US oil and gas giant, Chevron Corp. has hinted of plans to lay-off about 288 employees at the company’s regional headquarters at 700 Cherrington Parkway in Moon Township, PA, by April 6, 2020.
The company gave the hint in a WARN notice it sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry earlier this month.
The notice indicated that an unspecified number of lay-offs would occur April 6 and added that some employees will be offered temporary assignments, with extended lay-off dates potentially through the end of this year.
“We are taking active steps to reduce job loss and will facilitate the placement of as many impacted employees as we can with other Chevron business units,” the letter stated.
Chevron also indicated that any employees who are laid off would receive severance and outplacement services.
“The WARN Act is a regulatory requirement intended to give employees advance notice before potential layoffs at a plant or facility. It’s too soon to know how many employees will be affected on or after the April 6 date indicated in the WARN letter,’’ a source at Chevron said in a reply to an email by Rigzone.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Global report for the power sector has revealed that total power industry deals for Q4 2019 were worth $44.83 billion.
In a statement, released by GlobalData, it said the power sector witnessed an increase of 109.3% over the previous quarter and a rise of 39.1% when compared with the last four-quarter average of $32.24 billion.
In terms of number of deals, the sector saw a rise of 9.5% over the last four-quarter average with 507 deals against the average of 463 deals.
In value terms, Europe led the activity with deals worth $19.06 billion.
The top five power deals accounted for 44.9% of the overall value during Q4 2019.
The combined value of the top five power deals stood at $20.11 billion, against the overall value of $44.83 billion recorded for the month.
The top five power industry deals of Q4 2019 tracked by GlobalData were:
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s $6.1 billion private equity deal with Pattern Energy Group
The $4.52 billion acquisition of Anixter International by WESCO International
Chubu Electric PowerInc and Mitsubishi’s $4.52 billion acquisition of Eneco Holding
The $2.53 billion acquisition of Uniper by Fortum
Credit Agricole Assurances, Engie and Mirova’s asset transaction with Energias de Portugal for $2.45 billion.
Members of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union (GTPCWU) of the Ghana Trades Union Congress have called on the Akufo-Addo administration and their social partners in the oil and gas industry to care about Ghanaian workers in the sector.
They further asked the government to order their multinational employers to put a stop to what they describe as constant threats of lay-offs.
The call follows plans by Tullow Ghana Ltd to lay off 25% of their labour force.
In a statement signed and copied to energynewsafrica.com, GTPCWU said: “We’re by this statement, notifying the government to speak up for Ghanaian workers who are struggling in the oil and gas industry following threats by Tullow Oil Ghana and Kosmos Energy Ghana Limited. The key architects of the industry attempt to down size their staff rate, using their operations in Ghana to achieve their obnoxious target.”
It went on to say: “We have been observing developments over the past one month as these two companies continue to threaten laying off staff based on managerial weakness and not labour challenges.
“That is why we have maintained that all companies must create conditions for unionisation of workers so that nobody can be taken for granted. Again, nobody should attempt to prevent workers who constitute the active labour force in the country in the oil and gas industry, whether upstream or downstream from forming or joining a trade union as prescribed by the Labour Act 2003.”
The group also called on the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), regulator of the sector, to keenly monitor employers threatening to lay off their workforce and stem the tide to protect rights of these workers.
“We want all stakeholders to speak up in the face of these threats so that ethics of decent work agenda are fully observed by these multinational companies to ensure fair labour practice between workers and management.
“Instead of laying off workers receiving fat salaries at their head officers outside Ghana, they want to abuse the rights with the excuse of downsizing to sustain operations.”
Clink on the link below for the full statement.Press Release-Downsizing of Tullow&Kosmos (1)
The African Energy Chamber has declared that Gabon’s energy sector, especially the oil and gas sector, is set to witness massive investments.
The Chamber made the declaration during a visit to Libreville to promote investments into the country’s oil & gas value chain.
During its visit, the Chamber lauded the leadership of H.E. Ali Bongo Ondimba in pushing for the country’s new Hydrocarbons Code and Gabon’s potential to attract substantial investment, and expressed its support to the Government’s continued drive to create an enabling environment for the local and international private companies.
“Gabon is a well-established African petroleum province entering into a new era of growth and energy transition,” Nj Ayuk, Executive Chairman at the Chamber and CEO of the Centurion Law Group declared.
“The country’s ambition to increase investment in upstream, expand energy infrastructure and above all develop a robust gas industry needs to be backed by private sector capital and technology. This requires the creation of a strong enabling environment, which is what the industry is calling for. It is extremely encouraging to notice the impact of recent reforms on the ease of doing business and investors sentiment in Gabon.”
The country passed last year its new Hydrocarbons Code, which contains more attractive fiscal terms, in line with other sub-Saharan competitors.
The new regime already saw the signing of 12 PSCs with foreign companies such as Assala Energy, Petronas, Sinopec and Perenco, boosting investors confidence in the market’s potential.
Meanwhile, very recent discoveries have been made by Vaalco Energy at the Etame Field, whose PSC was extended in 2018 for another ten years in order to provide for additional investment.
The country is currently promoting its sedimentary basin through its 12th Licensing Round, which offers no less than 35 oil & gas blocks to bidders.
A delegation from the Ministry of Petroleum, Gas, Hydrocarbons and Mines led by H.E. Minister Vincent de Paul Massassa was in Houston this week where it met several partners and foreign investors.
Such a strong showing from Gabon is expected to generate substantial interest from operators, and result in the signing of several additional PSCs this year.
Gabon’s new regulatory framework also puts a strong emphasis on local content. The Hydrocarbons Code notably introduces the concept of indigenous enterprise (“société autochtone”), defined as a Gabon-registered company whose management is Gabonese, where at least 60% of the capital is held by Gabonese nationals, and whose workforce is composed by at least 80% of Gabonese nationals. Gabon’s indigenous companies are given priority and preference over the signing of exploitation conventions for the development of marginal discoveries and marginal and mature fields, in a bid to build a strong local value chain.
“The private sector will be driving the growth of Gabon’s energy sector, and the new Code has put in a place a framework which is very encouraging for local companies and entrepreneurs,” NJ Ayuk added.
“It gives an opportunity for the Gabon Oil Company to be a key player in driving up partnerships across the country’s oil & gas sector while providing opportunities for the local private sector to grow along. We truly look forward to supporting the country into this new journey.”
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in the Republic of Ghana, West Africa, have stated categorically that nobody can compel them to reduce the prices of fuel products as a result of the fall in crude oil price on the international market as well as the stability of the Ghanaian cedi.
Addressing a press conference in Accra, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Duah, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, said though the OMCs have witnessed marginal reduction in the price of the commodity, taxes on the product, compounded by huge interests on loans, as well as high production cost over the past one year would not allow them to immediately reduce prices at the pump.
“The issue of some people sitting somewhere instructing OMCs to reduce their prices don’t work. It doesn’t work anywhere. You need to leave the OMCs to do what they want to do. Of cause you are at liberty to form your own opinions to just say anything but the bottom line is, the OMCs have to see whether it is running safe or not,” he explained.
The parameters for defining pricing, he explained, factoring in production costs and other auxiliaries must be right to determine price mechanisms in any business.
“So you ought to be right as you don’t talk about just little price fluctuations to either decrease or increase prices of commodities,” he added.
Agyeman-Duah was of the view that there was a time that prices at the world market sky-rocketed but the BDCs did not assist them to stay in business.
He said they had to go for loans with high interests to stay in business.
“In this industry, liquidity is the key issue. If you have to go for cash and you don’t have it, you have to go to the bank. The bank will also add their interest. So, financing cost is also involved in the dynamics. That is why we have this kind of situation. It is not a straight jacket like that, but what I am saying is that we won’t do anything to kill anybody in the industry because we live on the people,” he assured their customers.
He contended that should they keep the price so high for a long time and people refuse to buy, if the world market price continues to fall, it could negatively affect their business.
He added that the OMCs would respond appropriately when the time is due.
He further stated that Ghana’s law on company insolvency fails to protect struggling businesses and it makes it difficult to take decisions without critically examining all the parameters in corporate governance culture.
“There is one thing in this country…our insolvency laws are not too good. Companies collapse. If insolvency laws are working, it will protect you in trouble but not in this case.
“If you are collapsing, you are responsible for everything,” he bemoaned.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
The Senior Staff Association of Ghana’s leading power generation company, Volta River Authority (VRA) has congratulated the Executive Director of Institute for Energy Security (IES), Paa Kwasi Anamua Sakyi for his enstoolment as the Ankobeahene of Ekumfi Traditional Council in the Central Region of the Republic of Ghana.
Mr Anamua Sakyi, a former staff of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) Company Limited was, last week, enstooled as chief of Ekumfi Abor and Ankobeahene of Ekumfi Traditional Council.
His stool name will be Nana Amoasi VII.
In a message congratulating his enstoolment, the VRA’s Senior Staff Association said: “Your enstoolment is a mark of the selfless, dedicated and sacrificial services you render for the love of your country and mankind.
“The characteristics of a servant leader; listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuation, conceptualisation, foresight and stewardship to mention but a few, are clearly manifested by your stance on issues and willingness to speak out. It is, therefore, not surprising and, indeed, heartwarning to hear the news of your enstoolment.
“We pray for the blessings and protection powers of the Almighty God over you to wisdomly perform this noble and highly responsible additional role to His Glory. Congratulations.”
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) has said it has delivered the world’s fastest brownfield floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) modification and upgrading project.
Named FPSO Abigail-Joseph, the vessel was delivered to Yinson, Keppel said on Wednesday.
Keppel also said that its scope on this project included refurbishment and life extension work, engineering and procurement, fabrication and installation of new structures including the helideck and riser balcony, as well as the installation, integration, and completion of topside modules.
Chartered by First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company (First E&P) on a firm seven-year contract with options to extend, the FPSO Abigail-Joseph will be deployed in Block OML 83/85 in the Anyala-Madu field, Niger State, Nigeria.
It would be recalled that after months of negotiations, Malaysia’s Yinson and Nigerian First E&P in February 2019 executed an FPSO contract. It was agreed that First would hire the FPSO, to be named Abigail-Joseph, and deploy it on the Anyala & Madu. The value of the charter was $617 million. The FPSO is expected to start operations at the fields by the fourth quarter of 2019.
FPSO Abigail-Joseph has a processing capacity of 50,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and 60,000 barrels of liquid per day (blpd). It also has a gas compression capacity of 34 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) and a storage capacity of not less than 550,000 barrels of oil. It is designed for 15 years of operations without dry docking.
“This is our 134th floating production vessel, and we are pleased to be able to fast-track the project and upgrade it in under seven months. This achievement reflects Keppel’s track record of reliability and quality, anchored in our strong engineering and project management capabilities, which enable us to offer value adding solutions for customers,” Chris Ong, CEO of Keppel O&M said.
Lim Chern Yuan, Group CEO of Yinson Holdings, added, “This is our third FPSO conversion project with Keppel since 2012, and our close partnership has grown from strength to strength. Leveraging our FPSO expertise and Keppel’s experience in vessel conversions, we are able to achieve this significant industry milestone and bring FPSO Abigail-Joseph to market quickly, maximising its operational uptime.”
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
US oil and gas giant, ExxonMobil fell to a 15-year low on Monday just over a week before CEO Darren Woods is scheduled to present the oil explorer’s long-term strategic plan to investors and analysts.
The shares have been under pressure since Exxon disclosed disappointing fourth-quarter results in late January and prospects for a near-term recovery were dimmed by the spreading coronavirus. Excess supplies of natural gas, chemicals and motor fuels also weighed on the oil supermajor.
Exxon fell 4.7% to close at $56.36 on Monday in New York as Brent crude tumbled to about $56 a barrel. The last time the Texas-based driller’s stock traded at this level was the end of 2005, when crude fetched $59.
Exxon has been scrutinizing employee-travel budgets since posting its worst quarterly profit in almost four years, people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg News earlier this month. Auditing teams have fanned out to some divisions to analyze travel requests involving industry conferences, the people said.
Woods is focused on rebuilding Exxon’s portfolio of crude and gas projects through new drilling from Guyana to Mozambique. But investors have so far balked at the huge cost. Woods is scheduled to defend his strategy in a day-long presentation on March 5 in New York.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
A former Deputy Minister for Power under the erstwhile John Mahama administration and a current Member of Parliament for Yapei-Kusawgu, in the Republic of Ghana, John Abdulai Jinapor has given the Akufo-Addo-administration a 24-hour ultimatum to publish a Load Shedding Time Table or face the wrath of the Minority.
“The Minister for Energy is, hereby, putting on notice that failure to comply within 24 hours will compel us to explore all available options under the 1992 Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament not excluding a vote of censure on him,” John Jinapor said in a statement.
There has been pockets of power outages across the West African nation since the beginning of February 2020.
The situation has made many electricity users lamenting on social media, with some concluding that the country has returned to the era of load shedding which was christened as ‘dumsor’ in the Ghanaian parlance.
In an interview with Accra-based Joy FM, Deputy Minister for Energy in charge of Power, William Owuraku Aidoo blamed the current power cuts on the ongoing cleaning and inspection exercise being undertaken by the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company which has stopped the flow of gas supply from the east to various power plants powered by natural gas.
“This is going to be for just a few more days, and we will come to normal… It is not as people have been saying that ‘dumsor’ is back and we’ve gone back to the bad old days again. No. This is work that needed to be done to ensure the integrity of the pipeline and gas supply to our generators,” Owuraku Aidoo explained.
“We apologise for the inconvenience… the engineers are working,” he said.
“We did take steps to try and reduce to the barest minimum the interruptions in the power supply because we shouldn’t forget that Ghana, of course, we have our own indigenous gas that we can flow from the west to the east, but unfortunately because of this work, the gas from the west to the east, that is from Takoradi to the Tema enclave could not also be supplied.
“The Kpone Thermal Plant…we’ve lost one of the generators, which is giving us something in the region of 100 megawatts. We have also lost the TICO Plant [Takoradi International Plant]. We’ve lost parts of it as well, which were not foreseen. We made all these plans and unfortunately this has happened. Cenpower also, we were taking 180, a combination of 360, one turbine is gone off losing 180 so when we combine these unforeseen generators that have gone off…right now we are losing something in the region of between 100 and 200 megawatts.
“The plants that have gone down that I have enumerated amounts to well over 300, almost 400 megawatts, so that is what has caused this problem but like I said, this is going to be for a few days and we will come back to normalcy. So I’ll apologise once again on behalf of the Ministry of Energy that we will come back to normal. It is not as people have been saying that ‘dumsor’ is back and we’ve gone back to the bad old days again, no. This is work that needed to be done to ensure the integrity of the pipeline and gas supply to our generators.”
However, John Jinapor, who accused the Akufo-Addo of poorly managing the energy sector, maintained that the dreadful ‘dumsor’ is back.
“It is instructive to note that GRIDCo has been clandestinely shedding about 200MW since the first week of February this year with no end in sight.
“Let me be clear, the dreaded DUMSOR which the Mahama administration resolved is sadly back due to the ineptitude and mismanagement of the energy sector,” he stated.
“Today, the Ministry of Energy, having been exposed badly with the current DUMSOR the nation is witnessing is moving away from its earlier position that power outages was solely a result of financial challenges.
“For the records, this government has not procured a single drum of LCO since 2019.
“I, therefore, call on the Akuffo-Addo-led government to immediately desist from this blatant deception and publish the Load Shedding Time Table to enable Ghanaians plan their daily schedules,” Mr Jinapor demanded.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s largest independent power producer, Sunon Asogli Power GH Ltd has constructed a 4km-concrete road from the power plant to Pentecost Junction, a popular place at Kpone in the Republic of Ghana.
Sunon Asogli, which was established in 2006, has been very supportive to the people of Kpone.
The 4-kilometer road, estimated at the cost of $4 million, was constructed in partnership with the Kpone-Katamansu Municipal Assembly (KKMA) and it is intended to provide convenience for the chiefs and people of Kpone and its environs.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Kpone concrete road on Tuesday, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia expressed the government’s commitment in constructing more concrete roads in the country.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to constructing more roads this year since roads have become the core of Ghanaians for convenience.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana
Chronicling some selected roads in the Kpone Municipality which would be given a facelift, Dr Bawumia mentioned the Kpone township roads, Community 22 to Atadeka road, Afariwaa, Appolonia, Kakasunanka Numbers 1&2, Mac Baron to French man roads, among others.
The Vice President was optimistic that when completed, the roads would minimise the ordeal commuters go through daily and improve accessibility in the municipality.
He expressed the government’s appreciation and that of the community to Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Limited, the Chinese government, overseas shareholders and other development partners for the kind gesture.
He further urged the power generating company to continue to partner with the area’s assembly to meet the needs of the people of Kpone.
He was so much praise for China for its continuous demonstration of its willingness to be an important partner of Ghana with several developmental projects, especially when it comes to road construction and industries.
The Chairman of Sunon Asogli Power Limited, Mr. Yang Qun said the construction of the road was the demonstration of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the power company to Ghana.
The electricity demand in the country keeps growing and this is a boost to Ghana’s economy.
He said Sunon Asogli Power and Shenzhen Energy are looking at further investments in the sector. We hope we receive all the support needed to see this as a success.
“Sunon Asogli Power is very committed to continue being the most efficient and reliable IPP in the country. We will also ensure that we continue to meet the needs of the community, as it is our corporate-social responsibility.”Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is expected to pay a working visit to Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Limited, the country’s largest independent power producer, on Tuesday, 25th February, 2020.
According to energynewsafrica.com’s sources, the Vice President is scheduled to commission a 4km- concrete road the Sunon Asogli has constructed as part of its corporate social responsibility for residents and people of Kpone where it operates.
He will later tour the company’s power plant to familiarize himself with the operations of the company.
The Vice President will be accompanied by the Minister for Energy John -Peter Amewu, Roads and Highways Minister Hon. Kwesi Amoako Atta and other government officials.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s Ministry of Energy is accusing a former Chief Executive Officer of the country’s national oil company, GNPC, Mr Alex Mould, of attempting to misinform Ghanaians in his write-ups on Aker Energy and AGM petroleum agreements.
According to the Ministry, the amendments to the Petroleum Agreements of Aker Energy and AGM were to provide regulatory certainty and incentives to support the realisation of Aker’s Pecan Project and increase investment in the AGM block respectively.
“These incentives have already yielded positive results for the country as AGM recently announced crude oil discoveries following an accelerated drilling campaign,” the Ministry explained.
In his latest epistle titled: ‘Government has bestowed on all Ghanaians massive historical damage to our oil and gas sector’, the former CEO of the GNPC berated the Akufo-Addo-administration for providing what he described as sweeping tax exemptions for the Norwegian oil and gas firm.
“Sadly, these amendments also provide sweeping tax exemption for Aker and AGM, its sub-contractors and sub sub-contractors. No withholding taxes in the case of AGM itself, and a reduced withholding tax rate of 5 percent instead of the 15 percent withholding tax for any work or services or supply or use of goods, both to domestic and international transactions.
“It is reckless to exempt withholding tax for international transactions; this is akin to surrendering taxing rights to a foreign state because the foreign state will apply tax on its worldwide income and will result in permanent revenue loss for Ghana. Additionally, exempting withholding tax on domestic transactions may lead to tax evasion as the trail is lost; eventually resulting in large scale tax loss due to avoidance,” Mr Mould said.
He further argued that the non-resident companies having established a Permanent Establishment (PE) status for tax purposes would be liable for full corporate tax.
“Sadly, the amendments make it possible for non-residence Permanent Establishment (PE) to be exempted from the payment of tax at the domestic rate. This will cause a substantial tax loss as the tax exemption is for 7 years.
However, in a statement signed by the Head of Communications at the Ministry, Nana Kofi Oppong-Damoah accused Mr Mould for churning out inaccurate information.
“It is important to state that in the amendments of the AGM Petroleum Agreement, we negotiated a higher net gain for Ghana. We reduced our commercial paid interest and the subsequent exposure of GNPC but raised the free carried interest of the state. This resulted in a Benefit-Cost ratio of 19 in favour of Ghana against 11 in the original Agreement.
“The Ministry wishes to advise Mr Mould and others who conduct themselves in similar ways to contact the appropriate institutions where they lack information on any issue in the oil and gas sector. As former CEO of GNPC. He cannot rely on uninformed commentators for information on critical subjects like petroleum for the purpose of conducting analysis for public consumption. Our doors are always open,” the Ministry said.
Clink on the link below for the Ministry’s full statementPRESS RELEASE
Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), the implementing agency for the Power Compact II in the Republic of Ghana, is to construct two power sub-stations at Kanda and Legon, both in the Republic of Ghana.
The cost of the two sub-stations is estimated at $11.3 million and will be funded by MCC as part of the US$308 million Compact II funds provided by the People and Government of the USA and US $23.2 million Counterpart funds by the Government of Ghana.
These form part of projects being implemented under the Ghana Power Compact Agreement Programme.
The project would assist in reducing technical losses at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
A kick-off meeting was held on 20th and 21st February, 2020, to signify the readiness of all the parties including the Project Contractor, Eiffage Ghana Ltd. towards the commencement of project.
Delivering his opening remarks, Eson-Benjamin said the Primary sub-stations “will fill an infrastructure gap which has been anticipated as the solution to the perennial power supply challenges experienced by the beneficiary health facilities.”
He added that these primary sub-station interventions could be perceived “as a health-driven infrastructure initiative and the sub-stations are, therefore, critical assets in the promotion of quality healthcare for Ghanaians.”
The 33/11kV Legon Primary Substation would improve electricity in Ghana and its surrounding communities, especially the newly constructed University of Ghana Teaching Hospital and Noguchi Memorial Institute for medical research.
The Kanda Primary sub-stations would improve power supply to the 37 Military Hospital and the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
When completed, the health facilities and the neighbouring communities would experience significant improvements in power supplied to institutions and homes.
Along side the project, MiDA would construct a 16-unit three-bed apartment block at Kanda for the Ghana Armed Forces.
This would provide accommodation for persons to be affected by the construction of the sub-station.
The Deputy RCD of the MiDA, Ms Feleke said Ghanaians, as well as the US Government, who are providing the funds, hold huge expectations of the project.
SMEC PTY, the project engineers, and other project consultants were present.
Before the project implementation plan was drawn, series of meeting were held among all the stakeholders.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
OIL and Gas workers in the Republic of Ghana, West Africa, have issued two weeks’ ultimatum to the country’s Labour Commission to ensure speedy resolution of some compensation cases brought before it within the ultimatum timeline.
According to the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU), which is the umbrella body of the oil and gas workers, failure of the Commission will compel them to activate all the industrial action process at their disposal.
The Union accused the Commission of dragging its feet on their demands for compensation for two former workers of ETG Ghana Limited, Francis Narh and Patrick Akpable, who were sacked unlawfully about three years ago.
In a resolution reached after the Union’s Regional Conference in Takoradi, they said the National Labour Commission has, for the last three years, failed to rule on the Union’s request for compensation for two of their members dismissed by ETG Ghana Limited.
Speaking to energynewsafrica.com in a telephone interview, Chairman of GTPCWU, Bernard Owusu said after the expiration of the two weeks’ ultimatum, the Union members would picket at ETG Ghana Limited and other businesses of the owner of the company including the Takoradi Mall.
Bernard-Owusu,Chairman of General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union, Republic of Ghana
He continued that after the few days of picketing, the Union would follow it with a declaration of a full-blown strike action saying, “All our members will withdraw their services in solidarity of the two dismissed colleagues.
Though it is refreshing that Ghana has, so far, realised about US$6 billion in revenue from the Petroleum Industry since 2011, the industry is, however, bedeviled with concerns of unfair remuneration and dismissals among the few Ghanaians employed.
Besides, the yet to be resolved compensation for the two helicopter crash survivors, the latest is the sacking of two workers of ETG Ghana, a subsidiary of Amarja, a Petroleum Industry Support service provider.”
He told energynewsafrica.com that the country’s upstream regulator, Petroleum Commission, is aware of the issues but has not done anything about it.
“For the Petroleum Commission, they are aware of all of these things. We don’t have confidence in them because of things that have happened in the past. You remember a few years ago, a helicopter had an accident and as we speak now, nothing has happened to those workers. So if you have a Commission like that in place, do we go back and tell them that these workers have been sacked? In the oil sector, what we are hearing is that our people are in the pocket of the multinationals so when you’re even talking, they don’t even care about it.
“What they understand is this radical measures; hitting the streets, going on strike. That is what they basically understand and we have been quiet for some time now but they should be ready that come some days ahead of us, we would be embarking on certain actions about things that have happened to our workers that have not been addressed. As the resolution said, in two weeks if we do not hear anything from the authorities, the National Union, with the region, would embark on certain industrial actions which would not be nice or pleasant.“
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
He was so much praise for China for its continuous demonstration of its willingness to be an important partner of Ghana with several developmental projects, especially when it comes to road construction and industries.
The Chairman of Sunon Asogli Power Limited, Mr. Yang Qun said the construction of the road was the demonstration of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the power company to Ghana.
The electricity demand in the country keeps growing and this is a boost to Ghana’s economy.
He said Sunon Asogli Power and Shenzhen Energy are looking at further investments in the sector. We hope we receive all the support needed to see this as a success.
“Sunon Asogli Power is very committed to continue being the most efficient and reliable IPP in the country. We will also ensure that we continue to meet the needs of the community, as it is our corporate-social responsibility.”
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com 
