NERSA approves tariff hike for Transnet
GRIDCo apologizes to Ghanaians for last night blackout
PDS announces power outages in parts of Accra
Bolton Threatens Companies Shipping Venezuelan Oil To Cuba
PDS announces power outage in parts of Accra
The outage, which will occur between 9am and 5pm, on Wednesday, 13th March, 2019 will affect areas such as John Teye, Pokuase new site, Pokuase Council, Aduman, Mayera, Domi Bra and Abensu.
The rest are GWCL Pumping Station, ACP, Ayegbey Town, Abuom, Teacher Kope, Katapor , Dademan and surrounding areas.
According to PDS, the emergency outage is to enable Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), to relocate its 33 KV pylons to make way for ongoing road construction works at Pokuase-ACP.
The PDS regretted about the inconveniences that will arise as a result of the exercise.
QP Takes Stake of ENI Block Offshore Mozambique
Government aims at 100% power penetration – Peter Amewu
Minister of Energy, John Peter Amewu, says the government is aiming at 100 percent electricity penetration and to also ensure that there is affordability. Currently, about 83 percent of the population have access to power. He added that a lot would be needed to be done to achieve the goal of universal access. He was speaking at a forum on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in the oil and gas sector which was organized by the American Chamber of Commerce Ghana (AmCham). The Minister put the nation’s power demand at 2,600 megawatts and said it was presently generating close to 5,000 megawatts. Ghana was paying between US$30 million and US$35 million for the excess capacity.
By year 2020, this could reach in excess of US$400 million per annum, and this, he said, gave cause to worry. There was a higher capacity and higher excess charges and that was why no PPAs were going to be signed. He announced that 11 of the PPAs had been put on hold and that other producers were also taking another look at their rates. Mr Amewu underlined the government’s unswerving determination to ensure that there was transparency in the oil and gas industry.
Government aims at 100% power penetration – Peter Amewu
John-Peter Amewu, Minister for Energy
Minister of Energy, John Peter Amewu, says the government is aiming at 100 percent electricity penetration and to also ensure that there is affordability.
Currently, about 83 percent of the population have access to power. He added that a lot would be needed to be done to achieve the goal of universal access. He was speaking at a forum on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in the oil and gas sector which was organized by the American Chamber of Commerce Ghana (AmCham). The Minister put the nation’s power demand at 2,600 megawatts and said it was presently generating close to 5,000 megawatts. Ghana was paying between US$30 million and US$35 million for the excess capacity. By year 2020, this could reach in excess of US$400 million per annum, and this, he said, gave cause to worry. There was a higher capacity and higher excess charges and that was why no PPAs were going to be signed. He announced that 11 of the PPAs had been put on hold and that other producers were also taking another look at their rates. Mr Amewu underlined the government’s unswerving determination to ensure that there was transparency in the oil and gas industry.
LPG Cylinder Re-circulation Model will guarantee our safety – Dr Amin
Deputy Minister for Energy in-charge of Petroleum, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, is urging Ghanaians to embrace the changes government is introducing in the LPG distribution and marketing in the country, saying the new policy seeks to protect lives and property. It will, additionally, create more jobs as compared to the current model. He explained that the current model where consumers send their empty LPG cylinders to refilling stations to get it refilled is not the best. He argued that it had become necessary to implement the Cylinder Re-circulation Model (CRM) policy, which seeks to introduce innovation in handling LPG due to the numerous gas explosions which has destroyed many lives and properties. He explained that the CRM policy would lead to the establishment of LPG bottling plants where cylinders would be refilled and distributed to distribution points. Customers would, therefore, have to go there with their empty cylinders to exchange for a filled one. Speaking at a stakeholders engagement at the NPA head office in Accra, Dr. Amin Adam noted that the decision to introduce CRM was tough and difficult one but government had to do it in the interest of the safety of the citizens. “Change is difficult and people do not readily accept, but change is a necessity. It brings value. Change will bring innovation and change, if it is positive, will bring improvement in our lives. “And so when you have changed, that is not intended to destroy but to innovate, to reform and get things better. I want to appeal to all of you that you must accept the change for our good and the betterment of our children,” he said. Dr. Amin Adam also disclosed that the first bottling plant is expected to be in operation this year, insisting that safety remains a major component in the policy. The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the downstream regulator, has been soliciting the inputs of members of the public at various forums in some parts of the country. So far, the NPA has engaged with the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Members of the Council of State, residents of Nima and Maamobi, Sunyani and Koforidua, as well as the media. The Chief Executive of NPA, Hassan Tampuli, said the policy gives room for enormous job opportunities in several key areas. He maintained that the policy will provide jobs for between 4,000 ad 4,500 people. “There will also be a number of indirect jobs created for installations, maintenance, fabrication and other services. New investment opportunities such as bottling companies, bottle transportation, manufacturing of cylinders and cylinder re-distributors will also be available for grabs.” Mr. Tampuli said the policy would be fully implemented and assured stakeholders there would be no turning back. “The relevant licences will be issued and safety protocols will be keenly observed to ensure the safety of the good people of Ghana, while increasing access to LPG for domestic, commercial and industrial use from the current 25% level to 50% by 2030.” On her part, the Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, expressed her commitment to the policy and promised to advocate for its implementation. “The CRM will go a long way to encourage the safe use of LPG in domestic, commercial and industrial places. Under the new policy, LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMC) will ensure that the cylinders are in good condition before they are handed over to the end user.” According to her, using LPG product should not result in the lost of lives.
$735 million VRA’s debt is seriously affecting our operations – Ghana Gas
The Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) has expressed worry over the inability of the Volta River Authority(VRA) in paying for the gas supplies, which has accumulated, to a whopping US$735 million.
The situation, according to the Ghana Gas, is having a toll on its finances, thereby, compelling them to even borrow from banks in order be able to undertake some infrastructural projects.
The Chief Finance Officer at Ghana Gas, Mr Emmanuel Essel, made this known at a press briefing to inform the public about developments in the Ghana Gas company.
“We do give VRA Lean Gas for power production and so it is expected that we will receive monies for the supplies that we give them for power production.
“Unfortunately, over the years payment has not been forthcoming. Sometimes last year we were able to make an arrangement with them where they were paying US$3 million. They started payment from April but ceased in October. And so altogether last year we received US$20million as against the US$30 million we give them every month,” he said.
Mr. Essel noted that per their records VRA as at last year is owing Ghana Gas to the tune of US $735 million.
“At the end of last year we have recorded a debt US$ 735 million that would have been higher but for the intervention of Ministry of Finance by taking a bit around US$230 million through a balance sheet restructuring exercise,” Mr Essel noted.
According to him, some discussions are currently ongoing at the Board level to see how the debt can be restructured to enable VRA to be able pay their debt.
Difficulties
Touching on how the situation is affecting the operations of the company, Mr Essel said: “it is a tough one for us in terms of finances.
” You are aware that as a young organization we have to embark on a number of capital expenditures to be able to grow the company. Unfortunately, we have to rely on external borrowing to fund our capital expenditure projects.
Eskom clamps down on criminal activity
South Afican utility company, Eskom, has focused efforts on the removal of illegal connections, conducting meter audits, repairing faulty or tampered meters and, of critical importance, curbing the illegal selling of prepaid electricity vouchers, or ghost vending as it is commonly known.
While more still needs to be done, notable strides are being made. Late last year, a joint operation between the Hawks, Eskom and the Asset Forfeiture Unit, resulted in the confiscation of two illegal pre-paid credit dispensing units (CDUs) from a residential estate in Pretoria.
“The investigation on the matter is ongoing and we anticipate making a further breakthrough and successful criminal prosecutions,” said Advocate Karen Pillay, Acting General Manager for Eskom’s Security Division.
“Eskom would like to remind consumers that buying illegal electricity vouchers is a crime and a punishable offence. Those found using illegal prepaid electricity vouchers could face disconnection, fines and even legal prosecution,” added Pillay.
South Africa loses about R20 billion a year due to electricity theft in the form of illegal connections, non-payment of accounts, meter tampering, meter bypassing and ghost vending.
Don’t approve GNPC’s $ 43m CSR budget for 2019-ACEP tells Parliament
The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) is urging Ghana’s Parliament not to approve about US$43 million Ghana National Petroleum Corporation(GNPC) has planned to spend on its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in 2019.
The energy think tank is wondering why GNPC is spending $20 million on its operations in the Voltain Basin which is less than 50% of the amount it is blowing on CSR programmes.
“Parliament should not approve any CSR budget for the Corporation until the end of the fifteen-year financing window provided in the PRMA has elapsed. This should free up funds for the Corporation to deliver on its core mandate as an upstream oil player,” ACEP made the recommendation in a detailed report that analysed the GNPC’s work programme for the 2019 financial year, which is currently awaiting parliamentary approval.
GNPC plans to spend $43.05 million on CSR but only $20.3 million on its operations in the Voltaian Basin and its subsidiaries in the sector.
“This is less than 50% of what GNPC wants to spend on CSR. In recent times, the Corporation has become more popular in delivering development projects rather than its core mandate.
“While GNPC, like any corporate entity, has a responsibility towards society, it is unusual for sound corporate organisations to spend more than 10% of its cash flow (not profit) on corporate social responsibility,” ACEP said.
ACEP stated that spending that much on corporate social responsibility gives a cause for concern particularly, when it is juxtaposed against GNPC’s “operations expenditure beyond the traditional cash call on the producing fields.”
“In 2019, GNPC proposes to spend $20.3 million on its operations in the Voltaian Basin and its subsidiaries in the sector. This is less than 50% of what GNPC wants to spend on CSR,” the energy policy think tank stated.
ACEP noted that GNPC in recent times has become more popular in delivering development projects rather than its core mandate.
ACEP in its analysis said the CSR budget of the Corporation represents 2819%, 270%, 240%, 629% of the capital budget of the Ministries of Justice and Attorney General, Energy, Agriculture and Finance respectively.
“In relation to the total budget of the mentioned ministries, GNPC’s CSR budget represents 210%, 254%, 47%, and 65% respectively,” ACEP added.
Turf war at GNPC
GNPC has been in the news in recent times over a seeming turf war between the Chief Executive, Dr. K.K Sarpong and Board Chair, Freddie Blay over the corporation’s procurement functions.
Dr. K. K. Sarpong has been accused of trying to assume the procurement function of the Corporation’s Chief Finance Officer.
But Board Chair of GNPC, Freddie Blay mounted Pressure on Dr. K. K Sarpong, to reverse the decision with immediate effect.
Nana Addo must call K.K. Sarpong, Blay to order – IES
A policy think tank, Institute for Energy Security had also called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to call the Board Chairman and Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to order.
The civil society body believes this friction undermines the smooth operations of the national oil company.
The IES Executive Director, Paa Kwasi Anamua-Sakyi who spoke to Citi News, said the troubles at GNPC could affect investment in Ghana and must be resolved as soon as possible.
“It is important that the President who has the power to appoint leading personnel in these functional areas should step in and stop this because it can deter investors and so it is important for the number one gentlemen of the land to make a statement on this and bring these two gentlemen to order,” he added.
NPA inaugurates taskforce to fight fuel smuggling
A joint national taskforce to oversee the export of petroleum products across Ghana’s borders has been inaugurated.
In an effort to curb the menace, the National Petroleum Authority in collaboration with other bodies have initiated measures to conduct swoop-exercises on trucks suspected to be involved in dumping products meant for export into the country.
The joint taskforce comprises the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ministry of Energy, Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC), Bulk Oil Distribution Companies in Ghana (CBOD), and a representative from the security services.
The export guidelines were developed by the NPA to address concerns about malpractices in the export system, which have negatively impacted revenue meant for the state.
Speaking at the inauguration, Esther Anku-Chief Inspector of NPA, said the taskforce is expected to review operational activities of the committee, “as relates to curbing leakages within the current export system.”
She implored members of the committee to work assiduously in order to win the ‘fight’ against the smugglers.
Also, members of the committee will ensure export products are duly dispatched out of the country and in the appropriate order.
The committee is one of several measures the NPA is taking to address the menace of fuel smuggling in the petroleum sector, which has a negative impact on the country’s finances.
It has so far collaborated with state security to effect swoops at various landing beaches, the high seas and border points, where several cartels operating in the petroleum industry used to fuel their operations.
The NPA’s Chief Executive, Hassan Tampuli, reiterated his outfit’s resolve to fight the canker and do everything possible to ensure nothing is left unchanged.
In a meeting with the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Seth Amoama at his office, Mr. Tampuli reinforced the NPA’s commitment to assist the security agencies deal with the cartels behind fuel smuggling.
Electricity tariffs already high, no need for upward review – AGI
Ghana’s electricity tariffs are among the highest in West Africa, the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has said – noting that any upward adjustment will be detrimental to the fortunes of industry.
While calling for reliable and efficient service delivery, the AGI noted that the imminent takeover of ECG by Meralco Consortium should not bring about an increase in tariffs. It said any tariff adjustment must take into consideration competitiveness of the industry comparative to the sub-region.
“While expecting reliability and efficiency in service delivery and competitive tariffs from the new company to take over operations of the distribution network in southern Ghana, we do recognise the need for a tariff regime that is structured in a manner so the utility service providers can recover cost in order to remain viable,” the AGI said in a communique.
The communique was issued following a recent meeting of the association’s National Council in Accra. It said ongoing discussions on a possible review of electricity tariffs should, therefore, mirror the plight of industry.
More importantly, it argued that a competitive tariff regime will spur existing industries to become competitive in the sub-region while attracting new ones.
The communique further noted that the current arrangement wherein residential consumers are subsidised by industry is counterproductive because it burdens manufacturers and lessens competitiveness.
“The AGI expects that ongoing discussions on review of the electricity tariff should take the competitiveness of Ghanaian industry into account. The Council is of the strongest view that industry should not be made to subsidise residential consumers of electricity as is currently prevailing,” added the communique signed by AGI’s President, Dr. Yaw Adu Gyamfi.
ECG takeover
In August 2014, the government of Ghana signed the Power Compact II with the Millennium Challenge Account (MCC) (MiDA) – an independent United States government agency – on August 5, 2014. And part of the contract was to allow ECG to be managed privately for a period of 20 years.
Pursuant to this, MiDA awarded the operations, investment and management of ECG to Meralco Consortium in April last year, following the completion of an international competitive procurement process and evaluation of the proposals received for the ECG Concession