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Ghana: NPA Proposes Three Funds Under New Downstream Petroleum Bill
Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has proposed the establishment of three regulatory funds under a new draft Bill currently before Parliament for consideration and approval.
The proposed funds are the Distribution Fund, Infrastructure Fund and LPG Promotion Fund.
The provisions are set out in Clauses 25 to 40 for the Distribution Fund, Clauses 42 to 58 for the Infrastructure Fund, and Clauses 59 to 75 for the LPG Promotion Fund.
Distribution Fund
Under the Bill, the Distribution Fund would seek to ensure the regular and efficient transportation of petroleum products from refineries or bulk supply points to storage depots, retail outlets and other delivery points across the country.
It would also seek to ensure uniform pricing of petroleum products nationwide, regular supplies to all parts of the country, security of the petroleum products distribution system and an efficient distribution system.
The proposed sources of funding include the primary distribution margin in the prescribed petroleum pricing formula, the unified petroleum price margin and the security margin for providing security for the petroleum distribution system.
The fund would be managed by a Distribution Fund Management Committee, with the sector minister nominating a member of the NPA board as chairperson.
Other members would include the chief executive officer of the NPA, and representatives of BOST Energies, the Tanker Owners Union and the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (CBOD), as well as two other persons with managerial experience in the sector nominated by the minister.
Infrastructure Fund
The Infrastructure Fund would finance the construction, development and maintenance of a sustainable petroleum products distribution system, as well as infrastructure for the storage, refining and transportation of petroleum products.
The fund would also support the provision of strategic fuel reserves, according to the Bill.
Its proposed sources of funding include an infrastructure margin that would form part of the prescribed petroleum pricing formula; a levy that may be imposed by Parliament on a petroleum product; fees paid by petroleum service providers for the use of infrastructure financed by the fund; and money approved by Parliament.
The fund would be managed by an Infrastructure Management Committee comprising a person with expertise in the petroleum downstream industry nominated by the minister as chairperson; a representative of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition not below the rank of director; two NPA representatives; and representatives of BOST Energies, Bulk Import, Distribution and Export Companies (BIDECs) and Tema Oil Refinery.
LPG Promotion Fund
The LPG Promotion Fund would seek to promote the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Ghana, including its use in vehicles, as well as the use of liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, biofuel blends, hydrogen and other non-fossil fuels, excluding electricity.
The fund would also support the promotion and implementation of the cylinder recirculation model and investment initiatives in support of the energy transition strategy within the petroleum downstream industry.
Proposed sources of funding include an LPG promotion margin in the prescribed petroleum pricing formula for LPG; a green transition margin in the pricing formula; an amount specified by the NPA to be charged as part of the supplier’s premium; a levy imposed by Parliament on a petroleum product; and money approved by Parliament.
The fund would be managed by an LPG Promotion Fund Management Committee, comprising the NPA chief executive officer as chairperson; the director responsible for finance at the NPA, nominated by the NPA chief executive; representatives of BIDECs and LPG marketing companies; a representative of LPG bottling companies nominated by the NPA board; a representative of the ministry; and an environmental civil society representative nominated by the NPA board.
LPG Tanker Hit By Shrapnel From Unidentified Projectiles In Strait Of Hormuz
An LPG tanker was struck by shrapnel from unidentified projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz after leaving the Gulf, the Saudi Press Agency reported, citing the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
UKMTO said on Monday it had received a delayed notification of the incident.
The tanker was expected to continue its voyage to its next port of call while the relevant authorities investigate the circumstances of the incident, UKMTO said.
Kenya: Two Suspects Arrested Over Naivasha-Juja Transmission Tower Vandalism
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the vandalism and collapse of Transmission Tower No. 1052 on the Naivasha-Juja 132-kilovolt double-circuit line, Kenya Power said.
The arrests followed a joint operation by Kenya Power’s security team and police.
Kenya Power said the two suspects, Peter Njuguna Richu and Gad Mwiruri Njine, were arrested in Mai Mahiu in an intelligence-led operation.
Searches of their homes recovered tower bracing components, spanners, hacksaw blades and other tools allegedly used in vandalism, the utility said.
The suspects have admitted to involvement and identified other alleged vandalism networks and buyers of stolen materials operating in Nairobi, Kiambu and neighbouring counties, Kenya Power said.
Both suspects remain in custody pending arraignment as investigations continue to track down other members of the alleged network.
Kenya Power commended its security team and police for the arrests and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting electricity infrastructure and prosecuting those responsible for vandalism.
“We thank members of the public whose tips continue to help us track down those vandalising electricity infrastructure,” Kenya Power said.
The power utility urged the public to report suspicious activity near electricity installations to the nearest police station or Kenya Power.
“Protecting electricity infrastructure is a shared responsibility,” it said.
Nigeria: Tinubu Pledges Cheaper Transport Through CNG-Powered Buses From Oct. 1
Nigerians will see measurable reductions in transportation costs from Oct. 1 as the federal and state governments work with transport stakeholders to increase the use of cheaper compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered buses, President Bola Tinubu said on Saturday.
In a statement issued personally, Tinubu recalled a meeting with the governors of Nigeria’s 36 states on Aug. 27, at which they agreed that more Nigerians should benefit from lower transport costs.
An implementation committee for the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme was subsequently established under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, he said.
The committee, chaired by Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is working with stakeholders to identify priority transport corridors and determine appropriate interventions.
Tinubu said the committee, the Presidential Initiative for Compressed Natural Gas (PI-CNG) and electric vehicles (EVs), states and other stakeholders were already working to put the necessary arrangements in place.
The urgency had increased amid a global energy crisis and its impact on petrol and diesel prices and transportation costs, he said.
Tinubu cited existing CNG and electric transport initiatives across several states as evidence that cheaper energy could translate into savings for commuters.
In Borno state, CNG-powered and electric public transport services carry commuters for between 50 naira and 100 naira on routes where commercial operators charge 300 naira to 600 naira, he said.
In Kaduna, 100 CNG-powered buses provide free transportation on major routes, carrying about 3.2 million passengers in their first year, Tinubu said. The buses saved commuters more than 3.5 billion naira in transportation costs during that period, he added.
In Oyo state, CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport reduced the fare on the Lagos-Ibadan route from about 8,000 naira to 3,200 naira during their initial deployment, he said.
In Adamawa, alternative-energy transit services have cut fares by as much as 50%, from 8,000 naira to 4,000 naira, while in Enugu, where 100 CNG buses have been deployed, the Enugu-Nsukka fare has fallen from 2,500 naira to 1,500 naira, Tinubu said.
Government-supported buses in Plateau state carry about 13,000 commuters daily for 200 naira, compared with more than 500 naira charged by commercial operators, he said.
Through a partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), passengers on CNG-converted commercial vehicles on several routes in Abuja receive a 40% fare reduction, Tinubu said.
Fares on the Area 1-Gwagwalada, Nyanya and Wuse routes have fallen from 1,500 naira to 900 naira, 700 naira to 420 naira and 400 naira to 240 naira, respectively, he said.
In Niger state, passengers on the Suleja-Abuja route pay 550 naira, compared with about 800 naira previously, while Abia state has deployed 40 electric buses with fares subsidised by 50%, Tinubu said.
He commended governors and state governments that had moved quickly, but urged them to do more and assured them of federal government support.
Tinubu said disruptions to global energy supplies were putting pressure on petrol and diesel prices and increasing transportation costs worldwide.
Nigeria could not control global energy markets but, as a gas-rich country, could reduce its exposure by using cheaper alternatives, he said.
Tinubu said his administration had invested in building a CNG transportation ecosystem across Nigeria over the past three years.
More than 120,000 vehicles have been converted, with more than 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 CNG refuelling stations nationwide, he said.
The president urged states to maintain momentum towards Oct. 1 by working with transport unions and commercial operators to support vehicle conversions and fleet deployment.
“Above all, ensure that savings from cheaper energy reach Nigerian citizens through lower fares,” he told the governors.
Ghana: Journalists Urged To Use AI Responsibly In Nuclear Reporting
A communication expert at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Dr Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, has urged journalists to use artificial intelligence as a reporting assistant rather than a substitute for human judgment, source protection and independent verification.
Ayiku, a General Manager for External Communications at ECG, made the call during a two-day virtual workshop for media professionals organised by Nuclear Power Ghana on the theme, “Responsible AI in Journalism: Strengthening Speed, Accuracy, Ethics and Risk Communications in the Nuclear Landscape.”
He said AI could improve the speed and efficiency of journalism through research, data analysis, transcription and misinformation monitoring, but journalists should independently verify every consequential claim before publication.
“AI output is a hypothesis, not a source,” he said.
Ayiku cautioned journalists against relying on AI-generated information for nuclear safety claims, radiation exposure levels, contamination incidents and other technical matters that could have serious public-safety implications.
Errors in nuclear reporting could mislead the public, undermine confidence in legitimate energy programmes and weaken trust in the media, he said.
He urged journalists to consult qualified scientists, regulators, official documents and other authoritative sources before publishing information generated or summarised by AI.
Ayiku also advised media professionals not to enter confidential, sensitive or source-identifying information into public AI platforms.
Journalists remained responsible for protecting sources, assessing evidence and ensuring that published reports were accurate, fair and properly contextualised, he said.
The workshop comes as Ghana considers the potential role of nuclear power in meeting its long-term electricity needs and supporting industrialisation and economic transformation.
Accurate and independent journalism will be important in examining the programme’s costs, financing arrangements, safety systems, regulatory framework and potential economic benefits.
Nuclear power could contribute to electricity supply reliability, support industrial growth and reduce pressure on Ghana’s existing generation system. Public understanding of the technology, however, will depend partly on the quality of information provided by the media.
“The question is no longer whether journalists will use AI,” Ayiku said.
“The question is whether they will use it responsibly enough to preserve accuracy, accountability and public trust.”
Three Dead In Moscow Region, Drones Hit Oil Refinery In Russian Capital
The largest Ukrainian drone attack reported so far on the Moscow region killed three people and damaged part of an oil refinery in the capital, authorities said on Sunday, as Russia votes in the final day of parliamentary elections.
Ukraine and Russia have continued attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure despite an announcement by US President Donald Trump on Monday that they had agreed to stop.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram channel that Russia had downed more than 1,600 drones since Saturday, including 450 headed for Moscow.
“The unprecedented attack was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections,” he said. “The adversary failed to achieve this.”
Several drones reached the premises of the oil refinery and one hit an apartment building, he said.
Two people were killed in the early-morning attacks and a third died of his injuries later in hospital, the region’s governor, Andrei Vorobyov, said on Telegram.
In the village of Sofyino, south of Moscow, a body covered in a stained blanket lay in front of a damaged apartment block, the upper windows of which were blown out.
“Glass went flying, people started screaming and shouting. I turned around and the entrance doors had already been blown out, debris everywhere,” said resident Vitaliy, who gave only his first name.
A facility at the Moscow refinery was damaged in the attack, Mayor Sobyanin said, without giving further details, news agency Interfax reported.
Ukrainian strikes have knocked out a significant part of Russia’s oil refining capacity, triggering oil product shortages, fuel price increases and long queues at filling stations in many regions across the country’s 11 time zones.
The Moscow plant, which has been targeted multiple times, processed 11.6 million metric tons of oil in 2024, producing 2.9 million tons of gasoline and 3.2 million tons of diesel, the latest available data shows.
Ukraine has not commented on the attacks. Both sides say they do not target civilians.
In the wider Moscow region, 400 people, including 70 children, were evacuated from a 21-storey apartment block in the Ramenskoye district and a number of homes were damaged, said GovernorVorobyov.
Ghana: Energy Minister’s Technical Adviser Ishmael Ackah To Leave Ministry At End Of September
Dr. Ishmael Ackah, Technical Adviser to Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, will leave the ministry at the end of September after nearly two years of service.
In a post on LinkedIn confirming his departure, Dr Ackah, a former Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), praised Dr Jinapor, Deputy Energy Minister Richard Gyan-Mensah, former Energy Minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, former Deputy Energy Minister Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, and Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Benjamin Boakye, for giving him the opportunity to serve Ghana and for their continuous support and encouragement.
Dr Ackah said that over the past five years, he had worked with others to ensure that small and medium-scale businesses in Ghana did not cross-subsidise residential customers, helping to make tariffs more affordable, reduce the burden on businesses and improve their competitiveness.
“I led a team to develop Ghana’s Energy Compact, the third phase of the Energy Sector Committee, and chaired the 2023 Presidential Committee that redeveloped the cash waterfall mechanism, making it more inclusive by adding representatives of IPPs,” he said.
“I also led the technical team that worked with the Cybersecurity Authority to develop cybersecurity infrastructure for the energy sector. I was also part of the team that renegotiated Ghana’s PPAs, saving $250 million and reducing renewable energy tariffs from an average of 18 cents to 6 cents,” he added.
Under the current Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Adwoa Serwaa Bondzie, Dr Ackah said they concluded Ghana’s first open and competitive procurement process for battery energy storage systems (BESS).
He also praised the former Board of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, chaired by Mr. Ebo Quagrainie, for overseeing the construction of a new headquarters for PURC, approving a net metering tariff methodology, and establishing a Centre of Excellence at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), including providing a building for the centre.
“I thank Sarah Anang, Ph.D., MSc, Grad ICSA, AFHEA; Maame Esi Eshun; Todd Moss; and my colleagues at The Energy for Growth Hub, Adwoa Asantewaa, Ph.D., Stephen Agyeman, Ph.D., and friends who have worked with me over this period.
“I thank God. Time to move on! Where? Maybe back to the farm or house-husband, looking after my grandchildren, or join a think tank, or join Y. Find Y?” he quizzed.
Dr. Ackah served as Executive Secretary of PURC from 2022 to 2024 before becoming Technical Adviser to the current Energy Minister in 2025.
His career in the energy sector began at the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), where he worked as Head of the Policy Unit.
He was also the first Coordinator of the Local Content Secretariat at the Ghana Energy Commission.
Dr. Ackah has provided research consultancy services to organisations including the United Nations University, the African Development Bank, IHS Markit, GOGIG/OPM, Ghana’s National Accreditation Board, the Natural Resource Governance Institute and SNV Ghana.
He has published about 40 peer-reviewed papers in high-impact journals, including Energy Research & Social Science, Journal of Contemporary African Studies, Energy Efficiency, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, and The Extractive Industries and Society.
Dr. Ackah holds a PhD in Energy Economics and Policy from the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom and an MSc in Energy Economics and Policy from the University of Surrey, also in the UK.
GRIDCo Board Inspects Progress On Containerised Control Hub At Akosombo Switchyard
Ghana Grid Company LTD. (GRIDCo) board members have visited a containerised control hub at the Akosombo Switchyard, which will house power evacuation systems until permanent systems are commissioned in a new control building.
The delegation, led by Board Chairperson Kuukua Maurice Ankrah, included board members His Majesty Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, Muhammed Bashiru Nii Narh Alema, Nana Amoasi VII (Joshua Anaman Sackey) and Daniel Atchulo.
The board members visited the site to assess progress on the installation of the containerised control hub. They were briefed by GRIDCo Chief Executive Frank Otchere and Francis Arthur on work completed ahead of the end-September 2026 deadline.
The delegation was updated on the remodelling of the containers and the migration of protection, control, metering, communication, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), and auxiliary systems.
The auxiliary systems are expected to enhance the security of electricity evacuation from the switchyard.
The board members also inspected ongoing work on fire detection and suppression systems and closed-circuit television (CCTV) installations.
Ankrah commended the teams involved for the work carried out following the emergency restoration. The other board members also congratulated the GRIDCo team for what they described as an impressive job.
The site visit was also attended by Deputy Chief Executive Abdul Samed Ibrahim, Akosombo Area Manager Job Aziaku, Acting Safety Manager Augustine Kumi and staff of the Akosombo Operational Area.
The auxiliary systems are expected to enhance the security of electricity evacuation from the switchyard.
The board members also inspected ongoing work on fire detection and suppression systems and closed-circuit television (CCTV) installations.
Ankrah commended the teams involved for the work carried out following the emergency restoration. The other board members also congratulated the GRIDCo team for what they described as an impressive job.
The site visit was also attended by Deputy Chief Executive Abdul Samed Ibrahim, Akosombo Area Manager Job Aziaku, Acting Safety Manager Augustine Kumi and staff of the Akosombo Operational Area. Nigeria: NUPRC Gives Oil Exploration Licence Holders Until October 31 To Report Their Compliance Status
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has given holders of Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs) awarded under the 2020 Marginal Field Bid Round, 2022/2023 Mini Bid Round, and 2024 Licensing Round until October 31, 2026, to notify the commission of their compliance status, constraints, proposed mitigation measures, and revised implementation timelines.
The directive, issued by the commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, is part of efforts to increase production and remind licensees of the finite terms of their licences and their obligation to execute approved work programmes within the timelines prescribed by law.
“Licensees experiencing such constraints are encouraged to notify the Commission not later than 31 October 2026, stating: the level of compliance with their licence obligations, including the execution of the approved work programme; the specific constraints affecting execution; the proposed mitigation measures; and revised implementation timelines,” the commission said.
The commission urged holders of non-performing licences from the bid rounds to fulfil their work commitments or risk losing their licences, saying it would enforce the “drill-or-drop” provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
“A Petroleum Prospecting Licence is granted under Section 77 of the Act for a defined initial exploration period, with an optional extension determined by the terrain of the acreage and conditional upon discharge of the work commitment applicable to the initial period,” the commission said.
“The grant carries with it the obligations contained in the instruments constituting the licence, the General Licence Conditions, the Concession Contract, the Minimum Work Programme and the Work Performance Security, which are to be read as one. It is performance of those obligations within the term that entitles a licensee to continue to hold the licence.”
NUPRC said it would enforce the provisions of the PIA on all non-performing acreages by refusing extensions, requiring relinquishment, calling in work performance securities, and commencing revocation proceedings.
The commission, however, clarified that the communication is a general advisory and does not constitute a notice of default under the PIA or its subsidiary instruments.
Furthermore, NUPRC acknowledged that financing, rig availability, security, host-community engagement, infrastructure, regulatory approvals, and partner arrangements may impede performance. It said it is therefore willing, within the limits of the law, to assist licensees in resolving such challenges.
The commission said it would not assume jurisdiction beyond its statutory mandate, override any agreed dispute-resolution mechanism or the jurisdiction of the courts, or allow engagement with it to suspend a licence term or excuse the performance of any obligation.
NUPRC said, however, that it could intervene or facilitate discussions where such action falls within its mandate and assist parties in resolving issues that could affect the timely fulfilment of their obligations.
Gambia: NAWEC Signs $11.9 Million Deal To Upgrade Electricity Network Across Greater Banjul
The Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has signed an $11.9 million contract with Chinese electrical equipment maker TBEA Company Limited to upgrade electricity infrastructure and expand access in the Greater Banjul Area, the Petroleum, Energy and Mines ministry said.
The project will rehabilitate medium- and low-voltage networks, install modern equipment and extend electricity connections to more than 40 underserved communities, the ministry said.
About 80,000 people are expected to benefit.
The improvements are also expected to benefit households, businesses, schools and health facilities by increasing network capacity and reducing transmission losses and power outages.
Petroleum, Energy and Mines Minister Nani Juwara said the government was committed to expanding access to reliable and affordable electricity and thanked China for its support for the country’s development.
NAWEC Managing Director Gallo Saidy said the project would be judged by improvements in electricity services for consumers, including more reliable supply, fewer outages and expanded access.
Chinese Ambassador to The Gambia Liu Jin said electricity was one of five priority areas of cooperation between the two countries.
He said the project would help address unstable supply and limited electricity coverage in parts of the Greater Banjul Area.
Liu also encouraged technical exchanges and vocational training to strengthen the country’s local technical workforce.
The project is expected to strengthen the electricity network in the Greater Banjul Area and expand connections to communities, businesses and public institutions.
Cuba Hit By Nationwide Blackout After Power Grid Collapse
Cuba was plunged into a nationwide blackout on Friday after the island’s power grid collapsed, the Ministry of Energy and Mines said on X, leaving millions without electricity.
The ministry did not immediately give a reason for the collapse, saying only that officials had activated protocols to restore service.
Power outages have become increasingly frequent in Cuba amid a severe economic crisis, with the country’s aging power infrastructure struggling to meet demand.
Cuba has experienced several nationwide blackouts in recent months, including outages in August, July and March, as well as repeated regional disruptions.
Even when the national grid is operating, some Cubans have faced outages lasting more than 30 consecutive hours.
Cuban authorities have blamed fuel shortages and difficulties maintaining aging power plants for the worsening electricity crisis.
The United States has maintained extensive sanctions on Cuba for decades.
Washington says its policy is aimed at pressing the Cuban government over human rights and political freedoms, while Cuban authorities blame U.S. sanctions for contributing to the island’s economic difficulties.
Ghana: GNPC Advances Voltaian Basin Exploration Towards TUA-1X Well
Ghana’s Voltaian Basin exploration programme is moving towards a major milestone, with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and its subsidiary GNPC Explorco intensifying preparations to drill the TUA-1X exploratory well at Chegu in the Mion District in the Northern Ghana.
The proposed well will take the exploration programme from seismic data and geological interpretation to testing subsurface conditions, providing new information to assess years of technical work and help determine the direction of further exploration across the basin.
GNPC and GNPC Explorco management visited the proposed well site to review progress and the immediate work programme ahead of drilling. Physical preparations will begin with the construction of a 13.5-kilometre access road to Chegu and a rig pad at the proposed well location, along with other site works required for the safe mobilisation of the drilling rig.
GNPC Explorco Managing Director Sam Opoku-Arthur said the move to site preparation followed extensive subsurface studies to identify and mature the drilling location.
“The next step for us, after all the subsurface work that we did, is to start the construction of the access road and the rig pad and ensure the safe arrival of the rig,” he said.
TUA-1X Well Project Manager at GNPC Explorco Joseph Lartey said engineering designs had been completed, with the next phase covering construction of the access road, preparation of the well site and development of a base camp.
GNPC Chief Executive Kwame Ntow Amoah described the move towards TUA-1X as the culmination of years of work and said it was consistent with the corporation’s historic role in taking on exploration risk to open new areas for investment.
Drawing parallels with GNPC’s early exploration activities offshore Ghana, Ntow Amoah said the corporation was again taking the lead in de-risking a frontier area where investor interest had historically been limited.
“We are taking the lead this time to establish GNPC as the pioneer in opening up the Voltaian Basin,” he said.
A successful TUA-1X well would provide new subsurface information that could be integrated with seismic data already acquired and improve understanding of the basin’s petroleum potential, he said.
Covering about 103,000 square kilometres, the Voltaian Basin is Ghana’s largest sedimentary basin. GNPC expects the drilling programme to progressively reduce exploration risk and provide a technical basis for further investment.
GNPC officials stressed that preparations for drilling should not be interpreted as confirmation that oil or gas has already been discovered in the basin.
Deputy Chief Executive responsible for Finance, Commercial and Administration, Hamis Ussif, said an exploratory well would generate valuable information regardless of whether it encounters hydrocarbons.
“You may hit your target, which is to find oil or gas, or you may not find oil or gas, but you still find data that will be useful for you going forward,” he said.
Ussif also said funding had been provided beyond the current year to support the drilling programme and related activities.
Data obtained from TUA-1X will allow GNPC and GNPC Explorco to compare existing geological interpretations with actual subsurface conditions and inform decisions on subsequent exploration activity across the basin.
Ahead of the site visit, the delegation called on the Chegu Naa, Naa Andani Iddrisu, to brief him on the planned activities and reaffirm continued engagement with the host community.
Naa Andani Iddrisu welcomed the progress and emphasised openness, mutual respect and continued collaboration as exploration activities advance.
The Member of Parliament for Mion, Misbahu Mahama Adams, and the District Chief
Executive, Azindow Hamza Moabaly, also reaffirmed their support for the programme and continued cooperation with GNPC and GNPC Explorco.
The engagement at Chegu followed an earlier meeting with the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu Abukari II, at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi, where traditional leaders were briefed on progress in the basin and preparations for the next phase of exploration.
With years of seismic acquisition and geological and geophysical studies behind the programme, the immediate focus is now on constructing the 13.5-kilometre access road, rig pad and base camp, as well as completing other site-preparation works ahead of the mobilisation of the drilling rig.
The outcome of TUA-1X, whether or not hydrocarbons are encountered, is expected to provide additional geological and subsurface information to guide GNPC’s understanding of the Voltaian Basin and subsequent exploration activity.
The outcome of TUA-1X, whether or not hydrocarbons are encountered, is expected to provide additional geological and subsurface information to guide GNPC’s understanding of the Voltaian Basin and subsequent exploration activity. Kenya Power Posts Ksh24.99 Billion Profit After Tax In 2025/26 Financial Year
Kenya Power posted a profit after tax of KSh24.99 billion ($193 million) for the financial year ended June 2026, up 2.13% from KSh24.4 billion a year earlier, the electricity distributor said.
The increase was supported by higher electricity revenue, driven by increased sales across all customer categories and consumption from 411,710 new customers added during the year, a statement by the company said
Distribution and transmission efficiency also improved to 81.42% from 78.79%, it said.
Electricity revenue rose by KSh18.96 billion to KSh238.24 billion, while total electricity sales increased 12% to 12,777 gigawatt-hours (GWh) from 11,403 GWh a year earlier.
The growth was also supported by revenue protection initiatives implemented during the year, Kenya Power said.
“The business performance reflects the company’s sustained implementation of strategic initiatives focused on operational excellence, customer centricity, financial sustainability and human capital development,” Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Siror said.
Finance costs fell by KSh1.64 billion to KSh3.08 billion, mainly due to lower interest expenses following a reduction in outstanding loan balances, the company said.
Kenya Power’s total assets increased by KSh32.45 billion to KSh421.49 billion during the year, supported by continued investment in expanding, reinforcing and modernising its electricity network.
Capital expenditure stood at KSh28 billion during the year.
The company also reported an improvement in its working capital position, which moved to a positive KSh1.90 billion at June 30, 2026, from a negative KSh19.21 billion a year earlier.
Kenya Power’s board has recommended a final dividend of KSh1.20 per ordinary share, bringing the total dividend for the year to KSh1.50 per share.
Siror said the company would focus on grid automation, smart metering, revenue protection, customer-facing digitalisation, workforce renewal and infrastructure investment to support rising electricity demand.
The company also plans to pursue new revenue streams, strengthen regulatory readiness and support increased generation and transmission capacity, he said.
ADIPEC 2026 To Mobilise Investment In Resilient, Intelligent Energy Systems That Power Global Growth
The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2026 will take place in Abu Dhabi from Nov. 2 to 5, 2026, at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
The event will seek to mobilise investment in resilient and intelligent energy systems, with ministers, CEOs and senior leaders from the energy, technology, finance and industrial sectors confirmed to participate.
ADIPEC will bring together the global energy industry in Abu Dhabi as the world faces rising energy demand, geopolitical volatility, infrastructure constraints and rapid growth in artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting the importance of energy security to economic stability and growth.
Billed as the world’s largest energy conference and exhibition, ADIPEC 2026 will bring together policymakers, producers, investors, technology leaders and customers to translate shared priorities into practical action, drawing on the UAE’s position as an energy supplier, investment partner and global hub for technology and industry.
Across its conferences and exhibition, participants will seek to align priorities, advance commercial partnerships and accelerate projects and solutions aimed at supporting secure, reliable and affordable energy supplies and long-term economic growth.
Early confirmed speakers include UAE Energy and Infrastructure Minister Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei; Egyptian Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawi; Jordanian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Saleh Kharabsheh; Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo; Shell CEO Wael Sawan; TotalEnergies Chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanne; bp CEO Meg O’Neill; Oxy President and CEO Richard Jackson; Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi; Siemens Energy President and CEO Christian Bruch; Zhenhua Oil Chairman Wang Yuetao; SLB CEO Olivier Le Peuch; Baker Hughes Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Simonelli; YPF Chairman and CEO Horacio Marín; World Energy Council Secretary General and CEO Angela Wilkinson; Dangote Group President and CEO Aliko Dangote; Hunt Energy Holdings Chairman and CEO Hunter Hunt; KBR Chair, President and CEO Stuart Bradie; Inclusive Brains CEO and co-founder Olivier Oullier; and Japan Cooperation Center for Petroleum and Sustainable Energy CEO Haruhiko Ando.
Abdulmunim Al Kindy, chairman of ADIPEC 2026, said recent volatility had highlighted the link between energy security and economic stability.
“As demand rises and AI transforms both the energy sector and the economies it powers, the world must invest ahead of demand, diversify supply and strengthen the infrastructure, technology and capabilities that keep energy moving,” he said.
“ADIPEC 2026 will focus on what the next energy system needs most: growth, reliability, intelligence and delivery. By bringing together policy, capital, technology and industry in Abu Dhabi, we will help advance the investments, projects and partnerships required to provide more energy, more securely and affordably, while supporting global economic growth.”
For 2026, ADIPEC’s Strategic Conference has been redesigned around forces reshaping global energy, including rising demand and energy security, infrastructure, investment, AI, industrial execution and workforce capability.
Across 11 programmes and more than 380 sessions, ministers, CEOs, investors, policymakers and technology leaders will examine the decisions, partnerships and capital needed to expand energy supply, accelerate infrastructure development and strengthen long-term system performance.
New Strategic Conference programmes include Energy Security & Resilience; Policy, Regulation & Governance; Upstream; Clean Power, Molecules & Carbon Management; Grids, Infrastructure & Industrial Execution; and Workforce & Skills.
Existing programmes have also been updated to reflect priorities shaping the next phase of the energy sector, including AI, Digital & Technology Innovation and Downstream, Chemicals & Industrial Value Chains.
The 11 Strategic Conference programmes will be complemented by the Technical Conference, which includes the SPE Technical and Downstream Technical programmes. Together, they will bring engineers and technical experts from across the energy industry to focus on translating strategy into operational delivery.
Christopher Hudson, president of dmg events, the organiser of ADIPEC, said the event’s role as a platform for dialogue, collaboration and commercial engagement had become increasingly important as the global energy landscape evolved.
“Rising energy demand, supply constraints and rapid technological advancement underscore the need to bring industry leaders together to align priorities, mobilise investment and accelerate the projects and technologies required to support long-term energy security and economic growth,” he said.
“The strong early momentum behind ADIPEC 2026 reflects the industry’s recognition of both the scale of the opportunity and the urgency for action. By convening policymakers, investors, technology leaders and energy producers in Abu Dhabi, ADIPEC will help strengthen partnerships, advance innovation and support the delivery of the secure, reliable and affordable energy systems the world needs.”
The ADIPEC Exhibition will serve as a global marketplace connecting companies with customers, investors and partners. In 2025, the event generated $53 billion in value through more than 49,000 deals, according to the organisers.
More than 2,250 companies have already confirmed their participation, including 54 national oil companies, international oil companies, national energy companies and international energy companies, across 16 halls and 30 country pavilions, the organisers said.
Four specialised zones will showcase market-ready technologies and solutions to customers, investors and partners, with the aim of helping move projects from development to execution.