Minister for Energy, John-Peter Amewu has asked Ghanaians to dismiss assertions by the Minority in Parliament that government has returned the country to an era of load-shedding popularly called “Dumsor”.
This follows recent calls by the Minority on government to be candid with Ghanaians and release a load shedding timetable following the recent power outages in some parts of the country.
The Minority Spokesperson on Mines and Energy, Adam Mutawakilu, commenting on the recent power outages, said the situation is a reflection of the financial troubles facing the energy sector due to government’s mismanagement of the sector.
But Mr Amewu has rejected this position, arguing that the current outrages were as a result of technical challenges in the system.
Speaking to journalists during a tour of Accra Central Bulk Supply Point , Pokuase, Kpone Thermal Power Plant and Asogli Power Plant in Tema, which had caused the recent outages, the Minister assured that government had put the necessary measures in place to resolve the challenges.
“The minority you know is not ready to accept the fact of what is happening now in the power sector. Because they would have wished that this country is brought back to the days of prolonged power outages. I can assure Ghanaians that the recent challenges are as a result of technical challenges and not generation issues. And we are ready to confront this problem to address it so Ghanaians can enjoy uninterrupted power supply.”
Mr. Amewu was hopeful that the current challenges would be rectified within the next five days in order for power distribution to be normalized.
“Definitely because of the construction work that is going on [at Pokuase] there is a need for them [companies in the power distribution chain] to halt the transmission of power for this period. So these are some of the problems they are facing. You can see the progress of work and my expectation is that it is going to be completed within about five days. But we’ve put in measures to minimize the impact. This is one of the major causes of interruptions. The problem has been caused by technical issues,” Amewu assured. Don’t accept Minority’s position that Ghana is in power crisis-Peter Amewu tells Ghanaians
Minister for Energy, John-Peter Amewu has asked Ghanaians to dismiss assertions by the Minority in Parliament that government has returned the country to an era of load-shedding popularly called “Dumsor”.
This follows recent calls by the Minority on government to be candid with Ghanaians and release a load shedding timetable following the recent power outages in some parts of the country.
The Minority Spokesperson on Mines and Energy, Adam Mutawakilu, commenting on the recent power outages, said the situation is a reflection of the financial troubles facing the energy sector due to government’s mismanagement of the sector.
But Mr Amewu has rejected this position, arguing that the current outrages were as a result of technical challenges in the system.
Speaking to journalists during a tour of Accra Central Bulk Supply Point , Pokuase, Kpone Thermal Power Plant and Asogli Power Plant in Tema, which had caused the recent outages, the Minister assured that government had put the necessary measures in place to resolve the challenges.
“The minority you know is not ready to accept the fact of what is happening now in the power sector. Because they would have wished that this country is brought back to the days of prolonged power outages. I can assure Ghanaians that the recent challenges are as a result of technical challenges and not generation issues. And we are ready to confront this problem to address it so Ghanaians can enjoy uninterrupted power supply.”
Mr. Amewu was hopeful that the current challenges would be rectified within the next five days in order for power distribution to be normalized.
“Definitely because of the construction work that is going on [at Pokuase] there is a need for them [companies in the power distribution chain] to halt the transmission of power for this period. So these are some of the problems they are facing. You can see the progress of work and my expectation is that it is going to be completed within about five days. But we’ve put in measures to minimize the impact. This is one of the major causes of interruptions. The problem has been caused by technical issues,” Amewu assured. POWER ALERT: Stage 2 rotational loadshedding
Due to a shortage of capacity, Eskom will implement Stage 2 rotational loadshedding from 08h00 today (Friday, 15 March).
The power utility estimates that this is likely to continue until 23h00.
Eskom alerted customers that the risk of Stage 2 rotational loadshedding remained high as a result of a shortage of capacity due to a number of generating units still out of service due to breakdowns.
Stage 2 calls for 2,000MW to be rotationally loadshed nationally at a given period. Loadshedding is conducted rotationally as a measure of last resort to protect the power system from a total collapse or blackout.
Yesterday (Thursday, 14 March), Eskom terminated the rotational loadshedding at 22h45.
“Customers are reminded to treat all electrical points as live during loadshedding.
Eskom appeals to residents and businesses to use electricity sparingly during this period.
“Please switch off geysers as well as all non-essential lighting and electricity appliances to assist in reducing demand,” said a media statement.
For Eskom customers, these schedules are available on the Eskom website (https://loadshedding.eskom.co.za).
Eskom customers can also contact our customer contact centre at 0860 037 566.
Source: Esi-Africa.com ‘Dumsor’ is not back-CEO of GRIDCo asserts
The Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo, Jonathan Amoako-Baah, has refuted assertions that the country has returned to the era where electricity was rationed.
He explained that the blackouts that occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday in Accra Central, and other areas were as a result of technical problem at their newly commissioned sub-station at Graphic Road, which supplies power, to Accra Central and its environs.
Regarding the power outages in Pokuase and the surrounding towns, Mr. Amoako Baah, noted that power supply in that area had been curtailed, to enable them, to relocate their 33KV lines due to the ongoing construction works at the ACP Junction on the Accra -Pokuase main road.
He stated that the situation had nothing to do with generation as it had been speculated by section of Ghanaians.
Mr Amoako -Baah was briefing the media during a visit to Accra Central Bulk Supply Point, Pokuase, Asogli Power Plant and Tema Thermal Power Plant with the Energy Minister John-Peter Amewu, CEO of VRA Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa and other officials of the Ministry of Energy on Thursday, 14th March, 2019.
“Let me assure Ghanaians that dumsor is not back, we have enough power to supply. After the construction works everything will return to reliability of supply that we have come to know over the last months,” he said.
He further assured that their project will be completed in 5 days to bring relief to Ghanaians.
On his part, Mr John-Peter Amewu who is the Energy Minister maintained that the blackouts were a technical problem and not generation problem.
He assured that the situation is currently under control.
“Definitely because of the construction work (Pokuase interchange) that is ongoing, there is the need for them to halt the transmission of power for this period and so these some of the problems but my expectation thinking is that it is going to be completed within five days. But we have put in measures to minimize the impact,” he told the media. (Photos) Peter Amewu visits power sub-stations
The Minister for Energy John-Peter Amewu and officials of the Ministry as well as CEO’s of GRIDCo and VRA are touring some of the Bulk Supply Points in Greater Accra after a blackouts in some parts of the country on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The purpose of the visit is to assess the state of the facilities.
The minister and his entourage visited the Accra Central Bulk Supply Point which supplies power to Accra Central where the transmission lines tripped resulting in the blackout in Accra Central and its environs.
The tour also took the minister and his entourage to inspect work on GRIDCo’s transmission lines at Pokuase, Sunon Asogli Power Plant and Kpone Thermal Power plant all in Kpone in the Greater Accra Region. Energy Minister tours power sub-stations after blackouts in Accra
The Minister for Energy John-Peter Amewu and officials of the Ministry as well as CEO’s of GRIDCo and VRA are touring some of the Bulk Supply Points in Greater Accra after a blackouts in some parts of the country on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The purpose of the visit is to assess the state of the facilities.
The minister and his entourage have so far visited the Accra Central Bulk Supply Point which supplies power to Accra Central where the transmission lines tripped resulting in the blackout in Accra Central and its environs.
Kenyan President signs three bills into law
President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed three bills into law namely the Urban Areas and Cities (Amendment) Bill 2017, the Petroleum Bill 2017, and the Energy Bill 2017.
CapitalFM reported that the new energy law among other things proposes the establishment of three key national energy entities to manage and regulate energy resources in the country.
The law establishes the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation and the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority will be mandated to regulate generation, importation, exportation, transmission, distribution, supply and usage of electrical energy with the exception of licensing of nuclear facilities.
It will also be required to regulate the importation, refining, exportation, transportation, storage and sale of petroleum and petroleum products with the exception of crude oil. Read more: Kenya Power deploys meter testing to boost service delivery
Furthermore, the regulation will also be required to manage production, conversion, distribution, supply, marketing and usage of renewable energy.
Rural Electrification Programme
Meanwhile, the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation shall be responsible for among other things to oversee the implementation of the rural electrification programme, manage the rural electrification programme fund and also source for additional funds for the rural electrification programme and renewable energy.
The Nuclear Power and Energy Agency will under the new law be mandated to propose policies and legislation necessary for the successful implementation of a nuclear power programme.
The agency would among other things be required to undertake extensive public education and awareness on Kenya’s nuclear power programme.
Source: Esi-Africa.com NERSA approves tariff hike for Transnet
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has approved an increase of 7.69% in Allowable Revenue (AR) for Transnet compared to the 2018/19 tariff decision (from R5 276.68 million to R5 682.45 million).
This translates to a 10.95% increase in the tariff for the Durban-to-Alrode destination.
The Energy Regulator noted that if the Minister of Energy, Honourable Jeff Radebe, decides to use the pipeline tariff as a proxy for the cost of transporting fuel from Durban-to-Johannesburg, as has been the case in the past, the increase of 10.95% will result in an increase of approximately 4.5 cents per litre (c/l) in the petroleum transportation charge for the Durban-to-Alrode destination.
In arriving at its decision, the Energy Regulator considered the following:
a) The exclusion of assets from the RAB, which are not operational at the beginning of the tariff period under review (2019/20);
b) Deferment of the clawback of R197.25 million in favour of Transnet, emanating from cost overruns and delays of the NMPP project (i.e. lateness of ‘ability to operate’ dates of the assets), until the Energy Regulator concludes its comprehensive prudency review/assessment of the NMPP project; and
c) Smoothening the tariff increases by spreading the increase in the AR over a period of four years. In addition, the Energy Regulator took cognisance of the costs expended on the NMPP project.
Therefore, based on the Prudency Guidelines developed in the 2018/19 financial year, the Energy Regulator will undertake a comprehensive prudency review/assessment of the NMPP project in the 2019/20 financial year.
Source: Esi-Africa.com
GRIDCo apologizes to Ghanaians for last night blackout
The Ghana Grid Company has apologized to Ghanaians for the last night power outages that occurred in parts of the country including Greater Accra Region.
The outage which happened around 19.08 hours on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 was said, to have been caused by tripping of some transmission lines in the west together with all generating units at Aboadze , Bui, Asogli, Kpone and Kpong Generating Stations.
The situation angered section of Ghanaians with some going on social media to express their frustrations.
However, a statement issued and signed by Head of Public Relations at GRIDCo, Mr Albert Kwesi Quainoo, noted that all transmission lines were restored by 19:12 hours of yesterday.
“However, it took some time for some thermal generating units to restart resulting in the long outage.
“By 06:57hours this morning all the Bulk Points had been restored,” the statement said
PDS announces power outages in parts of Accra
The Power Distribution Services Ghana Limited, which is managing the distribution business of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), has announced an emergency outages in parts of Greater Accra.
The outages 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 expressed its regret the inconveniences that will arise as a result of the exercise.
Bolton Threatens Companies Shipping Venezuelan Oil To Cuba
Shipping companies and insurers that take part in sending crude oil from Venezuela to Cuba have been “put on notice,” U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said in a tweet, following a declaration by the Venezuelan opposition-dominated National Assembly that all oil exports to Cuba must be suspended in the wake of the five-day blackout that wreaked havoc on the already struggling South American country.
“The Venezuelan National Assembly has decreed the suspension of crude exports to Cuba following the collapse of the national electrical grid. Insurance companies and flag carriers that facilitate these give-away shipments to Cuba are now on notice,” Bolton tweeted.
Cuba is the closest regional ally of Venezuela and a major importer of its crude. The “on-notice” tweet is part of the latest escalation between Venezuelan and the United States after Washington slapped a fresh round of sanctions on PDVSA in January following Nicolas Maduro’s inauguration for a second term as president.
Since then, Washington has increased the pressure by declaring its support for National Assembly President Juan Guaido.
The declaration was followed by action. The U.S. seized PDVSA assets in the United States and set up a new account where importers of Venezuelan crude in the U.S. would transfer payments, to which only Guaido’s camp would have access.
Despite these actions, Maduro has clung on to power with the help of Russia, which, along with China, Turkey, and Bolivia, has taken the stance that he is the elected president.
Meanwhile, Washington has turned to importers of Venezuelan crude, insisting that they stop buying it in a bid to cut off access to the market of Venezuela’s virtually one and only export commodity right now.
Most recently, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked India to stop buying Venezuelan crude to sop being “the economic lifeline for the Maduro regime.” India is Venezuela’s second-largest oil buyer.
Source: Oilprice.com
PDS announces power outage in parts of Accra
The Power Distribution Services Ghana Limited, which is managing the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced an emergency outage in parts of Greater 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.
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
ENI and Qatar Petroleum (QP) have signed an agreement that has QP joining ENI offshore Mozambique. The agreement was for the Qatari state-run firm to acquire a 25.5% participating interest in Block A5A.
ENI acquired rights to the block in Q4 2018. According to the Italian firm’s website, the block is located in the deep waters of the Northern Zambezi Basin, approximately 1,500 km to the north east of the capital Maputo.
The block was awarded to ENI as a result of its participation in the 5th competitive Licensing Round launched by the Republic of Mozambique. It extends over an area of 5,133 square km, at water depths between 300 and 1,800 meters, in a completely unexplored zone in front of the town of Angoche. Sasol and state-run Mozambican firm ENH are the other partners on the block.
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.
Source: Ministry of Energ