Sonangol Drillship Detained by Malaysian Authorities
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has intercepted the Sonangol Quenguela drillship within its terriotiral waters.
According to the Maritime authority, the Bahamas-registered drillship was detained on Oct 15, just nine nautical miles east of Tanjung Balau as it was unable to produce any permits for Malaysian waters.
The Quenguela drillship is operated by Sonadrill, a joint venture between Seadrill and Sonangol.
Norway: Former Minister For Oil To Become Offshore Oil Worker
A former minister of energy in Norway Ola Borten Moe, is set to become an offshore oil worker.
According to the Norwegian media, Borten Moe, who is also a farmer and a co-founder of the Norwegian oil company OKEA – is working to become a platform manager at OKEA’s Draugen field.
Finansavisen has reported, citing Stavanger Aftenblat that Borten Moe has taken a safety course and will go through an apprenticeship period to become an offshore oil worker.
Borten Moe formed in OKEA in 2015 together with Erik Haugane, former Det norske oljeselskap CEO, with a focus on developing discovered oil and gas fields on the Norwegian continental shelf. His last position was Vice President of Business Development at OKEA.
OKEA bought the Draugen field from Shell last year. The company will this month drill its first operated wells, also at the Draugen field.
President of Senegal Receives Oil Man Of The Year Award
President of Senegal H.E Macky Sall has been awarded the Africa Oil Man of the Year by Africa Oil & Power.
The award is a recognition of Macky Sall’s work and the efforts of his government to boost the development of Senegal’s economy, create an enabling environment for investors and ensure that future oil & gas extracted from Senegal generates jobs and growth opportunities for Senegalese companies.
“Under President Macky Sall, Senegal continues to show its commitment to transparency, to engaging with those who disagree with him, to finding consensus on extractive industry matters and to taking all necessary actions to avoid the natural resources curse,” Akere Muna, former Vice President of Transparency International and former Chairman of the International Anti-Corruption Conference Council, said.
“The Senegalese people understand what is at stake with these resources coming out of the ground and their President is showing a definite engagement to ensure a transparent distribution of revenues and resources for the benefits of the Senegalese economy and its citizens. The President should use this award to make Senegal a place where Africans can be proud of the natural resource sector,” Muna added.
“As Senegal gets closer to producing first gas and increase its production of oil, we congratulate its President Macky Sall and its government on adding yet another African nation to the list of global hydrocarbons producers,” Mahaman Laouan Gaya, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO), added.
“African producers stand ready to cooperate with Senegal to support its economic development and we truly look forward to following the country on its renewed journey to prosperity.”
Soon after discovering oil and gas in 2014 and 2016, Senegal engaged in a nation-wide dialogue with the private sector, foreign investors and the civil society on the next steps to develop the industry. This resulted in the creation of new entities such as the Strategic Orientation Committee for Petroleum and Gas (COS-Petrogaz) but also in a brand new Petroleum Code in 2019 and new local content regulations to ensure the creation of local jobs and the procurement of local goods and services from the industry.
As a result, foreign investments increased and several international majors, national oil companies and independents entered the market.
“What Senegal and its President Macky Sall have proven is that the power of political will and leadership cannot be underestimated in this industry,” said Prince Arthur Eze, Chairman of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, currently exploring in Senegal. “Sound regulations, good governance and a political leadership aligned towards a common target of economic development and of making energy work for the people is what is making Senegal a new African success story. I salute the President and the people of Senegal, the entire Africa is praying for you,” he added.
Senegal is notably making headlines for fast-tracking the development of its industry and not losing time on getting resources out of the ground. The industry is notably saluting the country’s authorities for the short time it took between the first discoveries of oil and gas in Senegal and the taking of relevant final investment decisions, which is remarkable for industry standards. As a result, Senegal is set to become a global gas exporter in the near future alongside African countries like those of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum including Algeria, Egypt, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania Equatorial Guinea, Libya, and Nigeria.
“This proves the willingness of the Senegalese government to develop these resources and the industry at large,” declared Jude Kearney, former Deputy Assistant Secretary during the Clinton Administration and current President of Kearney Africa Advisors.
“More importantly, doing so has not resulted in any detriment to good governance practices and developing a sound regulatory framework,” added Kearney.
“Senegal’s President Macky Sall has established strong relations with the world, including Germany, which will be very beneficial when it comes to attracting the right capital and technology to develop its energy sector,” added Sebastian Wagner, CEO of the Germany Africa Business Forum (GABF).
The African Energy Chamber, under the leadership the Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk, joins the industry in congratulating President Macky Sall for taking the right steps to develop Senegal’s oil & gas sector and make energy work for all Senegalese citizens.
With its partners, the Chamber would continue to assist Senegal in promoting good governance, attracting investments and building domestic capacity across the value-chain.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Halliburton Awarded License For Gravel Pack Completions
Halliburton, one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the energy industry has announced that it was awarded an international license for ExxonMobil’s patented Non-Aqueous Fluid Gravel Packing (NAFPac™) technique for gravel pack completions.
Hole stability and shale inhibition are keys to successful installation of openhole completions. Non-aqueous fluid (NAF) is often selected to optimize the drilling process, but hole stability issues can occur when displacement to brine is done prior to screen running operations.
The NAFPac process is a gravel packing technique that enables an operator to run the gravel-pack screens in NAF, gravel pack the well, and then subsequently displace the casing to completion brine, all in a single trip. Running the screens in NAF significantly increases the probability of successful screen installation and a complete gravel pack.
“As the global completions leader, Halliburton is pleased to collaborate with ExxonMobil to expand the use of the NAFPac solution to our customer base to help them maximize asset value,” Mark Dawson, vice president of Completion Tools for Halliburton said in a press release posted on the company’s website.
“This field proven technique further enhances our leading sand control portfolio.”
“The NAFPac technique has consistently delivered reliable, cost-effective and highly productive completions in more than 150 applications across our global portfolio,” Tristan Aspray, vice president of ExxonMobil Upstream Research and Technology Development stated.
“ExxonMobil continues to pioneer completion technologies that increase reliability and reduce the overall cost of well work. NAFPac ensures successful sand screen installation and reliable gravel packing.”
About Halliburton
Founded in 1919, Halliburton celebrates its 100 years of service as one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the energy industry. With 60,000 employees, representing 140 nationalities in more than 80 countries, the company helps its customers maximize value throughout the lifecycle of the reservoir — from locating hydrocarbons and managing geological data, to drilling and formation evaluation, well construction and completion, and optimizing production throughout the life of the asset. Visit the company’s website at www.halliburton.com. Connect with Halliburton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
Ghana: Karpowership Marks International Day Of The Girl-child With Community Schools In Sekondi-Takoradi
Karpowership Ghana, an independent power producer in the Republic of Ghana, together with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Gender, has marked the International Day of the girl-child with ten basic and Senior High Schools (SHSs) from the Sekondi and Takoradi Metropolis.
The company, as part of the celebration, organised a sensitisation programme for 200 students from Sekondi-Takoradi.
The objective of the programme was focused on this year’s theme: ‘Empowering girls for a brighter tomorrow’.
The Corporate Communications Specialist of Karpowership Ghana, Miss Sandra Amarquaye explained that one objective of their CSR projects is to strive to achieve gender (e)quality which is the UN Sustainable Goal ‘5’ within their operational areas.
She said: “Karpowership is a firm promoter of the Girl-Child. We believe in inspiring and empowering young women to dream. When girls are empowered through access to good education and healthcare, it eventually leads to healthier families.”
Students were mentored on various topics which included identifying their career path, basics of savings and overcoming peer pressure.
The Head of Human Resource at the Sekondi-Takoradi Metro of the Ghana Education Service, Mr Martin Ackah lauded Karpowership for the partnership.
He said: “Empowering the ladies is very important to us. We are very excited to have worked with Karpowership to commemorate international day of the girl-child today. I would call upon other institutions to emulate this.”
A representative from the Ministry of Gender, Madam Marabel Okine also added that the ministry was working towards educating young ladies to overcome the various challenges at their age.
Karpowership Ghana Company Limited focuses its corporate social investments on education, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability. Some of these projects include bursary scheme for over 100 students in the Tema Manhean Municipality and furnishing an ICT Laboratory.
The company, in August this year, relocated its 470MW Powership to the Sekondi Naval Base in order to utilise the natural gas resources from the western enclave.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Shell CEO Speaks Out Against Anti-Oil Activists
Investment in oil and gas will continue despite growing climate concerns and the “demonization” of the industry simply because the world demands it, the chief executive of Shell, Ben van Beurden, told Reuters in an interview.
Shell has been among the most active Big Oil companies in branching out in new, non-fossil fuel focused directions, including EV charging and renewable energy generation. In fact, Shell has the ambition to become the world’s largest utility in the world, and soon—by 2030.
In the meantime, however, the Anglo-Dutch supermajor will continue investing in oil and gas, and investors need not worry about the long-term prospects of its core business because the demand is, and will be, there.
“Despite what a lot of activists say, it is entirely legitimate to invest in oil and gas because the world demands it,” Van Beurden said. “We have no choice,” he added, referring to long-life oil and gas projects.
Investor concern seems to be focused on these long-life projects such as deepwater field development, chemical plant construction, and LNG plants. These are costly, with the price tag sometimes in the billion-dollar range, and they take years to complete. This means a long-term and expensive commitment on the part of the company, so with the increasingly vocal climate activism, a lot of investors have begun questioning the long-term survival chances of the oil and gas industry and its profitability.
Yet Big Oil is already taking steps to insure itself against any problems in the future. Thanks to the 2014 price crisis, Shell, like its peers, has reoriented its focus towards lower-cost projects that can break even at $20-30 per barrel and are also less carbon-intensive than comparable projects.
“We can sustain an upstream portfolio all the way into the 2030s if there is an economic rationale for doing that and a societal rationale for doing that,” Van Beurden told Reuters. “Fortunately enough, we have more of those than we have money to spend on them.”
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Iran President Vows Revenge For Oil Tanker Attack
Iran will not leave the Friday attack on the Sabiti tanker unpunished, President Hassan Rouhani said during his first media conference in more than a year.
Bloomberg reports that the Iranian President also said government officials had seen footage of the attack and it suggested several rockets had been launched at the vessel.
Rouhani did not say who Tehran believed the culprit was but did note that it looked like the party behind the attack was a government rather than a terrorist group.
“This wasn’t a terrorist move, nor was it carried out by an individual. It was carried out by a government,” Rouhani told media.
Iranian tanker Sabiti was attack on Friday, off the Saudi coast near the port of Jeddah.
The Saudi coast guard confirmed yesterday that the vessel had sent a distress signal, via email since its geolocation was switched off. The signal said the tanker had suffered damage in the front and that oil was leaking from it.
Initial reports in the Iranian media blamed the attack on Saudi Arabia, but later the National Iranian Tanker Company, which confirmed the attack, said there was no evidence pointing towards any one particular country. The only suggestion a NITC official made was that the missiles that are believed to have been used to strike the tanker may have “possibly” been fired from Saudi soil.
Rouhani first warned there will be a response to the tanker attack on Sunday. That was the first time he referred to the culprit as a country: “If a country thinks that it can create instability in the region without getting a response, that would be a sheer mistake.”
Saudi Arabia was quick to deny any blame.
“We did not engage in such behaviour at all. This is not how we operate and that’s not how we did (it) in the past,” Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, told media.
Ghana: VRA To Develop First Wind Power Project
Ghana’s power generation company, Volta River Authority (VRA) is in the process of constructing 150MW wind power as part of its renewable energy drive.
The wind power project which is to be located in the Keta and Ada Municipalities respectively is expected to be part of VRA’s medium term plan.
Chief Executive Officer of Volta River Authority [VRA], Ing Emmanuel Antwi Darkwa disclosed this during the just ended 5th Ghana Renewable Energy Fair and Natural Energy Symposium in Accra, capital of Ghana.
“We also look forward to developing Ghana’s first wind power project. It is our anticipation that, we would successfully complete the 150MW wind power project, to be located in the Keta and Ada Municipalities in the short to medium term. We also intend next year to develop a pilot floating solar project on the Kpong Hydroelectric Dam Headpond at Akuse to test the feasibility and adequacy of the operation of this technology in Ghana,” he said.
The five day programme was under the theme; ‘Opportunities for Renewable and Energy Efficiency in a Constrained Energy Sector’.
He said renewable energy development will continue to be a game-changer in Ghana’s energy sector.
‘’Our corporate strategy therefore places significant focus on ensuring development in a sustainable manner. This includes the development and introduction of clean and environmentally friendly forms of energy into the country’s generation portfolio’’.
He made a clarion call for the need to address issues of climate change, energy efficiency, reliability and availability of affordable but competitively-priced power which remains very critical if Ghana’s commitment to accelerate its economic transformation agenda is to be realized.
Mr. Antwi Darkwa also challenged participants of the Conference and Exhibition to also deliberate on the general and obvious challenges inherent in the sector as a whole, as well as the opportunities presented by renewable energy as the theme for the Fair suggests.
‘’ Even though emphasis of this gathering is on renewable energy, it may be necessary during the period of this fair to also deliberate on the challenges and opportunities within the sector’’ he pointed out.
The deployment of large scale renewable energy also brings obvious technical challenges such as the rationalization of the operation of the grid and also sufficient investments in the grid network both at the transmission and distribution levels.
Though it may not be pressing at this early stage of our renewable energy development, he recommended that it is necessary to begin the design of the appropriate solutions with some forward planning.
He was hopeful the conference would afford stakeholders in the energy sector the opportunity to engage in intense and open discussions, shared knowledge and insights as well as bring to the fore, the numerous opportunities and benefits available to Ghanaians and also the economy in the renewable energy space.
‘’Renewable energy, the VRA Boss confidently mentioned can and should ultimately support the Government’s Ghana beyond Aid Agenda’’.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Nigeria: MAP To Deliver 100,000 Meters To Ekiti
BEDC Electricity (BEDC) has announced the rollout of over 100,000 customer meters over the next two years in Ekiti State, Nigeria. BEDC will be aiming for a monthly average of 4,000 units.
The allocation forms part of the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.
Executive Director in charge of Commercial at BEDC, Abu Ejoor disclosed this at a media launch of MAP in Ekiti State held at BON Hotel, Ado-Ekiti.
Ejoor told journalists that in Ekiti, metering would be initiated in Ado-Ekiti and Ido-Ekiti and will eventually move into other locations, adding that the rollout of meters will be handled by FLT Energy and Sabrud Consortium, both designated parties.
“MAPs will carry our meter roll out location by location, route by route and street by street while enumeration is a pre-requisite for meters to be provided under MAP” he said.
According to him, “some of the locations flagged for take-off include: Fajuy Park Area, Similoluwa Area, Similoluwa Area / Teaching Hospital, Ajowa Street, Oriapata, Opposite School of Nursing, Adebayo Area, Adehun Quarters, Olora Area, Ile-ileri, Adehun Quarters, Peace Avenue and Pathfinder Hotel Road among others.”
Ejoor further stated that the MAP Scheme will assist in reducing customer complaints on metering, wrong and estimated billing which he said accounts for over 60% of complaints.
Speaking on the current state of power supply in Ekiti, the Executive Director said an average of 13,432 MWh of electricity is delivered to the state monthly, noting, however, that 14% of power generated is lost due to poor network infrastructure, while about 36% of power generated is also lost to commercial theft or illegal consumption.
Major challenges include; transmission bottlenecks, limitations in rearranging distribution networks to improve power supply and increase in network and equipment vandalism.
“We implore customers to note that power sector improvement process is a journey and not a race and that with their collective support by prompt payment of bills and honouring of their obligations, we shall get to our desired destination faster,” he said.
Chief State Head, Ekiti State, Kunbi Labiyi stated that BEDC, in a bid to support and grow economic activity in Ekiti, has approved over 100 projects, improving energy access from 3-6 hours to 10-22 hours.
She also informed that between 2018 and now, BEDC has connected 112 communities without supply in its coverage areas to the national grid, 19 of which are located in Ekiti state.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Liberia: 38,000 New Households In Monrovia To Be Connected To Electricity
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: Dr. Amin Sets The Records Straight, Says Ghana Is Benefiting From Its Oil Resources
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 Board Shell’s North Sea Platforms
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
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: First Ever Oil & Power Conference & Exhibition To Be Held In 2020
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
Ghana: Queen Mothers Foundation Wants CEO Of CBOD As Patron
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