Ghana: Tema Oil Refinery Hosts Uganda Revenue Authority Delegation

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: Tema Oil Refinery Hosts Uganda Revenue Authority Delegation

Ghana’s premier oil refinery, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) on Wednesday hosted a delegation from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) as part of an information exchange programme.

The delegation, accompanied by representatives of Ghana’s Petroleum Commission, was received by TOR Managing Director Edmond Kombat and Deputy Managing Director Alhaji Mustapha Batalima Abubakar.

TOR’s technical team briefed the visitors on how crude oil is converted into finished petroleum products and shared the refinery’s experience in processing domestically produced crude.

Delegation leader Arthur Musinguci said the visit would help the team better understand the refining process as Uganda prepares for its first oil production and pursues plans to develop a domestic refinery.

He said the delegation was keen to learn from TOR’s experience as Uganda works towards processing its crude locally.

Uganda’s Kingfisher oilfield holds an estimated 560 million barrels of oil in place, of which about 190 million barrels, or roughly 34%, are expected to be recovered over 20 to 25 years.

Speaking separately at African Energy Week in Cape Town, Kristina Kasebayo, head of compliance at the Uganda National Oil Company, said Uganda expected to begin producing oil before the end of its financial year in June 2027.

“First oil will start before the end of our financial year, June 2027. Moreover, this will position us as an oil-producing country,” she said.

Kasebayo said a final investment decision (FID) on the proposed domestic refinery was targeted for February 2027.

She added that the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) was 92% complete, with crude exports expected to begin after production starts.

The pipeline will transport Ugandan crude to a port in Tanzania for export to international markets.

First production would mark a major milestone for Uganda, about two decades after its first commercial oil discoveries in 2006. Export infrastructure and supporting regulatory frameworks have been central to efforts to bring the country’s resources to market.

UK: Ofgem Approves Agreement To Maintain Gas Import Capacity From Europe

Peter Adofo Asante
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UK: Ofgem Approves Agreement To Maintain Gas Import Capacity From Europe
Britain’s energy regulator, Ofgem, has approved an agreement to maintain gas import capacity from mainland Europe, helping preserve supply flexibility during periods of high demand. Ofgem said on Thursday it had approved Interconnector Limited entering into an agreement with National Gas Transmission plc under its licence to maintain import capability through the pipeline linking Britain and Belgium. Britain’s gas interconnectors with Belgium and the Netherlands allow supplies to flow in either direction, depending on market demand. The pipelines are used only occasionally to import gas. Most of Britain’s gas imports arrive through pipelines from Norway or as liquefied natural gas (LNG) from other suppliers. Ofgem said import capacity through the continental interconnectors had declined in recent years because of weaker commercial incentives to bring gas from Europe and technical reductions in pipeline capacity. However, the links remain an important supply option during periods of particularly high demand, including severe winter weather, the regulator said. Ofgem has opened a consultation, running until November 20, 2026, on a proposed regulatory mechanism to recover the costs of maintaining that capability. “Maintaining import capability through the continental interconnectors has been identified as an important action to strengthen resilience by enhancing the ability of the gas system to respond to more challenging situations in the very unlikely event that they arise,” said Glenn Bryn-Jacobsen, Director of Energy Systems and Resilience at National Gas, according to Oilprice.com Jack Presley Abbott, Ofgem’s Director of Energy Systems Management and Security, said maintaining the links remained important as the energy system evolved. “We have approved the agreement needed to maintain this important capability, and, as such, are consulting on the proposed regulatory mechanism for recovering its costs,” he said. Separately, the British government on Wednesday approved the long-delayed Jackdaw gas field, marking the first approval of a new North Sea project since the war involving Iran drove up energy prices. Jackdaw could begin supplying gas to British homes and businesses as early as later this month, after the energy secretary agreed that the regulator could grant consent for production at the field.

South Africa: Gov’t Announces R10 Billion Fuel Levy Relief For Motorists

Michael Creg Afful
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South Africa: Gov’t Announces R10 Billion Fuel Levy Relief For Motorists

South Africa has announced temporary fuel levy cuts costing 10 billion rand to ease pressure on motorists, starting on November 4, as part of its 2026 mini-budget.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the government would cut the levy by 1.50 rand per litre for petrol and 3 rand per litre for diesel from November 4 to December 1, 2026.

The reductions would then be scaled back to 1 rand per litre for petrol and 1.50 rand per litre for diesel until January 5, 2027, when the relief would end.

“The relief will cost the fiscus R10 billion,” Godongwana said during the presentation of the mini-budget.

The announcement follows recent protests by motorists in parts of South Africa over high fuel prices.

Ghana: UAE-Led Consortium Signs $28 Billion Deal With PHDC For Jomoro Refinery, Petrochemical Plants

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: UAE-Led Consortium Signs $28 Billion Deal With PHDC For Jomoro Refinery, Petrochemical Plants
A United Arab Emirates-led consortium has signed a $28 billion agreement with Ghana’s Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) to develop a refinery and petrochemical facilities at Jomoro in the Western Region, as part of the second phase of the country’s petroleum hub project. The consortium, led by Global Sphere and comprising partners from the UAE, Korea and Mali, plans to build a refinery with a capacity of 300,000 barrels per stream day within five years under a build-own-operate arrangement. The project also includes two petrochemical plants, storage facilities with a combined capacity of four million cubic metres and a multi-berth jetty. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027, subject to technical preparations. Financing arrangements are still being developed, according to the consortium. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Energy and Green Transition Minister Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor said the project supported the government’s plans to expand domestic petroleum processing and supply regional markets.
Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition.
He said Ghana’s oil production was beginning to recover after five years of decline, citing a $1.5 billion framework agreement with Eni, a $2 billion agreement with the Jubilee partners and ongoing deepwater drilling campaigns. “But the vision of the President is simple. We cannot increase oil production without adding value to that oil resource,” Jinapor said. He said the proposed refinery’s capacity would enable Ghana to supply markets across the West African subregion. “So to process 300,000 barrels would mean that you are not just feeding Ghana, that you are satisfying the rest of the sub-region,” he said. Jinapor pledged government support and said he would work with other ministers to fulfil its commitments under the agreement. Consortium representative Boubacar Belco Bah described the signing of the investment and land development agreement as a step towards expanding industrial capacity in Ghana and West Africa. He said African economies had long exported raw materials while importing products they could manufacture domestically. Bah said the consortium and its development partners were working to mobilise investment and structure financing for the second phase through equity participation, long-term debt and credit enhancement and risk mitigation arrangements. He stressed that the signing did not mark the completion of the financing process. “Ultimately, our success will be measured not by the agreement we sign today, but by the commitments we honour and the results we achieve together,” he said. Bah said the project could support the government’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development agenda through employment, vocational and technical training, supplier development and opportunities for Ghanaian businesses. PHDC Chief Executive Toni Aubynn said the signing came 580 days after he took office, following efforts to prepare the project and attract investors. He said the corporation had designated 2026 its “Year of Action” and had laid the groundwork for implementation. Aubynn thanked President John Dramani Mahama for his commitment to the project, citing a meeting in November 2025. He also acknowledged Jinapor, Deputy Energy and Green Transition Minister Richard Gyan-Mensah and other stakeholders. He said the project’s success would be measured by the infrastructure completed, investment delivered, jobs created and lasting benefits for Ghana.

Ghana: NPA, UMaT Seek Stronger Ties To Boost Downstream Petroleum Sector

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: NPA, UMaT Seek Stronger Ties To Boost Downstream Petroleum Sector
Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPA) plans to strengthen collaboration with the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) to support innovation and skills development in the country’s downstream petroleum sector, the regulator’s chief executive said. Godwin Kudzo Tameklo made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with a UMaT delegation led by Prof. Richard Amorin, dean of the university’s School of Petroleum Studies, to explore areas of cooperation between the two institutions. Tameklo said closer engagement with academia could help advance the industry through research and innovative approaches. “We would want to continue the engagement with academia because we strongly believe that it will propel the downstream industry, because what academia does is to come up with innovative ways of doing things,” he said. The NPA would also explore offering internship opportunities to UMaT students in some of its technical departments, Tameklo said, adding that practical experience could help students better understand industry operations. Amorin thanked the NPA leadership for its willingness to collaborate, saying he would convey the discussions to the university’s vice-chancellor with a view to advancing the proposed partnership. The discussions also covered specialised training and secondment opportunities for UMaT teaching staff, the university’s participation in training activities under a proposed NPA Centre of Excellence, and the possible upgrading of a laboratory at UMaT as part of the initiative. Both institutions expressed optimism that the engagement could lead to a formal partnership linking academic research with industry practice. The NPA regulates, oversees and monitors Ghana’s downstream petroleum industry.

Liberia: President Boakai To Open Mining And Energy Conference

Michael Creg Afful
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Liberia: President Boakai To Open Mining And Energy Conference
Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai will open the Liberia International Mining and Energy Conference and Expo (LIMEC) on Oct. 28, as the country seeks to attract investment in its mining and energy sectors, the Ministry of Mines and Energy said. The two-day event will take place at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County on Oct. 28–29, 2026. Organised by the ministry, the Liberia Chamber of Mines and AME Trade Ltd., the conference will bring together government officials, investors, mining and energy companies, development partners and technical experts to explore investment opportunities. “Liberia is committed to creating an enabling environment for responsible investment in our mining and energy sectors, ensuring that our natural resources are developed in a manner that delivers sustainable benefits to the Liberian people while protecting our environment and strengthening our national economy,” Boakai said in a statement issued by the ministry. The ministry said Liberia was entering a new investment cycle, with about $3 billion in projected new investment and annual iron ore production expected to reach 25 million to 30 million tonnes. It did not specify a timeframe for either projection. It also cited newly confirmed critical mineral opportunities and a national renewable energy target of 75%, without specifying the target date or the basis on which the share would be measured. The conference will examine opportunities in iron ore, critical minerals, renewable energy, energy efficiency, mining technology, infrastructure and related services. The ministry said it was working with stakeholders to strengthen regulatory oversight, promote responsible mineral development and facilitate investment. An accompanying exhibition will allow companies and institutions to showcase technologies, products and services for the mining and energy sectors.

Ghana: Energy Commission Demands Comprehensive Reports From Power Utilities Over Recent Power Supply Interruptions

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: Energy Commission Demands Comprehensive Reports From Power Utilities Over Recent Power Supply Interruptions
Ghana’s Energy Commission has asked state-owned power utilities to submit reports on recent electricity supply interruptions by Oct. 22, following an emergency meeting on Wednesday. The meeting examined the causes of recurring outages affecting parts of the country, particularly the Ashanti and Northern regions, and measures to improve supply reliability. Representatives of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Volta River Authority (VRA) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) attended. Chaired by the commission’s acting executive secretary, Adwoa Serwaa Bondzie, the meeting focused on the causes of the interruptions, operational challenges and immediate corrective measures. The commission asked the utilities to detail the causes of the outages, corrective actions taken, outstanding challenges and planned interventions, with clear implementation timelines. The reports will inform its assessment and guide further regulatory engagement and coordinated action to address recurring supply problems. The commission called for stronger collaboration, operational accountability and timely interventions across the electricity sector to improve service reliability for households and businesses.  

Kenya:Fuel Station Attendant Dies After Fire While Serving Customer During Blackout

Michael Creg Afful
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Kenya:Fuel Station Attendant Dies After Fire While Serving Customer During Blackout

A 19-year-old petrol station attendant in Kenya has died from severe burns after a fire broke out while she was serving a motorcycle operator during a power outage in South Ngariama, Mwea, Kirinyaga County on Monday. 

Joan Wangeci, who worked at Gold Village petrol station, died at Kimbimbi Sub-County Hospital, where she had been taken for treatment, according to Kenyan news outlet Citizen Digital. Witnesses said Wangeci had lit a candle to continue serving customers after the station lost electricity. She was pouring petrol from a jug into a motorcycle’s fuel tank when the fire broke out. Bystanders rushed her to Kimbimbi Sub-County Hospital, where medical staff attempted to stabilise her while arranging a transfer to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment. She died before the transfer could take place. According to the report, medical personnel told her family and residents that she had suffered burns covering about 81% of her body. Residents gathered at the hospital after learning of her death. Susan Wangari, a resident, described Wangeci as a hardworking young woman who was committed to her job and her customers. Wangari said the attendant had apparently wanted to continue serving customers despite the blackout, unaware of the danger posed by an open flame near petrol. The report also quoted a resident identified as Mwangi as saying that Wangeci handed money collected from fuel sales to the station owner and apologised to him before her death. The owner was reportedly overcome with grief at the hospital. Another resident, Peter Njeru, said the station could have temporarily suspended operations until electricity was restored. Residents expressed sorrow over Wangeci’s death, describing the incident as an unprecedented tragedy in the area.  

Ghana: Ghana Gas Trains Journalists In Gas Industry Reporting And Effective Communication

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: Ghana Gas Trains Journalists In Gas Industry Reporting And Effective Communication

State-owned Ghana National Gas Limited Company (Ghana Gas) held a one-day training programme on Saturday for selected journalists from the Western and Greater Accra regions at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.

The programme aimed to deepen journalists’ understanding of the gas industry and the company’s operations and contribution to national development.

Four presentations by company officials covered engineering, health and safety, commercial operations and corporate social responsibility.

Maxwell Kally, General Manager of Engineering and Maintenance, outlined Ghana Gas’ role in the country’s gas industry.

Jaasu Yahaya, Principal Manager for Health, Safety and Environment, discussed the company’s environmental and safety practices.

Sylvester Cudjoe, Senior Manager of Commercial Operations, guided participants through the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM), explaining how revenue is distributed among the various players in the energy value chain.

The Cash Waterfall Mechanism is a framework for distributing revenue from electricity sales among companies across Ghana’s power sector, including fuel suppliers, power generators, transmission utilities and distribution companies.

Alfred Ogbamey, Head of Community Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), presented the company’s new approach to CSR.

The final training session was a masterclass led by consultant Percy Amoo-Yankey on “Effective Communication, Emotional Intelligence, and AI for Modern Communication”. It provided participants with tools and insights to improve their professional practice.

The programme concluded with a media soirée attended by representatives from various media organisations.

Addressing participants, Ghana Gas’ Chief Executive Officer Judith Adjobah- Blay commended the media for their continued partnership with the company and the wider gas industry. She reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the media.

“Through your work, you influence the national discourse and help shape the policy environment in which governments operate. That is why we consider our relationship with you not merely as one between an organisation and the people who report on it, but as a partnership with professionals whose work contributes to national development,” she said.

Ghana Journalists Association President Albert Dwomfuor thanked Ghana Gas for its continued partnership with and support for the media.

He urged journalists to exercise sound judgement in their work, describing journalism as a calling rather than simply a profession.

Mozambique: ENH Seeks South African Investment For $250 Million Gas Project

Michael Creg Afful
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Mozambique: ENH Seeks South African Investment For $250 Million Gas Project

Mozambique’s state-owned oil company ENH is in talks with potential investors, including South Africa’s Sasol and pipeline company ROMPCO, over a new natural gas project as the country seeks to become a regional energy hub, its chief executive said.

Mozambique supplies gas to South Africa from Sasol’s onshore Pande and Temane fields, which are expected to be depleted within a few years. Its vast offshore resources in the Rovuma Basin could help meet South Africa’s future gas needs.

The proposed project, centred on the coastal towns of Beira and Inhassoro, is expected to cost about $250 million. It would involve deploying floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) at Inhassoro and the Port of Beira.

A new 140-kilometre pipeline would connect the facilities to the ROMPCO pipeline, the main gas artery linking Mozambique to South Africa’s Secunda industrial complex.

ENH is part of a group of state-owned companies awarded an exclusive 30-year concession last year to build and operate natural gas facilities in Mozambique, where TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil and Eni are developing large liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects.

“We want our infrastructure by 2030 or 2031, in step with Mozambique LNG, Rovuma LNG and Coral North,” Rudencio Morais, ENH’s chairman and chief executive, told Reuters in an interview.

Gas from these developments is largely destined for international markets. However, petroleum laws in force since June require at least 25% of oil and gas production, explicitly including LNG, to be allocated to the domestic market.

“Mozambique is going to become what we call the power hub,” Morais said, outlining plans to export gas to a region plagued by power shortages.

Sasol said it would be premature to speculate on the nature or scale of any potential investment as it sought alternative gas supplies.

France: IEA Advisory Board Meets In Paris To Address Electricity Security Challenges

Michael Creg Afful
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France: IEA Advisory Board Meets In Paris To Address Electricity Security Challenges
More than 70 senior experts gathered in Paris for a meeting of the International Energy Agency’s Electricity Security Advisory Board (ESAB) to examine how grids, storage and investment can strengthen electricity security. The meeting brought together representatives from industry, utilities, governments, regulators, academia and think tanks to discuss ways to maintain reliable and affordable electricity supplies as demand grows and power systems face mounting pressures. Discussions took place amid growing concerns over system stability, the adequacy of power supplies and physical threats to electricity networks. Shinichi Kihara, the IEA’s director for energy markets and security, delivered the opening remarks, outlining the agency’s recent and forthcoming work on electricity security and electrification. Hosted by the IEA’s Electricity Systems and Markets Division, the meeting focused on four areas: grid infrastructure, storage, resource adequacy and affordability. Participants examined ways to make better use of existing grids while preparing networks for growing and changing demand. Discussions covered how network capacity is calculated under existing operational grid codes, ways to improve system operators’ visibility of network conditions, flexible connection arrangements and advance planning amid uncertainty over demand and supply trends. Participants also explored how storage can support power systems, from long-term planning to real-time balancing. They considered approaches open to different technologies, opportunities to combine multiple revenue streams and the market signals needed to support efficient investment and operation. The meeting also addressed how to secure timely investment to ensure adequate electricity supplies while managing rising system costs. Participants examined ways to hedge against market risks, evolving reliability standards and mechanisms to ensure sufficient supply, as well as the distinction between capacity and flexibility needs. On affordability, discussions covered fair cost allocation, protection for vulnerable households, clear retail tariffs and ways to recover investment costs while supporting electricity security and affordability. The ESAB complements the IEA Electricity Security Task Force, established in 2024, by bringing together a broader range of stakeholders to inform the agency’s work. Insights from the meeting will inform the IEA’s forthcoming Electricity 2027 report, the work of its Ministerial Advisory Panel on Electricity Affordability, and further analysis of electricity grids and security.

Ukraine: Russian Strikes On Energy Facilities Cause Widespread Blackouts

Michael Creg Afful
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Ukraine: Russian Strikes On Energy Facilities Cause Widespread Blackouts

Russia has expanded its strikes from eastern and central Ukraine to energy facilities in previously untargeted western regions, causing widespread blackouts, Arab News reported on Tuesday, citing energy ministry officials and local authorities.

Russia recently resumed attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector, targeting power plants and electricity transmission systems.

“Unfortunately, the enemy continues to deliberately and systematically attack our energy infrastructure,” Ukrainian Deputy Energy Minister Artem Nekrasov said in a televised statement.

He said Russian strikes had hit energy facilities in the central Kirovohrad region, the western regions of Zhytomyr, Lviv, Rivne, Ternopil and Khmelnytskyi, and the southern Odesa region.

“As a result of the attacks, some consumers were left without electricity,” he added.

Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, said on Tuesday that an overnight Russian attack had hit three of its energy facilities in the Odesa region, leaving 32,700 households without electricity.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Russia had attacked Ukraine’s energy, oil and gas sectors dozens of times in the week since U.S. President Donald Trump announced a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure.

Ukraine had previously said it was ready for an energy ceasefire but had also asked its allies to supply missiles to intercept Russian ballistic missiles used to target its energy infrastructure.

Tanzania: Vice President Ndejembi Satisfied With Iganjo Substation Construction Progress

Michael Creg Afful
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Tanzania: Vice President Ndejembi Satisfied With Iganjo Substation Construction Progress
Tanzania’s Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi has expressed satisfaction with construction progress at the Iganjo electricity substation in Mbeya Region. The facility forms part of the Tanzania–Zambia Transmission Interconnector (TAZA) project, which aims to improve electricity supply in the Southern Highlands and link the two countries’ power systems. Ndejembi made the remarks on October 16, 2026, during a visit to the substation as part of his inspection of electricity projects across the country. He said completion of the facility would strengthen electricity supply in Mbeya, Songwe and Rukwa regions, supporting mining, industrial growth and investment while creating jobs, particularly for young people. It would also facilitate electricity exports to neighbouring countries, including Zambia. “The electricity reaching this facility is not intended solely for our neighbour Zambia. It will also improve electricity supply in Mbeya, Songwe and Rukwa regions. I commend the Ministry of Energy, through TANESCO, for the good work done. When I visited in March, the project was in its early stages, but it is now nearing completion. Given this progress, I am satisfied with what I have seen,” Ndejembi said. Deputy Energy Minister Salome Makamba thanked the government, led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, for its continued investment in the energy sector to improve electricity supply and support economic and social development.  

Ghana: ECG To Conduct Nationwide Meter Audit To Curb Losses And Electricity Theft

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: ECG To Conduct Nationwide Meter Audit To Curb Losses And Electricity Theft

Ghana’s state-owned power distribution utility, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), will soon begin a nationwide meter audit across all its operational areas, it said in a public notice on Tuesday.

The exercise forms part of efforts to reduce commercial losses, improve revenue assurance and combat electricity theft, the company said.

It will involve inspecting and verifying all prepaid and postpaid meters, Special Load Tariff (SLT) installations and associated wiring to confirm the integrity of metering systems and ensure accurate measurement and billing of electricity consumption.

ECG said the announcement served as official notice of the exercise and that no further notices, appointment letters or advance notifications would be issued.

It advised customers, landlords, estate managers, property managers, facility managers and security personnel against denying, restricting or delaying access to authorised ECG personnel because they had not received a separate notification letter.

The company cited Regulation 4(h) of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (Customer Service) Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2413), which requires consumers to grant utility employees or authorised agents safe and reasonable access to their premises, subject to the presentation of verifiable identification and compliance with access procedures set out in the utility’s Customer Charter.

ECG said all employees and authorised agents participating in the exercise would carry official identification cards. It urged customers to verify the identity of field personnel through the company’s communication channels before granting them access.

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