Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and Burkina Faso’s national petroleum company, SONABHY, have held talks to strengthen cooperation as the share of Burkina Faso’s petroleum consumption supplied through Ghana rose to about 40%, according to TOR Managing Director Edmond Kombat.
Speaking during a visit by a SONABHY delegation, Kombat said the proportion had increased from approximately 15% since President John Dramani Mahama returned to office in January 2025.
He said the longstanding relationship between the two companies had helped facilitate petroleum trade through Ghana to Burkina Faso.
The increase underscored Ghana’s growing role as a petroleum supply and trading hub in West Africa, Kombat said, adding that closer cooperation could expand market opportunities and support TOR’s business objectives.
The delegation also met Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, to thank him, President Mahama and the government for supporting the transit, trade and supply of petroleum products to Burkina Faso.
SONABHY Managing Director Patrice Forogo welcomed the growing cooperation and expressed his commitment to strengthening petroleum trade through Ghana.
He said further collaboration could generate additional revenue for both companies through mutually agreed petroleum transactions and services.
Forogo also congratulated Kombat on his appointment and wished him success in carrying out his mandate.
The visit ended with a tour of the refinery’s utilities, tank farm, new safety block, quality control facilities and the F-61 furnace at the crude distillation unit, giving the delegation an overview of TOR’s operations and infrastructure.
GOIL PLC has won two honours at the 37th Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG) Annual National Marketing Performance Awards, held at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.
The oil marketing company was named Marketing-Oriented Petroleum Company of the Year for 2025 and retained its place in the CIMG Hall of Fame’s petroleum category.
GOIL said the awards reflected its commitment to marketing excellence, customer satisfaction, innovation and the supply of quality fuels.
The company operates more than 400 fuel stations, an LPG bottling plant and a bitumen production plant.
Data from the National Petroleum Authority showed that GOIL recorded sales of 751.34 million litres between January and August 2026, compared with 696.88 million litres sold by rival Star Oil Ghana.
GOIL’s management thanked the board and staff for their dedication.
“We dedicate these achievements to our loyal customers, dedicated staff and stakeholders whose continued trust and support drive us to do more,” the company said.
Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has called for increased development of domestic natural gas resources and stronger regional cooperation to shield African economies from global energy disruptions.
Speaking during a ministerial panel at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and African Energy Chamber (AEC) Strategic Forum during African Energy Week 2026, in Cape Town, South Africa, Jinapor said upstream gas development should be linked to power generation, industrial competitiveness and regional energy integration.
The panel examined how Africa could balance domestic natural gas utilisation with its export ambitions.
“For Ghana, natural gas is central to power generation and energy security,” Jinapor said in a post on Facebook.
“Increased gas availability to our thermal power plants has reduced reliance on liquid fuels,” he added.
He said developing domestic resources and expanding regional gas cooperation would help mitigate external shocks and strengthen Africa’s collective energy security.
Regional infrastructure, including the West African Gas Pipeline, offered opportunities to expand cross-border trade, improve market integration and deliver benefits to both gas-producing and consuming countries, he added.
Jinapor said Ghana would continue to use natural gas to support reliable electricity generation while expanding renewable energy and other sustainable solutions under its green transition agenda.
He described the approach as a pragmatic and balanced strategy that links gas development to the country’s wider energy and industrial needs.
Niger has banned exports of petrol and diesel to prioritise domestic supply amid concerns over disruptions to global petroleum markets, according to a ministerial order.
Trade and Industry Minister Abdoulaye Seydou announced the decision in a statement shared on his Facebook page and published by the Nigerien News Agency on Saturday, October 17.
The directive requires domestically produced petrol and diesel to meet local demand before exports can be considered.
However, state-owned petroleum company SONIDEP and refinery operator SORAZ may export surplus supplies with special authorisation from the minister responsible for trade.
“The export of diesel and premium petrol from Niger is hereby prohibited,” Article 1 of the order stated.
SONIDEP, the Société Nigérienne de Pétrole, purchases, stores, distributes and markets petroleum products.
SORAZ, the Société de Raffinage de Zinder, operates the country’s Zinder refinery, which has a processing capacity of about 20,000 barrels per day.
Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has proposed establishing a Petroleum Downstream Tribunal under a draft bill before Parliament.
Provisions in clauses 139 to 146 of the bill would empower the tribunal to hear appeals against decisions or orders issued by the authority, review matters relating to licences issued under the NPA Act and consider appeals against decisions of the authority’s Dispute Resolution Committee.
The tribunal would comprise a chairperson and two other members. The chairperson would be either a retired Supreme Court justice or a lawyer with at least 15 years’ standing and experience in the petroleum downstream industry, law and policy, regulation or arbitration.
The other two members would have knowledge and experience in the petroleum downstream industry, law, economics, business or public administration.
Members would serve three-year terms and be eligible for reappointment for one further term.
Under the bill, the NPA board would prepare proposed rules of procedure for the tribunal once the legislation takes effect. The rules would require approval by a panel of the tribunal convened for that purpose and would be published in the Gazette.
A person aggrieved by a decision of the NPA or its Dispute Resolution Committee could challenge it by submitting a notice of appeal to the tribunal in accordance with its rules of procedure.
A party dissatisfied with the tribunal’s decision could appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, chief executive of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has been named Petroleum Regulatory CEO of the Year at the 2026 Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards (APSCA).
NPA staff received the award on his behalf at a ceremony held on Friday, Oct. 16, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra.
The recognition honours Tameklo’s leadership in advancing the NPA’s regulatory mandate and efforts to strengthen governance, efficiency and institutional performance in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
Under his leadership, the authority has pursued initiatives aimed at strengthening regulatory systems, adopting technology, improving operational efficiency and promoting transparency and competition in the industry.
The NPA also received two institutional awards at the event: Best Use of Technology in Downstream Regulation and Excellence in Gender Inclusion and Workplace Diversity.
The awards recognised the authority’s work in technological innovation, gender inclusion and workplace diversity, alongside Tameklo’s leadership.
Burundi’s government and Weza Power, a subsidiary of Anzana Electric Group, signed a 25-year public-private partnership agreement on Thursday aimed at mobilising $1.4 billion to expand electricity access.
The partnership aims to increase electricity access from about 15% to more than 50% by 2030, providing electricity for the first time or improving supplies for an estimated eight million people.
Under the agreement, Weza Power will invest in, expand and operate the electricity distribution network in roughly half the country.
State utility REGIDESO will continue supplying electricity through the national transmission network and remain responsible for distribution in the other half.
The project is expected to deliver 52,000 kilometres of new and upgraded distribution lines and connect more than 1.2 million additional households and businesses.
It is also expected to create more than 2,000 direct installation and operational jobs and over 30,000 indirect jobs.
The partners described the agreement as Africa’s first new national-scale electricity distribution concession to be operated by a private company in decades.
The project will combine private commercial capital and concessional funding through a blended finance structure designed to avoid increasing public debt.
Financing is expected to draw on support from Mission 300 partners, including the World Bank’s ASCENT programme, the International Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency and the African Development Bank.
Other partners include the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Gridworks, which is part of British International Investment, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation.
“Electricity is the foundation of Burundi’s economic transformation and a key pillar of our Vision 2040-2060 ambitions,” President Évariste Ndayishimiye said.
“This partnership will expand opportunities for our people, strengthen our industries, and create conditions for investment, jobs and lasting prosperity.”
Expanding electricity access remains a development priority for Burundi, particularly in rural communities. Achieving that goal requires investment in transmission and distribution networks alongside additional generation capacity.
Hassan Kibeya, minister of mineral resources, energy, industry, trade and tourism, said the partnership would help strengthen the country’s distribution network.
“With Burundi’s installed generation capacity at approximately 183 MW, our focus must now be on ensuring that existing and future generation can be delivered to more homes, businesses and productive sectors across the country,” he said.
“Reliable electricity will power Burundi’s industries, enable local processing of critical minerals, and fuel sustainable economic growth.”
The agreement supports Burundi’s National Energy Compact under Mission 300, a joint World Bank Group and African Development Bank initiative aimed at connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
The concession combines tariff and performance obligations with a commercial framework intended to keep electricity affordable while providing investors with the certainty needed to commit capital.
Babacar Sedikh Faye, the World Bank Group’s country manager for Burundi, said the partnership supported the institution’s strategic priorities and Mission 300 objectives.
“Mobilizing private capital is essential to creating jobs and expanding opportunities for Burundian families and communities to improve their livelihoods,” he said.
Anzana Electric Group has invested in Burundi since 2018 through Songa Energy, which has one operational hydropower plant and another under construction.
Brian Kelly, chief executive of Anzana Electric Group and Weza Power, said the agreement followed years of collaboration with the government, local partners and development institutions, including the IFC.
“This PPP will strengthen Burundi’s ability to compete, attract investment and retain more value from its own resources,” he said.
“Reliable electricity will give businesses the confidence to invest, enable critical industries to grow, and unlock more of the country’s economic potential at home.”
Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals said on Sunday its ongoing initial public offering had attracted subscriptions from more than 90 countries, including 51 of Africa’s 54 nations.
The company said the offering had broken the Nigerian market record on its opening day and surpassed the previous African record within 10 days. It did not specify the records or disclose the value of subscriptions received.
Demand came from retail investors, pension funds, institutional investors and asset managers, the company said, describing the transaction as Africa’s first truly pan-African public offering.
“The extraordinary participation from individuals and institutions across Africa demonstrates a shared conviction that Africans should not only benefit from industrial development but also own and create wealth from it,” he said.
The refinery reported revenue of $22.5 billion and net profit of $4.7 billion for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2026, compared with revenue of $9.2 billion and a loss of $117.2 million a year earlier.
Revenue rose about 144%, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased nearly ninefold to $5.5 billion from $627.6 million, the company said.
Operating cash flow rose more than tenfold to $3.68 billion.
The company said it moved from a net debt position of $1.73 billion in September 2025 to a net cash position of $651 million in September 2026.
Erden said the results exceeded the assumptions used to determine the IPO valuation.
“Our financial performance has already advanced well beyond the baseline assumptions used in determining the IPO valuation,” he said.
“The refinery’s operational momentum, scale and efficiency continue to create substantial shareholder value and reinforce our confidence in its long-term growth prospects.”
The company said cross-border capital market collaborations involving Botswana, Egypt, Ethiopia and Kenya had helped broaden access to the offering and reduce barriers to participation.
It said investors could receive dividends linked to the U.S. dollar, subject to its dividend policy and applicable regulatory approvals.
The offer is scheduled to close on Oct. 27, 2026, with no further extension currently planned, the company said.
Dangote said it had stepped up investor education and engagement across key markets to encourage wider participation.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has urged officials to accelerate the rollout of one million compressed natural gas-powered vehicles to help reduce transport fares.
Ekpo issued the directive while receiving progress reports from the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles and the Decade of Gas Secretariat at the weekend.
In a statement issued on Sunday, his spokesman, Louis Ibah, said the minister called for increased investment in refuelling infrastructure and vehicle conversion facilities to expand CNG adoption nationwide.
Ekpo said the government’s autogas policy must deliver tangible benefits to Nigerians, particularly lower transport fares following the removal of the petrol subsidy in 2023.
The government has promoted CNG as a cheaper alternative to petrol to help reduce transport operators’ fuel costs and ease pressure on commuters.
Delivering those savings, however, depends on access to refuelling stations, affordable vehicle conversions, reliable gas supplies and operators passing on lower costs to passengers.
Ekpo said Nigeria’s gas resources offered an opportunity to lower transportation costs, increase domestic gas consumption and stimulate economic growth.
“It is important that we listen to the directive of Mr. President to make transportation cheaper via CNG. We will continue to give you all the backing to provide the necessary assistance to make sure we drive this project to a logical conclusion,” he said.
The minister urged both bodies to prioritise infrastructure investment and strengthen programmes aimed at expanding the use of gas as a transport fuel.
He also welcomed progress under the presidential initiative’s current leadership and pledged continued government support.
Ekpo said domestic gas consumption had exceeded two billion cubic feet per day for the first time in Nigeria’s history, providing an opportunity to expand gas utilisation and support economic growth.
Ismaeel Ahmed, chairman of the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles, said the initiative would step up investment in refuelling infrastructure and programmes to increase vehicle conversions.
He said the aim was to make CNG more accessible to transport operators and help reduce fares for millions of Nigerians.
Ahmed said a joint industry market study completed by the Decade of Gas Secretariat had provided a framework for accelerating the rollout, monitoring progress and identifying infrastructure gaps.
The study would help the government and industry stakeholders prioritise interventions and improve implementation, he added.
Ed Ubong, coordinator of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, described CNG as an important component of Nigeria’s energy transition and pledged continued support for the initiative.
He said the secretariat would promote domestic gas consumption and gas exports to deliver benefits to Nigerians and create opportunities for investors.
Nigeria launched its CNG programme to cushion the impact of petrol subsidy removal by encouraging motorists and transport operators to switch to alternative fuels. The programme includes support for vehicle conversions, refuelling facilities and gas distribution infrastructure.
Global commodities trader Trafigura has appointed Chipokota Mwanawasa as its executive director for Zambia, according to a company statement cited by local media.
Mwanawasa brings more than 10 years of experience in the mining, energy, infrastructure and agriculture sectors to the role, the statement said.
She previously served as a policy adviser to Zambia’s president, advising on economic policy, foreign investment and sectoral reforms, local news outlet Kalemba reported.
She also served as deputy head of the Presidential Delivery Unit, supporting the implementation of Zambia’s National Development Plan, and previously worked at Konkola Copper Mines, one of the country’s largest copper producers.
In her new role, Mwanawasa will coordinate Trafigura’s operations in Zambia across metals and minerals, energy and related logistics, including strategic business development.
Based in Lusaka, she will also lead the company’s engagement with commercial, institutional and government stakeholders.
Her responsibilities will include supporting Trafigura’s subsidiaries operating in Zambia, including fuel storage and distribution company Puma Energy and Servara, the group’s logistics, storage and transport business.
Trafigura said it had operated in Zambia for more than 20 years and, together with its subsidiaries, employed about 300 people in the country.
Through Servara, the company operates 29,000 square metres of storage space in Ndola, while Puma Energy runs about 74 fuel retail sites, four terminals and three aviation fuel sites across Zambia.
Mwanawasa said Zambia played a central role in the global supply of copper and other metals and minerals, while energy remained important to the country’s economic development.
“I am proud to be joining Trafigura and look forward to working with the team to strengthen our relationships within the country, and to building on the strong foundation the Group has already established in Zambia,” she said.
Trafigura’s global head of metals and minerals, Gonzalo De Olazaval, said Mwanawasa’s experience in Zambia’s mining, energy and policy sectors positioned her well to lead the company’s activities.
He said the appointment reflected Trafigura’s long-term commitment to Zambia and its customers in the region.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has paid GH¢1.3 billion of the GH¢1.4 billion it owed the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), as identified in the Auditor-General’s report for 2025.
GRA auditors confirmed the payment on Thursday when officials from the Ministry of Energy and energy sector agencies appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.
ECG’s debt formed part of GH¢3.6 billion in tax irregularities involving 10 state-owned energy sector agencies identified in the report.
The committee’s chairperson, Abena Osei-Asare, commended the ministry for facilitating the payment and urged the remaining agencies to follow ECG’s example.
“Every audit must lead to some action,” she said.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has called for greater collaboration and stronger cybersecurity compliance across the country’s power sector, warning that growing digitalisation is increasing its exposure to cyber threats.
NERC Chairman Dr. Musiliu Oseni, represented by Vice Chairman Dr. Yusuf Ali at a cybersecurity awareness seminar, said protecting electricity infrastructure was critical to reliable power supply and national development.
“Cybersecurity threats are no longer confined to the financial sector alone. They have become a major concern for the electricity sector and continue to expand globally. We are only as strong as our weakest point because a cyberattack does not need to target a major node before it affects the entire system,” Oseni said in remarks delivered by Ali.
The interconnected nature of power systems required all industry participants to strengthen cybersecurity compliance and resilience, he said.
“For Nigeria, the stakes are particularly high as we strive to achieve reliable and sustainable electricity supply. Cyber resilience can no longer be viewed solely as an ICT issue; it must be integrated into every aspect of business operations and strategic decision-making within the power sector,” he said.
Oseni also called for consideration of a sector-wide emergency cyber response mechanism to improve preparedness, speed up incident response and facilitate information sharing among industry participants.
The seminar examined current and emerging cyber threats, the protection of critical electricity infrastructure, regulatory requirements, threat reporting and coordination across the sector.
Other presentations covered artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, as well as lessons from the telecommunications sector on establishing a dedicated computer emergency response team for the power industry.
NERC said the seminar formed part of activities marking Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026, with discussions focusing on AI-driven threats, workplace preparedness and the resilience of critical infrastructure.
The regulator said it would continue working with government agencies, security institutions, operators and other industry participants to protect Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure and support a reliable and secure power supply.
Sahara Group has urged journalists to explain the infrastructure, policies, companies and market forces shaping the energy sector to improve public understanding of current and emerging energy issues.
Speaking at Sahara’s Thought Leadership and Knowledge-Sharing Session for energy reporters in Ghana, Bethel Obioma, the group’s head of corporate communications, said journalists should adopt a systematic approach to reporting.
Before publishing, reporters should establish what happened, identify the relevant segment of the energy value chain and its regulator, verify figures and dates, consult credible sources and simplify technical issues without distorting them, he said.
They should also explain what developments mean for consumers, industry and energy security.
“Energy reporting must go beyond announcing production figures, pump-price adjustments, or new infrastructure. The real value lies in helping the public understand what the numbers mean, what drives them and how decisions across the value chain affect supply, affordability, investment, and everyday life,” Obioma said.
Bethel Obioma, the Group’s Head of Corporate Communications
The session, held at the newly commissioned Asharami Ghana LPG Storage Facility in Tema, was themed “Beyond the Barrels: The Energy Story Behind the Story”.
It examined the petroleum value chain, from resource discovery and production through trading, refining, transportation, storage, marketing and retail. Discussions highlighted how decisions at one stage can affect prices, supply and consumers further along the chain.
The session aimed to deepen journalists’ understanding of the sector and strengthen their ability to explain complex energy developments clearly.
Sahara Group operates in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
Michael Creg Afful, executive director of Energy News Africa Ltd., a pan-African energy news organisation, urged journalists to examine the stories behind energy statistics. Figures become meaningful only when accompanied by clear dates, units, sources and context, he said.
He challenged reporters to distinguish between operators, partners, service companies and licence holders, understand the roles of upstream, midstream and downstream regulators, build credible expert networks and verify technical claims before publication.
Dr. Riverson Oppong, chief executive officer of Ghana’s Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies, urged journalists to look beyond pump-price changes and examine the international and domestic factors that determine what consumers pay.
Oppong identified liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), electric vehicle charging, digital platforms, strategic partnerships and data analytics as areas reporters should increasingly understand as petroleum businesses adapt to changing energy demand.
He said affordability, supply security, market discipline and readiness for the energy transition would shape the competitiveness and sustainability of Ghana’s downstream sector.
Obioma urged journalists to approach energy stories with curiosity, accuracy and a commitment to continually improving their knowledge of the sector.
“Beyond the barrels means giving the public not only what happened, but the context, causes and implications behind it. Our responsibility as communicators and journalists is to make an increasingly complex energy industry understandable without sacrificing accuracy,” he said.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ordered electricity distribution companies to compensate customers who are wrongfully disconnected with energy credits equivalent to three months of their average consumption for each day they remain without supply.
The regulator also directed distributors to repair or replace faulty meters within 48 hours of receiving a report and warned against charging reconnection fees when customers are disconnected without due process.
NERC said the directives were aimed at strengthening consumer protection, improving awareness of customers’ rights and enforcing compliance with regulations in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
The measures also provide guidance on resolving disputes between customers and distribution companies, it said.
Under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme, customers who pay upfront for meters must have them installed within 10 days of full payment, the commission said.
Customers are entitled to reimbursement through energy credits spread over 120 months.
These credits must not be used to offset existing debts, it added.
NERC said meters supplied under the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) and the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) must be installed at no cost to customers.
Anyone charged for a meter under either programme is entitled to a full refund, the regulator said.
He said further collaboration could generate additional revenue for both companies through mutually agreed petroleum transactions and services.
Forogo also congratulated Kombat on his appointment and wished him success in carrying out his mandate.
The visit ended with a tour of the refinery’s utilities, tank farm, new safety block, quality control facilities and the F-61 furnace at the crude distillation unit, giving the delegation an overview of TOR’s operations and infrastructure.
Under his leadership, the authority has pursued initiatives aimed at strengthening regulatory systems, adopting technology, improving operational efficiency and promoting transparency and competition in the industry.
The NPA also received two institutional awards at the event: Best Use of Technology in Downstream Regulation and Excellence in Gender Inclusion and Workplace Diversity.
The awards recognised the authority’s work in technological innovation, gender inclusion and workplace diversity, alongside Tameklo’s leadership. 
