Explosion Rocks Chevron El Segundo Refinery In Los Angeles
Ghana: Floating Nuclear Power Plant Not Best Option For Ghana-Says Dr Yamoah
AEW: GOIL PLC Plans To Expand LPG Storage Capacity By Additional 12,000 Metric Tons Amid Growing Demand
Speaking during a panel discussion on the topic “Monetising LPG to Enhance the Value of the Barrel in Africa’s Inland Markets” at African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025, Bawa said the company is spearheading a transformative expansion in LPG storage capacity to meet rising domestic demand and strengthen the country’s energy security.
Guided by the 2024 baseline consumption of 340 million kilograms of LPG sold nationally, the expansion seeks to bridge critical supply gaps, given that current storage capacity covers only two to three weeks of national demand.
“This storage limitation is both a challenge and a prime investment opportunity. Expanding infrastructure is fundamental to unlocking the full monetisation potential of LPG, benefiting producers, distributors, and end consumers alike,” Bawa noted.
GOIL’s latest initiatives reflect its broad commitment to infrastructure development. These include the rollout of multiple Autogas stations across five regions, including Accra and Kumasi, as well as the inauguration of a polymer-modified bitumen terminal in Tema to support related energy needs.
The company’s distribution network spans the entire country, servicing diverse consumer segments while driving sustainable growth and strategic investment partnerships. Recognising the challenges posed by limited LPG infrastructure—especially in rural areas—GOIL remains committed to expanding access through well-designed policies, increased investment, and innovative business models, including digital payment solutions that align with household cash flows.

Mohammed Amin Naderian, Head of Energy Economics & Forecasting at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), stressed LPG’s critical role in sustainable development:
“Our research at GECF highlights that LPG is a vital component within the broader narrative of gas’s role in sustainable development. Monetising gas is not just about producing more volumes, but about creating value along the entire supply chain—from production, storage, and transportation to distribution and ultimately the household consumer. In Africa particularly, market creation and capacity development are two sides of the same coin.”
He added: “We caution against mistaking policy as the solution itself. Policy acts as a catalyst to break poverty and energy poverty traps, accelerating monetisation through industrialisation and job creation for Africa’s youth. However, poorly designed or inconsistent policies risk causing market distortions or sudden collapses. Stable, transparent, and well-structured regulations are essential to reduce investment risks and provide predictability for investors and consumers.”
Sebastian Wagner, Managing Partner at DMWA Resources, drew lessons from Rwanda’s successes, stressing the importance of stable regulations, transparent investor incentives, and innovative business models—such as digital payments tailored to household cash flows. He highlighted LPG’s growing role in Africa’s energy transition:
“LPG often flies under the radar compared to LNG, but it is gaining momentum through well-structured investments and government partnerships aimed at reducing gas flaring and capturing value.”
Adding a South African perspective, Sesakho Magadla, CEO of PetroSA, said:
“LPG demand in South Africa is largely driven by population growth and rising energy needs, yet infrastructure development continues to lag behind. Consumption stands at about 350,000 metric tons annually, with peak demand reaching up to 550,000 metric tons in winter and summer.

“New investments in reverse flow pipelines and terminals in Durban are therefore crucial to meeting national demand. But it is only through close collaboration between the public and private sectors, with projects such as SANPC and Avedia Energy, that we can enhance LPG importation and distribution capacity, ensuring greater market stability and access.”
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.comSenegal To Review Oil And Gas Codes Ahead Of MSGBC 2025
The Minister made the disclosure during a press briefing at the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference in Cape Town, South Africa on Thursday.
“Senegal is currently reviewing all of its codes, as well as developments in the electricity sector, in order to create a framework for industrialization,” Minister Diop stated.
According to him, the revisions will place emphasis on transparency, local content, and ensuring that revenues more directly benefit Senegalese citizens.
Meanwhile, Lamin Camara, Permanent Secretary at The Gambia’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, revealed that the country is in the advanced stages of negotiations for well licenses.
“By the time we get to the MSGBC conference, we will announce that we have signed licenses for our oil wells,” Camara said, adding, “We are in the advanced stages of negotiation, which we expect to complete before the conference.”
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.comAEW: Global Energy Giants Eye Gabon’s Upstream Opportunities
US: Department Of Energy Cancels Another $7.6 Billion In Energy Project Funding
Ghana: NEDCo Records 10% Growth In Revenue Collection In Tamale
Ghana: Heavy Rainstorm Causes Power Outage Across Greater Accra
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has reported power outages in parts of the Greater Accra Region following a heavy rainstorm on Wednesday.
According to ECG, the storm caused faults on its network, resulting in outages across parts of the region.
Several areas in the capital, Accra, were also flooded, leading to heavy traffic congestion.
In a statement, ECG assured residents in the affected areas that its team of engineers is working diligently to repair the faults and restore power supply.

AEW: Clean Cooking Is A Big Issue, We Must Tackle It – NJ Ayuk
Nigeria: Dangote Refinery To Recall Dismissed Workers
The refinery’s decision to lay off over 800 workers was strongly opposed by the union, which directed its members to halt crude oil supplies to the refinery in protest.
After days of accusations and counter-accusations—including a lawsuit filed by Dangote Refinery against the union—the Federal Government has successfully brokered peace between both parties.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, confirmed the resolution of the dispute between PENGASSAN and the refinery.
According to him, the disengaged workers will be recalled and redeployed without any loss of pay.
He said:“After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately begin the process of redeploying the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.
“No worker will be victimised for their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.”
The minister further noted that both sides had reached a compromise, explaining that PENGASSAN had agreed to begin the process of calling off its strike.
“Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith,” he added.
He also stressed that unionisation is the right of every worker under Nigerian law, and that this right must be respected.
The conciliation meetings followed a breakdown in earlier talks between the refinery’s management and PENGASSAN, which had ended in a deadlock on Monday.
The dispute began after PENGASSAN raised concerns over what it described as mass transfers and dismissals of union members by Dangote Refinery’s management.
The union also accused the company of replacing Nigerian staff with foreign workers, arguing that such actions violated labour laws and undermined local employment rights.The refinery’s management, however, denied these claims, insisting that the workforce reorganisation was based on operational requirements and not union-related.
The standoff escalated when PENGASSAN took industrial action by halting gas and crude oil supplies to the refinery, sparking fears of potential disruptions to Nigeria’s energy supply and economic stability.
The Federal Government intervened, citing the risk of “adverse effects on the economy and energy security,” and convened high-level talks to resolve the impasse.
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.comAEW: Nigeria’s Heirs Energies Eyes Congo For Expansion
Executive Director and CFO Samuel Nwanze revealed the company’s growth strategy during a press briefing at the ongoing African Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa.
He emphasized that Heirs Energies remains committed to African-led energy solutions.“Yes, we are interested in expanding our business model in Nigeria and other African countries, and Congo is on the map,” he stated.
Nwanze explained that the company’s philosophy is anchored on maximizing the potential of mature fields and driving production efficiency.
He noted that Heirs Energies has achieved significant growth at OML 17 without drilling new wells or acquiring additional assets, relying instead on reworking existing infrastructure to extend the life of mature fields.The company also underscored its role in promoting Africapitalism.
According to Nwanze, Heirs Energies is a 100% indigenous brand, with 95% of its contractors also indigenous. He added that the company’s in-house development approach and control over its resources enable it to deliver meaningful impact.“All of the gas we produce in Nigeria goes into the domestic market to power industry,” he concluded.
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.comAEW: Central Africa Pushes Ahead With Multi-Billion-Dollar Gas Expansion
Speaking during a fireside chat moderated by NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, at the ongoing African Energy Week 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa, H.E. Antonio Oburu Ondo, Minister of Hydrocarbons for Equatorial Guinea, highlighted the latest deals.
These include a multi-billion-dollar Heads of Agreement for the next phase of the Gas Mega Hub and a multi-million-dollar agreement with Chevron for the Aseng gas project.“The Gas Mega Hub aims to ensure that the Punta Europa Gas Complex survives over time,” he said.
“It is a constant fight to make sure we tap into new gas resources to guarantee the survival of the gas complex.”
Ondo also emphasized Equatorial Guinea’s investor-friendly approach. “We have been very successful with our open-door licensing policy and announced our new EG Ronda licensing round yesterday. Our aim is to be one of the top countries in terms of regulation,” he stated.
Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Minister of Hydrocarbons for the Republic of Congo, echoed the region’s focus on gas, stressing domestic energy access before exports.
“Every drop of oil and gas counts. We have decided to make gas a priority. We will only export once we cover the needs of the country. The target is to provide electricity access to all Congolese people in the next five years, especially clean cooking gas,” he said, noting that national projects will produce LNG, LPG, butane, and propane.
Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, framed energy development across the continent—and in the Gulf of Guinea in particular—as inseparable from strategic security. “Because precision is now so cheap, it has greatly increased the threat envelope… There is a lot of private sector capability available to help governments maintain their sovereignty and restore their border integrity.”
Prince also highlighted the role of AI and data centers in driving global energy demand. “The demand signal for energy production for the world is rapidly accelerating. Invest accordingly, prepare accordingly, logistically. It’s going to be an all-fronts effort to get it done.”
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.comNigeria: Industrial Court Restrains Union From Halting Crude Oil Supply To Dangote
Nigeria’s National Industrial Court in Abuja has restrained the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from embarking on its planned industrial action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals.
The Court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim, in a ruling barred the defendants from halting crude oil and gas supply to the Dangote Refinery.
The applicant, Dangote Refinery, through its counsel George Ibrahim, listed as defendants the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The Court granted the applicant an interim order against the defendants.
In his motion, Ibrahim sought an interim injunction restraining the 1st Defendant (NNPCL)—its members, agents, servants, privies, representatives, or assigns—from halting the supply of crude oil and gas to the Claimant.
He further prayed the Court to restrain the defendants from embarking on any industrial action against the Claimant with the intention of crippling operations, blocking access roads, obstructing vehicular movement, or otherwise disrupting operations at the Claimant’s facility or the licensees of the 2nd to 4th Defendants, as contained in directives issued by the 1st Defendant on September 26, 2025, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
Ibrahim also sought “an order of interim injunction restraining the 2nd–4th Defendants, their employees, members, agents, servants, privies, representatives, licensees, or assigns from giving effect to the directives of the 1st Defendant to halt the supply of crude oil and gas to the Claimant; or joining, continuing, embarking on, or in any manner participating in the planned industrial action of the 1st Defendant and its affiliates or cronies, or any other strike whatsoever against the Claimant/Applicant, with a view to frustrating its business and operations, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
He argued that the Applicant is a duly licensed petroleum production and distribution company engaged in refining and producing petroleum and petrochemical products for public consumption in Nigeria. He stressed that the company provides essential services critical to the Nigerian economy and the wellbeing of the public.
Ibrahim further contended that recent incidents of sabotage by some employees at the Claimant’s plant had raised grave health and safety concerns, necessitating a re-organisation exercise that led to the disengagement of some staff. This decision, he noted, was communicated to all employees through a memo dated September 25, 2025.
According to him, in the early hours of September 26, 2025, the Claimant became aware of reports circulating online alleging that Nigerian workers were dismissed simply for joining the 1st Defendant’s union.
The management of the Claimant promptly issued a press statement refuting the allegation, clarifying that the company was not opposed to unionisation, which it recognises as a constitutional right. He emphasised that the refinery has over 3,000 Nigerians in its workforce, and that only a negligible number of staff were affected by the reorganisation exercise, which was necessitated by acts of sabotage and safety concerns.
Counsel further told the Court that, by a letter dated September 26, 2025, the 1st Defendant, through its General Secretary, Comrade Lamumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, wrote to the Honourable Minister of Petroleum and Gas threatening that unless the affected staff—allegedly over 800—were reinstated, the union would take steps to cripple the Claimant’s operations.
“The 1st Defendant issued a press statement on September 26, 2025, erroneously describing the disengagement exercise as anti-labour practices and alleging that the workers were victimised for joining the union, which is patently incorrect,” Ibrahim submitted.
He added that, notwithstanding the Claimant’s clarifications, the 1st Defendant became further incensed and directed its executives and members in the licensees of the 2nd–4th Defendants, who supply crude oil and gas to the Claimant, to halt such supply as a means of paralysing its operations.
“The Claimant’s plant was constructed at a cost exceeding 20 billion US dollars by its promoters to address Nigeria’s decades-long energy challenges. The refinery has been making substantial contributions to the economy and meeting consumer demand. If the 1st Defendant’s threat is carried out, Nigeria would be plunged back into the dark days of energy shortages, with devastating consequences for consumers and the economy,” he argued.
The Court held that the order shall subsist for seven days only.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to October 13 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.com


