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South Africa: Ramokgopa Unveils Electricity Pricing Reforms To Boost Bill Transparency

South Africa’s electricity and energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on Tuesday unveiled sweeping reforms to the country’s electricity pricing policy aimed at giving consumers greater transparency over what they pay for power. At a press briefing, Ramokgopa said the policy sought to improve affordability and ensure consumers were not unfairly burdened by costs arising from inefficiencies, municipal debt and non-payment. The revised policy would introduce a more transparent and cost-reflective electricity tariff structure, with electricity bills required to clearly show how charges are calculated. “What we’re also doing with the pricing policies is to provide a framework for transparent and efficient cost-reflective tariffs,” Ramokgopa said. He said the aim was to ensure consumers could see exactly what they were paying for rather than being subjected to undisclosed costs. Under the proposed system, electricity bills would be unbundled to show individual components of the tariff, including energy and generation costs, transmission and distribution network charges, ancillary services and municipal surcharges. Ramokgopa said this would allow consumers to understand how electricity costs accumulated before reaching their final bills. “It must be able to itemise how the municipality or Eskom has arrived at that which they say you owe the municipality or you owe Eskom,” he said. The minister also criticised the practice of passing the cost of non-payment and municipal debt on to consumers who consistently pay their electricity bills. He said the current tariff structure allows Eskom to recover some municipal debt through electricity tariffs, effectively placing additional pressure on compliant consumers. “You are not allowed to punish those who are paying on account of those who are not paying,” Ramokgopa said. According to the minister, between 1 and 2.5 percentage points of the current tariff could be attributed to Eskom’s inability to recover money owed through municipalities. The revised policy is intended to prevent such costs from being shifted to consumers who pay their accounts. Ramokgopa said the policy would also strengthen social protection measures for poor and vulnerable households through a modernised system for administering free basic electricity. The government plans to integrate electricity beneficiary information with existing Home Affairs and social grant databases to identify households that qualify. “So there’s a good chance someone who qualifies on a social grant, the person is most likely to also qualify for free basic electricity,” he said. The system would include automated annual verification, allowing households’ eligibility to be reassessed as their circumstances change. Ramokgopa said the current system places a significant administrative burden on municipalities, particularly large metropolitan municipalities, which must regularly update their beneficiary databases. The revised pricing policy comes as the government says it has made progress in tackling both load shedding and load reduction. Ramokgopa said the country had effectively turned the corner on load shedding and that the government was confident it could maintain the progress. “I’m confident that we are going to maintain this momentum going into the future and we’ll speak of load shedding in the past tense,” he said. He also announced that load reduction had been eliminated in seven of the country’s nine provinces, ahead of the government’s October target. The Eastern Cape became the seventh province to achieve the milestone last week. Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal remain the two provinces where load reduction is still being addressed, with the government previously setting a March 2027 deadline. However, Ramokgopa said he was confident the remaining work could be completed ahead of schedule, citing support from Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli. The minister said the government would provide further details on how it intended to prevent load reduction from returning. The policy will also provide for negotiated electricity pricing agreements aimed at protecting strategically important industries from closure and job losses. Ramokgopa said the government was already engaging with major industrial electricity users, including smelters, and had made public its discussions with Samancor and Glencore. He said about seven other companies were being considered for concessional tariffs. The revised policy is intended to guide the work of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), Eskom, municipalities and new participants in the increasingly liberalised electricity market. The policy would therefore extend beyond the traditional Eskom-and-municipality-centred electricity system to include independent generators, traders and parties entering into bilateral electricity supply agreements. Ramokgopa said the overarching objective was to create an electricity pricing system that was transparent, efficient and fair to consumers while supporting vulnerable households and protecting productive industries.    

Ghana: NPA Deputy Chief Executive Dramani Bukari’s Burial Set For August 20

Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), said on Tuesday that the burial of its late Deputy Chief Executive Dr. Dramani Bukari will take place on Thursday, August 20, in Damongo in the Savannah Region.

The NPA said a book of condolence had been opened at the reception area of its head office in Accra to allow friends, colleagues and industry stakeholders to pay their respects.

In a Facebook post announcing the funeral arrangements, the NPA said Quran recitations in honour of Bukari would be held on Friday, Aug. 21, at noon at the authority’s premises before Friday prayers.

Special prayers would also be held after Friday prayers for the late deputy chief executive, the NPA said, adding that all staff had been invited.

“May we be comforted. May we find strength in the memories Dr. Bukari has left behind. Above all, may his soul rest in perfect peace,” the NPA said.

Bukari’s death was confirmed by the NPA on Aug. 11 in a statement posted on its official Facebook page. The authority did not disclose the cause or location of his death.

“It is with profound sorrow that the Board and Management of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) announce the sudden passing of our Deputy Chief Executive, Dr. Dramani Bukari,” the NPA said.

“Dr. Dramani Bukari’s passing is a great loss to the Authority, the downstream petroleum industry, and all who had the privilege to work with him.”

The NPA said it was deeply saddened by his death but took solace in the knowledge that he had “returned to his Maker”.

The board and management extended their condolences to his family, loved ones, colleagues and others mourning his death.

“We pray that the Almighty Allah give us all strength, comfort, and peace in this difficult time. May Allah grant our brother and leader eternal rest. Amen,” the NPA said.

Ghana’s Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor, representing President John Dramani Mahama, visited Bukari’s family to convey condolences on behalf of the government and the ministry.

In a Facebook post, Jinapor described Bukari as “an accomplished intellectual, a humble gentleman, and a dedicated public servant” who distinguished himself through his professionalism, commitment to duty and service to Ghana.

“On behalf of H.E. President John Dramani Mahama and the Government of Ghana, I extend our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family, loved ones, colleagues, and the entire staff of the NPA,” Jinapor said.

He added: “May the soul of Dr. Dramani Bukari rest in perfect peace.”

Several players in Ghana’s petroleum sector also expressed condolences, recalling their interactions with Bukari.

The management and staff of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) and BOSTenergies extended their condolences to the NPA’s management and staff on Bukari’s death.

GOIL PLC Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Edward Abambire Bawa said he first met Bukari while they served together on a subcommittee of Ghana’s transition team.

“I remember you as very affable, kind, and accommodating. God knows best. May your soul rest in perfect peace, bro. You will be missed,” Bawa wrote on Facebook.

Onasis Kobby, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation, also expressed shock over Bukari’s death.

“Ohhhhhhhh Dramani Bukari, how can you do this? I am devastated,” Kobby wrote in a Facebook post.

Nigeria: NERC Tasks Interim Board To Reset Kaduna Power Distributor In One Year

Nigeria’s electricity regulator has tasked the newly constituted interim board of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc (KAEDC) with resetting the company and returning it to a sustainable growth path within 12 months. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Chairman Musiliu Oseni gave the directive on Monday, Aug. 17, during a meeting with members of the interim board and the company’s interim administrator. Oseni said the commission had carried out a similar intervention in 2024 that led to a significant improvement in KAEDC’s performance before its former investors resumed control. “We expect a lot from you, and the Administrator will bring you up to speed to ensure that you meet the target within one year. Most importantly, we want to begin to see progress immediately,” Oseni said. He identified KAEDC’s high aggregate technical, commercial and collection (ATC&C) losses and significant metering deficit as areas requiring urgent attention. The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayo Gbeleyi, highlighted various metering programmes available to KAEDC and urged the company to leverage them to reduce its metering gap across its franchise area. NERC Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance Dafe Akpeneye said members of the interim board had been selected based on their professional expertise and relevant skills. The board’s chairman, Abdullahi Garba, pledged to work with NERC and BPE to address outstanding issues, improve KAEDC’s operational and financial performance and ultimately make the company viable and saleable. The board is also expected to demonstrate measurable improvements in KAEDC’s performance, ensure prudent use of funds and deploy its expertise to restore the company’s market performance. NERC, through Order No. NERC/2026/08, dissolved KAEDC’s board of directors following repeated failures to meet market obligations and other prescribed performance indicators. The commission subsequently appointed a five-member interim board of special directors, chaired by Garba, for an initial one-year period. It also appointed Abubakar Umar Hashidu as interim administrator for an initial six months to oversee the company’s operations and support the reset. KAEDC distributes electricity across parts of northern Nigeria and is one of the country’s 11 electricity distribution companies.  

Ghana: COMAC Conducts Mystery Shopping Exercise At Fuel Stations In Five Regions

The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), the umbrella body for oil marketing companies in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector, has conducted a mystery shopping exercise at selected fuel stations across five regions in the northern part of the country. The exercise covered selected retail outlets in the Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper East and Upper West regions, assessing customer service, product availability, safety awareness, forecourt practices and compliance with operational standards. Led by COMAC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Riverson Oppong and supported by the chamber’s compliance team, the exercise involved direct engagement with selected retail outlets across the five regions. COMAC said the exercise provided an independent assessment of how industry standards and customer service expectations are reflected in the day-to-day operations of fuel stations. “Field engagements such as this help identify areas requiring improvement, highlight commendable practices, and strengthen COMAC’s understanding of compliance gaps and operational realities within Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector,” Oppong said. He said the findings would support ongoing engagement with industry stakeholders and efforts to improve standards across the sector. COMAC said it would use the insights gathered to promote a safe, compliant, efficient, transparent and customer-focused downstream petroleum industry.  

Petrobras Awards Halliburton Contract For São Tomé CCS Pilot Project

Brazilian state-owned energy company Petrobras has awarded Halliburton Produtos Ltd a contract to drill and complete four onshore wells at the Barra do Furado Station (EBAF) in Quissamã, Rio de Janeiro state.

The wells, comprising one vertical injection well and three directional monitoring wells, will form part of the infrastructure for the São Tomé carbon capture and storage (CCS) pilot project.

The project is the first in Latin America to capture, transport and store carbon dioxide (CO) from industrial sources in a saline reservoir, Petrobras said.

The contract marks a step towards implementing the project and supports Petrobras’ strategy to contribute to the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, the company said.

The CCS pilot aims to test and validate a range of technologies while capturing up to 100,000 metric tons of CO per year for three years.

Drilling and completion of the wells, along with the required infrastructure, are expected to be completed by 2028.

Petrobras plans to begin operations in 2029, followed by three years of CO injection and a further three years of reservoir monitoring.

Brazil: President  Lula Visits Petrobras Drilling Rig In Equatorial Margin

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited a Petrobras drilling rig on Monday as the state-run oil company conducts exploratory work in deep waters off the country’s northern coast, the company said. Lula visited the NS-42 rig, which is drilling the Morpho well off the coast of Amapa in Brazil’s Equatorial Margin, accompanied by Petrobras CEO Magda Chambriard and senior government officials, including Mines and Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira. Petrobras has reported the presence of hydrocarbons at the Morpho well, where it is carrying out exploratory drilling to assess the area’s potential. The visit comes as Petrobras advances exploration plans in Brazil’s Equatorial Margin, an area that the company sees as having significant oil and gas potential. Also accompanying Lula were Chief of Staff Miriam Belchior and Senate President David Alcolumbre. The Equatorial Margin stretches along Brazil’s northern coast and has attracted growing interest from oil companies, although exploration there has faced environmental scrutiny.  

Ghana: BOSTenergies Engages Tanker Drivers Over Concerns At Kumasi Depot

BOSTenergies has engaged fuel tanker drivers over concerns about operations at its Kumasi depot and assured them and other stakeholders that the issues are being addressed. The engagement followed plans by some tanker drivers to stage a three-day strike over the condition of a loading arm and inadequate parking capacity at the Kumasi Bulk Road Vehicle (BRV) Park. In a statement, BOSTenergies said it had engaged a contractor to replace the damaged loading arm. The work is intended to restore the loading infrastructure to required operational, reliability and safety standards, the company said. BOSTenergies said the Kumasi depot continued to meet market demand using its existing loading arms. The company also acknowledged concerns about inadequate parking space for BRVs at the Kumasi BRV Park. It said it had previously acquired land for a new facility with capacity for 200 trucks and had awarded a contract for its construction. The planned expansion is expected to increase parking capacity and ease congestion associated with tanker operations at the depot, BOSTenergies said. As an interim measure, the company said it was leasing a third-party facility for BRV parking pending completion of the new facility. Following talks with the leadership of the tanker drivers’ union, the drivers agreed to suspend plans for the three-day strike and continue discussions with BOSTenergies while the outstanding concerns are addressed. BOSTenergies said it valued the role of tanker drivers in the distribution of petroleum products across Ghana and remained committed to engaging with them and their representatives. The company said it would continue to work with the tanker drivers, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and other stakeholders to address the concerns.  

Tanzania: Samia To inaugurate $3.35 Billion Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant On Aug. 22

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to inaugurate the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP), a 2,115-megawatt (MW) power plant, on Aug. 22 at the project site in Rufiji in the Pwani region, Energy Minister Deogratius John Ndejembi said on Friday. The inauguration will be attended by government officials, guests from Tanzania and abroad, members of the public and development partners, Ndejembi told journalists in Dar es Salaam. “The inauguration of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project is a historic event and an important milestone in Tanzania’s journey toward building a reliable energy system,” Ndejembi said. The project, Tanzania’s largest power-generation investment financed by the government, cost about 7.452 trillion Tanzanian shillings ($3.35 billion), he said. Construction of the project began in June 2019 and was completed in March 2025, according to Ndejembi. The plant has increased electricity supplied to Tanzania’s national grid, helping to ease generation shortages that had previously contributed to power rationing, he said. As of May 31, 2026, the plant had generated about 44.9% of all electricity supplied to the national grid over the preceding 12 months, Ndejembi said. The project has an associated reservoir with a storage capacity of 33 billion cubic metres of water, about 10 times the capacity of the Mtera Dam, he said. The government says the project is also expected to support flood control along the Rufiji River, irrigation, tourism and water supply. Ndejembi said the investment was in line with the objectives of Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050 and the government’s efforts to expand electricity generation and strengthen the national grid. The project is expected to support industrial production, investment and economic growth, he added.

Ghana: GNPC 2025 Revenue Rises 3.7% To $1.64 Billion As Ghana Moves To Halt Oil Output Decline

Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and its subsidiaries recorded revenue of $1.64 billion in 2025, up 3.66% from $1.58 billion a year earlier, as the state oil company stepped up efforts to stem declining crude production and bring new petroleum resources into development. GNPC, on a standalone basis, recorded revenue of $1.45 billion from crude oil and gas sales, compared with $1.41 billion in 2024, an increase of 2.92%. Crude oil sales generated $499.42 million, while gas sales contributed $952.38 million, supported by higher sales volumes, improved pricing and increased gas commercialisation, the company said. Total crude oil production from Ghana’s three producing fields stood at 37.30 million barrels in 2025, while gas production reached 273.78 billion standard cubic feet (MMscf), with exports totalling 122.72 billion standard cubic feet. GNPC Explorco recorded revenue of $153.6 million, up from $147.2 million in 2024, while profit after tax rose to $25.6 million. Prestea Sankofa Gold Limited recorded revenue of $33.65 million and profit after tax of $2.7 million in 2025, compared with revenue of $23.42 million and profit of $640,000 a year earlier. Mole Hotel Limited recorded revenue of $570,000, compared with $53,986 in 2024. Ghana National Gas Company Limited recorded revenue of 5.85 billion Ghana cedis and profit after tax of 246.25 million cedis, compared with profit of 118.16 million cedis in 2024. The figures were presented at GNPC’s third annual general meeting in Accra under the theme “40 Years of Resilience”. GNPC’s performance came against a difficult backdrop for Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector, which recorded a fifth consecutive year of declining crude oil production and subdued investor activity. Average daily crude oil production from the Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa Gye Nyame fields was 102,199 barrels per day in 2025, while gas supplied for domestic use averaged about 336 million standard cubic feet per day, exceeding the annual target of 325 MMscf/d, the company said. GNPC Chief Executive Kwame Ntow Amoah said interventions introduced during the year had helped slow the decline in production. “In the second half of the year, the results of our interventions began to show: a precipitous decline had been averted,” he said. GNPC’s strategy in 2025 focused on stabilising production, expanding gas commercialisation, advancing exploration and strengthening its capacity to operate petroleum assets, Amoah said. GNPC and its partners, under the direction of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, also negotiated extensions to three petroleum agreements covering Deepwater Tano, West Cape Three Points and Offshore Cape Three Points. The extensions are expected to unlock $3.5 billion in investment over the next three years, the company said. The company also advanced plans to develop additional resources. The declaration of commerciality for the Eban-Akoma discoveries in the Cape Three Points Block 4 moved the fields into development planning, while preparations continued for an exploration well in Ghana’s Voltaian Basin, which is expected to be drilled in the fourth quarter of 2026. GNPC Board Chairman Prof. Joseph Oteng-Adjei said the board’s priorities included addressing the decline in oil production, accelerating gas commercialisation, attracting upstream investment and advancing exploration in the Voltaian Basin. “These strategic initiatives are essential to strengthening Ghana’s energy security and sustaining the long-term growth of the petroleum sector,” he said. Energy and Green Transition Minister Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor said GNPC’s financial results demonstrated that stronger commercial discipline could improve performance despite difficult market conditions. Group profit after tax rose 24.88% to $374.99 million, even as GNPC’s realised crude oil price fell to $69.47 per barrel from $81.15 per barrel in 2024. Jinapor urged the corporation to build on the improvement through disciplined capital allocation, tighter cost controls, stronger project management and improved revenue collection. He said the government would work with GNPC, the Petroleum Commission and industry operators to accelerate field development, appraisal and exploration, improve the pace of regulatory approvals, address infrastructure constraints and provide a more predictable investment environment. “Our policy objective must be to move discovered resources into production faster while creating the conditions for discoveries,” Jinapor said. He also said the government intended to review Ghana’s petroleum fiscal framework to reflect changing global industry conditions and improve the country’s competitiveness in attracting upstream investment. GNPC said it would focus on restoring production growth, expanding gas commercialisation, strengthening its operatorship capability and bringing new resources into production as it seeks to build the capacity of the national oil company.

Angola: Chevron Announces Oil And Gas Condensate Discovery Offshore

Chevron said on Monday it had discovered oil and gas condensate at an exploration well in Block 0, offshore Angola, adding to its push to increase production in sub-Saharan Africa through infrastructure-led exploration, Reuters reported. Angola, sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest oil producer, introduced a presidential decree in late 2024 that included reforms and tax cuts aimed at making mature blocks more attractive to investors and encouraging exploration. The well in Angola’s Lower Congo Basin encountered an oil and gas condensate column exceeding 600 metres in the Pinda reservoir, including more than 90 metres of net pay in what Chevron described as high-quality rock. Block 0 is operated by Chevron subsidiary Cabinda Gulf Oil, which holds a 39.2% working interest. Sonangol E&P holds a 41% working interest, TotalEnergies has 10% and Azule Energy holds 9.8%. Chevron has operated in Angola since the 1930s and has interests in two concessions: Block 0, off the coast of Cabinda province, and Block 14, in deep water. The company said the discovery builds on its exploration programme in sub-Saharan Africa, where it produces about 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day on a net basis. Chevron plans to assess whether the discovery can be tied into nearby existing facilities to reduce development costs and accelerate production. The company has expanded its regional acreage over the past year, adding offshore blocks in Nigeria and securing interests in Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea. It is also exploring several blocks in Angola and plans a multi-well programme across the region, including the Nabba-1X well in Namibia, before the end of the year.  

Nigeria: Geregu Power Appoints Mohammed Sani Jaoji As Acting CEO

Geregu Power Plc has appointed Engr. Mohammed Sani Jaoji as acting chief executive officer effective Aug. 17, 2026, subject to approval by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the company said. Jaoji holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and is a registered member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). He has more than three decades of experience in the power sector, having held technical and leadership roles at the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and Geregu Power. He served as head of maintenance planning and performance at Geregu Power from 2007 to 2019 and subsequently served as technical assistant to the minister of power from 2019 to 2023 before returning to Geregu Power. The board said Jaoji’s appointment would strengthen the company’s governance structure and strategic direction pending the appointment of a substantive CEO. The appointment follows the expiry of the term of interim CEO Sean Manley on Aug. 14, 2026. The board thanked Manley for his service and contributions to the company and wished him success in his future endeavours.

Development Finance, Advisory And Research Leaders Join Power Africa Today At AEW 2026

The institutional architecture around African power investment has grown considerably more sophisticated in recent years, with multilateral lenders, specialized blended finance vehicles, global law firms and energy research houses all playing active roles in how projects are structured, financed and brought to market. Speakers confirmed for the Power Africa Today conference during African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town, October 12-16, represent the complete investment ecosystem at work across the continent. The World Bank’s role in shaping Africa’s power investment landscape is well established, and Infrastructure Program Leader Mirlan Aldayarov joins Power Africa Today as the institution expands its energy sector engagement. Aldayarov, a senior energy specialist who leads investment operations within the Bank’s Energy and Extractives Global Practice, was closely involved in the $1.5 billion development policy loan approved for South Africa in July 2026 to support electricity sector reforms and grid governance. His participation at the conference connects the multilateral financing agenda to the national-level reforms being discussed across the program. The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), where Carol Koech serves as Vice President for Africa, has emerged as one of the more active mobilizers of blended finance for electrification and renewables on the continent. GEAPP and its partners have raised $100 million in funding directed toward Mission 300, the World Bank-led effort to connect 300 million people across Africa to electricity by the end of the decade. Koech, who joined GEAPP in August 2025 after leading Schneider Electric’s East Africa business, brings two decades of experience in energy access and private-sector transformation to the Power Africa Today lineup. Closer to the project level, Mphokolo Makara, CEO of the SA-H2 Fund managed by Climate Fund Managers and Invest International, represents the next generation of blended finance vehicles targeting African energy infrastructure. The fund, which targets $1 billion in green hydrogen investment in South Africa, recently backed the development of the country’s first wastewater-to-green-methanol facility and previously committed $20 million to the Hive Hydrogen Coega green ammonia project. Makara’s presence at Power Africa Today brings the green hydrogen financing discussion into a broader conversation about how blended finance can unlock capital for emerging energy technologies. South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) adds a domestic DFI perspective. Nina Yose, Acting Divisional Executive for Mining, Metals, Infrastructure and Energy, joins the conference as the IDC continues to finance energy and infrastructure projects across the country, including through the Junior Mining Exploration Fund that she oversees. The IDC’s role in channeling public capital into projects that are not yet fully commercially bankable complements the multilateral and private capital represented elsewhere on the lineup. Rounding out the group from the advisory and research side, John Ngunjiri, an Associate in Norton Rose Fulbright’s energy and infrastructure M&A practice and a member of the African Energy Chamber’s Advisory Board, brings legal and transactional expertise. Norton Rose Fulbright, ranked in Band 1 for Africa-wide projects and energy by Chambers Global in 2026, advises on the deal structures and project finance arrangements that underpin large-scale African energy investments. Silvia Macri, Associate Director for Power and Renewables Research at S&P Global Energy, also joins the lineup with more than 12 years of coverage across African and Middle Eastern energy markets. Says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, “The speakers at Power Africa Today reflect the full chain of expertise needed to get African power projects built – from the DFIs structuring the risk to the lawyers closing the deals to the analysts pricing the market.” Power Africa Today brings together policymakers, utilities, investors and developers to address the regulatory, financial and infrastructural challenges of building interconnected electricity markets across the continent.

Ghana: GRIDCO Sets August 23 To Replace Damaged Transmission Tower In Ashaiman

The Ghana Grid Company Ltd. (GRIDCo) has completed the initial phase of repair works on the Ashaiman section of the 161-kilovolt Tema-Achimota transmission line, the company said. A team of GRIDCo engineers carried out the preliminary works on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, as part of efforts to replace a transmission tower damaged in a July incident. The tower at Ashaiman Middle East was damaged on July 10 when a fuel tanker exploded while welding work was being carried out on its tank within the transmission line’s right of way, GRIDCo said. GRIDCo said on Saturday that it would curtail power supply to parts of the Greater Accra region on Sunday to facilitate the repair works. Power supply to affected customers has since been restored, the company said in a statement on Sunday evening. The remaining phase of the work, involving the replacement of the damaged transmission tower, will be undertaken on Sunday, Aug. 23, GRIDCo said. In collaboration with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), GRIDCo said it would provide prior information to customers and communities that may be affected by the planned works, including any associated power supply interruptions. GRIDCo said it would continue to work to complete the tower replacement and restore the full integrity, reliability and resilience of the transmission line. The company thanked the public for its patience, understanding and cooperation as it works to complete the repair.  

Ghana: Diesel Prices Expected To Rise, Petrol And LPG Prices To Fall

Motorists in Ghana are expected to face a 1.39% increase in diesel prices in the second pricing window of August, while petrol and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices are projected to decline by 2.90% and 0.93%, respectively, the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) said.

The mixed outlook reflects uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-Iran dispute and higher international crude oil prices.

COMAC said a recent 2-cedi reduction in the regulatory margin on diesel should continue to cushion consumers from the full impact of higher pump prices.

The chamber also said the recent appreciation of the cedi could provide further relief in coming pricing windows if the trend is sustained.

Average crude oil prices rose 2.02% to $90.41 a barrel in mid-August, driven by geopolitical risks and potential supply disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, COMAC said.

Refined petroleum products recorded mixed movements, with diesel prices rising 2.86%, while petrol and LPG prices fell 5.46% and 2.54%, respectively.

Diesel prices came under renewed pressure following another Ukrainian attack on a Russian refinery and a Houthi attack on a Saudi Arabian refining facility, COMAC said.

The cedi depreciated 1.20% to 11.80 cedis per dollar between July 27 and Aug. 11, based on bank averages, COMAC said.

The currency has since strengthened, with the Bank of Ghana’s rate at 10.98 cedis per dollar on Aug. 14.

COMAC expects further appreciation if current foreign exchange supply conditions persist, which could help lower the local cost of imported petroleum products in subsequent pricing windows.

The latest outlook is broadly consistent with the National Petroleum Authority’s price floors for the second pricing window of August.

The petrol price floor has been reduced by 0.61 cedi per litre to 13.92 cedis from 14.53 cedis, while the LPG price floor has fallen by 0.08 cedi per kilogram to 10.98 cedis from 11.06 cedis.

Diesel, however, has moved in the opposite direction, with its price floor rising by 0.22 cedi per litre to 15.19 cedis from 14.97 cedis.

The changes could provide some relief for petrol and LPG consumers, while diesel users may continue to face higher operating and transport costs.