Ghana:Pay Us Our Money-Sunon Asogli To Gov’t
Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Limited, the largest independent power producer in the Republic of Ghana, West Africa, is reeling under financial distress due to the government’s inability to pay for power supplied to the country’s power distribution company, ECG.
The West African nation owes members of the Chamber of Independent Power Producers, Bulk Distributors and Consumers (CiPDiB) a whopping GHc1.3 billion.
Asogli, which is a member of the IPP chambers, is worried about the development, which it says is hindering its progress.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with energynewsafrica.com, Chairman of Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Ltd, Mr Yang Qun could not quote the exact figure but said the amount is huge.
According to him, the lack of funds was affecting their infrastructural development.
“Definitely, we are at the brink of our efforts because there is no cash flow. Cash flow chain could and obligating the banks and salary pay roll. That is why we are very close to the cash flow problem. But it could break anytime soon.”
Despite facing financial challenges, he said the company increased its power generating capacity by 33 percent last year to up its power operation from 200MW to 360MW.
This, Mr Yang said brings their power generating capacity in the country to 560MW.
“It increased about 33 percent last year. So production is good, however, we are still facing some challenges. The big challenge remains cash problem. Everybody knows about that. We are trying and working with the government, the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy trying to help us with cash flow problems,” he said.
Going foward, Mr Yang said Ghana was a healthy and a fertile business environment for power production and urged the government to swiftly help them to do well.
“We will continue pressing…we think Ghana is a good country for investment, so we are still interested in Ghana. I believe the cash flow problem will be resolved in a short time with an effort from the government.”
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Former MD Of GOIL Advocates For Removal Of Subsidies On Fuel
A former Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Ghana’s leading oil marketing company, GOIL, Patrick Akorli believes it’s about time the West African nation abolished all subsidies on all petroleum products.
He said the illegal activities by some players in the downstream sector make it difficult for actual consumers to benefit from the subsidies.
In his view, the government should allow consumers to pay for the right price of fuel and rather channel the subsidies into development projects to benefit the masses.
Mr Akorli said this at the launch of Petroleum Downstream Product Marking Scheme Phase II in Accra, capital of Ghana
“Today, premix is being sold at Ghc1.50 pesewas whereas the right price should have been GHc5.00. There are too much incentives for people to do the wrong thing, so why don’t you take the subsidies away and use that thing to do things that benefit the people?” he said.
He tasked the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to ensure that subsidies are removed to safeguard the interest of consumers.
It would be recalled that the former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper warned the Akufo-Addo administration over the risk of huge subsidy debts and its potential to hurt the economy and collapse the energy sector of the economy.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Don’t Be Mild With Industry Players Committing Illegalities-Hosi To NPA
Chief Executive of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) in the Republic of Ghana, Senyo Hosi has tasked the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to change their style of tackling illegal activities in the petroleum downstream sector.
In his view, the West African nation’s petroleum downstream regulator should declare ‘war’ on industry players engaged in illegal activities in the petroleum downstream sector instead of continuously saying that they are fighting them.
He wants NPA to be brute instead of being mild.
He said this at the launch of the Petroleum Downstream Marketing Scheme Phase II in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
According to Mr Hosi, between 2015 and 2017, Ghana lost a whopping Ghc 2.6 billion, a development he said is not good for a country like Ghana.
He lamented that such losses of cash could have been used to solve the numerous under developmental challenges in the country.
“So you can count on this board and its membership of delivery of this entire technology and the war that we are all seeking to achieve. There are three things this is doing: they deal with all the key stakeholders in the petroleum sector,” he said.
Mr Hosi agreed to sanitising the industry to actually deliver quality assurance interventions for the stakeholders holders, for which they are all part.
“The problems we have in this industry come from us. If we can be naming and shaming and stop covering our own colleagues, it will help us all in the long run,” he stressed.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Eight BRV’s Under Investigation For Export Dumping-NPA CEO
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) says his outfit is investigating eight Bulk Road Vehicles (BRVs) that loaded products for export but ended up going to Kpone, near Tema, to offer the product for sale.
Hassan Tampuli disclosed this at the launch of the Petroleum Product Marking Scheme (PPMS) Phase II on Tuesday, February 19, 2020.
“We’re currently investigating eight trucks that loaded for export but ended up at a depot. You loaded to Niger and you ended up at Kpone and started calling OMCs we also feigned interest and got them,” he said mincing to mention the culprits.
According to him, his outfit would continue to pursue those who are engaging in illegalities in the sector.
He noted that petroleum products consumption statistics has shown that collaborative efforts by the NPA, National Security and other security agencies have helped to drastically reduce the menace of supply leakages such as export dumping in the country.
“National consumption of petroleum products, which saw a 6 percent decline in 2016, increased by a percentage in 2017 and recorded a 16 percent increase in 2018 due to intensified measures put in place to curb the menace.
“The Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributing Companies’ (CBODs) 2018 industry report clearly stated that the marker concentration failure rates of 4.9 percent recorded in 2017, also fell to 1.24 percent, thereby, indicating lower levels of product dumping at the retail stations,” Mr Tampuli averred.
The NPA CEO explained that the fuel marking programme, which was introduced in 2012, empowered the NPA to identify and legally deal with participants in the illicit trade of the retail chain of the petroleum downstream sector.
”All these were as a result of sustained government policy to deal with the malpractices in the petroleum downstream sector. This will recoup the government’s revenue which is being lost through diversion of subsided petroleum products,” he said.
The PPMS entered a new phase of the programme on April 1, 2019. Nationwide Technologies Limited (NTL) has been contracted to undertake the fuel marking activities in Ghana with Authentix Inc. as a sub-contractor.
Mr Tampuli said the phase II of the PPMS is anchored on technological advancements in the markers, as well as the detection proprietary equipment.
The marker has been uniquely designed for the Ghanaian market with a chemical composition to aid in immediate equipment quantification and detection to enable the NPA make swift decisions on whether retail outlets have dumped or adulterated the petroleum products being offered for sale at retail outlets across the country.
Phase II of the PPMS will see the NPA improve upon the following: sustained successful marking and field monitoring of marked petroleum products; reduction in the retail outlet failure rate, which is indicative of the decrease in the malpractices in the distribution and sale of petroleum products; improvement in stakeholder awareness in furtherance of the NPA’s medium term strategy; significant reduction in the fuel tax revenue loss and subsidy abuse; and improved quality of products at the retail outlets for consumers of petroleum products.
Deputy Minister for Energy in-charge of Petroleum, Dr Amin Adam, who was at the event congratulated the NPA for their continuous effort to clean up the petroleum downstream sector.
He also encouraged the NPA not to rest on their oars because there is more to be done and achieved in the petroleum industry.
The Chief of Staff of Ghana Madam Akosua Frema- Osei Opare said “fuel adulteration is a worldwide problem which needs stringent measures to arrest and defeat it.”
She said fuel adulteration has dire consequences on the revenue projection of government since those who engage in the illicit trade fail to pay the needed taxes.
She was therefore hopeful that this new phase two of the PPMS will block the revenue leakages and help the government raise the needed revenue to carry out other developmental projects.
“I am very confident that this program will help Ghanaian consumers realize that they are getting value for money,” she concluded.
Industry coordinator and chairman of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Kwaku Agyemang Duah underscored the need for the regulator to be consistent in its fight against illicit trading in the petroleum downstream sector.
He called on the authority to ensure the development of a fair and consistent policy that is enforceable.
Source: energynewsafrica.com
The NPA CEO explained that the fuel marking programme, which was introduced in 2012, empowered the NPA to identify and legally deal with participants in the illicit trade of the retail chain of the petroleum downstream sector.
”All these were as a result of sustained government policy to deal with the malpractices in the petroleum downstream sector. This will recoup the government’s revenue which is being lost through diversion of subsided petroleum products,” he said.
The PPMS entered a new phase of the programme on April 1, 2019. Nationwide Technologies Limited (NTL) has been contracted to undertake the fuel marking activities in Ghana with Authentix Inc. as a sub-contractor.
Mr Tampuli said the phase II of the PPMS is anchored on technological advancements in the markers, as well as the detection proprietary equipment.The marker has been uniquely designed for the Ghanaian market with a chemical composition to aid in immediate equipment quantification and detection to enable the NPA make swift decisions on whether retail outlets have dumped or adulterated the petroleum products being offered for sale at retail outlets across the country.
Phase II of the PPMS will see the NPA improve upon the following: sustained successful marking and field monitoring of marked petroleum products; reduction in the retail outlet failure rate, which is indicative of the decrease in the malpractices in the distribution and sale of petroleum products; improvement in stakeholder awareness in furtherance of the NPA’s medium term strategy; significant reduction in the fuel tax revenue loss and subsidy abuse; and improved quality of products at the retail outlets for consumers of petroleum products.
Deputy Minister for Energy in-charge of Petroleum, Dr Amin Adam, who was at the event congratulated the NPA for their continuous effort to clean up the petroleum downstream sector.
He also encouraged the NPA not to rest on their oars because there is more to be done and achieved in the petroleum industry.
The Chief of Staff of Ghana Madam Akosua Frema- Osei Opare said “fuel adulteration is a worldwide problem which needs stringent measures to arrest and defeat it.”
She said fuel adulteration has dire consequences on the revenue projection of government since those who engage in the illicit trade fail to pay the needed taxes.
She was therefore hopeful that this new phase two of the PPMS will block the revenue leakages and help the government raise the needed revenue to carry out other developmental projects.
“I am very confident that this program will help Ghanaian consumers realize that they are getting value for money,” she concluded.
Industry coordinator and chairman of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Kwaku Agyemang Duah underscored the need for the regulator to be consistent in its fight against illicit trading in the petroleum downstream sector.
He called on the authority to ensure the development of a fair and consistent policy that is enforceable.
Source: energynewsafrica.com Ghana: ECG To Deploy Artificial Intelligence To Tackle Power Theft
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), is in the process of employing the use of Artificial Intelligence and Remote Sensors across its systems to fight the canker of power theft, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana has revealed.
Speaking at the launch of a mobile application for ECG customers on Tuesday, Vice President Bawumia indicated that difficulties in collecting payment for power supplied and eliminating power theft were major challenges confronting ECG, therefore, the use of Artificial Intelligence would be a major game-changer.
“The issue of solving the collection problem at ECG is a major part of solving the energy issue in Ghana. I think this app also enhances collection, but I am aware- because I have been talking to the Board Chairman and the MD– that they are thinking about applying technology, artificial intelligence and remote sensors in the collection process.
“I know that they are piloting the system now, and by the grace of God if all goes well, we will have implemented a new system, starting this year, whereby nobody will be able to steal electricity in Ghana again.
“It is a major thing that the ECG is likely to implement this year, using artificial intelligence and remote sensing. They are piloting it right now, and the results look quite good. Once we solve that problem, the issue of losses from people doing ‘kuluulu’ connections of electricity will be a thing of the past,” Dr Bawumia said.
The new mobile app, known as the ‘ECG Power’ was designed in-house by the ICT staff of the ECG.
It is expected that the 2.8 million out of the ECG’s 3.8 million customer base to make payments for power purchased and services rendered by the utility services provider.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Dubai: World’s Largest Solar Park Under Construction
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is implementing the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which enhances the sustainable development of Dubai and supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050.
DEWA intends to make Dubai a global hub for clean energy and green economy.
The strategy aims to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2050.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site solar park in the world based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.
It has a planned production capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030, with investments totaling AED 50 billion.
When completed, it will save over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
The solar park also houses an Innovation Centre, a Research and Development (R&D) Centre and a 3d-printed lab.
Oman: Eni Kicks Off Drilling Operations In First Deepwater Offshore Well
Italian oil and gas major Eni has started drilling what is reportedly the first-ever deepwater offshore exploration well in Oman’s waters.
Media report earlier this week suggested that Eni has started drilling Oman’s first deepwater offshore well.
According to Offshore Energy Today, the Italian company had indeed started its drilling operations in Oman. However, no further details have been provided.
Eni late last year hired the Pacific Drilling-owned drillship, Pacific Bora, for one firm well in Oman. The duration of the well was estimated at 30 days. The contract included a $5 million mobilization fee and a $5 million demobilization fee and it provided for one option well.
Further, the contract was scheduled to start in February and end in March 2020 with a dayrate of $190,000. The 2010-built drillship also previously worked for Eni offshore Nigeria under the dayrate of $150,000.
When it comes to Eni’s offshore presence in Oman, the company is the operator of Block 52, which is an underexplored area with hydrocarbons potential located offshore in the southern region of Oman. Block 52 has an area of approximately 90,000 km2, with water depths ranging from 10 to over 3,000 meters.
The Government of the Sultanate of Oman, Oman Oil Company Exploration and Production (OOCEP), a subsidiary of state company Oman Oil Company SAOC (OOC), and Eni entered into an exploration and production sharing agreement for Block 52 back in November 2017. Eni holds a 55% stake in the block while its partners Qatar Petroleum and OOCEP hold a 30% and 15% stake, respectively.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
US Slaps Sanctions On Rosneft Subsidiary For Supporting Maduro
US government has levied sanctions on a subsidiary of Russia’s Rosneft-Rosneft Trading, in the latest round of The United States’ maximum pressure campaign on the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela, oilprice.com has reported.
“Today we sanctioned Russian-owned oil firm Rosneft Trading S.A., cutting off Maduro’s main lifeline to evade our sanctions on the Venezuelan oil sector. Those who prop up the corrupt regime and enable its repression of the Venezuelan people will be held accountable,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet.
Responding to the report Rosneft said the new sanctions were an “outrage”.
The sanctions block all US assets of Rosneft Trading and its director, Didier Casimiro, and will extend to anyone doing business—any business–with Rosneft Trading.
The Trump administration referred to Rosneft Trading as the “gravest violator” of the imposed limits on Maduro as much of the Western world wants him ousted—and fast.
Specifically, the US is alleging that Rosneft has sent oil tankers to Venezuelan ports with the location tracking system disabled and has transferred Venezuelan oil in the middle of international waters to ship on to Asia and West Africa.
It is also possible that recent talks between Rosneft and Venezuela that would see Rosneft take over some PDVSA assets was enough to spook the Trump administration into further action.
The extra sanctions added today serve not only as a warning to Rosneft, but will apply even greater pressure on Maduro, who is desperately clinging to power no matter what painful economic measures the US throws his way. Maduro’s staying power is due in part to Rosneft’s support.
The additional sanctions, which include a 90-day wind down period for companies doing business with Rosneft, received bipartisan support in the US.
Ghana: ECG To Start National Campaign Against Illegal Connection Soon
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited is set to commence a national campaign against illegal connection or power theft, energynewsafrica.com can report.
The national campaign will be dubbed: ‘If you see something, say something, and say it now’. The hashtag for the campaign is #saynotopowertheft#.
Managing Director of the West African nation’s power distribution company, ECG Limited, Kwame Agyeman-Budu dropped the hint in a speech at the launch of the company’s Mobile Application (ECG Power) in Accra, Tuesday.
The distribution company has been losing millions of cedis through power theft.
In the southern part of Ghana where ECG operates, illegal connection is rampant in the Ashanti Region, followed by Eastern Region, Tema, Accra West and Central Region, Accra East, Volta and Western.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Vice President Launches ECG’s Mobile App Designed By Staff
Ghana’s power distribution and electricity retailing company, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited has officially outdoored a Mobile Application for smart and prepaid meters customers as part of efforts to improve upon service delivery and also rake in more revenue.
The Mobile App, which was entirely designed by the internal ICT staff of ECG, would allow customers on all postpaid meters to use the channel to pay electricity bills.
Additionally, it would allow customers on Smart Prepayment meters namely; NURI, MBH, LIBERTY, ENERSMART, KAIFA, and CLOU to deposit money on their meters for electricity.
The Mobile App can be used by ECG customers who have Smart Prepayment Meters to recharge to credit for family and friends at any time of the day.
All that a customer needs to do is to go on the Google Play Store and download the ECG Power App and follow the instructions.
Speaking at the official launch of the Mobile Application christened ‘ECG POWER’, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E Dr Mahamudu Bawumia noted that 2.8 million customers out of a total customer population of 3.8 million can access the ECG Mobile App.
According to him, 700,000 customers on Smart Prepayment meters and 2.1 million customers on post-paid meters are currently accessing the App.
Touching on the benefit to be derived from the Mobile App, Dr Bawumia said it would bring convenience to the numerous ECG’s customers.
“Just imagine being at home and it is 3am and you run out of power and you don’t have a way to essentially top up your meter. You will have to wait till the following morning and get onto a trotro or a taxi to go to the nearest vendor and pay and then you will get recharged. With this app, even if it is 3 in the morning and you run out of power, you just pick your phone and get recharged,” he explained.
Dr Bawumia, who described the initiative as timely, noted that the greatest challenge in the energy sector is its inability to collect revenue due it after supplying electricity to the consuming public.
“If we produce power and we are only able to collect sixty percent (60%) of the revenue, it means we have lost 40% of the revenue. The issue of solving the collection problem at ECG is a major part of solving the energy issue in Ghana,” Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia said.
He further indicated that he is aware that the Board and Management of ECG are looking at applying technology in the collection process of its revenue.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of ECG, Kelly Gadzekpo, in his remarks, registered the delight of ECG to its Information Technology (IT) staff whom, he solely credited as those who developed the entire infrastructure of the new app, ‘ECG POWER’.
He also emphasised that an effective monitoring system has been instituted by the ECG to ensure that revenue generated by the App would be secured and guaranteed.
Dr Bawumia commended the staff of ECG for coming out with such an initiative.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of ECG, Kwame Agyeman-Budu congratulated the ICT team for the initiative, and said the App supplements existing channels of interface with customers and payment options open to them.
He revealed that his outfit would soon launch a national campaign dubbed: “If you see something, say something, and say it now,” with hash tag #saynotopowertheft to tackle illegal connection.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of ECG Kelly Gadzekpo, in his remarks registered the delight of ECG to her Information Technology (IT) staff who he solely credited as those who developed the entire infrastructure of the new app, ECG POWER.
He also emphasised that an effective monitoring system has been instituted by the ECG to ensure that revenue generated by the App would be secured and guaranteed.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Touching on the benefit to be derived from the Mobile App, Dr Bawumia said it would bring convenience to the numerous ECG’s customers.
“Just imagine being at home and it is 3am and you run out of power and you don’t have a way to essentially top up your meter. You will have to wait till the following morning and get onto a trotro or a taxi to go to the nearest vendor and pay and then you will get recharged. With this app, even if it is 3 in the morning and you run out of power, you just pick your phone and get recharged,” he explained.Dr Bawumia, who described the initiative as timely, noted that the greatest challenge in the energy sector is its inability to collect revenue due it after supplying electricity to the consuming public.
“If we produce power and we are only able to collect sixty percent (60%) of the revenue, it means we have lost 40% of the revenue. The issue of solving the collection problem at ECG is a major part of solving the energy issue in Ghana,” Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia said.He further indicated that he is aware that the Board and Management of ECG are looking at applying technology in the collection process of its revenue.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of ECG, Kelly Gadzekpo, in his remarks, registered the delight of ECG to its Information Technology (IT) staff whom, he solely credited as those who developed the entire infrastructure of the new app, ‘ECG POWER’.
He also emphasised that an effective monitoring system has been instituted by the ECG to ensure that revenue generated by the App would be secured and guaranteed.Dr Bawumia commended the staff of ECG for coming out with such an initiative.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of ECG, Kwame Agyeman-Budu congratulated the ICT team for the initiative, and said the App supplements existing channels of interface with customers and payment options open to them.
He revealed that his outfit would soon launch a national campaign dubbed: “If you see something, say something, and say it now,” with hash tag #saynotopowertheft to tackle illegal connection.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of ECG Kelly Gadzekpo, in his remarks registered the delight of ECG to her Information Technology (IT) staff who he solely credited as those who developed the entire infrastructure of the new app, ECG POWER.
He also emphasised that an effective monitoring system has been instituted by the ECG to ensure that revenue generated by the App would be secured and guaranteed.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
ENGIE Africa Delivers Off-Grid Power To Over 4 Million People (Press Release)
ENGIE Africa, world’s largest independent electricity producer has announced that it has successfully accelerated the Access to Energy (A2E) strategy that it launched in 2018.
ENGIE has achieved this through the development of its three A2E off-grid energy solution companies: Fenix International, ENGIE Mobisol, and ENGIE PowerCorner.
With these three innovative entities, ENGIE Africa is bringing decentralized electricity to more than four million people in nine countries (Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mozambique). This growth is in line with the Group’s ambition to reach millions of households and businesses with clean, distributed energy across Africa.
Fenix, which was acquired by ENGIE in 2018, expanded its operations significantly in 2019. To date, it has sold more than 700,000 solar home systems that power 3.5 million people in rural communities across six countries. Now employing 1,200 full-time team members, Fenix launched sales in Mozambique in June 2019. In the last month, the company has reached milestones in multiple markets, with 150,000 solar home systems sold in Zambia, 50,000 sold in Benin, and 20,000 sold in Côte d’Ivoire.
ENGIE complemented its range of solar home system solutions by finalizing the acquisition of Mobisol in October 2019. The higher capacity (40–200W) of ENGIE Mobisol’s products offers consumers access to modern energy services and appliances to establish solar-powered small businesses. ENGIE Mobisol has operations in Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya, and has installed more than 150,000 solar home systems, providing clean and reliable energy to 750,000 people and counting in East Africa.
Mini-grid developer and operator ENGIE PowerCorner now has 13 mini-grids in operation across two countries (Tanzania and Zambia), serving 15,000 beneficiaries. It is constructing new mini-grids in Uganda (in joint venture with Equatorial Power), Benin and Nigeria, with the aim to triple its number of customers this year. ENGIE PowerCorner focuses on powering income-generating activities and productive usages, thus contributing to the increase of the economic welfare of its rural customers.
Fenix’s inclusive solar home systems for household usages, combined with ENGIE Mobisol’s focus on larger households and small business appliances, together with ENGIE PowerCorner’s focus on income-generating activities and small-scale industries, enables ENGIE to offer affordable energy products and to extend its customer base from rural to urban areas.
Yoven Moorooven, CEO of ENGIE Africa, says: “We strongly believe in the huge potential of the off-grid electrification sector and that it will be instrumental in rapidly and cost-effectively bridging energy gaps across Africa. We will build upon our successes to sustain and meet our long-term ambition of impacting tens of millions of lives across Africa.
ENGIE has an important role to play in industrializing and scaling up the off-grid solar business. We are keen to offer the lowest cost and best quality Access to Energy solution that addresses our customers’ needs.”
ENGIE is expanding its offerings beyond electricity provision, integrating cost-effective and tailor-made solutions “as a service” to accompany customers every step of the way. This expansion links energy access to other products and services: internet, water, productive appliances, clean cooking, financial services and products.
Universal electrification is the seventh of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that the global community has committed to achieve by 2030. ENGIE is confident that universal access to energy is achievable in the foreseeable future, through smart investments in a combination of national grid extension, solar home systems and mini-grids.
Ghana: ECG Outdoors Shortcode Payment Option For Non-Smartphone Users
Ghana’s power distribution and retail company, Electricity Company of Ghana has introduced a new short code *226# for its non-smartphone users to recharge their prepaid credit digitally.
This comes on the back of the company’s efforts to provide convenience to its various consumers across the country.
Other available payment options are for consumers on Smart Prepayment Meters, Mobile Money, Prepaid Top Up, Post Paid Meters.
Consumers can also get Consumption Information on their meters through the app.
The Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia announced this at the official launch of ECG’s Mobile App at the company’s head office today.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Tema Community 2 Shell Service Station Goes Solar
Vivo Energy Ghana, one of the petroleum downstream players and a licensee of Shell in the Republic of Ghana, has reopened its second solar powered Shell service station in Tema Community 2, Ghana’s industrial city.
The station is the second after Airport City Shell to be powered by solar energy to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and ensure energy efficiency in its operations.
The Managing Director of Vivo Energy Ghana, Mr. Ben Hassan Ouattara said the initiative is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13.
According to him, the company is committed to developing a number of solutions to reduce energy usage and impact on the environment.
“We work hard, in partnership with Shell, to develop more efficient products that reduce our impact on the environment. Our Shell Fuel Save improves combustion, boosts efficiency and saves fuel. Shell lubricants, 5W30 and 5W40 are also made from base oil created from natural gas with virtually none of the impurities found in crude oil”, Mr Hassan Ouattara said in a statement copied to energynewsafrica.com.
Mr. Ouattara said the new Community 2 Shell service station, which models the company’s growth and modernisation plan, has a two-pump island canopy with a modern lube bay, a semi-automatic car wash and a tyre centre.
Additionally, the station has the new shop format welcome to provide a warm, delightful and modern shopping experience to its customers. It also has the welcome bakery under the management of Bakeshop Classics, to provide customers with quick breakfast, snack and other exciting products.
Mr. Ouattara reaffirmed Vivo Energy’s commitment to constantly providing an exceptional retail experience at Shell service stations, reaching more people with better products and services.
The Chief Inspector, Director, IM and HSSE at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mrs. Esther Anku commended Vivo Energy Ghana for setting and maintaining high standards in the industry, which is evident in its operations.
Vivo Energy operates and markets its products in countries across North, West, East and Southern Africa.
The Group has a network of over 2,100 service stations in 23 countries operating under the Shell and Engen brands and exports lubricants to a number of other African countries.
Its retail offering includes fuels, lubricants, card services, shops, restaurants and other non-fuel services.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Mr. Ouattara said the new Community 2 Shell service station, which models the company’s growth and modernisation plan, has a two-pump island canopy with a modern lube bay, a semi-automatic car wash and a tyre centre.
Additionally, the station has the new shop format welcome to provide a warm, delightful and modern shopping experience to its customers. It also has the welcome bakery under the management of Bakeshop Classics, to provide customers with quick breakfast, snack and other exciting products.
Mr. Ouattara reaffirmed Vivo Energy’s commitment to constantly providing an exceptional retail experience at Shell service stations, reaching more people with better products and services.
The Chief Inspector, Director, IM and HSSE at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mrs. Esther Anku commended Vivo Energy Ghana for setting and maintaining high standards in the industry, which is evident in its operations.
Vivo Energy operates and markets its products in countries across North, West, East and Southern Africa.
The Group has a network of over 2,100 service stations in 23 countries operating under the Shell and Engen brands and exports lubricants to a number of other African countries.
Its retail offering includes fuels, lubricants, card services, shops, restaurants and other non-fuel services.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com Tanzania Outpace Nigeria In Rural Electrification Rating
Tanzania’s Minister for Energy, Dr Medard Kalemani, says the East African country’s improved efforts in deploying electricity across rural Tanzania has placed the country on the top position on the continent.
“Initially, Nigeria was the leading country by 72%, but we are now leading in the continent, as we have reached more than 74% now,” said the minister.
The Daily News quoted Dr Kalemani as saying that a total of 9,001 villages in the country have been connected to electricity.
Dr Kalemani explained that 3,559 villages were connected through the first round of Phase Three Rural Electrification Project (REA III-1), which is ongoing.
He further said that REA III-1 will be completed in June 2020 but the government has agreed with the contractors executing the project to finish the relevant work two months earlier. As such the contractors are expected to hand over the project to Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) by 31 April 2020.
For Masasi District, the minister said the government decided to review the action plan that enabled them to increase the number of villages that will benefit from the project in that district.
“In the original design, only a few villages were to benefit from this project. This is because other villages fall under the jurisdiction of councils or cities and not districts and thus did not meet the criteria since they had the status of streets and not villages,” he explained.
He further explained that it had never happened before in history to have a district that had full coverage of electricity in all villages.
“But this time, the government has made it; there are 34 districts that are fully covered with power supply, the same spirit will spread countrywide,” he said, adding that a total of 11,070 public institutions had also been connected to electricity between 2015 and 2019, up from 3,200 that were enjoying the service in the past.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com