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COP31: UN Climate Chief Urges Negotiators To Avoid Delays As Talks Enter Final Week

Michael Creg Afful
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COP31: UN Climate Chief Urges Negotiators To Avoid Delays As Talks Enter Final Week

U.N. Climate Chief Simon Stiell urged negotiators at COP31 on Saturday to tackle the toughest issues and avoid delaying a deal as the summit heads into its second and final week, Reuters reported.

“As we head into the second week, I urge parties to move swiftly to the hardest issues and to avoid tactical delays,” said Stiell, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“There is no collective success without compromise from every party,” he said.

The annual U.N. climate conference comes as wars and inflation compete for governments’ attention. Major fossil fuel producers and consumers are resisting firm new targets and language calling for a shift away from oil, gas and coal, observers said.

The opposition poses a challenge for host Turkey and lead negotiator Australia as they seek an agreement.

A U.N. report last month found that the world was on course to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming above pre-industrial levels, a threshold scientists say is critical to limiting the worst effects of climate change.

Turkey wants to put a proposal to expand electrification at the centre of any deal. It says switching vehicles, boilers, furnaces and other equipment from fossil fuels to electricity could accelerate emissions cuts.

The proposal sets no requirement for the additional electricity to come from renewable sources, disappointing some observers and delegations that want a clearer plan for moving away from fossil fuels.

Major oil producers such as Saudi Arabia and Russia have traditionally resisted language that would curb fossil fuel use. Large developing economies such as India have opposed measures, they say could restrict their development and energy choices.

The United States, the world’s largest oil consumer, has skipped the talks for a second consecutive year under President Donald Trump, who has called global warming a hoax and promoted continued fossil fuel use.

Asked about progress in the talks, Stiell said: “All I can say at this stage is engagement has been constructive. We know where those natural tensions lie.”

COP31: Algeria Targets 14% Emissions Cut By 2035

Michael Creg Afful
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COP31: Algeria Targets 14% Emissions Cut By 2035

Algeria plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 14% by 2035 using domestic resources and could increase the reduction to 31% with international support, state news agency APS reported on Thursday.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced the targets in a message read by Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya.

The targets are part of Algeria’s nationally determined contribution, its climate action plan under the Paris Agreement.

Tebboune said Algeria had used domestic funds to launch the first phase of a programme aimed at bringing the country’s renewable energy capacity to 15,000 megawatts by 2035.

He also cited the adoption of a national hydrogen strategy, measures to improve energy efficiency and expand public transport, and efforts to strengthen water security through seawater desalination and the reuse of treated wastewater.

Ghana: Samira Bawumia Launches Solar Power Initiative For Underserved Maternity Facilities In Africa

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: Samira Bawumia Launches Solar Power Initiative For Underserved Maternity Facilities In Africa

Ghana’s former Second Lady Samira Bawumia has launched an initiative to provide reliable solar power to underserved healthcare facilities in Africa, starting with a pilot to improve maternal and newborn care in Ghana.

The Powering Safe Delivery Initiative will equip selected Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, maternity facilities and primary healthcare centres with solar photovoltaic systems, battery storage and essential maternal healthcare infrastructure.

Bawumia unveiled the initiative at an event at the World Health Organization (WHO) pavilion during the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, Accra-based JoyNews reported.

Unreliable electricity can disrupt deliveries at night, emergency procedures, patient monitoring and equipment sterilisation. Power cuts can also interrupt refrigeration for medicines and vaccines, particularly at facilities serving remote communities.

“No woman should have to risk her life giving life simply because the lights went out,” Bawumia said at the launch. She urged African governments to make maternal healthcare a priority in their climate adaptation and energy transition plans.

About 178,000 mothers and one million newborns die across Africa each year, many from preventable causes, according to figures cited by the initiative.

In Ghana, the institutional maternal mortality ratio rose to 110 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024 from 109.22 in 2023, while skilled delivery coverage fell to 55% from 60.6% over the same period.

The initiative builds on the Safe Delivery Project run by the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP). The project has distributed more than 11,000 birth kits to expectant mothers in underserved Ghanaian communities and trained 324 people, including 164 health workers and 160 traditional birth attendants.

“We can equip a mother with the delivery kit. We can train the midwife who attends to her, but if the facility has no electricity when complications arise, we have left a critical part of the problem unsolved,” she said.

Bawumia called for a partnership involving the Africa Women and Youth Climate Centre (AFRYWOCC), which she founded, Minagie Energy, the University of Ghana’s Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies (C3SS) and development partners.

The proposed partnership would identify facilities most in need, assess their electricity requirements, secure financing and arrange long-term maintenance.

The Ghana pilot is intended to provide a model that other African countries can adopt. The initiative also aims to create opportunities for young people through technical training, local maintenance work and jobs in renewable energy.

Bawumia urged governments, development finance institutions, philanthropic organisations and private companies to support the initiative. She said climate finance should help pay for improvements that protect lives and keep essential healthcare services running.

“I do not want us to leave Antalya with only photographs and speeches and expressions of goodwill. I want us to leave with a shared determination to identify our first facilities, mobilise the necessary resources, and then begin implementation,” she said.

She said the initiative would track how many facilities gain reliable power, how many health workers receive support and how many mothers and newborns benefit from improved care.

Ghana: Tema Oil Jetty Handles More Fuel After Shift To 24-Hour Operations

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: Tema Oil Jetty Handles More Fuel After Shift To 24-Hour Operations

Ghana Petroleum Mooring Systems Company Limited (GPMS) has increased the volume of fuel unloaded at its Tema oil jetty since it began allowing vessels to berth and unberth around the clock last year, a company official said on Thursday.

Francis Owusu, GPMS operations and maintenance manager, said the change followed the resolution of technical issues and improvements to lighting and security at the jetty. The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) led the effort in collaboration with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and the Ghana Standards Authority.

Owusu briefed representatives of civil society organisations after a tour of the jetty and the company’s offshore single-point and conventional buoy mooring facilities. The NPA organised the visit to give the groups a closer look at Ghana’s downstream petroleum operations.

NPA Chief Executive Godwin Kudzo Tameklo said the jetty previously could not berth vessels after 5 p.m., even when ships were waiting.

The conventional buoy mooring system, about 2.7 nautical miles from Tema’s fishing harbour, uses four permanently anchored mooring chains to hold a vessel in position and prevent it from swinging with changes in wind or current.

The jetty can load and unload crude oil, fuel oil, aviation turbine kerosene, diesel, petrol, naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas, including butane and propane.

Speaking on behalf of the groups, Kwadwo Opoku, executive director of the Institute for Energy Policy and Research, thanked the NPA for giving civil society organisations greater insight into the downstream petroleum industry.

Ghana: 2025 Energy Personalities To Mentor Students From Three Western Region Schools

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: 2025 Energy Personalities To Mentor Students From Three Western Region Schools
Ghana’s 2025 Energy Personalities of the Year will mentor students from three schools in the Western Region on November 17, 2026, as the Ghana Energy Awards expands its Energy Personalities Outreach Programme (EPOP). The event, to be held at St. John’s Senior High School, will bring together students from the host school, Sekondi College and Kikam Technical Institute. It will be the first time in the programme’s eight-year history that students from three schools take part in a single edition. This year’s programme, under the theme “Impacting the Next Generation Leaders Today,” will feature Judith Adjobah-Blay, chief executive officer of Ghana National Gas Company Limited, and Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo, chief executive of the Volta River Authority. They were named Female and Male Energy Personalities of the Year, respectively, at the 2025 Ghana Energy Awards. The two executives will share lessons from their careers and discuss the skills and values that have shaped their approach to leadership. Students will be able to ask them directly about what to study, which skills to develop and what career opportunities are available across Ghana’s energy sector. Participation in the outreach programme is part of the winners’ responsibilities under the Ghana Energy Awards, which requires recipients of its top honours to mentor young people. EPOP focuses on four areas: character development, preparation for tertiary education, exposure to careers in the energy sector and direct engagement with industry professionals. Over the past eight years, the programme has reached more than 15,000 students at schools including Achimota Senior High School, West Africa Senior High School, St. Mary’s Senior High School, Nungua Senior High School, Aburi Girls’ Senior High School, Wesley Grammar School and Chemu Senior High School. The decision to extend the 2026 edition to three schools in the Western Region underscores the Ghana Energy Awards’ commitment to broadening the programme’s reach and deepening its impact. It also presents an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between educational institutions and the energy industry, particularly in a region with a significant footprint in Ghana’s energy and industrial landscape. As Ghana continues to advance its energy goals, preparing young people to understand and participate in its development has become increasingly important. Through EPOP, the Ghana Energy Awards seeks to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry practice by connecting students with experienced professionals who can inspire, guide and help shape their aspirations. The 2026 edition is expected to reinforce this commitment, ensuring that more young people are well equipped to become the next generation of leaders and professionals contributing to Ghana’s energy future.

samia

Michael Creg Afful
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Eni Pledges £11 Billion In Gross Investment In The UK’s Energy Sector

Michael Creg Afful
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Eni Pledges £11 Billion In Gross Investment In The UK’s Energy Sector
Italian energy company Eni has pledged to invest approximately £11 billion in the United Kingdom between 2026 and 2030, with around two-thirds of the planned spending earmarked for lower-carbon energy sectors. The investment commitment was confirmed during a meeting in London between UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Miatta Fahnbulleh and Eni Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi, where they discussed the company’s operations and investment plans across the UK’s energy value chain. Discussions focused on the energy transition, industrial competitiveness and energy security. Eni said the investment would support the UK’s decarbonisation ambitions, industrial development and efforts to strengthen domestic energy supplies. The company said the planned spending was expected to create skilled jobs, attract additional investment and strengthen the competitiveness of British industry, while generating economic benefits for communities in the regions where it operates. Fahnbulleh said the investment demonstrated confidence in Britain’s industrial future and would support employment, energy security and economic development. “This £11 billion investment is a vote of confidence in Britain’s industrial future – backing good, skilled jobs, strengthening our energy security and breathing new life into our industrial heartlands. From carbon capture in the North West to offshore wind in the North Sea, we want the communities that powered Britain for generations to be at the forefront of its energy future. That means supporting investment and backing British workers, businesses and communities,” she said. Descalzi said the UK remained a key market for Eni, with the company operating across several segments of the energy industry, including renewable energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS), fusion technology and oil and gas production. He said the company was expanding its industrial presence, particularly in lower-carbon sectors, citing the UK’s investment environment, technological capabilities and focus on innovation. Eni said its investments would cover several major projects, including carbon capture and storage developments, offshore wind and fusion energy initiatives, as well as upstream oil and gas operations. In the carbon capture and storage sector, Eni, through its subsidiary Eni CCUS Holding, is developing the Liverpool Bay CCS project, which forms the backbone of the HyNet industrial decarbonisation cluster in North West England and North Wales. The project is expected to support the development of a lower-carbon industrial cluster and contribute to the UK’s net-zero ambitions. Eni estimates that it will support more than 2,000 jobs during construction and approximately 300 permanent positions over its projected operational lifespan of more than 25 years. Eni CCUS Holding is also developing the Bacton CCS project, which is intended to support the decarbonisation of industrial sectors in South East England and provide carbon dioxide storage capacity for industries across North West Europe. In renewable energy, Eni operates through Plenitude, a company jointly controlled with Ares, and participates through Vårgrønn in offshore wind developments, including Dogger Bank, Greenvolt and Cenos. The company is also pursuing fusion energy through partnerships with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), aimed at accelerating the commercial development of fusion technology. These initiatives include the H3AT project and the RH3OVA joint venture. In the upstream sector, Eni said it continued to maintain a significant presence in the UK following the combination of Eni UK’s assets with Ithaca Energy in 2024. The company’s North Sea oil and gas production continues to contribute to Britain’s domestic energy supplies and wider energy security. Eni has operated in the United Kingdom since 1964.

Botswana Pilots Electric Buses As Rising Fuel Costs Spur Transport Reforms.

Michael Creg Afful
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Botswana Pilots Electric Buses As Rising Fuel Costs Spur Transport Reforms.
Botswana has launched a pilot programme involving 10 electric buses for public transport as part of efforts to modernise urban mobility amid rising fuel prices, the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has reported. The pilot project aims to improve public transport services and promote electric mobility in Gaborone and surrounding areas. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Keoagile Atamelang told NBC that the 10 electric buses form part of the government’s broader efforts to improve public transport, reduce environmental pollution and accelerate the adoption of cleaner energy solutions. Atamelang said the initiative was intended to introduce a more coordinated, reliable and inclusive public transport system, with existing transport operators expected to participate as stakeholders. “Rising costs are rampant all over the world. This is due to the cost of crude oil. And also, we have a lot of unemployment relative to the transport sector. It is difficult for those who are unemployed to actually penetrate this market. We also have a dilapidated fleet. We also have low standards. Those are the challenges, as they are right now. We are trying to digitise the payment system,” he said. Delivering his State of the Nation Address earlier this week, President Duma Boko said the programme would use innovation and strategic partnerships to improve urban mobility and enhance public transport services for communities.

Ghana To Begin Construction Of 1,450 MW Gas-Fired Power Plant In December – Ato Forson

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana To Begin Construction Of 1,450 MW Gas-Fired Power Plant In December – Ato Forson
Ghana plans to begin construction of a 1,450-megawatt gas-fired power plant in December as part of a $2.2 billion investment in energy infrastructure to boost electricity supply and support industrial growth, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson said on Thursday. The plant, to be built at Kafodzidzi-Abrobeano in the Central Region, will be fully funded by the state. The first 600 MW is expected to come on stream by December 2028, with the remaining 850 MW scheduled for completion by December 2030. Presenting the 2027 budget to parliament on November 12, Forson said the plant would use about 150 million standard cubic feet of additional gas a day from the Sankofa and Jubilee fields. “In December 2026, we will start the construction of a 1,450-megawatt thermal power plant at Kafodzidzi-Abrobeano in the Central Region,” he said. The government also plans to build a wholly state-owned 600 MW solar power plant backed by 2,000 megawatt-hours of battery storage to improve electricity supply and strengthen grid stability. The projects are intended to support industries including bauxite and manganese processing, steel, cement and agro-processing, as well as the government’s 24-Hour Economy programme. Forson said the investments formed part of efforts to achieve energy independence and address the sector’s financial difficulties. “Mr. Speaker, we will end our dependence on costly emergency power by 2030,” he said. According to the budget, Ghana’s energy sector recorded an annual shortfall of about $1.4 billion in 2025, while arrears owed to independent power producers and fuel suppliers stood at about $1.7 billion. The government plans to invest $500 million between 2027 and 2030 to modernise the electricity transmission system and reduce losses. It also plans to deploy two million prepaid meters to reduce distribution losses and fully implement performance-based private sector participation in electricity distribution by the end of 2027. The government aims to cut power generation costs from about 16 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour to eight cents or less.

South Africa To Continue Using Coal Responsibly, Energy Minister Says

Michael Creg Afful
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South Africa To Continue Using Coal Responsibly, Energy Minister Says
South Africa will continue to use coal responsibly while expanding renewable energy as part of a diversified power mix to secure supply and support industrial growth, Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said. Speaking at a Nuclear and Clean Energy Conference 2026 in Pretoria, Ramokgopa cautioned against focusing solely on closing coal-fired power stations, saying energy policy should prioritise reliable and affordable electricity. “We’ll continue to exploit coal. We’ll exploit it responsibly and there will be an exponential increase of renewable energy onto our grid. That’s what I mean by additionality,” he said. Ramokgopa said the debate should recognise the role of different energy sources in meeting the country’s needs, with coal, nuclear and renewables contributing to a diversified system. The department and state power utility Eskom are reviewing the coal fleet, with decisions on the future of individual stations guided by their condition, operating costs and environmental requirements, he said. “Some stations may have a case for longer operation and others will retire,” he said. “Those decisions have to reflect plant condition, costs and applicable environmental requirements.” Ramokgopa said South Africa needed sufficient dependable electricity to allow manufacturers to expand production, new investments to connect to the grid and households to access affordable power. “South Africa needs enough dependable electricity for the economy we intend to build,” he said. “An economy with too little capacity pays for that shortage through higher cost supply and through production and investment that never takes place.” He said coal would operate alongside nuclear and an increasing share of renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, as South Africa expanded its generating capacity.

Ghana Targets Six New Petroleum Agreements By March 2027 To Revive Production – Energy Minister

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana Targets Six New Petroleum Agreements By March 2027 To Revive Production – Energy Minister
Ghana expects to sign at least six new petroleum agreements with international oil companies by the first quarter of 2027 as the government steps up efforts to attract investment and reverse years of declining crude oil production, Energy Minister Dr John Abdulai Jinapor has said. Jinapor said negotiations with major industry players were progressing as part of a broader programme to revitalise the country’s upstream petroleum sector. Speaking at the Petroleum Commission’s 2026 Local Content Conference and Exhibition in Takoradi on Tuesday, November 10, Jinapor named Eni, Vitol, Shell, Chevron, Petrobras and ExxonMobil among the companies engaged in discussions with Ghana. He said the government was working to restore investor confidence through greater policy certainty, regulatory predictability and a more attractive investment environment. The renewed push comes as Ghana seeks to reverse a prolonged decline in crude oil production. Jinapor said annual output had fallen from a peak of approximately 71 million barrels to about 37 million barrels, with the decline affecting economic activity in Takoradi and the wider Western Region. He, however, announced that daily crude oil production had increased from about 90,000 barrels to 122,000 barrels, marking what he described as the first reversal of the declining trend in six years. The minister said the government was determined to move beyond stabilising production and achieve sustained growth through increased exploration, reserve replacement and long-term investment. He identified the Ebano-Afoma field, the Pecan field and the deepwater Keta prospects among the projects being prioritised for development. Jinapor also announced plans to begin construction of Ghana’s third gas processing plant, with a groundbreaking ceremony expected next month. On local content, the minister said the government was seeking to deepen Ghanaian participation in the upstream petroleum industry beyond regulatory compliance. He disclosed that Ghanaians currently account for approximately 90% of the upstream petroleum workforce, while the value of local content had increased from about US$227 million in 2024 to US$450 million. He said sustaining these gains would require stronger partnerships, technology transfer, skills development and greater opportunities for indigenous businesses. Jinapor also welcomed a memorandum of understanding between the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Eni, describing the associated gas sales agreement as an important development for the energy sector. He cautioned, however, that Ghana was competing with other African petroleum-producing countries for limited global exploration capital and could no longer rely solely on its petroleum potential to attract investors.

Ghana: Sustained Investment Key To Growing Ghanaian Oil And Gas Businesses – GNPC

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: Sustained Investment Key To Growing Ghanaian Oil And Gas Businesses – GNPC
The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has called for greater alignment between investment and local content development to strengthen the competitiveness of Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry and create sustainable opportunities for indigenous businesses. Speaking during a panel discussion on Enhancing Competitiveness in Ghana’s Upstream Sector at the 2026 Local Content Conference and Exhibition (LCCE) in Takoradi, GNPC Deputy Chief Executive responsible for Finance, Commercial and Administration, Mr. Hamis Ussif, said local content and foreign investment must be treated as complementary priorities rather than competing interests. He explained that the continued growth of Ghanaian businesses in the petroleum sector depends largely on sustained exploration, production and investment activities that generate demand for local goods and services. “You can’t have local content without content,” he remarked, stressing that a decline in industry activity ultimately reduces opportunities for indigenous companies. Mr Ussif noted that Ghana had made considerable progress in expanding local participation in the upstream petroleum industry through employment, procurement opportunities and indigenous ownership of petroleum interests. He acknowledged the contributions of the Petroleum Commission, government institutions and industry players to these achievements but maintained that the next phase of local content development must place greater emphasis on building competitive Ghanaian businesses with the technical expertise and capacity to undertake more complex industry activities. He argued that local content should not be viewed as inferior to imported expertise or as an additional cost imposed on investors. “Local content is not bad content. Local content is not inferior content,” he stated. According to him, effective partnerships between international oil companies and indigenous businesses should deliver measurable value through the application of local expertise, stronger supply chains and improved operational resilience. He explained that when such partnerships increase the overall value generated by petroleum operations, both investors and Ghanaian businesses stand to benefit. Mr Ussif also linked the discussion to GNPC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its operational capabilities as the Corporation works towards becoming a more efficient and competitive exploration and production operator. He cited GNPC Explorco’s growing responsibilities in the Voltaian Basin as part of the Corporation’s efforts to develop practical operatorship experience and strengthen indigenous technical capacity. Looking ahead, he said GNPC’s long-term ambition was to build an ecosystem of capable Ghanaian service companies that could grow alongside the Corporation and eventually pursue opportunities beyond Ghana’s borders. Drawing on the experiences of national oil companies such as Petrobras and Petronas, he noted that developing strong domestic capabilities could provide a foundation for future participation in international markets. He emphasised that achieving this ambition would require sustained investment, stronger partnerships and a deliberate effort to position Ghanaian companies as competitive contributors to the petroleum industry rather than merely beneficiaries of regulatory requirements.

BP Secures Operatorship Of Three Offshore Exploration Blocks In Namibia

Michael Creg Afful
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BP Secures Operatorship Of Three Offshore Exploration Blocks In Namibia
BP has secured operatorship of three offshore petroleum exploration licences in Namibia after receiving final government approval for a deal with Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas, the Namibian newspaper reported. Eco Atlantic said this week it had completed the transfer of a 60% stake in the three offshore exploration licences to BP Namibia Energy, a subsidiary of British energy major BP. The transaction, which received final ministerial approval from Namibia’s Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, gives BP control of exploration activities in the three licences, known as PEL97, PEL99 and PEL100, in the Walvis Basin. Under the agreement, Eco Atlantic retains a 25% stake in each licence, while the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) holds 10%. Local partners own the remaining 5% in each block. The next phase of exploration will involve a three-dimensional seismic survey covering at least 3,000 square kilometres across PEL99 and PEL100. Seismic surveys use sound waves to create images of underground rock formations, helping energy companies identify geological structures that could contain oil and gas. Eco Atlantic said preparations for the survey were already underway, with work expected to begin in the coming weeks. Eco Atlantic Chief Executive Gil Holzman described the completion of the transaction as a major milestone for the company and Namibia’s oil and gas industry. “The successful completion of the farm down of our Namibia portfolio to BP is a landmark achievement not only for Eco but also for Namibia’s oil and gas sector, which has now gained another leading International Oil Company operator in its prospective offshore acreage,” Holzman said. He said the partnership would allow Eco Atlantic to maintain its interest in the licences while reducing its financial commitments. “We are particularly grateful to the government of Namibia, the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy and the Upstream Petroleum Unit for their professionalism, efficiency and collaborative approach in progressing the necessary approvals,” he said. The approved exploration programme also includes further processing of existing seismic data from PEL97, the company said. Under the agreement, BP will fund Eco Atlantic’s share of exploration costs during the current licence renewal period. It will also cover the costs attributable to Namcor’s 10% interest and the local partners’ combined 5% stake. The arrangement allows Eco Atlantic to retain its 25% ownership in the licences without financing its share of the current exploration programme. Eco Atlantic said the deal would reduce its financial exposure while allowing it to retain an interest in any future discoveries. The company is also expected to receive a one-off payment of US$2.7 million this week, equivalent to approximately N$44.7 million. The agreement includes further options when the licences reach their next renewal stage in 2028.

Ghana: Gov’t To Invest US$1 Billion In Completion Of Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: Gov’t To Invest US$1 Billion In Completion Of Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam
The Government of Ghana is planning to invest US$1 billion to ensure the full completion of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam as part of efforts to boost agricultural production, expand agro-processing and strengthen the country’s energy supply. The previous government broke ground for the project on November 29, 2019. However, the project faced setbacks after the contractor allegedly received funds and left the country, raising concerns about its future. Despite these challenges, the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam remains a significant initiative aimed at boosting agricultural production and strengthening energy supply in northern Ghana. Initially estimated to cost US$993 million, the project was designed to address flooding caused by the spillage of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso. It included a 60-megawatt hydropower plant, a 50-megawatt solar farm and an irrigation scheme covering 25,000 hectares. Presenting the 2027 Budget Statement in Parliament on Thursday, Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson said the project’s cost had increased to US$1 billion due to modifications to its original design. He said the dam would generate 77 megawatts of hydropower to support agro-industrial activities within and around the Pwalugu enclave. The dam is also expected to provide water for approximately 25,000 hectares of land dedicated to vegetable production, while its reservoir will accommodate up to 100,000 fish cages to support aquaculture. According to Dr Forson, the project is expected to promote year-round agricultural production, improve water security and provide flood protection across the White Volta corridor. “Pwalugu will support year-round vegetable production, flood protection, water security, agriculture and agribusiness across the dry water corridor,” he told Parliament. He explained that the electricity generated would support processing factories, irrigation systems, pack houses and cold storage facilities, enabling farmers and businesses to add value to agricultural produce closer to production centres. The Finance Minister said the project would be implemented in phases, with the first phase expected to be ready by early 2029 and full completion scheduled for December 2030. “The first phase of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam will be ready by early 2029, with full completion by December 2030,” Dr Forson stated.
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