauded the hard work of all engineering practitioners in the country for their various roles in ensuring the wheels of development continues to grind effectively.
“We use this occasion to encourage all engineering practitioners to continue to offer their best in their various fields of engineering endeavours, knowing very well that our service is for the good of humanity,” IET said.
Oil Prices Collapse 8% As Novak Tells OPEC+ To Pump At Will
Oil prices plunged by more than 8 percent on Friday, as the market continued to digest unfavorable OPEC news, the latest of which was Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak telling OPEC+ countries that they were free to pump oil at will after April 1.
At about 10pm on Friday, WTI Crude had plunged by 8.5% at 41.58 and Brent Crude was plummeting by 8.72% at $45.51.
Oil prices hit their lowest level since 2017, the year in which OPEC and its non-OPEC allies led by Russia began their production cut pact to try to erase the glut on the market and prop up oil prices. The pact has been extended several times since it was launched in January 2017, most recently in December 2019 for three months to the end of March.
But this time around, it looks like the divide between the two leading OPEC and non-OPEC producers, Saudi Arabia and Russia, is too wide to bridge.
On Thursday, OPEC’s energy ministers met and recommended that the OPEC+ partners extend the current cuts through the end of 2020 and deepen those cuts by 1.5 million bpd in Q2 in response to the slump in demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Later on Thursday, OPEC ministers met again and decided that the 1.5 million bpd additional cut should not be only for Q2 but for the rest of 2020 as well
But come Friday and the talks between OPEC and its non-OPEC partners led by Russia became very difficult and neither side was willing to give in. Russia continued to insist that no additional cuts should be made, while OPEC and its leader Saudi Arabia insisted on further cuts and on ‘no plan B’ if Russia is not on board.
Reports started to emerge from the Vienna meeting on Friday that the OPEC+ partners have failed to agree on deeper cuts, as wanted by OPEC, because of Russia’s continued resistance to join additional cuts, which would hurt the production plans of the major Russian oil companies.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Sunon Asogli Donates Office Equipment To Kpone District Police Command
Ghana’s largest independent power producer, Sunon Asogli Power (GH) Ltd has donated office equipment to the Kpone District police command.
The donation formed part of the power company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Speaking at a short ceremony to present the items, Chairman of Sunon Asogli Power (GH) Ltd, Yang Qun said, “We at Sunon Asogli Power do not shy away from our responsibilities. We work and live in a community that has accepted us and has been favourable to us. And when it is our turn to give back, we do it with all of our hearts.”
According to him, it is their responsibility to assist the police to give them adequate protection.
He urged them to continue to work hard for the betterment of the district in which they have been posted and the country as a whole.
He said without the police to ensure safety, there would be an increase in criminal activities and the like in the community.
“We want to thank you for your hard work and dedication to the course,” he said.
Supt. Seth Tay, the Kpone District Police Commander, who received the items on behalf of the police, thanked management of Sunon Asogli for the donation and pledged their commitment to ensure that residents and businesses in the area are given adequate protection.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Export Of Petroleum Products To Mali Drops Significantly
It has emerged that the volumes of petroleum products exported by Ghana to its West African neighbour, Mali, has dropped significantly.
The situation has made authorities in Mali become worried due to the high quality of products from Ghana to the Malian market.
Deputy Director General of ONAP, Mali’s downstream petroleum regulator, Issa Kondo disclosed this in an interview when he led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) in Accra, capital of Ghana.
According to him, the decrease in volumes of the products was the basis of their visit to Ghana.
“Our mission here is quite simple. We are a landlocked country and, therefore, we import most of our products from different countries to Mali. We noticed that supply of products from Ghana has dropped significantly, so we thought it proper to come to Ghana to approach our Ghanaian counterpart to find out what the challenges are on the ground and together find solutions to the reasons for the drop in volume.”
He explained that aside engaging CBOD, they had also engaged with Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) Company Limited.
According to Mr Kondo, during their engagement with the NPA, they identified two key issues which he said were the contributory factor to the decrease in volumes of petroleum products to the Malian market.
He mentioned the bank guarantee which requires a 100 percent cash at the bank from companies and NPA’s exporting guidelines as the major challenges negatively affecting export trade between Ghana and Mali.
He, however, said together with the NPA, some steps have been to ensure that these two key issues are resolved immediately so as to reverse the current trend.
“Together with our partners in Ghana, which is the NPA, we have managed to come up [with] or identified some steps that we can take going forward to be able to increase the volumes between Ghana and Mali. So, we are just looking forward to the implementation of the various options and steps that we have identified. With the NPA, we really looked at the guidelines that they have in place for the exportation of petroleum products to Mali and, together we were able to identify certain bottlenecks preventing people from coming to buy fuel from Ghana,” he noted.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
According to Mr Kondo, during their engagement with the NPA, they identified two key issues which he said were the contributory factor to the decrease in volumes of petroleum products to the Malian market.
He mentioned the bank guarantee which requires a 100 percent cash at the bank from companies and NPA’s exporting guidelines as the major challenges negatively affecting export trade between Ghana and Mali.
He, however, said together with the NPA, some steps have been to ensure that these two key issues are resolved immediately so as to reverse the current trend.
“Together with our partners in Ghana, which is the NPA, we have managed to come up [with] or identified some steps that we can take going forward to be able to increase the volumes between Ghana and Mali. So, we are just looking forward to the implementation of the various options and steps that we have identified. With the NPA, we really looked at the guidelines that they have in place for the exportation of petroleum products to Mali and, together we were able to identify certain bottlenecks preventing people from coming to buy fuel from Ghana,” he noted.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com Ghana: PURC Congratulates ECG For Developing Power Mobile App
Ghana’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), has congratulated the country’s power distribution company, ECG, for going a step further to develop an application which seeks to enhance its services to consumers.
Last month, the ECG outdoored the ECG Power Mobile App which was developed internally by the staff of the IT Department.
The power app is intended to ease the frustration of consumers and enable them to purchase credit onto their smart and prepaid meters even at wee hours.
In a public notice sighted by energynewsafrica.com, PURC said:
“We also wish to assure the public that we are monitoring the performance of the App and encourage electricity customers on the appropriate electronic meters to take advantage of the improved technology for payment of bills, deposit money for prepayment meters, make enquiries and also lodge complaints with ECG.”
The PURC, nonetheless, emphasised that any customer who finds issues with the ECG Power Mobile App should report to the nearest ECG office and if not resolved, forward such complaint to the PURC for resolution.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com South Africa: Eskom Pursues Liquidation Of Trillian After Court Ruling
South Africa’s utility company, Eskom is set to institute liquidation proceedings against Trillian as Supreme Court of Appeal dismisses Trillian’s appeal on R600 million case.
Eskom announced that it will institute liquidation proceedings against Trillian Management Consulting and Trillian Capital Partners in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria this month.
André de Ruyter, Eskom Group Chief Executive, says: “Eskom has a moral duty and legal obligation to do everything it can to claw back all the monies which were illegally paid out during the height of State Capture.”
He adds: “This case is only one of the many in which Eskom’s management will attempt to recoup what is due to the people of South Africa.”
In late February 2020, the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed the Trillian Management Consulting’s and Trillian Capital Partners’ application for leave to appeal the North Gauteng High Court’s judgement of 2 October 2019 in proceedings instituted by Eskom.
This follows legal proceedings instituted by Eskom, asking for the liquidation of the Trillian entities, and joining Eric Wood to the proceedings, for failing to pay R600 million that Eskom had irregularly paid to the entities during 2016.
In June 2019 Eskom approached the North Gauteng High Court, seeking an order setting aside and declaring as null and void Eskom’s payment of approximately R600 million to the Trillian entities.
In October 2019 the court granted the order, and ordered the Trillian entities to pay back the money within five days.
This was part of the R1.6 billion payment in a contract Eskom had entered into with McKinsey & Co. In 2018 McKinsey paid back more than R1 billion, including interest, to Eskom.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Relocate Or Face Demolition– GRIDCo To Encroachers
Ghana’s power transmission company, GRIDCo, has served notice to all persons and institutions that have encroached on lands bordering its transmission lines to take immediate steps to relocate.
According to GRIDCo, it would have no other option than use force to evict the encroachers if they failed to relocate.
In a press statement copied to energynewsafrica.com, it said the decision is due to the associated safety risks its lines pose to the public and the need or regular maintenance works on the lines by the company.
Under the Transmission Line Protection Regulations, 1967 (LI 542) as amended by Regulation No. LI 1737 of 2004, it is an offence for persons or institutions to conduct any form of activity in relation to the lands around the location of power transmission lines.
Activities including drilling, excavating, lorry parks, shops, garages, bars and real estate operated in the area extending up to twenty (20) meters on each side from the centre line of the transmission towers are prohibited.
“These activities pose a danger to human life and property as transmission line faults can result in casualties and damage to properties. Outage to customers could also be prolonged due to restricted access to the Right-of-Ways,” GRIDCo said.
Commenting on the development, Chief Executive of GRIDCo, Jonathan Amoako-Baah said: “We are very concerned with this trend across the country. Though we have chalked some success by ejecting some encroachers, others have remained adamant. Over the years, we have carried out a lot of sensitisation programmes including print and electronic media publications, Information Services Department campaigns and joint engagements with Municipal Assemblies. We are also ready to undertake demolition exercises, where necessary, as part of our mandate to ensure the right thing is done. We are committed to carrying out our mandate as a power transmitter and will do whatever is necessary to prevent interferences.”
Over the past years, GRIDCo has had issues with encroachers along its transmission towers and lands.
These persons carry out all forms of activities at the risk of their lives.
GRIDCo is working with the relevant state institutions to remove properties and structures and to curb all forms of human activities, within the right-of-ways to safeguard public safety and ensure reliability of electricity supply. The company may even be compelled to surcharge the costs incurred during such exercises to the encroachers.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
How Man Made Huge Savings From Generating Own Electricity Through Renewable Energy (Video)
Click on the video below to watch the man who generate own electricity
Ghana: Gov’t Asked To Reduce Tax Component On LPG To Increase Patronage
The Acting Director for Social and Environmental Impact Assessment at Ghana’s Energy Commission, Eric Ofori Nyarko is urging the Government of Ghana to reduce the 23 percent tax component on the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to encourage mass patronage of the commodity in the West African country.
He said the introduction of LPG was to discourage the use of wood fuel but since the price of the commodity continues to increase, many households which were using the product have stopped.
“I would not opt for the abolishing of taxes on LPG. We can reduce the taxes or cross subsidise the taxes, so that at least, we can remove those taxes on LPG and put them onto liquid fuels if possible. So certainly, we need reduction of taxes on LPG to encourage people to use it more,” Ofori Nyarko suggested.
According to him, the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company Ltd. was established to produce the cylinders, gas stoves and associated auxiliaries to reduce cost associated with the use of LPG.
However, he said he sees the lack of proper distribution to bad road areas in the remote villages with infrastructure to store as well as affordable price enable the poor to buy as a setback.
Meanwhile, the objective is to ensure that the country penetrates the use of LPG around to reduce the use of wood-fuel.
“But, unfortunately, we have not been able to balance the cost production of LPG with these issues. Price keeps going high and people who are in the hinterland because of bad roads are not able to get access to LPG to use. Enough facilities are not built over there to allow them to use LPG,” he stated.
Sadly, he said most people are reverting to the use of wood-fuels as a result of the hike in the LPG price.
“So it is not allowing for the policy to achieve its objective of reducing wood-fuel use. Institutions and government that are concerned will take measures to ensure that the price of LPG is reduced and ensure that enough facilities are built in the country for the transportation and storage of LPG.”
There has been calls by members of the LPG Marketers Association for the government to reduce the price of LPG to increase consumption of the product.
The association claims patronage of the product has dwindled because of the high cost of the product.
Speaking to energynewsafrica.com at a training programme organised by Energy Commission for Energy Reporters, Eric Nyarko entreated the government to relook at the current price of LPG in order to increase consumption.
Touching on structures near gas pipelines, Ofori Nyarko urged District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies that grant building permits to intensify public education to prospective occupants near such areas to beware of the consequences.
He said unexpected explosion could result in deaths and loss of properties.
“I will plead with the assemblies, who are the development authorities who give these permits, to ensure that these right of ways of energy infrastructure especially gas pipelines, are respected,” he advised.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: LBCs In Arrears Of Community Dev’t Fund Won’t Receive Premix Fuel Supplies-Bannerman
National Chairman of the Pre-Mix Fuel Committee in the Republic of Ghana, Nii Lantey Bannerman has served notice that Landing Beach Committees that are in arrears of the 53 percent Community Development Fund would not be supplied with the product until they pay.
He said over the years, lack of effective supervision led to most of these landing beach in arrears of pre-mix business.
Not only are they refusing to pay, but also some used the money for their egoistic interest at expense of the interest of the fishing communities.
The LI 2233 establishing the Premix Fuel Committee mandates the landing beach committee to deduct 53 percent of the proceeds of margins from the sale of premix to the fishing community for developmental projects.
In an exclusive interview during an inspection of an ongoing 900-bed capacity dormitory at Tema Manhean SHS and market shed at Nyanyano near Kasoa, he said: “From Friday, we are going into their books and compare with bank statements. And if we compare and it does not balance, we will stop supplying the culprits with pre-mix until they make up for what they have not paid. And this action is going to affect all landing beach dealers across the nation.”
He assured of the committee’s avowed commitment to working assiduously to ensure that communities get their fair share of funds to develop and upgrade standards in the country.
“This time around, we are ensuring that monies are used to the benefit of communities; not for individual benefit.”
To further tighten supervision in the pre-mix industry, Mr Bannerman said a stronger committee is being put together to deal with hoarding, a crime he said some of the pre-mix committee members have been reported to be involved.
‘We have inaugurated a pre-mix taskforce in Tema with the MCE as a member, the Regional Pre-Mix Coordinator, too, as a member to stop hoarding activities along the shores. We want to stop hoarding completely from the system. Now, we don’t hear diversion and shortages in the system. Hoarding is becoming the business of illegal dealers. It is like a cartel; we hear that some of our operational officers are among,” he said.
Commenting on projects across the nation, he said over GHc12 million is being pumped into them and they include CHPS compounds, hospital, clinic wards, dormitory and many others in Elmina, Cape Coast, among others areas in Ghana.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Mali Petroleum Regulators Pay First-Ever Courtesy Call On CBOD
A Malian delegation from the National Office in-charge of regulating petroleum products, is expected to pay a courtesy call on the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) in the Republic of Ghana, on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.
The purpose of the visit is to discuss matters relating to the supply and re-export of petroleum products from Ghana to Mali.
In 2016 Ghana began supplying gasoline and gas oil to landlocked countries such as Mali from the Petroleum Depot in Bolgatanga.
Ghana is expected to become the hub for the distribution of refined petroleum products in the West African sub-region in the near future.
Ahead of the visit by the Malian delegation, CEO of the CBOD Senyo Hosi commented that: “this is a very important visit for us. The Mali industry is an important market for our members. And as we look at improving the utilization of our infrastructure, something that was significantly covered in our 2018 Industry Report, there is the need for us to increase Ghana’s share of the supply route to the landlocked markets of which Mali is one. Our share is currently very low so we need to explore ways of improving the nature of the service and also managing the risks associated with the nature of the services.”
Mr. Hosi said the CBOD and its members “look forward to a very fruitful engagement with our Malian regulators and counterparts alike. We’re hoping to see the beginning of a stronger and more constructive relationship going into the future”.
The Malian delegation will also meet with the petroleum downstream regulator, National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Bulk Oil Storage & Transportation Company (BOST) and other stakeholders.
Source: CBOD
Ghana: Fuel Prices To Remain Stable In March-IES Predicts
The Institute for Energy Security, an energy think-tank in the Republic of Ghana, is predicting that fuel prices on the local market in the West African country will remain largely stable during the first pricing window in March.
The think-tank, in its analysis, pointed to relative stable prices of gasoline and gasoil on the international market, as well as the 1.32 percent upward reverse in price of International Benchmark – Brent Crude.
However, it said competition between Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to control and gain more market shares may result in selling price of fuel falling marginally within the first pricing-window of March 2020.
Oil prices reverse upward briefly within the second Pricing-window under review as implied demand destruction was less than expected.
However, oil prices fell on Friday, 21st of February, as OPEC+ decided not to move its March meeting forward while Russia indicated that it currently has no intentions to cut production further. Brent crude rallied marginally by 1.32% from $55.89 per barrel to close at $56.63 per barrel on average terms during the period under review
Fuel prices at the pump experienced reduction across some major Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) including Goil, Total Ghana and Zen Petroleum in the Pricing-window under review as projected by the Institute for Energy Security (IES).
While Goil and Total Ghana shaved-off 1.28% and 0.91% for Gasoil and Gasoline respectively, Zen Petroleum gave away a whopping 6% for Gasoline and Gasoil to sell at Gh¢4.92 per litre; thus making Zen petroleum the OMC with the least selling price.
However, the second Pricing-window of February 2020 saw some OMCs maintaining their prices at the pump to record a national average price of Gh¢5.41 and Gh¢5.40 for Gasoil and Gasoline respectively.
Within the period under review, Benab Oil, Nick Petroleum, Frimps, Champion and Cash Oil, joined Zen Petroleum as OMCs that sold the least-priced Gasoline and Gasoil on the local market relative to others in the industry as found by IES Market-scan.
S&P’s Platts benchmark for fuels shows average Gasoline price rallying by 0.51% to close at $539.50 per metric tonne, from a previous average of $536.77 per metric tonne; while Gasoil declined by 0.23% to close trading at $502.20 per metric tonne, from a previous average of $503.38 per metric tonne.
“Data collated by IES Economic Desk from the Foreign Exchange market shows the Cedi appreciated by 4.98% against the U.S. Dollar, trading at an average price of Gh¢5.34 to the U.S. Dollar over the period under review; from a previous rate of Gh¢5.62 recorded in the first Pricing-window of February, 2020. The positive relationship of the Ghana Cedi to the US Dollar can largely be attributable to less uncertainty and low demand for the US Dollar for business transaction in the Covid-19 stricken nation – China, the world largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity $27.309 trillion,” Raymond Nuworkpor, Research & Policy Analyst at IES said.
Liberia: Aggrieved Residents Block Road In Demand Of Electricity
Liberia’s National Police have arrested scores of residents of Jalloh Shop Community along the Pipeline Road, Paynesville, following protest over demand for electricity.
The residents placed a roadblock on the main route from Jalloh Shop Community to other places, causing several vehicles to remain in a queue for hours.
The residents placed specific reference to National Port Authority Managing Director, Bill Twehway, whom they alleged is benefiting from electricity while they remain in darkness.
They complained that the lack of electricity has resulted to them using commercial current which is too costly for them.
However, their action who was deemed unlawful by the police who arrested several of the protesters and taken away to unknown destinations.
According to frontpageafricaonline.com, the protest caused a serious delay to many users of the road.
Daniel Deshield, District Coordinator of Montserrado County told frontpageafrica.com that the citizens concern is ‘cardinal,’ because the hydro tension line of the Liberia Electricity Corporation passes through the district and residents are not benefiting from electricity.
“This same district also hosts the site for the waste management program, in Wein Town and that government should come to the rescue of residents.
Deshield said the residents were peaceful while staging the protest and he sees no reason while police will arrest them for speaking out.
“They were peaceful and their action did not lead to any casualty, but we are surprise to see officers of the LNP arresting them,” Deshield noted.
“Every citizens must be treated equally and no one man is better than the other.”
He expressed frustration over the fact that the community also hosts the pipeline for water supply to Monrovia when it lacks pipe-borne and electricity.
Another resident, Moses Mator said they were disappointed while few people were enjoying electricity comfort while several others remain in darkness.
“This is total discrimination and we cannot bear it any longer. We are calling on President Weah attention to our plight,” Mator stated.
Mato said, in spite of the “arrest and intimidation” by LNP, residents will continue coming out until President Weah take an action to address their plights.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com