Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday confirmed a gas and condensate discovery by Planet One Oil & Gas Limited at the Nya Gyidie-1X exploration well in the Deepwater Cape Three Points block, located in the Tano Basin offshore Ghana, as previously reported by energynewsafrica.com.
Mahama made the announcement at the opening of the 2026 Local Content Conference and Exhibition, organised by the Petroleum Commission in Takoradi.
The size of the discovery was not disclosed, as further appraisal work is required to determine whether the find is commercially viable.
Mahama described the discovery as a testament to the resilience and potential of Ghanaian-owned companies in the energy sector.
“Nananom and distinguished guests, I am pleased to announce that Planet One Oil and Gas Limited, together with its partners, GOIL Upstream Limited and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, has made a new offshore discovery.
“The hydrocarbon discovery at the Nya Gyidie-1X well in the Deepwater Cape Three Points contract area marks an important milestone for Ghana. It is the country’s first successful test of a Cenomanian-Turonian carbonate play,” the president said.
Mahama said the exploration campaign fulfilled a commitment made by the company and reflected growing investor confidence in Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry.
He added that his government was working to restore investor confidence, resolve outstanding disputes with operators and attract new investment to reverse the decline in oil production.
Planet One, the operator of the block, began drilling the well in October. The company had outlined its drilling plans at Africa Oil Week 2026 in Accra.
“Planet One has done the work. We’ve matured the opportunity; we’ve secured the rig. Now we are ready to drill,” Doreen Addotei, the company’s lead geoscientist, said at the conference.
Planet One acquired its interest in the block through a 2023 farm-in agreement with GOIL Upstream Limited after ExxonMobil relinquished its interest.
Planet One holds a 75% stake in the block, while the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) holds 15% and GOIL Upstream owns the remaining 10%.
Planet One is a wholly owned subsidiary of Planet One Group, which is owned by businessman Sanjeev Mansotra.
The drilling campaign is expected to provide additional data to help assess the block’s oil and gas potential.
Senegal has secured nearly $1.7 billion (CFAF 1 trillion) in financing commitments towards achieving universal electricity access by 2029 under a programme led by the African Development Bank Group and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).
The commitments are expected to support electricity connections in 6,471 localities across the country.
They were announced at a national roundtable held in Dakar on October 6, co-chaired by Energy and Petroleum Minister El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf and Economy, Finance and Planning Minister Cheikh Diba, under the theme “From commitments to results”.
Development partners pledged CFAF 181 billion (about $320 million) for new electrification projects, while the private sector committed CFAF 817 billion (about $1.4 billion). This compares with an estimated financing requirement of CFAF 400 billion (about $700 million) to electrify localities not yet covered by existing projects.
“The roundtable exceeded its objectives by a wide margin,” Diouf said. “The challenge now is to translate these commitments into concrete actions to achieve universal electricity access by 2029.”
He added that the National Energy Compact would serve as an implementation framework to accelerate delivery, strengthen coordination and focus efforts on measurable results.
Senegal’s national electricity access rate stood at 86.2% at the end of 2024, compared with 69.8% in rural areas. Of the country’s 25,725 localities, 12,683 have been electrified and 6,571 are covered by ongoing projects, leaving 6,471 localities, home to nearly one million people, still without electricity.
According to the Senegal Energy Compact Implementation Support Document (CISD), the investment programme includes extending medium- and low-voltage electricity networks to approximately 3,978 localities, deploying solar mini-grids in 844 localities and installing stand-alone solar systems in 1,649 localities.
The programme also includes the installation of 27,000 household biodigesters and investments to improve the operational performance of Senelec, the country’s national electricity company.
On October 7, the government and the Compact Delivery Unit reviewed measures to strengthen the implementation and monitoring of the National Energy Compact.
The review was facilitated by SEforALL, with support from the African Development Bank Group’s Africa Energy Sector Technical Assistance Program (AESTAP), financed by the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA).
The session also assessed progress on actions and commitments arising from the roundtable discussions and concluded with agreement on five priorities for the next 12 months:
Finalise and operationalise the Integrated Least-Cost Plan (ILCP).
Implement the National Clean Cooking Strategy 2025-2035.
Strengthen private sector participation.
Sustain electricity access monitoring tools and data systems.
Improve project and commitment tracking, stakeholder coordination and the resolution of implementation bottlenecks.
Wale Shonibare, Director of Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation at the African Development Bank Group, said Senegal had set a clear ambition to achieve universal electricity access by 2029.
“The African Development Bank Group is committed to supporting this ambition through financing, technical expertise and technical assistance instruments,” he said.
“The priority now is to connect reforms, project preparation, resource mobilisation, implementation and results monitoring into one delivery chain, so that commitments become tangible outcomes for the population.”
The Senegal workshop is the fourth in a series, following previous editions in Kenya, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Two further workshops are planned in Botswana and Sierra Leone.
STAK Energy Corp. and ExxonMobil Alaska Production Inc. have signed a 15-year natural gas supply agreement to fuel a planned power plant on Alaska’s North Slope.
The agreement finalises a process that began with a gas sale precedent agreement in January and provides a new commercial outlet for North Slope gas, which has long lacked a route to market.
The gas will fuel power generation capacity of nearly 3 gigawatts at Project Aaka, STAK’s planned campus in an established North Slope industrial corridor with year-round road and airport access.
The campus will operate off-grid using high-efficiency gas turbines, with no expected impact on Alaska’s public electricity grid or utility ratepayers, STAK said. It will support advanced computing applications and is also expected to reduce energy costs for nearby North Slope infrastructure.
Project Aaka is targeting initial power generation in 2030, with expansion planned in phases through 2032. STAK said the gas supply agreement and the power project are expected to generate additional state and local tax revenue.
“For 50 years, the North Slope has produced gas without a way to put it to work at scale. Today, that changes,” said Sparrow Mahoney, STAK Energy’s founder and chief executive.
The agreement adds to efforts to develop commercial markets for North Slope natural gas, including the proposed Alaska LNG project.
The U.S. Geological Survey recently estimated that the North Slope holds 96 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas resources, nearly three times the region’s proven reserves.
Crude oil prices plunged below $90 per barrel early Tuesday, falling beneath that threshold for the first time since August, after U.S. President Donald Trump again signaled the possibility of de-escalation in the Middle East and suggested that further strikes against Iran might not be necessary.
By Tuesday afternoon, Brent crude futures had fallen to $89.67 per barrel, while WTI crude, the U.S. benchmark, traded at $84 per barrel.
At the start of the week, oil prices extended last week’s steep sell-off. Brent crude prices tumbled 17% last week, marking their biggest weekly decline since the volatile weeks of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brent crude prices have now fallen by about 25% from their late-October peak of above $117 per barrel, as hopes for an end to the eight-month-old Middle East conflict have strengthened following the U.S. midterm elections, Ole Hansen, Head of Commodity Strategy at Saxo Bank, said early Tuesday.
“President Trump added to the optimism by suggesting that further strikes on Iran would not be necessary. While crude oil flows have almost returned to pre-war levels, LNG and refined product supplies remain constrained, keeping prices elevated, particularly for diesel,” Hansen said.
The market is likely to closely monitor any fresh signals from Washington and Tehran regarding the prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough, the strategist added.
A coalition of governments, including Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria and Vanuatu, has endorsed the Global Rooftop Solar Declaration at the COP31 climate summit in Turkey, backing an initiative to double the number of solar-powered households worldwide to 300 million by 2030.
The declaration has also secured endorsements from 34 individual members of parliament across 21 countries, alongside organisations in the energy industry, including Indonesia’s state-owned electricity company, PT PLN.
It calls on national, state and local governments to accelerate the deployment of rooftop solar and household energy storage by simplifying permits, expanding access to affordable finance and modernising electricity grids to accommodate distributed generation.
Other priorities include integrating rooftop solar into energy and climate policies, ensuring equitable access for households and expanding training to develop a skilled local workforce.
The declaration supports the 300 Million Solar Homes initiative, which seeks to overcome barriers to household solar adoption, including high upfront costs, permitting requirements and shortages of skilled workers.
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. and Pakistan’s climate change minister, Musadik Masood Malik, also joined discussions on the initiative.
Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who serves as COP31 president of negotiations, said rooftop solar could reduce household bills and give consumers a greater role in the energy transition.
“Australia knows the power of rooftop solar. One in three Australian homes has solar panels on their rooftops, the highest rate in the world, which cuts bills and puts households at the centre of the energy transition,” Bowen said.
“The Global Rooftop Solar Declaration is about taking Australia’s success to the world with a clear ambition: to bring solar to 300 million rooftops by 2030.”
He said many countries had sufficient sunshine, space and demand but lacked the finance, infrastructure and workforce needed to expand deployment.
Ibrahim A. Shelleng, senior special assistant to Nigeria’s president on climate finance and stakeholder engagement, said investment in solar infrastructure could support economic stability, create jobs and strengthen energy independence.
“A sustainable future cannot be built in isolation. By supporting global solar initiatives, we ensure that every community, regardless of geography, has access to reliable, affordable, and zero-emission power,” he said.
Mirana Mahrukh, secretary of the Power Division at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, said the country aimed to install 5,500 megawatts of rooftop solar capacity by 2030, covering about 870,000 rooftops.
Under a proposed financing arrangement, domestic funding would support 20% of the targeted rooftops, or about 174,000, while international cooperation would be needed for the remaining 696,000, she said.
“We invite our global partners to join Bangladesh in mobilising affordable financing, advanced technologies, and investment to transform our rooftops into engines of clean energy, economic opportunity, and sustainable development,” Mahrukh said.
Global Solar Council Chief Executive Sonia Dunlop urged more governments to support the initiative.
“Families everywhere deserve reliable, affordable power, and rooftop solar and storage deliver it,” she said.
Heidi Lee Douglas, chief executive of advocacy group Solar Citizens, said rooftop solar paired with batteries could lower electricity costs, improve energy security and expand access to clean power.
“Together, 300 million solar homes could empower one billion solar citizens worldwide by 2030, putting power back into the hands of people,” she said.
The initiative’s backers said the endorsements built on growing demand for distributed solar. They cited expanded electricity access for 5.3 million people in Nigeria through decentralised solar and rising demand for rooftop solar and storage in Bangladesh as prices fall.
The Secretariat of the prestigious Ghana Energy Awards (GEA) has officially announced the shortlisted nominees for the 2026 edition of the Awards, marking a significant milestone in the scheme’s 10-year journey of recognising excellence, innovation and outstanding contributions to Ghana’s energy sector.
The 2026 nomination cycle recorded a record-breaking response, attracting more than 600 submissions between 30th September and 30th October 2026, representing the highest number of entries received in the history of the Awards.
The remarkable response, which included a significant number of first-time entrants, particularly from the private sector, underscores the growing recognition and industry-wide acceptance of the Ghana Energy Awards.
Following a rigorous assessment and verification process, the submissions were evaluated across 30 competitive categories, culminating in the announcement of the shortlisted nominees.
The 2026 edition features 30 competitive categories spanning Ghana’s power and petroleum subsectors.
The categories include Energy Personality of the Year, CEO of the Year, Energy Icon of the Decade, Visionary Leadership Award, Energy Company of the Year, Upstream Company of the Year, Downstream Company of the Year, Private Sector Impact Leadership Award, Rising Star, and Energy Reporter of the Year, among others.
Collectively, the categories provide a platform to recognise the individuals, companies and institutions whose leadership, innovation and commitment continue to shape the country’s energy landscape.
Following the announcement of the shortlisted nominees, the next phase of the Awards will involve a rigorous assessment process, including site visits to selected nominees.
The Awarding Panel will be supported by a Technical Team of Experts throughout this process to facilitate the assessment and verification of submissions. Upon completion of these activities, the Awarding Panel will undertake its independent scoring to determine the final winners.
The 10th Anniversary Edition will be celebrated under the theme: “Consolidating Ghana’s Energy Sector Gains: A Decade of Excellence, A Future of Sustainable Energy.”
The theme reflects on a decade of progress, innovation and institutional development within Ghana’s energy sector, while underscoring the need to consolidate these achievements and accelerate the transition towards a resilient and sustainable energy future.
Anticipation is now building towards the much-awaited Awards Night, scheduled for Friday, 27th November 2026, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.
The landmark celebration is expected to attract key policymakers, regulators, chief executives, industry leaders, technical experts and innovators for an evening dedicated to recognising outstanding performance, celebrating industry excellence and honouring transformational leadership across Ghana’s energy value chain.
For sponsorship opportunities, event tickets and further enquiries, kindly contact the Awards Secretariat on 055 930 0631 or via email at [email protected].
Find below the full list of shortlisted nominees for the 10th Ghana Energy Awards:
Ghana’s government is expected to announce a gas and condensate discovery by Planet One Oil & Gas Limited at the Nya Gyidie-1X exploration well in the Deepwater Cape Three Points block off Ghana’s coast, sources told Energy News Africa.
President John Dramani Mahama is likely to make the announcement in Takoradi, the sources said. An estimate of the size of the discovery was not immediately available.
Planet One, which operates the block, began drilling the well in October. It had outlined its drilling plans at Africa Oil Week 2026 in Accra.
“Planet One has done the work. We’ve matured the opportunity; we’ve secured the rig. Now we are ready to drill,” Doreen Addotei, the company’s lead geoscientist, said at the conference.
Planet One acquired its interest in the block through a 2023 farm-in agreement with GOIL Upstream Limited after ExxonMobil relinquished its interest.
Planet One holds a 75% stake in the block, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation holds 15% and GOIL Upstream holds 10%.
Planet One is a wholly owned subsidiary of Planet One Group, which is owned by businessman Sanjeev Mansotra.
The drilling campaign is expected to provide additional data to help assess the block’s oil and gas potential.
South Sudan’s Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) said it would ration power across its service areas for 30 days from Tuesday, November 10, while it shuts down its power plant for a major overhaul.
The shutdown will reduce the amount of electricity available to customers, JEDCO said in a statement.
The company said the work was necessary to improve the reliability and efficiency of power generation.
Customers may face scheduled outages during the overhaul.
JEDCO said it would follow an approved schedule to distribute the available power fairly across the areas it serves.
The company urged customers to plan ahead, apologised for the inconvenience and thanked them for their cooperation.
Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPA) announced on Thursday that its governing board had approved the Consumer and Public Complaints Procedure Guidelines.
The announcement came as the NPA concluded its 2026 Consumer Week at Kasoa Ofaakor Park in the Central Region under the theme “Safe Downstream, Confident Consumers.”
NPA Chief Executive Godwin Kudzo Tameklo announced the approval and urged the public to stay away from fuel tankers involved in crashes.
He warned that people who rush to siphon fuel risk serious injury or death if the tanker explodes. Siphoning fuel is illegal, he added, and offenders could face prosecution.
In a keynote address delivered on his behalf, Energy and Green Transition Minister Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor acknowledged that consumers had faced a difficult year at the pumps.
He attributed higher fuel costs to the conflict in the Middle East, disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and a slight weakening of the cedi in the third quarter.
Jinapor said the government absorbed GH¢2 per litre of the cost of diesel in August and extended the relief into September.
He added that Tema Oil Refinery and Sentuo Oil continued to supply marketers at existing prices when a sharp price increase loomed in October.
Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor, the MP for Awutu Senya East, said the industry must put safety first to earn consumers’ confidence.
Ghanaian music duo DopeNation and gospel musician Perez Muzik got the crowd cheering with their performances. The entertainment also included a dance competition for students.
Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has warned the public against rushing to siphon fuel from tankers involved in crashes, saying an explosion could kill or seriously injure those who gather at the scene.
NPA Chief Executive Godwin Kudzo Tameklo said on Thursday that siphoning fuel from crashed tankers was illegal and that offenders could face prosecution.
Tameklo spoke at the closing ceremony of the NPA’s 2026 Consumer Week at Kasoa Ofaakor Park in the Central Region. The theme was “Safe Downstream, Confident Consumers.”
In a keynote address delivered on his behalf, Energy and Green Transition Minister Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor said consumers had faced a difficult year at the pumps.
He attributed higher fuel costs to conflict in the Middle East, disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and a slightly weaker cedi in the third quarter.
Jinapor said the government covered GH¢2 of the cost of each litre of diesel in August and extended the relief into September. When prices looked set to rise sharply in October, Tema Oil Refinery and Sentuo Oil continued to supply fuel marketers at the previous prices, he said.
Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor, the member of parliament for Awutu Senya East, said the petroleum industry had to put safety first to earn consumers’ confidence.
Ghanaian music duo DopeNation and gospel musician Perez Muzik performed at the ceremony, which also featured a dance competition for students.
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said on Monday that recent electricity supply disruptions in parts of the country had been resolved, assuring consumers that the government was working to maintain grid stability.
Tegbe said on November 7 that planned maintenance at the Egbin power station, gas supply constraints and the sabotage of transmission lines had contributed to power outages in four states, including Lagos and Kwara, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said the maintenance work at Egbin and limited gas supplies to some thermal power plants had reduced the amount of electricity available on the national grid.
Speaking on the TVC programme on Monday, Tegbe said the disruptions had been addressed and the planned maintenance completed.
“Number one, we’ve sorted out this little challenge we had in the last few days. It was painful for most of you. But look, we fixed it. And we will ensure that that stability remains. My focus is to ensure grid stability,” he said.
Addressing outages in the Lagos corridor, the minister said electricity had been restored to several areas by Sunday night.
“I’m sure in Lagos, I confirm as at last night because I made personal calls, Ajah, Lekki, Ikoyi, Magodo, Ikeja, lights are back,” he said.
“People have attested to it, people have sent me messages. Nigerians, again, I appeal to you, just bear with us, we’ll get there.”
Tegbe also said Nigeria could achieve a more stable electricity supply within the next three to five years, citing plans to strengthen the country’s power infrastructure and expand grid capacity.
“Honestly speaking, you already see some visible improvement despite the challenge we have had. By the time we fix the grid… I’ll look at the horizon of about three to five years from now,” he said.
“Infrastructure build-out is not done overnight. Even when we fix some of the challenges, we have today, we need to build the capacity.
“Everybody’s building capacity for AI, for data. Most young people work from home, and because of that, there’s a need for bandwidth and for electricity supply.”
The minister said the federal government was planning to invest $2 billion in an east-west super grid to strengthen the country’s electricity transmission network and increase its capacity to 19,000 megawatts.
He said the proposed transmission network would complement existing infrastructure rather than replace it, improving the resilience and stability of the national grid.
The project would traverse the country, linking Funtua, Gwagwalada, Ikot Ekpene, Benin, Epe and Ilorin, Tegbe said.
The government has begun the procurement process for the project, which could be completed within two years, he added.
Tegbe said the initiative was expected to increase grid capacity from about 4,000 megawatts to 19,000 megawatts.
He also said the government expected private-sector participation in electricity transmission within the next two to three years.
“So give me a time horizon of three to five years. Nigeria will enjoy stable life. And as demand improves, it will get better,” he said.
Tegbe said the government’s immediate priority was to optimise existing electricity infrastructure to improve the reliability of power supply.
He appealed to Nigerians to be patient, acknowledging the difficulties households and businesses face because of inadequate electricity supply.
Liberian President Joseph N. Boakai Sr. over the weekend broke ground on the Gbarpolu and Grand Cape Mount Counties Electrification Expansion Project, which will connect Bopolu City, the capital of Gbarpolu County, as well as Lofa Bridge, Sawmill, and Kinjor in Grand Cape Mount County, to the national electricity grid.
The project, being implemented by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), will extend a 33 kV distribution line from Tubmanburg to Bopolu City, providing electricity to towns along the route.
It will also extend the national grid to Kinjor and communities along the Kinjor corridor in Grand Cape Mount County, with an additional line running from Sawmill in Gbarpolu County to Lofa Bridge in Grand Cape Mount County.
LEC will construct approximately 101 kilometres of 33 kV primary overhead distribution lines and 86 kilometres of 0.4 kV secondary distribution lines. The project is expected to serve 18 towns and 7,033 households, as well as schools, clinics, and businesses, including Emirates Hospital.
The project is being financed entirely through LEC’s own resources and will be implemented by 12 Liberian contractors across 14 contract lots.
Managing Director of LEC Mohammed M. Sherif.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, LEC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mohammed M. Sherif described the project as a promise fulfilled.
“Today, we are not cutting a ribbon on something finished. We are breaking ground on a promise.
“This is a Liberian project: Liberian money, Liberian hands, Liberian light,” he said.
The project is expected to unlock new economic opportunities across both corridors, including agro-processing and cold storage facilities for farmers, small-scale manufacturing and workshops, value addition in the mining sector, fish storage and ice production, as well as tourism and hospitality development around Grand Cape Mount County’s lakes, beaches, and forests.
The expansion is also expected to facilitate the growth of banking, mobile money, and digital services.
Reliable electricity supply will further strengthen healthcare delivery, educational services, and county administration while creating an enabling environment for investment, job creation, and sustainable economic development.
“For years, when we asked why the factory was not built, why the harvest was sold raw, and why the investor went elsewhere, the answer was always the same: there is no electricity,” Mr. Sherif said.
“From today, that excuse begins to disappear. Gbarpolu and Grand Cape Mount are open for business.”
Mr. Sherif further emphasised that the arrival of electricity also places a responsibility on LEC and the Government to ensure a reliable power supply, facilitate timely customer connections, and deliver quality services to beneficiary communities.
“The grid and the mini-grid are not rivals; they are partners in the same mission,” Mr. Sherif said.
He noted that LEC would collaborate with Energicity and the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) to ensure that both electricity supply systems complement each other and provide improved services to customers in Gbarpolu County.
LEC currently serves more than 400,000 customers and adds approximately 15,000 new electricity connections every quarter.
The national grid now extends to towns and communities in Nimba, Bong, Rivercess, Grand Bassa, Maryland, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, and Margibi Counties.
The African Development Bank (AfDB), a co-leader of Mission 300, was particularly recognised for financing the regional Côte d’Ivoire–Liberia–Sierra Leone–Guinea (CLSG) electricity interconnection project and its continued support for rural electrification and last-mile electricity access.
QatarEnergy has signed an agreement to acquire a stake in an offshore exploration licence off the coast of Namibia, currently held by Chevron Exploration Company, a subsidiary of Chevron, the company announced.
The agreement is subject to customary regulatory and other formal approvals.
Upon completion of the transaction, QatarEnergy will acquire a 25% stake in the PEL82 exploration licence, which includes the 2112B and 2212A fields.
Chevron, which operates the licence, will retain a 55% stake, while Namibia’s state-owned oil company, Namcor, and Custos Energy will each retain a 10% stake.
QatarEnergy’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Deputy Chairman and CEO, Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi, said the agreement would strengthen the company’s relationship with Chevron and expand and diversify its presence in Namibia.
“We would like to thank the Namibian authorities for their cooperation and support. We look forward to working with our partners to advance exploration activities and achieve positive results that benefit all parties involved,” he said.
The PEL82 exploration licence covers an area of approximately 11,444 square kilometres in offshore Namibian waters, with water depths ranging from 350 metres to 2,300 metres.
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has assured residents of Lagos, Abuja, Kwara and other areas experiencing outages of improved electricity supply within the next 48 to 72 hours.
In an update on the power situation, Tegbe said his team was working to restore affected generating units to service in phases, with the first set expected back online within that period.
He acknowledged the difficulties the outages have caused households and businesses in the affected areas, including Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to Tegbe, planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station and gas supply constraints at some thermal power stations have reduced the amount of electricity available on the national grid.
Grid operators have consequently introduced load shedding in some areas to manage the shortfall, he said.
Tegbe said sabotage of key transmission lines had also limited the use of alternative routes to supply electricity to some locations, particularly Lagos.
He added that the ministry was working with operators to improve gas supply and accelerate repairs to damaged infrastructure.
Residents of the affected areas have taken to social media to express their frustration, with some accusing the minister of failing to fulfil his responsibilities.
Mahama described the discovery as a testament to the resilience and potential of Ghanaian-owned companies in the energy sector.
“Nananom and distinguished guests, I am pleased to announce that Planet One Oil and Gas Limited, together with its partners, GOIL Upstream Limited and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, has made a new offshore discovery.
“The hydrocarbon discovery at the Nya Gyidie-1X well in the Deepwater Cape Three Points contract area marks an important milestone for Ghana. It is the country’s first successful test of a Cenomanian-Turonian carbonate play,” the president said.
Mahama said the exploration campaign fulfilled a commitment made by the company and reflected growing investor confidence in Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry.
He added that his government was working to restore investor confidence, resolve outstanding disputes with operators and attract new investment to reverse the decline in oil production.
Planet One, the operator of the block, began drilling the well in October. The company had outlined its drilling plans at Africa Oil Week 2026 in Accra.
“Planet One has done the work. We’ve matured the opportunity; we’ve secured the rig. Now we are ready to drill,” Doreen Addotei, the company’s lead geoscientist, said at the conference.
Planet One acquired its interest in the block through a 2023 farm-in agreement with GOIL Upstream Limited after ExxonMobil relinquished its interest.
Planet One holds a 75% stake in the block, while the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) holds 15% and GOIL Upstream owns the remaining 10%.
Planet One is a wholly owned subsidiary of Planet One Group, which is owned by businessman Sanjeev Mansotra.
The drilling campaign is expected to provide additional data to help assess the block’s oil and gas potential.
