Trending Now
[/tdc_zone]
LATEST ARTICLES
Microsoft Targets Wider AI Adoption In Africa’s Energy And Mining Sectors
Microsoft is seeking to expand the use of artificial intelligence in Africa’s oil and gas, power and mining sectors by connecting industrial systems with business data to improve decision-making and asset performance, a company adviser said on Monday.
Speaking at a Microsoft-hosted session at African Energy Week 2026, Gargi Mishra, the company’s frontier industry adviser for energy and resources, outlined how businesses could move beyond individual productivity tools and integrate AI into operational workflows.
Mishra said connecting data generated across operations with AI could help companies identify problems earlier and improve asset management.
“When information from industrial systems and business applications can be brought together, teams have greater visibility into what is happening across their assets and can use that information to identify problems earlier and improve how they manage operations,” she said.
For energy producers and utilities, these applications could help identify patterns, anticipate equipment failures and support maintenance planning. Integrating operational technology data with enterprise platforms could also provide a more complete picture of asset performance.
The session examined how companies could move beyond isolated AI pilot projects and deploy the technology more widely.
Microsoft presented its Copilot tools, alongside Azure, Copilot Studio and Power Apps, as platforms for connecting information, developing tailored applications and deploying AI agents for specific tasks.
Gareth Ireland, a senior AI specialist at Microsoft, said integrating AI into existing systems and processes was central to its adoption.
“The question is not simply how to introduce an AI model, but how to integrate it into the systems and processes people already use,” he said.
Ireland said industrial applications required connections between data, software and workflows so that AI could support employees and operational goals.
Wider deployment also requires reliable data infrastructure and clear controls over access to information, he said. Cybersecurity and data governance were particularly important when AI tools interacted with sensitive business information or systems supporting critical infrastructure.
The discussion also highlighted the need for oversight of AI-generated results, particularly in operational settings where inaccurate information could have commercial or safety consequences.
Effective adoption would depend on combining AI tools with reliable data, existing industrial infrastructure and employees’ expertise.
South Africa’s Moagi Named Chair Of APPO Oil Companies Forum
South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) Chief Executive Godfrey Moagi has been appointed chair of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) National Oil Companies CEOs Forum.
Moagi succeeds Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Chief Executive Kwame Ntow Amoah.
The appointment was announced on Monday during APPO’s eighth annual NOCs CEOs Forum at African Energy Week in Cape Town.
In his acceptance address, Moagi outlined three priorities: developing commercially viable refining capacity, accelerating the establishment of the African Energy Bank and strengthening workforce skills through cooperation among African national oil companies.
He said investment in refineries must be supported by viable markets and urged African producers to address their exposure to disruptions in international energy supply routes.
“We cannot afford to have refineries in every single country without also building credible, viable markets,” he said.
Moagi said the African Energy Bank would be critical to financing strategic energy infrastructure, particularly as some Western financiers withdraw support for oil and gas projects.
“The bank will help us fund the very projects we are struggling to finance when Western funders say they won’t fund us,” he said.
He also called for closer cooperation among national oil companies to develop the technical skills needed across Africa’s energy value chain.
“When confronting challenges, we must look across our borders for solutions,” Moagi said.
“I intend to chair this forum as a convener for all of Africa, not as a representative for South African interests.”
Amoah, the outgoing forum chair, highlighted cooperation between GNPC and PetroSA, a SANPC subsidiary, on Ghana’s offshore Jubilee development as an example of collaboration between African national oil companies.
He urged members to coordinate on access to capital and workforce development, citing the planned launch of the African Energy Bank and a pan-African local content framework in Brazzaville.
“We no longer need to develop projects in isolation: we must find ways to build together,” Amoah said.
Equatorial Guinea Seeks Investors For Remaining Oil Blocks, Gas Projects
Equatorial Guinea has fewer than seven exploration blocks still available, down from more than 20 a year ago, Minister of Mines, Hydrocarbons and Energy Antonio Oburu Ondo said at African Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa.
Speaking at the event’s Global Energy Leaders Forum, Oburu Ondo said the acreage had been awarded mainly to U.S. and European companies, with a smaller number of Asian firms also securing blocks.
“When I was here last year, we had more than 20 blocks available. Today, we have only a handful of them, I believe less than seven,” he said during a panel moderated by Acha Leke, chairman of McKinsey & Company Africa.
The uptake follows the ministry’s decision in May to award acreage through direct negotiations rather than licensing rounds.
The minister also sought Japanese and U.S. investment in the country’s Gas Mega Hub, which brings together gas resources for processing at the EG LNG plant at Punta Europa. These include the cross-border Yoyo-Yolanda resource shared with Cameroon.
“I can see the opportunity here of increasing the processing capacity, not only of EG LNG, but also building different plants,” he said.
Oburu Ondo identified liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage on the mainland as another investment opportunity, saying the country currently relies on a converted vessel for storage.
“One investment that is very clear that can be done is to build LPG storage in the mainland,” he said.
He added that the EG-27 discovery remained open to investors, with talks continuing with ConocoPhillips on a non-exclusive basis.
Japanese trading house Marubeni holds a 6.067% stake in EG LNG through its UK-registered subsidiary.
Yasuhiro Hashimoto, special adviser to Japan’s minister of economy, trade and industry and the ministry’s chief representative for Africa, said the continent was becoming an increasingly important source of energy supplies for Japan.
He outlined Japan’s response to supply disruptions as diversifying suppliers, expanding markets and strengthening emergency preparedness. A stable business environment was essential to deeper cooperation, he added.
Oburu Ondo also discussed Equatorial Guinea’s growing energy investment relationship with Washington over the past year.
Joshua Volz, special envoy for global energy integration at the U.S. Department of Energy, said U.S. financing institutions, including the Office of Strategic Capital, were pursuing closer partnerships with African downstream projects, particularly in refining.
“When the United States takes an equity position in a project, that’s a long-term commitment,” Volz said.
Volz said local capital participation sent a strong signal to foreign investors. Oburu Ondo said regulatory certainty and legal stability could carry similar weight in capital-intensive projects.
“This is the time to capture the momentum,” the minister said, “so that we make sure that we are trusted, not only to attract businesses, but to keep the businesses in Africa.”
Oil Prices Fall As Traders Weigh Russian Diesel Supplies Against Gulf Risks
Oil prices fell on Tuesday, marking their first decline in nearly a week, as traders weighed the prospect of additional Russian diesel supplies against risks to energy infrastructure and shipping in the Gulf.
Brent crude futures fell $1.18, or 1.1%, to $105.47 a barrel by 0625 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures dropped $1.17, or 1.3%, to $92.57.
Both benchmarks gained nearly $2 a barrel in the previous session, with Brent settling at its highest level since Sept. 15.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Russia had agreed to supply diesel to global markets. His administration temporarily eased sanctions on Russian diesel, potentially providing relief to tight global fuel markets.
ING analysts, however, expressed scepticism about the Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire, citing reports of Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy targets since Trump announced the agreement.
U.S. lawmakers from both parties said Trump’s deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to violate legislation barring Russian energy imports until Moscow ends its aggression against Ukraine.
Meanwhile, concerns about Gulf energy infrastructure and shipping persisted following reported strikes by Iran-aligned Houthis on Riyadh’s international airport over the weekend and attacks on tankers near the Strait of Hormuz.
The incidents raised fears of renewed disruption to Middle East supplies following a recovery in September.
Tim Waterer, chief analyst at KCM Trade, said additional Russian diesel supplies and steadier Saudi flows were providing some relief, but concerns about further attacks on Gulf shipping and pipelines continued to dominate market sentiment, according to Arab News.
“Until we see clearer signs of de-escalation, the path of least resistance still leans higher,” he said.
Ghana: GRIDCo CEO Named 2026 Energy Sector Recovery Programme Champion Of The Year
Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has named Frank A. Otchere, chief executive of Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), the 2026 Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP) Champion of the Year (Power Sector).
The ministry recognised Otchere’s leadership and contribution to the resilience and reliability of Ghana’s electricity supply system, according to a citation accompanying the award.
The citation highlighted GRIDCo’s response to the April 2026 fire at Akosombo, saying the company quickly mobilised technical and operational teams to establish a temporary transmission connection.
The connection enabled the Akosombo Generating Station to reconnect to the grid and helped avert a wider national power system crisis, the citation said.
It also commended Otchere’s commitment to operational efficiency, system reliability and prudent management of the transmission network.
The award was presented at a sector-wide retreat in Ho attended by board chairpersons, board members, regulators, heads of energy sector institutions and ministry officials.
GRIDCo Deputy Chief Executive Abdul Samed Ibrahim received the award on Otchere’s behalf, accompanied by board member Daniel Atchulo.
In a statement, GRIDCo’s board, management and staff welcomed the recognition and thanked Otchere for his service to the company and the country.
It also commended Otchere’s commitment to operational efficiency, system reliability and prudent management of the transmission network.
The award was presented at a sector-wide retreat in Ho attended by board chairpersons, board members, regulators, heads of energy sector institutions and ministry officials.
GRIDCo Deputy Chief Executive Abdul Samed Ibrahim received the award on Otchere’s behalf, accompanied by board member Daniel Atchulo.
In a statement, GRIDCo’s board, management and staff welcomed the recognition and thanked Otchere for his service to the company and the country.
Ghana: Afenyo-Markin Calls For ECG Reforms To Curb Losses, Ease Burden On Consumers
Former Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Board Chairman Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has proposed three measures to improve the state-owned utility’s finances and operations, urging it to address inefficiencies before seeking further tariff increases.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Afenyo-Markin, the minority leader in Ghana’s parliament, called for strict enforcement of the revised Cash Waterfall Mechanism, renegotiation of legacy take-or-pay power purchase agreements and automatic monthly deductions by the finance ministry to settle debts owed to ECG by public institutions.
He said ECG’s difficulties stemmed from systemic inefficiencies that required a national dialogue on structural reform rather than partisan blame.
Consumers had faced cumulative tariff increases exceeding 28% over the past 19 months without the underlying structural problems being resolved, he said.
Citing ECG’s financial results, Afenyo-Markin said its loss after tax narrowed to GH¢2.52 billion in 2025 from GH¢8.25 billion in 2024, a reduction of nearly 70%. Revenue rose to GH¢22.1 billion from GH¢19.6 billion.
New connections increased by 31.3% to 222,979, while prepaid customers accounted for 53.5% of the customer base, he said.
Afenyo-Markin described the improvements as real but not yet secure, urging ECG to plug revenue leakages before seeking tariff increases or new levies.
“Reform has achieved what tariff increases alone could not,” he said.
He also called for tighter spending controls and the retention of procurement reforms introduced during his tenure.
Afenyo-Markin said that when he became chairman, vendors could present bills of lading for goods delivered to the port without adequate verification of the consignments.
The arrangement left ECG with financial obligations before taking custody of the goods, exposing it to mounting port charges, delays and the risk of loss, damage or disputes, he said.
“I led the Board to tie contractual completion and payment to verified delivery at ECG’s own facilities,” he said.
“That reform must be sustained,” he said
He urged full implementation of ECG’s Loss Reduction Programme, including boundary metering, smart prepaid meters and systematic electricity theft detection.
These measures, alongside strict enforcement of the Cash Waterfall Mechanism, would help recover lost revenue and reduce the need to pass costs on to consumers through higher tariffs, he said.
Afenyo-Markin also commended ECG Managing Director Kwame Kpekpena and his team for recently convening a luncheon for former managing directors and board chairpersons to share ideas on improving the utility’s performance.
Ghana’s LPG Storage Capacity Exceeds 38,000 Tonnes After Sahara Terminal Opens
Ghana’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage capacity has increased to more than 38,000 metric tonnes following the commissioning of Sahara Group’s 6,000-tonne terminal in the Tema industrial area.
Other LPG storage facilities include those operated by Tema Oil Refinery, Quantum, and Ghana National Gas Company, whose facility is at Atuabo.
Speaking at the commissioning, Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, chief executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), described the terminal as a significant addition to Ghana’s downstream petroleum infrastructure.
“With this investment, Sahara Group now accounts for more than 10 per cent of Ghana’s entire LPG storage capacity. This is a significant addition to our national infrastructure and will help improve supply reliability as Ghana works to expand LPG access,” he said.
Tameklo said the terminal’s round-the-clock operations aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.
“The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is in line with the President’s vision for a 24-hour economy. It demonstrates how strategic private-sector investment can support continuous economic activity and strengthen critical sectors of the economy,” he said.
Abayomi Oyenuga, facility manager at Asharami Ghana, said the terminal comprised two propane-rated spherical tanks with a combined LPG storage volume of approximately 12,000 cubic metres.
“We have invested heavily in the terminal automation system for this facility. Right from product receipt to dispatch, it is fully automated,” he said.
The terminal has six loading bays, seven product pumps, an LPG liquid compressor and a dedicated 12-inch pipeline extending 3.5 kilometres.
It also incorporates fire protection, emergency response and preventive maintenance systems designed to ensure safe and efficient operations.
IEA Urges Members To Accelerate Diesel Releases As Global Supply Tightens
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has urged its member governments to accelerate remaining releases pledged under its March collective action, prioritising diesel, to ease tightening global diesel markets amid Middle East tensions.
Fatih Birol, executive director of the Paris-based agency, made the call in a letter to member governments ahead of an IEA Governing Board meeting on October 15.
He also encouraged all members, including those that have completed their pledged releases, to assess whether additional diesel releases are needed and, where appropriate, outline their scale, timing and supplemental nature.
The governing board meeting will provide an opportunity to review these efforts.
“As we did in March, I believe we can once again demonstrate the IEA’s capacity to act together in support of energy security and economic stability,” Birol said.
Birol also noted renewed attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including attacks on the international airport in Riyadh.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia Sign Energy Cooperation Agreement
Qatar and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate across the energy sector, QatarEnergy said on Sunday.
Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the agreement on the sidelines of the 17th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting and the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh.
The agreement covers oil and gas, refining, petrochemicals, electricity, clean hydrogen, renewable energy, energy efficiency and storage.
It also provides for cooperation on technologies to reduce emissions and address climate change, including carbon capture, transport, utilisation and storage.
The two countries will coordinate on energy, sustainability and climate change through relevant international initiatives and frameworks.
The agreement will take effect once both countries complete the required legal procedures, QatarEnergy said.
UAE Rescues 22 Crew Members From Burning Oil Tanker In Gulf
The United Arab Emirates rescued 22 crew members from an oil tanker that caught fire in the Gulf, Arab News reported, citing the UAE National Guard.
The National Guard said its coast guard responded to a distress call reporting a fire aboard the tanker and dispatched emergency teams to the vessel.
All 22 crew members, described as Asian nationals, were safely evacuated and given first aid before being handed over to the relevant authorities, the statement said.
All were reported to be in stable condition.
The statement did not identify the tanker or disclose the cause of the fire.
The rescue came a day after the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker GEM NO.2 was reportedly struck by an unidentified projectile off the UAE coast on Friday, triggering a fire.
It was unclear whether the two reports concerned the same vessel.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said the vessel was hit about 13 nautical miles west of Al Jazeera in the UAE.
The fire was subsequently extinguished, it said.
The reported strike occurred outside the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about risks to commercial shipping elsewhere in the Gulf.
No group has claimed responsibility for the strike.
Tankers have faced heightened security risks in recent weeks amid Iranian threats to block vessels from passing through the Strait of Hormuz without its authorisation.
The strait is a key route for global energy supplies.
Earlier in the week, another tanker was reportedly struck by projectiles off Qatar.
Maritime security authorities have urged shipping operators to exercise greater vigilance amid the escalating tensions.
Ghana: Energy Ministry Names Tema Oil Refinery MD Energy Sector Recovery Programme Champion Of The Year
Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has named Edmond Kombat Esq., managing director of state-owned Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), its Energy Sector Recovery Programme Champion of the Year for 2026(Petroleum Sector).
The recognition was conferred at the ministry’s annual retreat at Volta Serene in the Volta Region. The retreat brings together energy sector leaders to review achievements and challenges and set priorities for the coming year.
Under Kombat’s leadership, TOR returned to profitability, recording a profit before tax of GH¢1.24 billion in 2025.
Before he took office in 2025, the refinery had been largely idle for more than six years and faced significant debt.
Kombat and his team undertook a major rehabilitation programme, enabling the refinery to resume crude processing in late December 2025.
TOR currently processes about 28,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Work is underway to restore its second processing unit, which would return the refinery to its original capacity of 45,000 barrels per stream day. Management plans to increase capacity further to 85,000 barrels per day in the short to medium term, with a long-term target of 200,000 barrels per day.
The ministry recognised Kombat for his role in the refinery’s recovery.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Kombat thanked President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as his visionary leadership and commitment to revitalising Ghana’s energy sector.
He also thanked Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor and the ministry’s leadership and staff for their guidance and support, and commended TOR’s board, management and employees.
“This recognition is a testament to our collective commitment, sacrifice, resilience, and determination to restore TOR to its rightful place as a strategic national asset,” Kombat said.
He said the completion of critical maintenance work and the resumption of crude refining reflected the dedication of the refinery’s team.
“As we reflect on 2026 and prepare for 2027, this honour serves not only as a moment of celebration but also as a renewed call to duty,” he said.
Kombat said the award would encourage the team to improve operational performance, strengthen Ghana’s energy security and contribute to economic growth.
“At TOR, we recognise that the work is not finished. The journey towards a stronger, more efficient, commercially sustainable, and globally competitive refinery continues,” he said.
“I dedicate this recognition to every member of the TOR family and all stakeholders who believe in the vision of a revitalised Tema Oil Refinery.”
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Kombat thanked President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as his visionary leadership and commitment to revitalising Ghana’s energy sector.
He also thanked Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor and the ministry’s leadership and staff for their guidance and support, and commended TOR’s board, management and employees.
“This recognition is a testament to our collective commitment, sacrifice, resilience, and determination to restore TOR to its rightful place as a strategic national asset,” Kombat said.
He said the completion of critical maintenance work and the resumption of crude refining reflected the dedication of the refinery’s team.
“As we reflect on 2026 and prepare for 2027, this honour serves not only as a moment of celebration but also as a renewed call to duty,” he said.
Kombat said the award would encourage the team to improve operational performance, strengthen Ghana’s energy security and contribute to economic growth.
“At TOR, we recognise that the work is not finished. The journey towards a stronger, more efficient, commercially sustainable, and globally competitive refinery continues,” he said.
“I dedicate this recognition to every member of the TOR family and all stakeholders who believe in the vision of a revitalised Tema Oil Refinery.” Trump Says Russia Agrees To Supply More Than 4.8 Million Tons Of Diesel
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Russia had agreed to supply more than 4.8 million tons of diesel to U.S. and global markets following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons, followed by 500,000 tons in November and another 1 million tons immediately afterwards, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
A further 3 million tons would be delivered within a short period, depending on the condition of Russia’s diesel refineries, he said.
The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday issued a general licence authorising transactions involving the sale, delivery and importation of Russian diesel, including into the United States, until April 7, 2027.
Trump said U.S. control of the Strait of Hormuz, combined with the Russian supply agreement, would bring down diesel prices in the United States and globally at a record pace.
He said lowering fuel costs for Americans, particularly farmers, ranchers and truck drivers, was his top priority.
He also reiterated that Iran would not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.
The announcement comes as Trump seeks to secure fuel supplies and lower prices amid disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
On Oct. 2, his administration urged European Union countries to release some of their diesel reserves to ease global fuel prices.
The Group of Seven nations agreed later that day to coordinate the release of 100 million barrels of diesel and other reserves through the International Energy Agency to stabilise global energy markets.
Togo Approves Draft Law To Open Electricity Market To Private Investors
Togo’s Council of Ministers has approved a draft law to open the electricity market to greater private investment and improve the sector’s financial viability, Togo First reported.
The bill, approved on October 6, seeks to modernise existing legislation and facilitate investment in electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
It would establish a legal framework for electricity storage, introduce a new category of eligible customers and allow third-party access to electricity grids.
The proposed law would also strengthen the role of independent power producers and clarify rules for self-generation, self-consumption and feeding surplus renewable electricity into the grid.
Businesses operating in special economic zones would be able to diversify their electricity supplies through self-generation and direct contracts with domestic or regional power producers.
The reforms aim to improve electricity availability, contain costs for businesses and make industrial zones more attractive to investors.
The proposed changes come amid rising electricity demand. Projections by the national utility, Compagnie Énergie Électrique du Togo (CEET), show consumption increasing to 2,753 gigawatt-hours by 2030 from 2,085 GWh in 2024, a rise of nearly 32%, according to Togo First.
Peak electricity demand reached 360 megawatts in the first quarter of 2026, with annual demand growth estimated at about 10%.
Options being explored to meet rising demand include a 120 MW dual-fuel thermal power plant, with support from the World Bank.
Renewables accounted for 41.24% of the country’s total installed electricity generation capacity of 327 MW in 2024.
If enacted, the legislation could help attract private investment, strengthen energy security and support Togo’s goal of universal electricity access by 2030.
Malawi Seeks Bids For Supply Of 440,000 Tonnes Of Fuel
Malawi’s National Oil Company (NOCMA) is seeking bids to supply 440,000 metric tonnes of gasoline and gasoil, according to a public notice issued on Friday.
The refined petroleum products are to be delivered over a 12-month period through the ports of Beira and Nacala in Mozambique and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
NOCMA said deliveries through Beira and Nacala would be made on Free Carrier (FCA, ex-tank) terms. Deliveries through Dar es Salaam would be on Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU) terms or Delivered at Place (DAP) terms at Malawi Cargo Logistics.
Interested bidders can purchase the bidding documents in English for a non-refundable fee of $3,000 after submitting a written application.
NOCMA said it would email the documents once payment had been confirmed. It would not be responsible for courier costs or the non-receipt of documents sent by post or other means.
All bids must be accompanied by a $3.5 million bid bond and submitted in sealed envelopes bearing the procurement reference number by 2:30 p.m. Central Africa Time on Nov. 2, 2026.
Bids will be opened at the same time at NOCMA’s address, in the presence of bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids will be rejected.
Bidders may submit offers for any combination of ports or products.
The tender requires a 180-day credit period, as specified in the bidding documents, regardless of fluctuations in global fuel prices during the supply contract.
NOCMA said it reserved the right to accept or reject any bid, cancel the tender process or reject all bids without giving reasons or incurring liability.