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Gambia: NAWEC Blames Technical Faults For Power Outages
The faults have impacted the stability and reliability of power supply, resulting in unplanned service interruptions in several areas.
In a statement issued on Saturday, NAWEC said its technical teams are working around the clock to identify the root causes and carry out the necessary repairs and network reinforcements to restore normal and stable electricity supply as quickly as possible.
The company also informed customers that some feeders will continue to experience load shedding, particularly during peak demand periods, as part of ongoing efforts to manage limited generation capacity and stabilize the network until the situation is fully resolved.
NAWEC said it fully understands the inconvenience the situation may cause, especially as the country approaches the Eid al-Adha (Tobaski) festivities, a period of high electricity demand and great social significance.
The company apologized for the disruptions and expressed appreciation for the patience, understanding, and continued cooperation of its customers during this challenging period.
“Efforts are being intensified across all operational areas to improve network stability and minimise further disruptions,” the statement concluded.
Zambia: High Court Jails Man For 10 Years For Vandalising Power Infrastructure
Nigeria: Dangote Refinery Targets $2 Billion Investments From Private Investors Ahead Of IPO
Africa’s largest petroleum refinery, the Dangote Refinery, is targeting about $2 billion in private investments ahead of its Initial Public Offering (IPO), scheduled for September this year.
“When we say we’re going to do a private placement, we already have people who have expressed interest in buying, and the amount requested is already close to $2 billion,” said Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, during a visit by Femi Otedola, Chairman of First HoldCo, to the refinery on Wednesday.
Otedola led top executives of First HoldCo on a tour of the refinery and fertilizer plants located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
The delegation also visited key project sites, including the jetty facility built by Dangote Industries to accommodate large vessels.
Dangote, however, noted that the refinery may not sell the full amount through the private placement, stating that “we’ll see what we can allocate to them.”
The private placement marks the latest development in the refinery’s IPO plans, which are expected to materialize later this year.
In 2025, Dangote disclosed that the refinery could sell up to a 10% stake in the public listing, which Bloomberg estimated could be valued at approximately $5 billion.
Although the exact date for the IPO has not yet been announced, the Dangote Refinery is expected to proceed with the public listing before the end of the year.
Dangote also revealed plans for a cross-border listing, which he said would enable Africans to play a greater role in financing the continent’s industrialisation.
Mozambique: Eni Expands Cookstove Production To Accelerate Access To Sustainable Clean Energy
Malawi: Escom Imposes Emergency Load Shedding Due To Power Generation Shortfall
Malawi’s electricity supply company, Escom, has implemented emergency load shedding due to a shortfall in power generation following the unavailability of Nkula A Unit 2 and Kapichira Unit 4.
In a statement on Thursday, the utility reported that the two units tripped at 2:59 a.m. and 3:26 a.m., respectively, on 21st May 2026.
As a result, available generation capacity from the country’s major hydropower suppliers has been reduced from 348.15 MW to 306.75 MW.
South Africa: Eskom Threatens Power Cuts In Johannesburg Over R5.2 Billion Debt
“Consequently, emergency load shedding affecting some customers is currently underway,” the company said.
Escom further informed customers that load shedding may, at times, be implemented outside the published schedule to maintain the stability of the national grid.
“We regret the inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding,” the statement concluded.
Ghana: Natural Gas Supply Shortfalls And Escalating Reliance On Expensive Liquid Fuels(Analysis)
Introduction
Ghana’s energy sector, particularly its power sector, has undergone significant development and structural changes over recent decades. The sector is characterized by a combination of traditional hydroelectric power and thermal (fossil fuel-based) generation, with increasing attention to renewable energy integration to meet growing demand and sustainability goals.
Thermal generation continues to dominate the power sector, with about 3,445 MW of dependable capacity, representing 70% of total dependable capacity as of 2025. Approximately 80% of this 3,445 MW of dependable capacity is dual-fueled, with natural gas as the primary fuel and liquid fuels—including Gasoil, Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), and Light Crude Oil (LCO)—as the secondary fuel.
Liquid fuels provide strategic backup for generation when gas supply falls short due to planned or unplanned maintenance of gas facilities. However, liquid fuels are comparatively more expensive than natural gas, and higher consumption exposes the power sector to financial strain. In this regard, the Center for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) assessed the utilization patterns of liquid fuels from 2021 to 2025 and estimated the costs of HFO and Gasoil during this period.
Methodology
Ghana primarily uses three types of liquid fuels: LCO, HFO, and Gasoil. The Center sourced data on HFO and Gasoil from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) for the period 2021–2025. The data from NPA were utilization figures based on liters and metric tonnes.
The estimated cost per metric tonne of HFO and Diesel Fuel Oil (DFO) was based on GRIDCO’s fuel supply projections for the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) pigging period from January to February 2025. Crude oil data were sourced from the Bank of Ghana for 2024–2025.
Thermal plants that used LCO during the period include AKSA Energy, Cenpower, and Asogli, as indicated by the Bank of Ghana.
Results
Heavy Fuel Oil consumption in the power sector peaked in 2025 at approximately 134 million liters (133,237 MT), following 90 million liters (89,325 MT) in 2021. No HFO was used in 2022. Between 2024 (12,736 MT) and 2025, there was an increase of 120,537 MT, representing a 947% surge in HFO utilization for power generation.
Based on GRIDCO’s fuel requirement projections during the WAGP offshore pigging and cost per metric tonne, the estimated cost of HFO in 2025 was US$605/MT. With total HFO consumption of 133,237 MT, the total cost for the power sector in 2025 was US$80,608,385.

| Heavy Fuel Oil | Quantity (MT) | Cost (US$) | Total Cost (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projected (GRIDCO) | 19,800 | 605.05 | 11,980,000 |
| Actual | 133,237 | 605.05 | 80,608,385 |
Source: CEMSE Construct from GRIDCO and NPA Data, 2025
The 575% increase in HFO costs in 2025 indicates that beyond the pigging period in Q1 2025, additional HFO was used to operate thermal plants throughout the remaining three quarters of the year.
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The years 2021 and 2022 recorded zero Gasoil use in the power sector. Gasoil usage began in 2023 at approximately 263 thousand liters (222 MT), surging to about 8 million liters (7,121 MT) in 2024—a 3,107% increase. Utilization peaked in 2025 at around 24 million liters (20,246 MT), representing a 184% increase from 2024.

GRIDCO projected a DFO requirement of 16,800 MT at a cost of US$26.88 million for the WAGP offshore pigging, implying a unit cost of US$1,600/MT. Actual DFO consumption of 20,246 MT in 2025 resulted in a total cost of US$32.39 million, reflecting a 21% increase over projections.
Table 2: Estimated Cost of Diesel Fuel Oil in 2025
| Diesel Fuel Oil | Quantity (MT) | Cost per MT (US$) | Total Cost (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projected | 16,800 | 1,600 | 26,880,000 |
| Actual | 22,246 | 1,600 | 32,393,600 |
Source: CEMSE Construct from GRIDCO and NPA Data, 2025
According to the Bank of Ghana’s quarterly bulletin (4Q25), US$36.57 million was spent on LCO imports for the power sector in 2024. In 2025, this increased by approximately 210% to US$116.8 million, exceeding GRIDCO’s projection of US$50.94 million. All LCO imported in 2024 and 2025 was allocated to Cenpower, Asogli, and AKSA power plants.

Conclusion
The analysis reveals a concerning trend in Ghana’s power sector, highlighting a growing reliance on expensive liquid fuels (HFO, DFO, LCO) between 2021 and 2025. Despite GRIDCO’s projections, actual consumption surged significantly.
- HFO costs increased by 575%, exceeding projections by US$68.6 million.
- DFO costs rose by 21%, exceeding projections by US$5.5 million.
- LCO costs exceeded projections by US$65.95 million, representing a 129% increase in utilization in 2025.
The total cost of HFO, DFO, and LCO for 2025 is estimated at US$229 million, implying an average monthly expenditure of US$19.16 million on liquid fuels. The increasing reliance on liquid fuels is largely due to shortfalls in natural gas supply. Addressing the gas supply deficit would reduce sector debts and improve fiscal sustainability, as liquid fuels are not fully captured in the tariff regime, forcing the government to rely on petroleum levies for procurement.
These findings underscore the urgent need for diversified power generation and stricter fuel procurement discipline to prevent further financial distress in Ghana’s power sector.
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South Africa: Eskom Threatens Power Cuts In Johannesburg Over R5.2 Billion Debt
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the utility stated that the City of Johannesburg currently owes arrears amounting to R5.25 billion (equivalent of 315,744,000)
An additional R1.58 billion is scheduled for payment on Friday, June 5, 2026, according to the Eskom Gauteng Cluster.
Eskom alleged that the municipality has repeatedly failed to honour its Electricity Supply Agreement despite more than two years of engagement.
The utility said it is no longer sustainable to allow the city to collect revenue from residents without transferring the required portion to the national supplier.
According to Eskom, the growing debt burden undermines its efforts to improve its balance sheet and maintain affordable electricity pricing.
The company added in a media statement that its financial sustainability depends on effective revenue collection and reduced expenditure.Eskom also announced on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, that nine other municipalities had moved toward signing Distribution Agency Agreements (DAAs).
These long-term contracts allow Eskom to manage technical and financial aspects of local electricity supply, including revenue collection and the installation of smart meters.
The utility did not specify when the planned interruptions or terminations in Johannesburg would begin.
The move follows a broader national trend of escalating municipal debt, which Eskom says threatens its operational viability.
COP31 President Calls For Faster Electrification, More Climate Finance For Developing Countries
The President-designate of COP31, Murat Kurum, has called for accelerated electrification and increased climate finance for developing countries ahead of the global climate summit in Turkey, scheduled for November 2026.
Addressing the opening session of the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial conference in Denmark on Wednesday, Kurum said electrification had emerged as a key theme during recent climate engagements, including meetings held in Berlin, Paris, Santa Marta and Baku.
According to him, electricity currently accounts for about 20 percent of global final energy consumption, adding that efforts should be intensified to increase its share.
Kurum said this would require both the decarbonisation of electricity generation and the expansion of electrification across sectors.
“We must make the technologies of the future accessible at scale — and we must ensure that no one is left behind,” he said.
He said the COP31 presidency would prioritise clean energy, clean cooking, resilient cities and industrial decarbonisation under its action agenda.
Kurum added that the presidency is already collaborating with key institutions, including the International Energy Agency, the International Renewable Energy Agency and the Global Renewables Alliance.
The COP31 president-designate also urged stakeholders to support funding for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
“For billions of people living along the world’s coasts, oceans are not an abstract climate issue. They are a source of food, livelihoods, identity and security,” he said.
Kurum said national climate roadmaps should remain central to the UN climate process through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Biennial Transparency Reports and National Adaptation Plans.
He also highlighted oceans and coastal communities as major priority areas.
On climate finance, Kurum said the COP31 presidency would work to increase funding for developing countries through the Global Implementation Accelerator and recommendations under the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap.
He said COP31 would seek stronger participation from the private sector to mobilise climate finance.
“Concessional and grant-based public finance will be indispensable — especially for developing economies that need to adapt, build resilience and respond to loss and damage,” he said.
Kurum noted that donor countries would be held accountable for commitments made under the $300 billion Baku climate finance goal.
He said efforts would continue to improve access to climate finance and increase funding from UN climate funds threefold by 2030.
Kurum added that the replenishment of the Green Climate Fund this year would be critical.
“Developed countries must also submit their first biennial communications this year, showing how they will deliver their fair share of the Baku Finance Goal,” he added.
“It is easy to say we support global climate action. But promises must be kept.”




