ExxonMobil makes 13th discovery offshore Guyana

Michael Creg Afful
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ExxonMobil makes 13th discovery offshore Guyana
The Noble Tom Madden drillship

ExxonMobil said on Thursday it made a new oil discovery offshore Guyana at the Yellowtail-1 well, marking the 13th discovery on the Stabroek Block. The discovery adds to the previously announced estimated recoverable resource of approximately 5.5 billion oil-equivalent barrels found so far in the South American country.

Yellowtail-1 marks the fifth discovery in the Turbot area, which ExxonMobil expects to become a major development hub.

“Similar to the Liza area, successive discoveries in the Turbot area have continuously grown its shared value,” said Mike Cousins, senior vice president of ExxonMobil Exploration and New Ventures. “Our success here can be attributed to our industry-leading upstream capabilities, the strength of our partnerships and our ongoing commitment to growing Guyana’s offshore potential.”

Yellowtail-1 encountered approximately 292 feet (89 meters) of high-quality oil bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled to a depth of 18,445 feet (5,622 meters) in 6,046 feet (1,843 meters) of water. The well is located approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers) northwest of the Tilapia discovery. The Noble Tom Madden began drilling the Yellowtail well on March 27. It will next drill the Hammerhead-2 well.

Exploration and development activities continue at other locations on the Stabroek Block. The Stena Carron is currently completing a well test at the Longtail-1 discovery and upon completion will next drill the Hammerhead-3 well. Later in 2019, the Stena Carron will drill a second well at the Ranger discovery. The Noble Bob Douglas drillship is currently completing development drilling operations for the Liza Phase 1 development. ExxonMobil is also evaluating plans to add another exploration drillship, bringing the number of drillships offshore Guyana to four.

ExxonMobil has previously said there is potential for at least five floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels on the Stabroek Block producing more than 750,000 barrels of oil per day by 2025. Startup of the Liza Phase 1 development is on track to begin by the first quarter of 2020 and will produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day utilizing the Liza Destiny FPSO, which is expected to arrive in country in the third quarter.

Liza Phase 2 is expected to startup by mid-2022. A final investment decision is expected soon subject to government and regulatory approvals. Upon approval, the project plans to use the Liza Unity FPSO to produce up to 220,000 barrels per day. Sanctioning of a third development, Payara, is also expected in 2019, with startup projected for 2023.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers). ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds 25 percent interest.

Ghana: GRIDCO worker mistaken for armed robber and shot by police

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: GRIDCO worker mistaken for armed robber and shot by police
Maclean Amoah-the injured GRIDCO Victim The life of Maclean Amoah, a worker with the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) at Sefwi-Asawinso in the Western North Region hangs in a balance after police at Nyinahin in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti region mistook him for an armed robber and shot him in the thigh,energynewsafrica.com has learnt. According to MyNewsGh.com, which broke the news the victim is seen in a video narrating his ordeal from the Emergency Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, where he was seeking medical attention. The victim recounted how the police officers gave him a hot chase with a BMW salon car and eventually shot him in the left thigh when they caught up with him at Nyinahin. The incident happened on Thursday, March 21, 2019 around 10 Pm, when the police, suspecting the victim, who was driving alone in his salon car with registration number, GN 1124-12, to be an armed robber for failing to stop at a barrier, trailed him with the said BMW car and Chief Inspector Gyekye shot him at Nyinahin, where the victim had parked. The victim said he saw in his driving mirrors that he was been chased, but refused to stop because he feared for his life, due to how notorious the Bibiani-Kumasi Road is for armed robbery activities; so “I decided to drive to safety before stopping”, he added. He said residents of the town threatened to kill him when he was abandoned by the police after shooting. The victim is scheduled for a plastic surgery at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital under strict surveillance at his bed, as the police maintain he is an armed robber. According to MyNewsGh.com, the wife of the victim is a police officer at Dorma in the Ahafo region. The family of the victim is demanding justice and calling on the Minister of the Interior and the Inspector General of Police to intervene in the matter and bring the officers to book. According to them, the identity of Maclean Amoah has never been in doubt since it can be easily verified at the GRIDCo and not an armed robber as the police wants the public to believe. The vehicle in which the victim was traveling in and his mobile phone are in the custody of the Nyinahin Police to aid in investigations.

S.Africa: Energy Minister encourages youth participation in energy sector

Michael Creg Afful
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The South African minister of energy, Jeff Radebe, addressed members attending the School Energy Day event in Buffalo City to engage young people on different energy-related issues. The Minister noted that he wanted to place emphasis on career opportunities that can be accessed within the sector. “Our investment in the green economy initiatives such as the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme has boosted youth employment particularly during the construction, engineering, operation and maintenance phases,” Radebe said. He added: “Large numbers of young people exited the education system prematurely and possess no professional or technical skills, making them effectively unemployable. We also know graduates are employable as compared to those without qualifications. With the growing renewable energy sector here in the Eastern Cape, skilled labour is required to drive implementation of projects in the sector across the value chain such as manufacturing, construction, engineering, project design, operation and maintenance.” He continued: “South Africa faces a shortage of critical skills that are significant to drive the economy. Transformation of the economy can be eased if our youths can take education seriously and have courage to follow career paths that are scarce such as engineers, artisans, project managers, environmentalists, technologist and other skills that remain scarce in the economy. ” The Minister encouraged the youth to pursue developmental activities in different government programmes such as energy efficiency, operation Khanyisa, global warming and environmental degradation. Read: Training women in developing countries to become solar engineers “The need for energy safety, environment conservation and energy efficiency conscious society has become increasingly important. While we have stabilised our energy challenges, we must not neglect our responsibilities of being energy efficient nation. We must reduce amount of energy we use by choosing energy-efficient appliances and services, and ensuring we do not waste energy,” Radebe said. Source: Esi-Africa.com

Venezuela Just Lost One of Its Largest Fuel Suppliers

Michael Creg Afful
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Venezuela Just Lost One of Its Largest Fuel Suppliers
Spanish Repsol is suspending fuel shipments to Venezuela due to fears that it could violate the US sanctions against the Latin American nation, according to Reuters. The fuel was provided by Repsol to Venezuela in exchange for crude oil.

Repsol and Venezuela began the product swaps since late 2018, and have continued the arrangement until now, despite the sanctions that have been in place for months. Those sanctions ban the use of US financial institutions to conduct oil business with PDVSA.

It is unclear whether this suspension will eventually become permanent, according to Reuters sources, pending the outcome of talks between Repsol and Washington.

The complicated relationship between Repsol and PDVSA is contributing to the growing stockpile of tankers lingering off the Port of Jose—Venezuela’s largest port. At least two tankers chartered by Repsol—laden with PDVSA crude oil—have been sitting off the Venezuelan coast for more than a week. They join an already mounting problem next to tankers chartered by Chevron, Citgo, and Valero who are also having problems figuring out whether doing business with PDVSA is still in their best interest, and if so, how to go about doing that business, specifically how to pay for the crude.

Venezuela is struggling to get its crude oil out of the country, not just because of US sanctions, but because of repeated blackouts that shut the port of Jose. Oil exports fell sharply in February under the weight of the sanctions, and then fell just slightly in March to below 1 million bpd.

Exports are likely to fall even further with Repsol suspending its take along with a new round of sanctions set to stop Venezuela’s crude oil from getting to its neighbor, Cuba.

Ghana Gas saves $5,000 monthly after local engineers took over from expatriates – Energy Committee

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana Gas saves $5,000 monthly after local engineers took over from expatriates – Energy Committee
Dr Benjamin K.D Asante,CEO of Ghana Gas Members of Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy have commended Ghana National Gas Company over the indigenisation of the company which saves the country over 5,000 dollars every month.

According to them, the monies saved every month was as a result of the work of local engineers who took over from the expatriate staff.

The Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee of Mines and Energy made this known during a day’s working visit to the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant Atuabo in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region to abreast themselves with the operations and assess the activities the company. The Parliamentary Select Committee of Mines and Energy, as part of their oversight responsibility has paid a working visit to the Ghana National Gas Company at Atuabu to abreast themselves with the operations of the gas processing plant. The visit led by the Vice Chairman of the Committee, George Mireku Duker, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem was to also assess the activities of the company and the way forward. Ghana Gas which started commercial operations in 2014 is currently undertaking an expansion exercise to enable it process more gas by 2024 for both power generation plants and private businesses to easily off-take reliable supply of gas. Apart from the existing pipelines, the company is also expanding its massive infrastructure activities to the corridors of Prestea enclave which will be hopefully completed by June this year to enable private industries to easily access reliable gas from the company. Currently, the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant is being managed by local engineers which according to management and government is saving the country over 5,000 dollars monthly. The Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee of Mines and Energy who is also the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, George Mireku Duker applauded the company for the successful indigenisation of the company. The Member of Parliament for Bongo and a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee of Mines and Energy, Hon. Edward Bawa also expressed satisfaction over the indigenisation of the company and implored the power generation and distribution companies and other industries owing Ghana Gas to pay their debts to enable the company supply efficient and reliable gas to them. The Head of Communications for Ghana National Gas Company Limited, Ernest Kofi Owusu Bempah in an interview stressed on the various packages the company is given to the local indigenous engineers who have taken over from the expatriates to motivate them to do more and how the company is also collaborating with the indegenes in the catchments areas to deepen their relationship with them.

Hundreds Dead, Injured As Fighting Escalates In Oil-Rich Libya

Michael Creg Afful
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Hundreds Dead, Injured As Fighting Escalates In Oil-Rich Libya
Libya fighter Since eastern strongman General Khalifa Haftar ordered his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) to march on Tripoli, almost 180 people have died and 800 others have been wounded in the latest escalation of violence in one of OPEC’s most volatile member states. Nearly two weeks ago troops loyal to General Haftar started advancing westward on Libya’s capital Tripoli and clashed with troops of the UN-backed government in a renewed confrontation that could escalate and threaten to disrupt, once again, Libya’s oil production and exports. The flare-up of hostilities helped to drive oil prices last week to their highest in five months amid fears that the renewed fighting may impact Libya’s oil industry. Also last week, the chairman of Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), Mustafa Sanalla, told the Financial Times in an interview that Libya’s oil production is under threat from the renewed fighting and the situation could become as bad as it was during the 2011 civil war. “I am afraid the situation could be much worse than 2011 because of the size of forces now involved,” Sanalla told the FT, adding “Unless the problem is solved very quickly, I am afraid this will affect our operations, and soon we will not be able to produce oil or gas.” Clashes between Haftar’s LNA and troops of the UN-backed government of national accord (GNA) continued on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the UN Security Council is debating whether to adopt a resolution drafted by the UK and demanding a ceasefire in Libya. Ghassan Salame, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, tweeted on Wednesday: “Horrible night of random shelling of residential areas. For the sake of 3 million civilians living in Greater Tripoli, these attacks should stop. NOW!” “I am deeply concerned about the escalation of violence in Libya in the context of the resurging conflict,” Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), said in a statement on Tuesday. The escalation of violence increases the risk of an oil supply outage in Libya, despite the fact that the key oil fields and oil exporting terminals are far from the capital Tripoli. The higher risk of further tightening of global oil supplies on top of OPEC’s cuts and U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela has pushed up oil prices over the past week. Source: Oilprice.com

Prepare For Atuabo Gas Plant CDB Loan Repayment – Edward Bawa To Gov’t

Michael Creg Afful
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Prepare For Atuabo Gas Plant CDB Loan Repayment – Edward Bawa To Gov’t
Edward Bawa, Member of Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament The Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy has commended the Ghana Gas company for undertaking an expansion exercise to enable it process more gas by 2024 for both power generation plants and private businesses. The expansion plan has already resulted in the supply of 5.7 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to two companies in the Ashiem Free-Zones enclave in the Shama district. Members of the Committee made the commendation when they visited the Atuabo gas processing plant. A Member of the Committee, Edward Bawa who agrees with the expansion project, however, urged government to begin to make provision for repayment of the nearly one-billion CDB loan secured to build the plant before payment kicks-in. “Basically, if Ghana Gas would have to expand, then Central government would have to take a decision as to how they are going to do that. Ghana Gas must also realize that their operations must also service the nearly one-billion CDB loan that was taken to build the Atuabo plant. This is supposed to be a self-sustaining project to pay that loan through its operations. So if government is so minded that this is a critical thing to do, then they must come in.” Parliament is on recess, but the Committee on Mines and Energy which has oversight responsibilities on the operations of Ghana Gas decided to visit the Atuabo Gas Processing plant to update itself on the operational state of the plant. Although the committee expressed disappointment that the Chief Executive of Ghana Gas was not present to answer their questions, the General Manager of Ghana Gas Operations, Ing. Robert Lartey who took the committee members on a tour of the facility said the company has chalked some successes despite its humble start.“We have laid a very good foundation for any industry that is interested in doing business with Ghana Gas to easily offtake reliable supply of Gas at any time. As we are speaking currently, we have a gas pipeline from Abaodze to a free-zone enclave at Ashiem in the Shama District called Wanka Ceramics which is taking lean gas from us. We also have Twyford that is also taking gas. At the Prestea corridor, we are undertaking a massive infrastructural expansion activity over there and hopefully by June this year we should have another private company that will be ready take gas for power generation.” Engineer Lartey told the committee that Ghana Gas is doing all that in preparation to receive and process more gas from the Aker project by 2024.“We are looking forward to expansion activity work on the Gas processing plant at Atuabo from the existing capacity of 150 to 220 million standard cubic feet of gas per day,” he added. The Deputy Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee, George Mireku Duker and a Ranking Member of the Committee, Adams Mutawakilu while expressing satisfaction with Ghana gas work progress and expansion plan, assured of its support.Hon. Mireku DukerOn operational Health and Safety, Ghana Gas says it has achieved 16 million man-hours operational time without any fatality or accident and set to continue in this direction to guarantee regular supply of gas to power private businesses and generation of electricity. Source: Citinewsroom.com

Solar to power Dubai’s desalination plants

Michael Creg Afful
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The cost of water production is set to be reduced, thanks to the region’s efforts to integrate renewable energy into water desalination processes. The region is dependent on desalination for its potable water, and has a total water production capacity of 470 million gallons per day (MIGD), but the process is energy-intensive. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is planning to power the region’s desalination plants with solar power, and save approximately $13 billion between now, and 2030, with a capacity target of 305 million gallons per day. “Dubai is pushing for increased efficiency in the production of water. We are already in the final stages of a large scale integration of renewable energy in our water production processes,” said Jamal Shaheen Al Hammadi, vice president of Clean Energy & Diversification Business Development & Excellence at DEWA. “Photovoltaic reverse osmosis will now become the new trend as we aim for 100% renewable energy desalination in Dubai. This supports our efforts to boost water production in the emirate.” DEWA received five bids from Cranmore Partners from the UAE and UK; Synergy from India and the USA; Deloitte from the USA; PricewaterhouseCoopers from the UK, and Ernst & Young from the UK. “DEWA intends to desalinate all its water powered by a mix of clean energy that uses environmentally sustainable energy by 2030. This means Dubai will exceed global targets for using clean energy to desalinate water,” said Al Hammadi. Desalination plant operating on solar power In 2016, Suez, (now ENGIE) launched a pilot 100 cubic meters per day desalination plant in Ghantoot, Abu Dhabi, as part of the utility’s drive to incorporate newer technologies. “The plant has been successfully tested to run 100% on solar power. This is an important step towards achieving our goals and a major breakthrough in the region’s desalination,” according to Pierre Pauliac, Middle East chief executive for Suez (ENGIE). “There is no longer any doubt we can now run a desalination plant on solar power. Our next step now is to take these findings and apply them to industrial scale desalination. “I am very optimistic that in the next eighteen months we will have solar panels powering large scale desalination plants because we have tried it and it will work.” Dubai expects more than 8% of its total power to be generated from clean energy by 2020.

Solar to power Dubai’s desalination plants

Michael Creg Afful
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0
The cost of water production is set to be reduced, thanks to the region’s efforts to integrate renewable energy into water desalination processes. The region is dependent on desalination for its potable water, and has a total water production capacity of 470 million gallons per day (MIGD), but the process is energy-intensive. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is planning to power the region’s desalination plants with solar power, and save approximately $13 billion between now, and 2030, with a capacity target of 305 million gallons per day. “Dubai is pushing for increased efficiency in the production of water. We are already in the final stages of a large scale integration of renewable energy in our water production processes,” said Jamal Shaheen Al Hammadi, vice president of Clean Energy & Diversification Business Development & Excellence at DEWA. “Photovoltaic reverse osmosis will now become the new trend as we aim for 100% renewable energy desalination in Dubai. This supports our efforts to boost water production in the emirate.” DEWA received five bids from Cranmore Partners from the UAE and UK; Synergy from India and the USA; Deloitte from the USA; PricewaterhouseCoopers from the UK, and Ernst & Young from the UK. “DEWA intends to desalinate all its water powered by a mix of clean energy that uses environmentally sustainable energy by 2030. This means Dubai will exceed global targets for using clean energy to desalinate water,” said Al Hammadi. Desalination plant operating on solar power In 2016, Suez, (now ENGIE) launched a pilot 100 cubic meters per day desalination plant in Ghantoot, Abu Dhabi, as part of the utility’s drive to incorporate newer technologies. “The plant has been successfully tested to run 100% on solar power. This is an important step towards achieving our goals and a major breakthrough in the region’s desalination,” according to Pierre Pauliac, Middle East chief executive for Suez (ENGIE). “There is no longer any doubt we can now run a desalination plant on solar power. Our next step now is to take these findings and apply them to industrial scale desalination. “I am very optimistic that in the next eighteen months we will have solar panels powering large scale desalination plants because we have tried it and it will work.” Dubai expects more than 8% of its total power to be generated from clean energy by 2020.

Exxon, Qatar Petroleum Win Three Blocks Offshore Argentina

Michael Creg Afful
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Exxon, Qatar Petroleum Win Three Blocks Offshore Argentina
ExxonMobil Argentina Offshore Investments B.V. and a Qatar Petroleum affiliate snagged three exploration blocks offshore Argentina. ExxonMobil subsidiary, ExxonMobil Argentina Offshore Investments B.V., along with a Qatar Petroleum affiliate, won three exploration blocks offshore Argentina during the country’s first offshore bid round, the companies announced Tuesday. The blocks MLO-113, MLO-117 and MLO-118 – located in the Malvinas basin 200 miles offshore Tierra del Fuego – will add about 2.6 million net acres to Exxon’s existing holdings in Argentina. “We look forward to working with our co-venturer to explore this new opportunity in Argentina,” Mike Cousins, senior vice president of ExxonMobil Exploration and New Ventures, said in a company statement. “This potential play-opening opportunity will allow ExxonMobil to use its unique exploration capabilities and expertise as it evaluates this new acreage.” Qatar Petroleum CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi added, “We are pleased to have been awarded these offshore exploration blocks, which further strengthen QP’s footprint within Argentina…” ExxonMobil will operate the blocks with a 70 percent working interest while the Qatar Petroleum affiliate will hold the remaining 30 percent. Initial work will include 3-D seismic data acquisition.

Halliburton awarded Shell Offshore exploration contract in Brazil’s Campos, Santos basins

Michael Creg Afful
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Halliburton awarded Shell Offshore exploration contract in Brazil’s Campos, Santos basins
Photo: TGS Campos Basin Brazil. Halliburton Company has announced the execution of an integrated services contract with Royal Dutch Shell for post-salt development and pre-salt exploration in Brazil’s Campos and Santos Basins. Under the contract, which includes a three-year term with a two-year extension, Halliburton will provide drilling services to drive greater efficiency by integrating multiple product offerings and technologies. “Our integrated services model is designed to help accelerate new field development, reduce drilling and completion costs and increase recovery through the utilization of our innovative technologies and basin insight,” said Anouar Fraija, V.P. of Halliburton Brazil. “We are excited to win this award and collaborate with Shell to deliver integrated solutions that maximize their asset value.” Halliburton has an established track record in Brazil’s pre-salt fields, which are among the most complex wells ever drilled, and require a broad scope of technologies and capabilities to achieve economical and operational success. Halliburton also maintains a technology center in Rio de Janeiro which serves as a global center of expertise for deepwater innovation and training. The center’s capabilities allow Halliburton to more quickly translate offshore knowledge into new technologies that reduce uncertainty and increase efficiency and reliability.

Fuel prices in Ghana to go up “marginally” – IES

Michael Creg Afful
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Fuel prices in Ghana to go up “marginally” – IES
There will be slight increment in the price of fuel on the market, the Institute for Energy Security (IES) is predicting.

“This is irrespective of the 2.5% appreciation of the Cedi against the dollar,” the IES said in its second pricing window forecast for April.

However, it said “while some OMCs could keep prices unchanged in order to maintain market share as part of the deregulation policy, most OMCs are likely to take advantage of the window to make up for previous ‘depressed’ margins.”

“On that note, IES wishes to conscientize Ghanaians to observe the displayed fuel price boards of the various OMCs before making purchases in order to benefit from the deregulation policy’s competitive pricing,” it added.

Below is the full forecast statement:

REVIEW OF FIRST PRICING-WINDOW OF APRIL

Local Fuel Market Performance

In the window under review, some select Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) reviewed their prices downwards to maintain market shares, while largely prices stayed unchanged. Gasoil and Gasoline continue to be sold on average terms at GHc5.12 and GHc5.15 respectively. IES Market-Scan shows Star Oil, Pacific Oil, and Benab Oil sell the least-priced fuel on the market relative to other OMCs. Fuel from these outlets are 3% lower than the national average fuel price.

World Oil Market

An observation of the international oil market reveals Brent crude traded at an average price of $69.55 per barrel within the period under review representing an increment of 3.98% from a previous average trading price of $66.9 per barrel. Within the window, crude oil price peaked at $71.83 per barrel having hovered around $65 for several weeks. This is attributable to some developments around the world, including but not limited to the renewed clashes in Libya and OPEC production falls. OPEC production in March fell by 534,000 bpd, led by a massive 324,000-bpd reduction from Saudi Arabia, putting overall output at just below 9.8 million barrels per day (mb/d), below the 10-mb/d ceiling as part of the OPEC+ deal. In Standard and Poor’s Global Platts analysis, Gasoline prices went up 12.97% to close trading at $684.63 metric tonne, from a previous trading price of $606.02 per metric tonne; while Gasoil also increased by 1.42%. Selling at a previous price of $606.12 per metric tonne, it rose to close trading at $614.77 per metric tonne within the Pricing-window under review.

Local Forex

The Forex performance of the local currency Cedi against the U.S. Dollar for the window saw an improvement as the Cedi continues to appreciate following its recent recovery. Data gathered by IES Economic desk shows the cedi is currently trading at GH¢5.28; a clear 2.5% movement from the GH¢5.42 that heralded the last window.

PROJECTIONS FOR APRIL SECOND PRICING-WINDOW

Considering the fact that average Brent crude price has gone up by 3.98% with a corresponding 12.97% increment in the price Gasoline and 1.42% for Gasoil on the International market, the Institute for Energy Security (IES) foresees a slight increment in the price of fuel on the market. This is irrespective of the 2.5% appreciation of the Cedi against the dollar. While some OMCs could keep prices unchanged in order to maintain market share as part of the deregulation policy, most OMCs are likely to take advantage of the window to make up for previous ‘depressed’ margins. On that note, IES wishes to conscientize Ghanaians to observe the displayed fuel price boards of the various OMCs before making purchases in order to benefit from the deregulation policy’s competitive pricing.

Signed:

MIKDAD MOHAMMED

Research Analyst

GH¢36m saved due to prudent management of pre-mix fuel-Afoley

Michael Creg Afful
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GH¢36m saved due to prudent management of pre-mix fuel-Afoley
The Government has saved GH¢ 36 million within two years for the prudent management of the pre-mix fuel and halting the diversion of the commodity.

Additionally, the 286 Landing Beach Committees had accumulated over seven million Ghana cedis in their Community Development Fund accounts from the sale of pre-mix fuel allocated to the community.

Consequently, the National Pre-mix Fuel Secretariat had installed tracking devices at the Secretariat to monitor the movement of the trucks that cart the commodity from the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to the intended destination to check diversion and other corrupt practices.

Madam Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, announced this at the Meet-the-Press Series in Accra on Tuesday, to update the public on the Ministry’s activities and achievements and solicit ideas to enhance its policies.

She said the accumulated amount in the Community Development Fund of the LBCs were being used to fund various developmental projects including market centres, drainage systems, toilet facilities, community-based health planning systems (CHIPS) compounds and hostels, which were at the various stages of completion.

Madam Afoley Quaye said hitherto, the 53 percent of the proceeds from the sale of pre-mix fuel meant for community development ended up in individual pockets, for funding the construction of political party offices and party activities at the expense of the people.

Explaining how those successes were chalked, the Minister said upon assumption of office by the ruling NPP Government, it constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee comprising the Energy, the Finance, Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, National Petroleum Authority and the National Premix Fuel Secretariat and outlined strategic measures to halt the corruption in the pre-mix fuel sale and management.

The measures implemented by the Inter-Ministerial Committee resulted in the reduction of the number of Landing Beach Committees from 475 to 286, while daily and monthly returns book were introduced for proper record keeping and accountability of the sale of the commodity.

Source: GNA

PDS Replaces Damaged Lakeside Legon Electric Pole

Michael Creg Afful
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PDS Replaces Damaged Lakeside Legon Electric Pole
The replaced electric pole The Power Distribution Services (PDS) has replaced the damaged electric pole at Lakeside, a suburb of Legon in the Greater Accra Region, which carried a transformer supplying power to the area. The replacement followed a concern raised by a resident of the area in a Facebook post, which energynewsafrica.com published at the weekend. After the publication, PDS informed this portal that it would despatch its engineers to the area to replace the damaged pole to avert any imminent disaster. This portal can confirm that the pole had been replaced as promised by PDS. This was the Facebook post shared by the resident: Dear Power Distribution Services (PDS) .This is happening right in Accra, Lakeside to be specific within the Legon District. Don’t wait for people to die before we come and say “THE INCONVENIENCE IS DEEPLY REGRETTED” . Don’t wait until the unthinkable happens for officialdom to come and read looooooong speeches and BIG GRAMMAR. It has been like this for well over 2weeks. How much does it cost to replace a wooden pole that carries a transformer? We pay some “ENGINEERS” in the LEGON DISTRICT to work, but this is what we get……… I have done my part for GOD AND COUNTRY. Let the responsible people ACT. CITIZEN AND NOT A SPECTATOR Engineers of PDS at the site
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