The Government of Liberia and the European Union (EU) have imported a consignment of transformers to light up some dark communities in the country.
The move is part of efforts by the government to increase electricity in Monrovia and its environs.
According to smartnewsliberia.com, the transformers, which were brought on Monday by the government and its partner EU, will cover 38,000 new households within Monrovia and its environs.
The beneficiary new household includes the German Embassy area, Peace Island community, TB Annex connecting from Congo town to ELWA junction, GSA road, Zubah Town, Rehab Road SKD Sports Complex, Rock Crusher, and Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), among others.
It can be recalled on Thursday, December 6, 2018, that the Liberian government and EU signed the Monrovia consolidation of electricity distribution works lot-2.
During the ceremony, the Minister of Finance Samuel D.Tweah stated that electricity and roads connectivity are among the key constraints that the CDC-led Government is faced with at the moment.
Tweah stated that the government is working closely with development partners to undertake ambitious measures to rebuild its electricity infrastructure.
According to him, the Government of President George Manneh Weah is interested in electricity because ‘without electricity, the Pro-Poor Agenda will not succeed,” adding, the government is moving faster because the projects are governed by procurement standards.
Also in August 2018, the EU provided an amount of US$21.5 million for the Monrovia consolidation lot-1 project aimed at constructing electricity transmission lines and substations.
However, the government and EU whose aim is to increase the LEC customer base to absorb the increased quantity and cheap electricity want the beneficiary communities to stop allowing the illegal connections, something they fear could cause electricity hazard.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana is benefiting more from its oil exploitation, a Deputy Energy Minister in-charge of Petroleum, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam has said.
He argued that claims by a section of Ghanaians that the West African nation is being exploited by international oil companies (IOCs) operating in Ghana’s upstream are false.
According to him, people are making those claims because of lack understanding about what goes into oil exploration and factors which are considered before oil contracts are signed.
Dr. Amin’s response was triggered by claims made by a former Chief Executive of Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO) and founder of Ghana’s Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Dr Charles Mensah at the 5th Ghana Renewable Energy Fair and National Energy Symposium that Ghana is being shortchanged for its oil resources.
Dr. Charles Mensah could not understand why the government of Ghana would give out oil field which is quantified at US$52 billion to the Norwegian oil and gas firm Aker Energy without considering the interest of Ghanaians.
In a rebuttal, Dr Amin stated Ghana is actually getting more from the oil exploitation contrary to the perception of a section of Ghanaians.
Dr Amin Adam said Ghana is getting 54 percent share in the Jubilee fields, 68 percent in ENI contract and 78 percent share in ExxonMobil contract.
Painting a picture of how expensive oil exploration is, Dr Amin said it would cost about US$7 billion to be able to develop an oil field, stating that Ghana does not have the financial capacity to do that.
This, he explained, is the reason the government would get in an investor who is ready to get the US$7 billion to look for the oil and also invest in the development of the field and produce the oil and share the interest with.
He offered some explanations as to what goes into oil contracts.
“The US$52 billion Dr Charles Mensah (founder of IEA) said we gave to Aker Energy, for instance, is it US$52 billion? The US$52 billion is what I believe is quantified as the value of the oil and the oil should be brought over 25 to 30 years.
“And so you tell them that let’s analyse the cost you’re spending to bring it out. So if you invest that money, you get your returns. Therefore, every cost you incur you need your returns so the sharing is actually the returns not the cost.
“But many people think when you give them the oil for the cost, then, you have given them for free. You give it to them for the cost but the returns are what the two of us share and if you look at how much we share Ghana benefits more.
“Because you have a number of things you take back.
“Ghana is getting royalty, free carried interest, you can also take additional paid interest, then your corporate tax which is 35%, if they make supernormal profit you also charge the supernormal profit so if you put all these together, Ghana has about 54% in the jubilee. We’re getting 68%in the ENI and 78% share in the ExxonMobil,” he explained.
Dr. Amin urged Ghanaians to appreciate the efforts public sector officials are doing for the nation instead of condemning them.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Greenpeace activists from the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark boarded two oil platforms in Shell’s Brent field on Monday in what they say is a protest against plans by the company to leave parts of old oil structures with 11,000 tonnes of oil in the North Sea,Offshoreenergytoday.com reports.
Greenpeace said in a statement on Monday that its climbers, supported by the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, had scaled Brent Alpha and Bravo and hung banners saying, ‘Shell, clean up your mess!’ and ‘Stop Ocean Pollution’.
Greenpeace claimed that Shell plans to leave parts of four Brent oil platforms at sea with a total of around 640,000 cubic metres of oily water and 40,000 cubic metres of oily sediment, containing more than 11,000 tonnes of oil.
According to Greenpeace, a ban on dumping installations and platforms in the North East Atlantic Ocean was agreed in 1998 by all members of the OSPAR Commission and Shell has requested an exemption from the UK government.
“Shell’s plans are a scandal and go against international agreements to protect the environment. With escalating climate emergency, biodiversity loss and species extinction, we need healthy oceans more than ever. Abandoning thousands of tonnes of oil in ageing concrete will sooner or later pollute the sea. Shell must be stopped,” Dr Christian Bussau, Greenpeace campaigner on board the Rainbow Warrior said.
“We urge OSPAR governments to protect the ocean and not cave in to corporate pressure.”
Germany & Netherlands objecGreenpeace stated: “The UK government is willing to approve Shell’s plans when OSPAR meets in London on October 18. Germany has filed an official objection. The Netherlands will also object and the European Commission has raised serious concerns.”
Namely, Dutch infrastructure minister, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, earlier in October sent a letter to the Parliament about the country’s position on cleaning up Shell’s oil platforms in the North Sea, saying it was consistent with that of Germany, which has already objected.
She said that, as a party to the OSPAR treaty, the Netherlands would object to the UK’s intention to grant Shell a license to abandon Brent platforms foundations with contaminated material in them.
‘Dangerous precedent’
“The UK government cannot claim to be a global oceans champion while allowing Shell to dump thousands of tonnes of oil in the North Sea,” said Dr Doug Parr, Greenpeace UK’s chief scientist.
“If ministers allow Shell to bend the rules, this will set a dangerous precedent for the decommissioning of hundreds of ageing North Sea platforms in the coming years. Shell made billions from drilling for oil in this region – they shouldn’t be allowed to scrimp and save on the clean-up at the expense of our marine environment.”
“Oil in the base of Shell’s platforms will reach the sea as the concrete structures rot and collapse. Shell’s plans leave a ticking time bomb and that is totally irresponsible,” added Bussau.
In 1995, public support for the Brent Spar campaign pushed Shell to agree to dismantle the oil tank and loading platform on land instead of dumping it in the sea. The campaign also led to OSPAR’s decision in 1998 to ban such dumping in the North East Atlantic.
“Shell is directly fuelling the climate emergency that is causing more extreme storms, floods, droughts and wildfires and bringing misery to millions of people around the world. The company’s reckless business threatens some of the world’s most important ecosystems with extinction and has to be stopped. For us to have a future, toxic oil companies like Shell must have no future, said Bussau, who was also part of the 1995 Brent Spar protest.
Brent decommissioning
The Shell-operated Brent field, located 115 miles north-east of the Shetland Islands, has produced around three billion barrels of oil equivalent since production started in 1976, which is almost 10% of UK production. The field comprised four large platforms: Alpha (a steel jacket), Bravo, Charlie, and Delta (concrete gravity-based structures).
Shell submitted its decommissioning program for the Brent oil and gas field to the authorities in February 2017. The Brent decommissioning program recommended the upper steel jacket on the Brent Alpha platform to be removed, along with the topsides of the four Brent platforms, debris lying on the seabed, and the attic oil contained within the concrete storage cells of the gravity base structures.
Shell has already removed the Brent Delta and Brent Bravo platform topsides in April 2017 and June 2019, respectively. Both were removed using the Allseas-owned Pioneering Spirit vessel
Senegal is expected to host the first-ever Oil & Power Conference & Exhibition from May 27-28, 2020 in Dakar, capital of the West African country.
The Senegalese government has officially named Africa Oil & Power (AfricaOilAndPower.com) as the official organizer of the event.
According to a press statement copied to energynewsafrica.com, AOP will be supported by Government of Senegal, Cos-Petrogaz, Petrosen and Senelec.
The conference will herald a new era of investment in one of West Africa’s leading business destinations, on the back of world-class offshore oil and gas discoveries and several dynamic energy projects that have been put in motion.
The conference will be a vehicle to promote the new deepwater licensing round which was announced this week at the Africa Oil & Power Conference in Cape Town and for public-private partnerships spanning the value chain.
Senegal Oil & Power 2019 will also highlight the growing importance of technology in the energy industry. Thanks to its young population and governmental commitment to developing a high-level technological readiness, the growth of energy and technology are inextricably connected.
Chief Executive officer of Africa Oil & Power Guillaume Doane, stated: “Senegal has quickly cemented its position as one of Africa’s hottest energy markets on the back of big offshore discoveries, game-changing projects and one of the most competitive business climates in the region. Through the Senegal Oil & Power Conference, we are excited to sustain the momentum created by the country’s leadership to herald a new era of investment in Senegal’s energy industry.”
As part of the Emerging Senegal Plan launched by His Excellency President Macky Sall’s to make Senegal an emerging country by 2035, the energy sector has been established as a key pillar to drive economic growth and social inclusion.
Senegal Oil & Power 2019 will support the presidential vision by designing the event’s narrative around triggering the next local and international investment wave across the energy value chain.
“With several world-class oil and gas discoveries, Senegal has built an excellent reputation globally in the energy industry. Through a new licensing round and investment drive, we are eager to capitalize on Senegal’s strong track record to attract new operators and exploration,” sMamadou Faye, Managing Director of Petrosen said.
Senegal Oil & Power 2019 will be a great opportunity to showcase Senegal’s tremendous achievements to create a strong energy industry. In line with global demand increase for liquefied natural gas, the GTA project has triggered the implementation of a global gas-to-power framework aiming to fuel Senegal’s growing demand for energy as well as opportunities for exports. A lower price of electricity will indubitably boost the competitiveness of the local industry and provide greater opportunities for consumers.
Source:energynewsafrica.com
A delegation from the Queen Mothers’ Foundation in the Republic of Ghana, West Africa, have paid a visit to the office of Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD).
The visit was to seek the expertise of Mr. Senyo Hosi, Chief Executive Officer of CBOD, on social development to help the Queen Mothers’ foundation to achieve its set goal and objectives.
According to a story posted on CBOD’s website, the delegation also extended an invitation to Mr. Senyo Hosi to be a patron of the Queen Mothers Foundation in Ghana.
The foundation has undertaken many developmental programmes and projects with support from donors.
The foundation which was established in 1999, seeks to bring all Paramount, Divisional and Traditional Queen Mothers under one umbrella to foster unity and promote development.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, on Thursday launched the Africa Energy Series: South Africa 2019 report on the second day of the Africa Oil & Power (AOP) Conference & Exhibition, which was held in Cape Town, South Africa.
After delivering his keynote address which touched on resolving Africa’s energy challenges and driving investment in gas monetization projects, the Minister formally introduced the publication and bestowed a formal dedication.
“We would like to dedicate this book to an upcoming chemical engineer who was very energetic and brilliant: the Deputy Minister who passed on. I’m dedicating this book to Bavelile Hlongwa,”Gwede Mantashe said.
The Africa Energy Series books provide a comprehensive and in-depth overview of the current energy landscape of Africa’s fastest-growing oil and gas markets.
South Africa 2019 focuses specifically on the country’s recent hydrocarbon discoveries, new oil and gas regulations and various sources of renewable and non-renewable energy that power the nation.
“We are very proud to be launching the Africa Energy Series report just as South Africa is undergoing the most critical energy transition in its history, moving away from coal and toward renewables and gas, and just as the country makes its first commercial oil and gas discovery. AOP hopes to help the country maintain this momentum, and we are honored by the great support that the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy has provided with the endorsement of this report,” CEO of AOP, Guillaume Doane said.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
The Republic of Ghana is set to export some of its talents within the Petroleum Industry to Sierra Leone, Gambia and Liberia.
This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, (GNPC) and its counterparts in these countries to purposely share experiences in the management of the petroleum upstream sector.
The GNPC is also preparing to sign another MoU with Guyana for the same purpose.
Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s national oil company (GNPC), Dr. Kofi Kodua Sarpong who disclosed this at the 3rd Africa Oil and Gas Local Content Sustainability Summit said the move will offer Ghana the opportunity to also tap into the expertise of these countries.
“We believe that we need to share experience from other countries as a way of improving what we do. MoU’s are necessary. Our organization has been there for nearly four decades and we have the expertise, we can export talents so we are looking at all these opportunities and in fact, I can say that our brothers and sisters in other countries are knocking on our doors for advice and that is precisely what we trying to do.”
Meanwhile, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation has sent a strong indication that it will increase its monitoring mechanism to ensure Petroleum companies within the Upstream Oil Sector adhere to local Content regulations.
This, the Corporation believes will increase Ghanaian participation in the Petroleum Industry.
Currently, Indigenous companies have complained that they are unable to participate fully in the Petroleum Upstream sector due to a lack of funds and capacity.
Dr. Kofi Kodua Sarpong said his outfit will effectively monitor the activities of companies operating in the Petroleum industry to ensure they reserve the quota for Local companies for indigenous firms.
“Certain activities are expected to be undertaken by Ghanaians and that must be so. Oil companies have got all manner of schemes so they don’t comply with that.”
He, however, advised that the monitoring is done cautiously because the country does not have certain expertise and relies on the oil companies especially the foreign ones for training.
The 3rd Africa Oil and Gas Local Content Sustainability Summit brought together experts within the Petroleum Industry across the Continent.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) has rewarded six second-cycle schools in the Republic of Ghana for showcasing their renewable energy projects.
The schools participated in the Energy Commission’s maiden ‘High School Renewable Energy Challenge’, introduced this year alongside the 5th Ghana Renewable Energy Fair and National Energy Symposium.
The schools showcased renewable energy projects in the area of solar, waste and wind.
Ing. William Amuna, a technical advisor at MiDA presenting a cash reward to the representative of Forces SHS
Ebenezer Senior High School emerged the winner of the Renewable Energy Challenge and it received GHs5,000.
Forces SHS took home GHs4, 500, Manhean SHS GHs 3,500, Tema Technical High School GHs3,000, Achimota SHS GHs 2,000 and Osu Presec GHs2, 000.
The ‘High School Renewable Energy Challenge’ is aimed at instilling a passion for solving renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change challenges in students through research and innovation, develop research skills of senior high school students and promote technological innovation in renewable energy and energy efficiency, develop presentation skills of senior high school students and promote self -confidence and encourage hard work through public recognition and rewards.Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Hon. Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed, says Somalia holds huge opportunities for investors looking to enter the East African market.
He, thus, called on prospective investors to take advantage and come and invest.
“Nowhere is the contribution that the energy industry can make to civil society and economic development greater than in Somalia,” he said in a speech at the Africa Oil & Power conference in Cape Town, South Africa
He noted that the sector has the potential to greatly enhance stability and economic development.
On its path to transforming its petroleum industry and attract the attention of new investors, Somalia has made significant progress in recent years. This year, the country passed a new petroleum law which enabled it to make progress in exploration and development, and attract interest from oil and gas majors ExxonMobil and Shell.
“My ministry worked successfully with the six federal member states to develop an equitable and transparent framework for development, focused on the greater good of Somalia and all its people, whilst ensuring that we are highly competitive internationally to attract investment by delivering returns that are consistent with the risks and rewards of developing our off-shore industry,” the minister said.
Eager to demonstrate to the world that Somalia is open for business, the minister said the country is currently on an international roadshow which will showcase the exploration opportunities available in its hydrocarbons sector.
“This includes seismic data recently shot by Spectrum covering 20,185 km. The current licensing round is in respect of up to 15 blocks, covering a total area of approximately 7,500 square miles. The bid round will follow shortly after to ensure that the world knows: Somalia is open for business.”
Minister Ahmed also spoke on the attractiveness of the country’s production sharing agreement (PSA) model for offshore oil exploration and development – regarding it as being amongst the most attractive to investors in the frontier basins. The PSA provides a highly attractive regulatory fiscal framework that is both competitive and equitable for both the people of Somalia and international oil companies (IOC).
“By equitably linking of royalties and share of revenue closely to the price of oil, the Somalia PSA ensures that IOCs can recover their up-front development costs and earn a fair share profit even if oil prices fall, whilst maximizing the profit going to the Somalian people,” the minister explained.
Oil major BP now expects to deliver divestment proceeds and announced transactions totalling around $10 billion by the end of 2019, comprising the majority of its two-year divestment program planned to complete by the end of 2020.
Following the $10.25 billion all-cash acquisition of US onshore assets from BHP in 2018, BP announced a $10 billion divestment program over 2019 and 2020.
According to Offshoreenergytoday.com, BP said on Friday that the strong progress in delivering the program had been driven by the agreed sale of BP’s interests in Alaska, as well as progress in divesting assets from its existing, non-BHP US Lower 48 legacy gas business.
The $5.6 billion sale to Hilcorp of BP’s Alaskan business-announced in August and subject to regulatory approval – is the largest single agreed transaction and is expected to complete in 2020.
BP has also agreed the sale of four packages of legacy gas assets from its US Lower 48 business.
As a result of the agreed divestments, BP expects to take a non-cash, non-operating, after-tax charge of $2-3 billion in its third quarter 2019 results. BP will also continue to review asset valuations as divestments in the US Lower 48 progress over the fourth quarter 2019.
These impairment charges are expected to increase gearing in the short term, as a result of the impact on equity, with gearing remaining above the top end of the 20-30% range through year end.
However, in line with the expected growth in free cash flow and the receipt of divestment proceeds, BP continues to expect net debt levels to reduce and gearing to move towards the middle of its target range of 20-30% through 2020.
Output disrupted by hurricane
Across the Upstream, BP said it continued to make strong progress with the delivery of its program of major projects. 23 of the 35 projects expected online by the end of 2021 are now in production, with production ramping up from the four projects that have started up so far in 2019.
In the near term, BP’s third quarter 2019 production was impacted by turnarounds in some of the highest-margin regions, and output in the US Gulf of Mexico was significantly disrupted by Hurricane Barry, with facilities shut down for around 14 days.
Taken together, these factors impacted BP’s third quarter 2019 production by around 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, with the overall production mix in the third quarter having a higher proportion of barrels produced from higher tax regions.
As a result, BP’s underlying effective tax rate is expected to be around 50% in the third quarter 2019, significantly higher than in the second quarter. The full year 2019 tax guidance of around 40% remains unchanged.
Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Finance, Charles Adu-Boahen says Akufo-Addo’s administration mantra of developing ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ is contingent on the availability of fuel and power, hence the government is working to ensure that there is availability of fuel and power for the growth of the country’s economy.
He noted that energy is a key enabler of economic growth, adding that no country that has developed has done so without reliable and affordable energy.
“The attainment of the ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ will be based on the collective efforts of both state and non-state actors.
“The contribution of the utility agencies will be critical in this push to improve the lives of Ghanaians. And this will depend on their readiness to supply energy at reasonable prices through the reduction of losses and improvement in service delivery cannot be overemphasised, “he said.
In his view, the growth of every economy is dependent on energy, saying “This is the reason why the Ghanaian economy recorded the slowest growth during the period of ‘dumsor’, with manufacturing growth being negative at the height of dumsor.”
Ghana experienced power crisis between 2012 and 2016 and this resulted in the collapse of many businesses with hundreds of people losing their jobs.
The power situation eased in 2017, when the current administration took over.In a speech delivered on his behalf by Dr. Joseph Asenso, Head of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Finance, at the ongoing National Energy Symposium in Accra, capital of Ghana, Charles Adu-Boahen said: “We have successfully ‘banished’ dumsor and I hope it is for good.
“The experience of 2015/2016 when electricity was moving away off the national grid to solar and generating sets, in order to avoid paying for higher electricity tariffs is an indication of how customers will find alternative ways to survive when energy becomes too expensive.
For this reason, Charles Adu-Boahen said government is doing all within its power to ensure that energy costs are not beyond what Ghanaians can afford.
“We have taken steps to reduce the price of indigenous gas, a key input for electricity generation.
“We have also commenced the process of renegotiating IPP and LNG contracts, all in a bid to reduce energy costs,” he said.
Radiance Petroleum, one of the Oil Marketing Companies in the Republic of Ghana has given away some goodies to customers as part of its customer service week.
The indigenous Oil Marketing Company gave away, fuel top ups, T-shirts and many other goodies to customers who visited their stations across the country.
According to management of the company, the week will see staff being reminded about the importance of the customer to the growth of every firm.
Speaking to journalists, Managing Director of Radiance Petroleum, Emmanuel Pobee, said: “Customers should expect more fuel, value for money, a friendly oil marketing company and also an experience of our motto: ‘You deserve the best fuel’.”
The customer service week being celebrated at all Radiance Fuel Station across the country will last from Monday October 7 to Friday October 11, 2019.
Mr. Emmanuel Pobee also expressed concern about the dwindling margins of Oil Marketing Companies due to intense competition as a result of the deregulation exercise.
He called on the National Petroleum Authority to take a look at the challenge which according to the Bulk Oil Distribution Company threatening the survival of some players in the sector.
South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe has hinted that the country’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) would be concluded within days.
“By Wednesday, I am very hopeful that the IRP would be concluded, and we will gazette it,” he said.
Delivering a keynote address at the Africa Oil & Power event in Cape Town Thursday, Hon. Mantashe explained that the plan will lay the foundation for investment in power generation. Such an investment should have the impact of lowering the cost of doing business in our country.
Minister Mantashe highlighted the potential investment that could come as a result of a finalised IRP, which represents a key component of South Africa’s energy strategy. With this, he invited investors to enter the South African market.
“Come to the fore, we are ready for you. Talk to us,” he said.
In line with the conference theme: ‘Make Energy Work’, Minister Mantashe also spoke on the importance of developing a thriving energy sector as a means to encouraging economic growth, noting that the sector is “part of an effort that is a catalyst to economic growth.”
On the country’s energy future, he said that natural gas would be a key part of South Africa’s energy mix, and explained that projects, like the Coega development in the Eastern Cape Province, would be at the core of this strategy.
“This ambitious project for us will be a game changer, those who are waking up to take the opportunity will actually benefit from that development. It is quite a test for us because we need to get into gas in a big way.”
The multi-billion rand Coega special economic zone project is located in the Nelson Mandela bay and consists of 10 projects including a renewable energy components factory, a gas-to-power plant, a solar rooftop project and an oil refinery.
The gas-to-power project is expected to supply power from 2026.
The Africa Oil & Power conference and exhibition continues until October 11.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s Energy Commission, with support from the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), is in the process of setting up two sustainable energy services in tertiary educational institutions in the Republic of Ghana, the country’s Minister for Energy John-Peter Amewu has revealed.
According to the Minister, Indian-based Development Environment Services Limited (DESL), in association with its partners, will assist to establish and operationalise these centres.
The West African nation’s Energy Minister John-Peter Amewu disclosed this in a speech read for him by his Deputy in charge of Petroleum, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, at the ongoing 5th Ghana Renewable Energy Fair and National Energy Symposium at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
The 5th day Renewable Energy Fair and National Energy Symposium is under the theme: ‘ Opportunities for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in a constrained energy sector.’
It has attracted several industry players especially those in the renewable energy sector in Ghana and around the globe.The SESCs, the Minister explained, would help in capacity-building and also provide training support for energy auditing to energy management professionals.
This, he said, would ensure that trained manpower is available to serve Ghana’s sustainable energy market.
“The Centres, further, fit in rightly with the objective of the government to build the capacity of the local professionals to serve not just Ghanaian market but also our neighbouring countries and the rest of the world,” he said.
Mr Amewu indicated that consultants have carried out the need assessment and baseline review of sustainable energy services in Ghana, identified the gaps and have prepared a roadmap to bridge these identified gaps.
He further said the consultants have also developed the tertiary education curriculum for training of sustainable energy (SE) service providers and would conduct the first set of training and certification to the professionals who would act as Master Trainers to provide training and certification to the Ghanaian sustainable energy professionals in the future.
He urged Ghanaian tertiary institutions to actively participate in the programmes of Sustainable Energy Services Centres and help establish a centre of excellence that would serve as the hub for skill development of SE professionals in Ghana.
Mr Amewu, who said he was aware that the roadmap would be presented at the renewable energy fair for deliberation, urged participants to examine the roadmap critically and provide valuable comments to refine the roadmap to a desired level.
In 1995, public support for the Brent Spar campaign pushed Shell to agree to dismantle the oil tank and loading platform on land instead of dumping it in the sea. The campaign also led to OSPAR’s decision in 1998 to ban such dumping in the North East Atlantic.
“Shell is directly fuelling the climate emergency that is causing more extreme storms, floods, droughts and wildfires and bringing misery to millions of people around the world. The company’s reckless business threatens some of the world’s most important ecosystems with extinction and has to be stopped. For us to have a future, toxic oil companies like Shell must have no future, said Bussau, who was also part of the 1995 Brent Spar protest.
Brent decommissioning
The Shell-operated Brent field, located 115 miles north-east of the Shetland Islands, has produced around three billion barrels of oil equivalent since production started in 1976, which is almost 10% of UK production. The field comprised four large platforms: Alpha (a steel jacket), Bravo, Charlie, and Delta (concrete gravity-based structures).
Shell submitted its decommissioning program for the Brent oil and gas field to the authorities in February 2017. The Brent decommissioning program recommended the upper steel jacket on the Brent Alpha platform to be removed, along with the topsides of the four Brent platforms, debris lying on the seabed, and the attic oil contained within the concrete storage cells of the gravity base structures.
Shell has already removed the Brent Delta and Brent Bravo platform topsides in April 2017 and June 2019, respectively. Both were removed using the Allseas-owned Pioneering Spirit vessel
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
In a speech delivered on his behalf by Dr. Joseph Asenso, Head of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Finance, at the ongoing National Energy Symposium in Accra, capital of Ghana, Charles Adu-Boahen said: “We have successfully ‘banished’ dumsor and I hope it is for good.
“The experience of 2015/2016 when electricity was moving away off the national grid to solar and generating sets, in order to avoid paying for higher electricity tariffs is an indication of how customers will find alternative ways to survive when energy becomes too expensive.
For this reason, Charles Adu-Boahen said government is doing all within its power to ensure that energy costs are not beyond what Ghanaians can afford.
“We have taken steps to reduce the price of indigenous gas, a key input for electricity generation.
“We have also commenced the process of renegotiating IPP and LNG contracts, all in a bid to reduce energy costs,” he said.
The SESCs, the Minister explained, would help in capacity-building and also provide training support for energy auditing to energy management professionals.
This, he said, would ensure that trained manpower is available to serve Ghana’s sustainable energy market.
“The Centres, further, fit in rightly with the objective of the government to build the capacity of the local professionals to serve not just Ghanaian market but also our neighbouring countries and the rest of the world,” he said.
Mr Amewu indicated that consultants have carried out the need assessment and baseline review of sustainable energy services in Ghana, identified the gaps and have prepared a roadmap to bridge these identified gaps.
He further said the consultants have also developed the tertiary education curriculum for training of sustainable energy (SE) service providers and would conduct the first set of training and certification to the professionals who would act as Master Trainers to provide training and certification to the Ghanaian sustainable energy professionals in the future.
He urged Ghanaian tertiary institutions to actively participate in the programmes of Sustainable Energy Services Centres and help establish a centre of excellence that would serve as the hub for skill development of SE professionals in Ghana.
Mr Amewu, who said he was aware that the roadmap would be presented at the renewable energy fair for deliberation, urged participants to examine the roadmap critically and provide valuable comments to refine the roadmap to a desired level.
