US President Donald Trump ordered the United States Navy to fire on any Iranian boats that are placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
“I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. There is to be no hesitation,” Trump wrote in a post on social media on Thursday.
Trump said that the United States has been working to clear mines from the strait.
“Additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!” Trump said.
Last month Trump similarly said that the US military would attack any ships that were laying mines.
The issue has returned to the spotlight as Trump negotiates how to move shipping traffic through the strait as global economic pressures build.
Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have said repeatedly that Iran’s naval forces, estimated to be around 150 ships, have been destroyed.
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema on Tuesday launched the construction of a 250-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant and a 150-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Leopard Hill Solar Generation Station in Chongwe District.
The US$315 million hybrid investment is expected to significantly boost the country’s electricity supply.
The launch, held during a colourful ceremony off Leopards Hill Road, marked a major milestone in Zambia’s efforts to strengthen energy security and expand generation capacity.
Speaking at the event, President Hichilema said the project represents a major step in stabilising the national grid.
He noted that the integration of 250MW of solar power and 150MW of battery storage will enhance reliability and ensure a consistent electricity supply.
The President emphasised the need for a holistic approach to the country’s energy sector, encouraging resource sharing and investment in a diversified energy mix.
He described the project as evidence that reforms undertaken in the energy sector are yielding results, making investments more viable and sustaining economic growth.
President Hichilema reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to continuing and refining these reforms to improve the operating environment and attract further investment.
He observed that Zambia has the potential to generate up to 1,000MW of solar energy, citing ongoing projects such as the 200MW Chisamba Solar Plants (Phase I and Phase II), which together with Leopard Hill will add about 450MW to the national grid.
He urged Zambians to form strategic partnerships and emulate private sector players who have diversified investments across sectors, while calling on ZESCO Limited to strengthen its balance sheet and actively participate in commercial ventures.
Acting Minister of Energy Rodney Sikumba said the project demonstrates the positive outcomes of reforms in the energy sector, adding that government remains committed to ensuring timely implementation of projects to expand access to electricity across the country.
Lusaka Province Minister Sheal Mulyata expressed pride in hosting the project, noting that it will create employment opportunities and contribute to local economic development.
Speaking on behalf of the project developers, Project Chairperson Carl Irwin said the project had remained dormant for nearly a decade but has now become viable due to policy and legislative reforms that have improved its bankability.
He said the project, being implemented in partnership with Globeleq, Kyindu Resources Limited, and ZESCO, will be one of the largest battery storage projects on the continent and is designed to provide reliable and dispatchable power.
The project was conceived over 10 years ago but could not take off due to previously unsupportive policies toward private sector investment in the energy sector.
ZESCO Board Chairperson Vickson Ncube said the initiative reflects resilience in policy direction and highlights the importance of sustainable and efficient power solutions. He added that the utility is working to strengthen its transmission network to meet growing demand, while acknowledging the role Independent Power Producers have played in supporting the country during periods of load shedding.
Chongwe Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo, who is also Minister of Lands, said the district has faced electricity challenges for years but expressed confidence that the project will improve access and benefit households in the area.
British High Commissioner to Zambia Rebecca Terzeon said the project underscores the importance of reliable power in driving economic growth and regional trade. She noted that electricity demand in Zambia is rising rapidly and that the country remains an attractive investment destination, particularly within the global clean energy transition.
She announced that the United Kingdom is contributing £1.2 million towards Zambia’s energy compact and supporting initiatives such as the Zambia–Tanzania interconnector, signalling a shift from aid to investment.
The Government of Sierra Leone has signed a mining and energy cooperation treaty with the Republic of Senegal aimed at exploring and harnessing shared strategic opportunities in the extractive and energy sectors.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Mr. Julius Daniel Mattai, on behalf of Sierra Leone, alongside his Senegalese counterpart.
The signing took place on the margins of the 10th Edition of the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, held at the Abdou Diouf International Conference Centre on Monday, April 20, 2026.
The treaty represents a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and Senegal, building on commitments made during high-level exchanges between the two countries.
These include the state visit of His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal, to Sierra Leone, as well as the follow-up visit by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko to Freetown.
The newly signed treaty is expected to strengthen collaboration in resource development, energy security, investment promotion, technical expertise exchange, and policy harmonisation between the two countries. It also aligns with broader continental efforts to enhance intra-African trade and economic cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Officials from both countries described the agreement as a practical demonstration of shared commitment to translating political goodwill into concrete development outcomes that benefit citizens of both nations.
The initiative further reflects the outcomes of earlier bilateral understandings reached in Freetown in June 2024, during which several Memoranda of Understanding were signed covering energy, mining, fisheries, agriculture, petroleum and gas, infrastructure, and trade cooperation.
The Government of Sierra Leone reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging strategic partnerships to accelerate national development, attract investment, and promote regional integration through mutually beneficial cooperation.
Nigeria’s Minister for Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has formally tendered his resignation and proposed the establishment of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to drive integrated reforms across Nigeria’s power, gas, and related sectors.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
He, however, emphasised that sustaining and consolidating the gains recorded in the power sector requires stronger coordination at the highest level, including the appointment of a central authority to harmonise policy direction and execution.
The Minister expressed deep appreciation to the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his tenure as a privilege to contribute to national development.
Adelabu noted that his decision aligns with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which precludes serving political office holders from contesting elections.
He further disclosed that his gubernatorial aspiration dates back to 2016 during his tenure as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In his three-page letter, the Minister outlined key achievements recorded during his tenure, including the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised the electricity market and improved the investment climate.
He highlighted that peak power generation rose to over 6,000 megawatts, driven by the integration of the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and the rehabilitation of thermal power plants. Transmission capacity was also strengthened through grid upgrades under the Presidential Power Initiative.
He further cited notable improvements in the distribution segment, including enhanced regulatory oversight, improved revenue collection, and progress in reducing Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses. Efforts to close the metering gap, he added, gained momentum through the Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-supported Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).
On the financial front, Adelabu stated that tariff reforms and a ₦4 trillion debt restructuring programme increased market revenues from ₦1 trillion in 2023 to ₦2.3 trillion in 2025, restoring investor confidence and placing the sector on a path to sustainability.
Despite these gains, the Minister acknowledged persistent challenges, including gas supply constraints, infrastructure vandalism, and the need for full commercialisation of the electricity value chain. He therefore proposed key measures to sustain progress, including the implementation of cost-reflective tariffs with targeted subsidies, recapitalisation of distribution companies, accelerated nationwide metering, sustained transmission investments, and strengthened regulatory enforcement.
Central to his recommendations is the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to provide strategic oversight and ensure synergy across the power, gas, water resources, and environmental sectors. According to him, this approach is critical to improving gas supply for thermal generation, optimising hydroelectric resources, and accelerating renewable energy deployment.
Adelabu added that he remains committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless handover process, while expressing gratitude to the President for the confidence and support extended to him throughout his tenure.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tamekloe, Esq., has warned the public against the dangerous practice of siphoning fuel from accident-involved fuel tankers, popularly known as Bulk Road Vehicles (BRVs).
According to him, the Authority is working closely with the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to identify and prosecute individuals involved in such acts.
“We are taking video recordings and giving them to the Ghana Police to identify known faces for arrest and prosecution,” he said on Wednesday during a visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy to the NPA head office in Accra.
He added that surveillance and enforcement efforts will be intensified, particularly in areas identified as recurring hotspots for such incidents, including sections of the Nsawam–Kumasi corridor.
He described the practice of siphoning fuel as illegal, reckless, and often deadly, noting that despite repeated safety education, some individuals still rush to tanker accident scenes with containers to collect spilled fuel, sometimes attempting to puncture the tanks.
According to him, such actions constitute theft and expose communities to severe risk due to the highly flammable nature of petroleum products. He warned that even a small spark at such scenes could trigger catastrophic explosions.
“When there is a tanker accident, people leave their homes with gallons. They go there and punch holes into the tanker to siphon the product. That is barefaced stealing. Because you are trying to punch a hole, ignition can occur. The next thing is boom—and everybody is gone,” he cautioned.
Mr. Tamekloe stressed that the public must completely avoid tanker accident scenes, regardless of any perceived opportunity to collect fuel.
“Please, please, please do not go near it. Do not carry containers to fetch fuel. You are inviting death to your home,” he emphasised.
Global oilfield services giant Halliburton posted a net income of $461 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, for the first quarter (Q1) of 2026—more than double the $204 million reported in Q1 2025, according to a company statement issued on April 21, 2026.
The company’s total revenue for the quarter remained flat year-on-year (YoY) at $5.4 billion, while operating income reached $679 million, representing a 13% operating margin.
Production revenues declined 3% to $3.0 billion, with operating income falling 17% to $439 million, reflecting weaker stimulation activity in North America and reduced tool sales in the Middle East. However, gains in Africa and the Western Hemisphere partially offset these declines.
Drilling and Evaluation revenues rose 4% to $2.4 billion, supported by project management growth in Latin America and drilling services in Europe. However, operating income remained flat at $351 million due to reduced activity in the Middle East.
Regionally, Halliburton’s strongest momentum came from Latin America, where revenues jumped 22% to $1.1 billion, driven by robust activity in Ecuador, Brazil, and Mexico.
Europe and Africa also delivered double-digit growth, with revenues rising 11% to $858 million, led by Norway and Angola. By contrast, the Middle East and Asia saw revenues fall 13% to $1.3 billion, reflecting disruptions in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
North America revenues declined 4% to $2.1 billion, weighed down by weaker stimulation and artificial lift activity.
Beyond financials, Halliburton highlighted several technology milestones, including the launch of the HyperSteer MX drill bit, the opening of a next-generation Energy Xccelerator Lab in Singapore, and new solutions for carbon capture and geothermal well placement.
The company also marked an industry-first achievement in Guyana, where it collaborated with ExxonMobil, Sekal, and Noble to deliver fully automated deepwater geological well placement.
Chairman, President, and CEO Jeff Miller said: “I expect that our consistent focus on returns and capital discipline will drive long-term success for Halliburton and its shareholders.”
Brazilian oil major Petrobras has signed an agreement to acquire a stake and assume operatorship of Block 3, offshore São Tomé and Príncipe, from Oranto Petroleum Limited (Oranto), the company said in a statement.
The current consortium comprises Oranto, the operator with a 90% stake, and the National Petroleum Agency of São Tomé and Príncipe (ANP-STP), with 10%. Petrobras will acquire a 75% stake and, upon completion of the transaction, the consortium will consist of Petrobras (operator, 75%), Oranto (15%), and ANP-STP (10%).
Since 2024, Petrobras has resumed its activities on the African continent and already holds interests in blocks in São Tomé and Príncipe.
The transaction strengthens exploratory activity in Africa, supports portfolio diversification, and aligns with the company’s long-term strategy to replenish oil and gas reserves through the exploration of new frontiers and partnerships.
The acquisition of the block in São Tomé and Príncipe has followed all internal governance procedures and is in line with the company’s 2026–2030 Business Plan.
Completion of the transaction is subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions precedent, including applicable governmental and regulatory approvals in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, met with Diego Portoghese, Eni’s Head of the North Africa and Levant Region, to review the company’s exploration and production activities in Egypt and explore avenues for strengthening bilateral cooperation, according to a statement from the ministry.
During the meeting, Mr. Badawi commended the progress observed during his recent visit to the Meleiha fields in the Western Desert, where Eni is a key partner in the exploration, development, and production of hydrocarbons within the concession.
He also praised ongoing intensive operations at the Abu Madi field in the Nile Delta, where Eni is a partner, noting tangible advances in the company’s exploration and production activities.
Mr. Badawi stressed the importance of overcoming challenges and ensuring continuous coordination.
Meanwhile, Mr. Portoghese highlighted the steady progress of exploration and drilling operations, noting that activities will be further intensified in the coming period.
He emphasised that these efforts will be supported by advanced technical capabilities and skilled personnel, aimed at meeting rising domestic demand, particularly during the summer months.
Eni also leads production from major assets such as the Zohr field offshore, as well as Nooros and Baltim West in the Mediterranean, alongside operations at the Damietta LNG plant.
These initiatives contribute around 40% of Egypt’s natural gas output and support regional energy exports.
Eni Ghana, a subsidiary of an Italian oil and gas company, in collaboration with its OCTP partners — Vitol Upstream Ghana Ltd (Vitol) and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) — has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and emergency response systems in the Western Region.
The initiative aims to improve access to quality healthcare in remote communities, with a strong focus on women and children. It is expected to benefit about 180,000 people, with the potential to reach up to 380,000 residents across the region.
Over the four-year period from 2026 to 2029, the initiative will focus on three key priority areas. These include improving access to primary healthcare through the upgrading of facilities, the provision of reliable electricity and safe water, and the enhancement of maternal, newborn and child health services.
It will also support the capacity building of healthcare workers in critical areas such as Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC), clinical governance, safe surgery, and vaccine cold-chain management.
The programme will further engage local communities through education initiatives aimed at promoting better practices in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), waste management, vector control, and nutrition.
It will also place a strong emphasis on sustainability through community ownership, with strengthened community-based committees playing a crucial role in ensuring local participation and long-term impact.
Eni Ghana’s longstanding commitment to strengthening community health is reflected in a series of initiatives spanning more than a decade, contributing to Ghana’s progress toward Universal Health Coverage.
Eni has been present in Ghana since 2009, with offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production activities, and currently has an equity production of about 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
The company is the operator of the OCTP project, holding a 44.4% share, in partnership with Vitol (35.6%) and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (20%).
The joint venture’s portfolio also includes projects in the areas of training, economic diversification, access to water and sanitation, and access to energy.
As the clock ticked toward the end of a two-week cease-fire, US President Donald Trump announced he was unilaterally extending the truce to give a “fractured” Iranian leadership a chance to make a “unified” peace proposal, but said a blockade of Iranian ports that has angered Tehran will remain in place.
“Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on April 21.
Trump added that he will “extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”
He gave no specific timeframe.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Tehran would extend the cease-fire on its side.
An adviser to Iran’s powerful parliament speaker called the cease-fire extension a “ploy to buy time for a surprise attack” and asserted that Tehran must take the initiative, without being specific.
The spokesperson also said the current US blockade of Iranian ports is “no different from bombardment and must be met with a military response.”
Trump earlier said he did not want to extend the temporary cease-fire with Iran, which was due to expire on April 22, as Washington waited to see if talks with Tehran would proceed.
The exact time of the expiration of the cease-fire was unclear.
A White House official later confirmed that Vice President JD Vance’s trip to Islamabad for a second round of Pakistani-mediated negotiations would not take place on April 21 as planned. The official didn’t state whether a new date was being considered.
Trump added in his post that the US will continue its blockade of Iranian ports that has so far led to at least two ships being seized by the US Navy.
Tehran has said it will not resume negotiations as long as the blockade is in effect, while the US has said it will not end the action until a peace deal is signed.
Pakistan, the mediator in the peace process, urged both the US and Iran to extend their truce, but multiple reports said Tehran was weighing its options and waiting to see if its conditions, including an end to the blockade and a recognition of its right to enrich uranium, would be met.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei denounced the boarding of an Iranian tanker by US forces late on April 20, as well as the seizure of a separate cargo ship a day earlier, as “piracy at sea and state terrorism” and said the actions raised questions about Washington’s commitment to serious negotiations.
Iran has blocked access to the Strait of Hormuz, which controls access to the Persian Gulf to all ships but its own or those Tehran approves for transit.
Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who is also Iran’s lead negotiator, wrote on X late on April 20 that Tehran is “prepared to reveal new cards” in the war with the United States and Israel, accusing Trump of “imposing a siege and violating the cease-fire” as he tries to turn the negotiations into a “surrender or to justify renewed warmongering.”
Trump has threatened to restart the war and attack Iranian civilian infrastructure such as bridges and power plants unless Tehran accepts his terms.
The first round of talks in Islamabad on April 11-12 failed to produce an agreement for a full end to the war, which began on February 28 when US and Israeli air strikes pummeled targets across Iran.
Tensions in the region remain high while cargo ships pile up in the Gulf due to the blockade.
While shipping traffic has ground more or less to a halt, some ships have reportedly passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
Data from the MarineTraffic ship-tracking platform showed that a vessel named the Ean Spir, which had no known flag or known ownership, passed through the waterway on April 21 after previously docking at an Iraqi port.
A second unflagged ship, the Lian Star, also appeared from the data to have sailed through the strait.
The number of ships that usually pass through the strait, which handles about 20 percent of global oil and gas water transit, is around 140, according to shipping analysts.
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adelabu Adebayo, is set to resign his post in the coming days to pursue his governorship ambition.
This was confirmed on Wednesday in a statement by Tunji Bolaji, Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations to the minister.
According to Mr. Bolaji, Mr. Adelabu met with President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, where he presented a comprehensive report on his stewardship of the power sector over the past two and a half years.
Mr. Bolaji stated that the timing of the minister’s anticipated resignation reflects his commitment to addressing key sectoral challenges and ensuring continuity in ongoing reforms before exiting office.
“President Tinubu commended the minister for his dedication and the progress recorded, particularly in laying a strong policy foundation for the transformation of the power sector,” he said.
He added that the president granted his consent and blessing for the minister to pursue his governorship ambition.
“In view of this development, Adelabu is expected to resign his position as Minister of Power in the coming days,” Mr. Bolaji said.
Chief Adelabu Adebayo (left) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu(right)
Mr. Bolaji also noted that during the meeting, the minister outlined key milestones recorded under his leadership. These include efforts to stabilise electricity generation, strengthen transmission capacity, and implement reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency and service delivery across the power sector value chain.
A central highlight of the engagement, he said, was the presentation of the National Integrated Electricity Policy (NIEP) and its accompanying Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP).
He further explained that the Medium- to Long-Term Integrated Resource Plan for the Power Sector, designed to guide succession and sustainability, was also presented.
“The NIEP is a comprehensive policy framework designed to guide the sustainable development of Nigeria’s electricity sector. It provides a long-term roadmap for achieving energy security, expanding electricity access, integrating renewable energy, and building a more resilient and efficient power sector.
“The Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) serves as the operational blueprint for the NIEP, detailing specific actions, timelines, and institutional responsibilities required to translate policy objectives into measurable outcomes,” he explained.
Mr. Bolaji added that the SIP prioritises critical interventions across generation, transmission, and distribution, while also addressing regulatory reforms, investment mobilisation, human capacity, and local content development within the sector.
“Notably, this includes efforts to stabilise the sector following recent declines in power generation due to gas supply constraints to power plants, ongoing pipeline repairs, and outstanding obligations to gas suppliers,” he said.
He further noted that the minister expressed profound appreciation to the president for his steadfast support and reaffirmed his commitment to the advancement of Nigeria’s power sector and overall national development.
Eleven protesters were arrested in Nairobi’s central business district on Tuesday as police moved to disperse small pockets of demonstrations over rising fuel prices in the East African nation.
The arrests were made near the National Archives, where anti-riot officers broke up a gathering linked to the #RejectFuelPrice protests.
Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud confirmed the arrest and detention of 11 protesters.
Police presence was significantly heightened across the CBD, although business activity, as well as pedestrian and vehicular movement, remained largely normal.
Protest activity in the capital was limited and largely contained, with authorities maintaining a heavy and sustained deployment to deter further mobilization.
Elsewhere, isolated incidents were reported without major disruption. In Kirinyaga County, a bonfire was lit in Mwea Town, though normal operations continued. In Emali Town, Makueni County, increased police presence was observed, but no protests were reported.
A similar security posture was noted in Mlolongo, Machakos County, where the situation remained calm.
The protests come amid growing public frustration over high fuel costs, which have triggered periodic calls for demonstrations in recent weeks.
Ghana’s goal of a 24-hour economy is more than a labour policy; it is an industrial promise that requires an unbreakable energy spine. While the technical foundation for nuclear power has been laid, a growing gap between policy intent and executive execution threatens to turn a decade of progress into a cautionary tale of missed opportunity.
The Crisis of Direction and Credibility
The most pressing issue is a palpable lack of governmental direction. While Ghana was once seen as the frontrunner for nuclear energy in Sub-Saharan Africa, its credibility is now at risk. Newcomers like Kenya, Egypt, and Rwanda are accelerating their timelines, often drawing on Ghanaian expertise to do so. If the government fails to move from vague “support” to concrete implementation, Ghana risks losing the international goodwill of strategic partners (USA, South Korea, Japan) who may redirect their investments and technical cooperation to more decisive African neighbours.
The GNPPO Bottleneck
The Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO), designed to be the high-level steering body for the country’s nuclear Programme, has become an emblem of the programme’s inertia. Under international IAEA standards, this body should provide the “national and political muscle” to coordinate across ministries.
Instead, its decision-making arm remains largely dormant. Without a functional GNPPO, critical policy actions—such as final vendor selection, technology type and financing structures—remain in a state of administrative limbo.
The High Cost of Indecision
Indecision at the highest level of government does more than delay a timeline; it causes technical rustiness. Ghana has a world-class team of nuclear scientists and engineers, but expertise is a perishable resource. Without active project milestones to work toward, these teams risk losing their “edge.” More dangerously, the country faces a “brain drain” as its highly trained professionals are sought after for opportunities in other newcomer African countries where their Nuclear Power Programmes/Projects are breaking ground
A Vacuum of Ownership and Leadership
There is a distinct lack of ownership of the country’s nuclear agenda at the Cabinet level. The Programme currently lacks a focal person—a high-influence champion with direct access to the President—who has the drive to push the agenda through the thicket of competing ministerial interests. Without this “Nuclear Czar” to navigate the bureaucracy, provide the needed expert opinions, and secure sustainable budgetary allocations for the final site studies, the project remains a peripheral concern rather than a national priority.
The Stakes: What Ghana Stands to Gain vs. Lose
What We Stand to Gain
What We Stand to Lose
Industrial Stability: 18-month refuelling cycles provide a “no-blink” grid for 24-hour manufacturing.
Economic Volatility: Permanent dependence on global oil price swings and fragile gas infrastructure.
Energy Sovereignty: Reduced reliance on imported fuels and external market shocks.
Technological Flight: Loss of millions of dollars in human capital investment as experts migrate.
Climate Leadership: A massive leap toward Net Zero commitments and green industrialisation.
Reputational Damage: Loss of status as a regional leader, making future infrastructure financing harder.
Job Creation: Thousands of high-tech jobs in welding, masonry, carpentry, food, engineering, safety, environment, and specialised construction.
Stagnation Costs: Massive “restart costs” in the future if the current momentum is fully lost.
The Bottom Line
The technical studies are ready. The sites have been identified, initial site characterisations and seismic activities are underway, land mapping and acquisition are in progress, and the international partners are eagerly waiting. What remains is for the highest levels of government to stop viewing the nuclear power project as a “future luxury” and to start seeing it as the foundational requirement for the 24-hour economy vision they have promised the people.
The question is no longer whether Ghana can build a nuclear plant, but whether it has the political will to lead, or whether it will be left behind in their name as a bad legacy.
Ghana’s blueprint for a 24-hour economy—a bold plan to slash unemployment through round-the-clock industrial shifts—is hitting a hard physical limit: the power grid.
While policy designers envision a nation that never sleeps, the current energy mix, tethered to volatile oil and gas, is prone to the very “blinks” that ruin continuous production.
The Reliability Gap
For industries like manufacturing and heavy agro-processing, “intermittent” is a dirty word. Bellona-Gerard Vittor-Quao, a lead voice at Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), argues that you cannot build a 24-hour society on a 12-hour certainty.
Bellona-Gerard Vittor-Quao
“Nuclear plants can run for 12 months without refuelling,” Ms Vittor-Quao explains. “It provides the steady baseload that fuel-dependent thermal plants simply cannot guarantee.”
Without this “always-on” backbone, the 24-hour economy risks becoming an expensive gamble. Businesses cannot optimise three-shift work cycles if they are constantly hedging against fuel price spikes or sudden gas supply disruptions.
Technical Ready, Politically Blocked
Ghana’s nuclear journey is not new; it has been meticulously mapped out since 2008 following IAEA standards. However, the programme is currently trapped in Phase 2, paralysed not by a lack of science, but by a lack of “Go” from the apex body with the mandate to assist the government in choosing the technology and vendor.
The GNPPO, the strategic interministerial body tasked with coordinating this nuclear leap, remains largely absent since its establishment at the Executive level. This institutional “wait-and-see” approach creates a dangerous mismatch: a government pushing for hyper-productivity while the energy infrastructure required to power it remains stalled in a preparatory phase.
The Cost of Stagnation
The window for Ghana to lead the African nuclear renaissance is narrowing. As neighbours like Egypt and Kenya accelerate their programmes, Ghana faces three distinct risks:
Investment Churn: Investors won’t commit to 24-hour facilities without guaranteed uptime.
Expert Flight: The scientists and engineers trained for this nuclear mission are abandoning the country and are already looking toward more active programmes abroad.
Compounded Costs: The longer the delay, the higher the eventual financing and “restart” costs of the nuclear power plant.
The Final Verdict
A 24-hour economy is an industrial policy, but it is fueled by an energy reality. If Ghana intends to run a clock that never stops, it must eventually commit to a power source that doesn’t blink. The question is no longer about the technical “how,” but the political “when.”
Botswana has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the construction of a 500MW Maun Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Plant and a 500MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), one of the most ambitious renewable energy initiatives in the country’s history.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Maun, President Duma Boko stated that the project represents Botswana’s decisive shift from planning to execution, as the nation accelerates its transition toward a secure, sustainable, and affordable energy future.
The flagship development, implemented through a government-to-government partnership with the Sultanate of Oman and executed by Botswana Power Corporation in collaboration with Okavango Solar, will inject 500MW of clean and reliable energy into the national grid upon completion.
A key component of the project is the 500MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which will enable the storage of solar-generated electricity during the day for deployment during peak demand periods in the evening and early morning. This will significantly enhance grid stability and overall energy security.
President Boko emphasized that Botswana is firmly on track to increase the share of renewable energy in its national generation mix to 50 percent by 2030, up from the current baseline of approximately 8 percent, in line with the revised and accelerated Integrated Resource Plan.
“This is not merely a project; it is a clear statement that Botswana is poised to become a regional energy hub,” the President remarked.
With over 3,200 hours of sunshine annually and among the highest solar irradiation levels globally, Botswana is uniquely positioned to lead in solar energy generation and regional power exports.
The Maun Solar Project builds on ongoing progress in Mmadinare and Jwaneng, where two 100MW utility-scale solar projects are advancing, with Mmadinare already operational and Jwaneng nearing full commissioning.
According to David Kgoboko, the Maun plant will be developed under an Independent Power Producer (IPP) model and operated under a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement.
The groundbreaking marks another bold step in Botswana’s commitment to climate action, sustainable development, and economic transformation.
Eni has been present in Ghana since 2009, with offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production activities, and currently has an equity production of about 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
The company is the operator of the OCTP project, holding a 44.4% share, in partnership with Vitol (35.6%) and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (20%).
The joint venture’s portfolio also includes projects in the areas of training, economic diversification, access to water and sanitation, and access to energy.
