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UK: Mammoet Signs Contract To Support SeAH Wind With Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind project
Russia Attacks Ukraine’s Energy And Gas Infrastructure
Russia attacked energy and gas infrastructure in Ukraine early on Friday, the Ukrainian energy minister and national gas firm Naftogaz said.
Naftogaz Group’s gas production infrastructure has come under attack for the seventeenth time, causing damage to critical gas production sites, acting Naftogaz chairman of the board, Roman Chumak, said in a statement on Friday, March 7, 2025.
No casualties have been reported, but damage has been done to the facilities, the Ukrainian firm said.
“We are working to mitigate the aftermath of the strikes and assess the damage. Naftogaz Group is taking all necessary steps to restore operations at the facilities damaged in the attack,” Chumak said.
“We are doing, and will continue to do, everything possible to ensure the country’s gas supply despite ongoing threats.”
Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko posted on Facebook today that “Energy and gas infrastructure in different regions of Ukraine is again under massive rocket and drone fire.”
Power crews are working to fix whatever possible and Ukraine is taking all necessary measures to stabilize its energy and gas supply, the minister said, accusing Russia of trying to harm ordinary Ukrainians by cutting off power and gas supply.
Friday’s Russian attack on Ukrainian gas infrastructure comes days ahead of planned talks in Saudi Arabia next week between Ukrainian and U.S. officials on possible pathways to ending the war.
In recent months, Russia has intensified attacks on gas production and gas storage infrastructure in Ukraine.
Kyiv, for its part, has been targeting Russian refineries with drones and has damaged several major facilities in southern and southwestern Russia over the past year, some of these multiple times.
Just this week, a fire at the Ufa refinery in the Republic of Bashkiria in Russia was extinguished, local authorities reported, with early reports suggesting the facility may have become the latest target of Ukrainian drone attacks. A later update, however, had authorities report that the fire was caused by technical problems at the facility.
Source: Oilprice.com
Tanzania To Launch First Oil And Gas Bid Round In Over A Decade
Tanzania is set to launch its fifth oil and gas licensing round in May, offering 26 exploration blocks to investors. This will be the country’s first bidding round since 2014.
Charles Sangweni, Director General of Tanzania’s Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA), confirmed that the blocks have been identified and data is in place.
Three blocks are located in Lake Tanganyika, while the rest are in the Indian Ocean.
Tanzania aims to launch the bid round at the Africa Energies Summit in London in May.
The country is believed to have massive natural gas resources, estimated at 57 trillion cubic feet.
Tanzania also has a planned $42-billion LNG export project, but progress stalled last year as Shell and Equinor awaited the signing of agreements to begin development. The project, which connects offshore natural gas discoveries to an export terminal, has been in development for nearly a decade.
After acquiring BG Group in 2016, Shell became operator of offshore blocks 1 and 4, alongside partners Medco Energi and Pavilion Energy. These blocks hold 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Equinor, meanwhile, has made nine discoveries in block 2, with estimated volumes exceeding 20 trillion cubic feet.
Energy Minister Doto Biteko announced last month that Tanzania aims to conclude negotiations with project developers on tax incentives by June.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: OCTP Partners Eni Ghana, Vitol, GNPC Foster Economic Development In Western Region
Eni Ghana and its OCTP partners – Vitol Upstream Ghana Ltd (Vitol) and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) – have handed over a number of social projects in the areas of health, sanitation, education and economic diversification to local authorities and communities within OCTP’s area of influence in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.
The projects include the renovation of the Sanzule/Krisan School Canteen, which will provide meals to over 300 students, contributing to support both their academic performance and well-being; four fishing sheds for the Bakanta, Ngalekpole, Ngalekyi, and Baku communities, which will benefit over 7,000 fishermen, fish traders, processors, and community members by offering secure spaces for fish processing and storage.
The rest are five modern household latrines using Bio-Digester Technology to improve sanitation, promote environmental sustainability and enhance public health; and 17 Community Argon Welders trained, certified, and given start-up kits, to empower them with the skills and resources necessary to enter the workforce and expand their employment opportunities.
These initiatives are intended to enhance the health and academic performance of primary school students, support small businesses, improve hygiene, reduce post-harvest losses and provide efficient waste management and sustainable sanitation solutions for households.
In his speech, Maurizio Pinna, the Managing Director of Eni Ghana, emphasized the importance of the projects stating that “these projects highlight Eni and its OCTP partners’ broader commitment to enhancing livelihoods, focusing on areas that provide not only tangible and immediate benefits but also lay the foundation for long-term sustainable development that will positively impact the communities and foster inclusive economic growth.”
The ceremony was attended by representatives from Eni, Vitol, GNPC, the Petroleum Commission and Chiefs and traditional leaders from the beneficiary communities of Sanzule/Krisan, Bakanta, Ngalekpole, Ngalekyi and Baku, in Ellembelle District.
Eni has been present in Ghana since 2009 with offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production activities. The company has an equity production of about 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent/day.
The ceremony was attended by representatives from Eni, Vitol, GNPC, the Petroleum Commission and Chiefs and traditional leaders from the beneficiary communities of Sanzule/Krisan, Bakanta, Ngalekpole, Ngalekyi and Baku, in Ellembelle District.
Eni has been present in Ghana since 2009 with offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production activities. The company has an equity production of about 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent/day.
Ghana: Gov’t Committed To Net-Zero Emissions Target—Seth Mahu
Ghana is committed to achieving its Net-Zero emissions target by 2070, as stipulated in the country’s national Energy Transition Policy document.
This assurance was given by Mr Seth Mahu, Director in charge of Renewable Energy at the Energy Transition Dialogue 2025 on the theme: ‘Accelerating Energy Transition’, and organised by GIMPA -PURC Centre of Excellence in Public Utility Regulation (CEPUR) in Accra on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
Currently, Ghana’s energy generation mix is 69 per cent fossil, with the remaining portion coming from renewable sources.
According to Mr Mahu, the current government added the Green Transition to the Ministry’s name in a bid to fast-track the country’s quest towards achieving the Net-Zero Emissions target.
As steps to fast-track Ghana’s transition to attain Net-Zero, Mr Mahu, who is an Energy Expert, urged stakeholders in the energy sector to explore policy, financial, investment and technological approach to explore every resources in order to reduce environmental impact in Ghana in particular and the world as a whole.
To show the Energy Commission’s commitment to the Net-Zero Emissions 2070, the Acting Executive Secretary at the Energy Commission, Madam Eunice A. Biritwum, who was also a panelist, disclosed that her outfit is working closely with the African Development Bank to procure 12,000 standardised net meters, with 3,600 already approved for implementation.
Ghana has been gradually implementing renewable energy initiatives since passing the Renewable Energy Act in 2011.
The former Executive Secretary of Energy Commission, Michael Opam, who chaired the function, tasked all the stakeholders in the energy value chain to work in a concerted effort to revolutionise Ghana’s energy sector.
Ghana has gradually been implementing renewable energy initiatives since passing the Renewable Energy Act in 2011.
The goal of the Net-Zero Emissions is to adopt prudent and pragmatic measures to reduce fossil emissions.
In 2023, Ghana launched an energy transition and investment plan to further outline the path to achieving the objective by 2060.
The West African nation’s significant push towards an energy transition was launched by a comprehensive natural energy transition framework in 2022, when the government unveiled the plan at the COP27 Climate Conference in Egypt.
Its aim is to achieve Net-Zero Emissions by 2070.
The discussion segment was moderated by a Research Fellow of CEPUR, Prof Phillip Kofi Adom.
CEPUR, established in 2023, aims to advance the field in public utility regulation and to also champion academic research into the electricity,water and natural gas towards attaining sustainable energy in Ghana.
Participants were from the PURC, ECG,GRIDCo, the Ministry of Energy and GreenTransition, CEPUR, civil society groups from the energy value chain and the media.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Egypt Invites Bids For 13 Oil And Gas Blocks In New Licensing Round
Egypt has launched a new licensing round, inviting international companies to bid on 13 offshore and onshore blocks.
The bid round, known as the Open Blocks Licensing Program (OBLP), aims to boost domestic oil and gas production and attract investments in the country’s upstream industry.
Companies can bid on six new exploration areas and seven undeveloped discoveries, including three offshore exploration blocks in the Gulf of Suez and three onshore exploration areas in Egypt’s Western Desert.
The bidding process will close on May 4, 2025.
This move is part of Egypt’s strategy to increase domestic oil and gas production, following recent discoveries in the Mediterranean.
The country has become a major focus of exploration since the 2010s, with Italy’s Eni discovering the massive Zohr gas field offshore Egypt.
Foreign firms, including BP and Carlyle Group, have expressed interest in investing in Egypt’s oil and gas industry.
BP recently announced the start of production from the second development phase of the Raven gas field, while Carlyle Group plans to make significant investments in the country’s energy sector.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Nigerian Air Force Personnel Invade Ikeja Electric Office, Assault Workers
Nigerian Air Force personnel invaded the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company headquarters in Lagos, assaulting workers on duty.
The armed men, led by a woman, stormed the office at 7:40 am on Thursday, beating staff and others present.
According to reports, the invasion was sparked by the disconnection of power supply to the Nigerian Air Force base in Lagos.
The Air Force had allegedly agreed to pay N60 million monthly to Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company in exchange for a guaranteed 10-12 hours of daily electricity supply.
Police intervened, but the armed personnel refused to back down.
The incident has raised concerns about the use of force and the safety of civilians.
As of the time of filing this report, staff and other persons found in the Ikeja Electric office were being assaulted by the armed men.
The Nigeria Police Force has intervened, but the armed personnel, led by a woman, have refused to back down.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Experts Push For Mandatory Prepaid Meters For All ECG Consumers
Ghana’s electricity sector is poised for a significant overhaul, as experts propose the mandatory use of prepaid meters for all Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) consumers. This initiative aims to tackle operational inefficiencies and revenue losses plaguing the country’s power distributor.¹
According to Dr. Kofi Koduah Sarpong, Chairman of the Structural and Policy Reform Committee, the ECG recovers only about 62% of the electricity supplied to the market, leaving a staggering 38% unaccounted for. This raises concerns about revenue leakage and its impact on tariff determination.
To address these challenges, Dr. Sarpong recommends the widespread adoption of prepaid meters, drawing parallels with the telecommunication industry. He believes prepaid meters will ensure timely revenue collection and reduce losses.
The proposal is part of the committee’s recommendations under the National Economic Dialogue. If implemented, it could mark a significant shift in Ghana’s electricity sector.
“We discovered that the ECG has numerous operational inefficiencies, including high technical and commercial losses. What’s particularly concerning is that only about 62% of the electricity they supply to the market is recovered. The question that arises is, where does the remaining 38% go? If we can recover that 38%, what impact would it have on tariff determination and managing the GH¢1 billion that’s lost annually?
“We believe that the ECG must expand prepaid electricity, and ideally, every consumer should be on prepaid. Just like in the telecommunications industry, where you need to purchase a card or bundle to access services. We think that with prepaid meters installed, we should be able to collect a substantial part of the revenue,” he reiterated.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
Liberia: LEC Boosts Electricity Supply With 50 Megawatt Deal
The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has signed a landmark power purchase agreement with CI Energies and CIE of Côte D’Ivoire, securing 50 megawatts of electricity to meet the country’s growing energy demands.
This deal marks a significant step towards achieving Liberia’s national goal of increasing access to electricity for all its citizens.
The agreement, which spans three years and is renewable, underscores the importance of regional cooperation in addressing energy challenges.
LEC’s Power Purchase Arrangement (PPA) with CI Energies and CIE has been instrumental in providing the necessary capacity for Liberia to meet its energy needs.
Mr. DJAHA Kouadio Ambroise, Asset Manager at CI-Energies, welcomed the Liberian delegation and acknowledged LEC’s efforts to honor the terms of their agreements.
However, he also highlighted the technical challenges CI-Energies has faced since last year, which have impacted their production.
LEC’s Interim Managing Director, Mr. Thomas Z. Gonkerwon, assured CI Energies that the Liberian government has prioritized the energy sector. To promote efficient electricity use, the government has instructed LEC to install prepaid meters at all government institutions, except medical facilities.
As Liberia looks to the future, LEC has initiated several projects to meet the country’s growing energy needs.
These include a solar farm project set to launch in October 2025, the repair of Unit 1 at the Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant, and an expansion of the plant by two additional turbines.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
LEC’s Interim Managing Director, Mr. Thomas Z. Gonkerwon, assured CI Energies that the Liberian government has prioritized the energy sector. To promote efficient electricity use, the government has instructed LEC to install prepaid meters at all government institutions, except medical facilities.
As Liberia looks to the future, LEC has initiated several projects to meet the country’s growing energy needs.
These include a solar farm project set to launch in October 2025, the repair of Unit 1 at the Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant, and an expansion of the plant by two additional turbines.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com Ghana: Edward Bawa Assumes Post As New GOIL PLC CEO & MD
The newly appointed Acting Group CEO and Managing Director of GOIL, Ghana’s largest indigenous petroleum downstream player, Mr. Edward Abambire Bawa, has officially assumed post, the company has announced.
His appointment marks a seamless transition following the end of tenure of Mr. Jacob Kwabena Adjei, who served GOIL in various capacities for 18 years before being appointed Managing Director in December 2024.
At a durbar held to formally introduce Mr. Bawa to staff after his engagement with the management team, he expressed deep appreciation for his predecessor’s contributions in steering GOIL onto a path of growth and resilience.
He reaffirmed his commitment to driving innovation, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring the company’s sustainable expansion.
In his address, Mr. Bawa assured management and staff of a collaborative and inclusive leadership approach, emphasizing his openness to new ideas and solutions that will address the company’s challenges and propel its growth.
Outgoing Group CEO & MD, Mr. Kwabena Adjei, extended his gratitude to the staff for their unwavering support during his tenure and urged them to offer the same dedication to his successor.
The management and staff of GOIL PLC pledged their full support for Mr. Bawa’s vision, reinforcing their collective ambition to position GOIL as a formidable, fully integrated, and competitive force in the energy sector.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
He reaffirmed his commitment to driving innovation, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring the company’s sustainable expansion.
In his address, Mr. Bawa assured management and staff of a collaborative and inclusive leadership approach, emphasizing his openness to new ideas and solutions that will address the company’s challenges and propel its growth.
Outgoing Group CEO & MD, Mr. Kwabena Adjei, extended his gratitude to the staff for their unwavering support during his tenure and urged them to offer the same dedication to his successor.
The management and staff of GOIL PLC pledged their full support for Mr. Bawa’s vision, reinforcing their collective ambition to position GOIL as a formidable, fully integrated, and competitive force in the energy sector.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com Congo: AfDB And Congo Sign Deals To Improve Access To Electricity
The African Development Bank and the Republic of the Congo have signed two grant agreements totaling $1.5 million to strengthen the country’s energy sector and improve people’s access to electricity and reduce the country’s energy deficit.
The first grant, of $585,000 mobilized from the Middle Income Country Technical Assistance Fund, would help fund development studies for hydroelectric dams.
The aim is to facilitate the future development of hydroelectric infrastructure at the Mbanza Ndounga in the south of the country and Linzolo – 20 km to the south of the capital, Brazzaville – sites to increase electricity production capacity and promote energy self-sufficiency.
The second grant of $995,000 – mobilized from resources from the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Trust Fund (KOAFEC) – would be used to fund the feasibility study and detailed design of transmission lines between Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville, and between Loudima and Djambala.
The agreements were signed in Brazzaville on 26 February 2025 by Solomane Koné, the Bank Group’s acting Director General for the Central Africa region, and Ludovic Ngatse, Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Integration and the Bank’s governor for Congo.
“These agreements are a sign of the close relationship that the government maintains with the African Development Bank for the development of Congo. The various studies would accompany the implementation of Congo’s strategy in terms of the electrification of its urban centres but also its rural areas, the aim being to work towards universal access to electricity for the whole of the Congolese population,” said Ngatse.
These grants would be used to prepare core, short-term investment projects, which will allow Congo to achieve its objectives in terms of access to energy in alignment with “Mission 300”, an initiative between the African Development Bank and the World Bank aimed at supplying electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030.
“For the last decade, the African Development Bank Group has been developing significant initiatives and global partnerships to densify investments in the energy sector by involving different actors.
‘Mission 300’, the Desert to Power initiative and the Africa Energy Market Place have all been put in place to support our countries’ ambitions in terms of access to energy,” emphasized Koné.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
South Africa: Matimba Power Station Thief Gets 5-Year Jail Term
A South African court has sentenced a man to five years in prison for stealing critical electrical equipment at Matimba Power Station.
According to Eskom, the suspect was sentenced on February 26, 2025, without the option of a fine.
The suspect was arrested on June 19, 2024, by the power station’s security team for stealing ash conveyor belts. He was held in custody until his trial, despite multiple bail applications.
Eskom reports that there have been no incidents of theft on the conveyor belts since the arrest and conviction.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: Government Suspends Gold-For-Oil Programme
Ghana’s Central Bank, Bank of Ghana (BoG), has suspended the Gold-for-Oil programme due to policy and operational challenges that resulted in financial losses.
The programme, introduced by the previous administration, aimed to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign exchange for fuel imports and stabilize domestic fuel prices.
According to BoG Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama, the programme’s suspension was necessary due to the incurred losses.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Dr. Asiama stated, “We have had to incur some losses on that, so we have put some suspension on the trade.”
Although Dr. Asiama didn’t elaborate on the specific challenges, the decision aligns with the new administration’s broader policy shift.
Despite the programme’s suspension, Dr. Asiama remains optimistic about Ghana’s economic outlook, particularly regarding the stability of the cedi.
The BoG intends to maintain an appropriate monetary policy stance and commit to fiscal discipline under President John Mahama’s administration to ensure stability in the foreign exchange markets.
“We intend to maintain an appropriate monetary policy stance. Together with commitments to fiscal discipline under the administration of President John Mahama, this should help us maintain stability in the foreign exchange markets,” he assured.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Ghana: GIMPA-CEPUR Holds Energy Transition Policy Dialogue Today
The Centre of Excellence in Public Utility Regulation (CEPUR) at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) is hosting a Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Energy tomorrow, under the theme: “Accelerating Energy Transition In Ghana”.
This event is expected to attract stakeholders in the energy sector, with Ghana’s new minister for Energy and Green Transition Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor as the Guest of Honour.
Some of the notable speakers at the event include: Prof. Philip Kofi Adom, Research Fellow at CEPUR; Ing. Mark Baah, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo);Ing. Anthony Mark Yaw Esiape, former General Manager, Renewable Energy Technologies, ECG; Mrs Eunice A. Biritwum, Acting Executive Secretary, Energy Commission; Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo, former Director Energy at Bui Power Authority (BPA); Ing. Seth Mahu, Director for Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy and Green Transition; and Dr Shafic Suleman, Executive Secretary of PURC.
CEPUR was established in February 2023, with the objective of developing competencies and expertise in economic regulation for the electricity, water, natural gas sectors, and other public utility service sectors.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
CEPUR was established in February 2023, with the objective of developing competencies and expertise in economic regulation for the electricity, water, natural gas sectors, and other public utility service sectors.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com