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Zambia: High Court Jails Man For 10 Years For Vandalising Power Infrastructure
A High Court in Kabwe, Zambia, presided over by Judge M. Chanda-Mate, has sentenced Webster Chongo to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for vandalising critical power infrastructure belonging to ZESCO Limited, Zambia’s power utility company.
The convict was sentenced on 7 May 2026 after being found guilty of vandalism, contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
The court sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour on two counts, with both sentences running concurrently from the date of his arrest on 14 March 2025, meaning he will serve an effective 10-year jail term.
In a press statement, ZESCO Limited welcomed the court’s decision, describing the judgment as a major boost in the fight against attacks on critical electricity infrastructure.
ZESCO said the conviction serves as a strong reminder that vandalism of electricity infrastructure is a serious crime with far-reaching consequences for households, businesses, health facilities, schools, and national productivity.
ZESCO’s Senior Manager for Special Duties and Investigations, Ben Mwanamakwa, said the sentence sends a clear message that those who damage or steal electricity infrastructure will face the full force of the law.
“This conviction is significant because it demonstrates that vandalism is not a victimless crime. Every act of vandalism disrupts power supply, endangers lives, affects businesses, and diverts resources that should be used to improve service delivery. We welcome this judgment as deterrent to would-be offenders and as an important step in protecting national electricity infrastructure,” said Mr Mwanamakwa.
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Mr Mwanamakwa further commended law enforcement agencies, the prosecution team, and members of the public who continue to support efforts to safeguard ZESCO installations across the country.
ZESCO Limited has appealed to communities to report suspicious activities around transformers, power lines, substations, and other electricity installations. Community vigilance remains critical in preventing vandalism, reducing outages, and protecting assets that support Zambia’s economic and social development.
Nigeria: Dangote Refinery Targets $2 Billion Investments From Private Investors Ahead Of IPO
Africa’s largest petroleum refinery, the Dangote Refinery, is targeting about $2 billion in private investments ahead of its Initial Public Offering (IPO), scheduled for September this year.
“When we say we’re going to do a private placement, we already have people who have expressed interest in buying, and the amount requested is already close to $2 billion,” said Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, during a visit by Femi Otedola, Chairman of First HoldCo, to the refinery on Wednesday.
Otedola led top executives of First HoldCo on a tour of the refinery and fertilizer plants located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
The delegation also visited key project sites, including the jetty facility built by Dangote Industries to accommodate large vessels.
Dangote, however, noted that the refinery may not sell the full amount through the private placement, stating that “we’ll see what we can allocate to them.”
The private placement marks the latest development in the refinery’s IPO plans, which are expected to materialize later this year.
In 2025, Dangote disclosed that the refinery could sell up to a 10% stake in the public listing, which Bloomberg estimated could be valued at approximately $5 billion.
Although the exact date for the IPO has not yet been announced, the Dangote Refinery is expected to proceed with the public listing before the end of the year.
Dangote also revealed plans for a cross-border listing, which he said would enable Africans to play a greater role in financing the continent’s industrialisation.
Mozambique: Eni Expands Cookstove Production To Accelerate Access To Sustainable Clean Energy
Eni Natural Energies Mozambique — a subsidiary of the Italian oil and gas giant dedicated to energy transition activities — and the Instituto Superior Dom Bosco (ISDB) have held a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of an improved cookstove production unit to be installed at the Salesian Vocational Training Centre in Maputo Province to promote clean cooking.
The initiative forms part of the Clean Cooking Programme promoted by Eni in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Launched in 2023, the Clean Cooking Programme has already facilitated the distribution of more than 200,000 cookstoves across the provinces of Maputo, Sofala, and Manica, benefiting approximately one million people.
The initiative aims to expand access to clean energy, reduce the use of biomass, and improve health conditions for beneficiaries, particularly among vulnerable populations.
The project currently employs about 120 young Mozambicans across the entire value chain, from production to distribution.
With the new facility, daily production capacity is expected to increase from approximately 350 to 500 cookstoves, while also creating additional jobs.
The initiative will further strengthen the partnership with the Instituto Superior Dom Bosco by creating opportunities for technical training and internship programmes for local students.
Ghana: National Petroleum Authority Hosts Exclusive CEO Breakfast Meeting
Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), on Monday hosted Chief Executives of the country’s downstream petroleum sector to an exclusive breakfast meeting in Accra.
The meeting aimed to deepen stakeholder engagement, improve the regulatory framework, and provide opportunities for networking to support strategic growth in the industry.
The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Hon. Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, and the Deputy Minister for the sector, Mr. Richard Gyan-Mensah, participated in the meeting.
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The NPA Chief Executive, Mr. Godwin Kudzo Tameklo Esq., led the Authority’s team in discussions. Also present were Deputy CE Dr. Sheila Addo and members of the Executive Committee of the Authority.
In his remarks, Mr. Tameklo noted that recent geopolitical tensions and conflicts across parts of the world continue to affect global energy markets.
He, however, assured industry players that Ghana remains confident in its pricing policy framework and supply security arrangements.
“Government interventions over the past two windows (GHS2.00 per litre on Diesel and GHS36 per litre on Petrol) and the next two windows (GHS1.07 per litre on Diesel) were well thought through, with the risks to your businesses carefully considered,” he said.
Hon. Dr. Jinapor, for his part, affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted supply of petroleum products to support economic growth and stability.
The meeting concluded with agreement on key actions to be implemented to grow and sustain the downstream petroleum sector.
Malawi: Escom Imposes Emergency Load Shedding Due To Power Generation Shortfall
Malawi’s electricity supply company, Escom, has implemented emergency load shedding due to a shortfall in power generation following the unavailability of Nkula A Unit 2 and Kapichira Unit 4.
In a statement on Thursday, the utility reported that the two units tripped at 2:59 a.m. and 3:26 a.m., respectively, on 21st May 2026.
As a result, available generation capacity from the country’s major hydropower suppliers has been reduced from 348.15 MW to 306.75 MW.
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“Consequently, emergency load shedding affecting some customers is currently underway,” the company said.
Escom further informed customers that load shedding may, at times, be implemented outside the published schedule to maintain the stability of the national grid.
“We regret the inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding,” the statement concluded.
Ghana: Natural Gas Supply Shortfalls And Escalating Reliance On Expensive Liquid Fuels(Analysis)
Ghana’s power sector is increasingly relying on expensive liquid fuels due to persistent natural gas supply shortfalls, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability.
Below is an analysis by the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) on the procurement of HFO, DFO, and LCO for power generation from 2021 to 2025.
Introduction
Ghana’s energy sector, particularly its power sector, has undergone significant development and structural changes over recent decades. The sector is characterized by a combination of traditional hydroelectric power and thermal (fossil fuel-based) generation, with increasing attention to renewable energy integration to meet growing demand and sustainability goals.
Thermal generation continues to dominate the power sector, with about 3,445 MW of dependable capacity, representing 70% of total dependable capacity as of 2025. Approximately 80% of this 3,445 MW of dependable capacity is dual-fueled, with natural gas as the primary fuel and liquid fuels—including Gasoil, Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), and Light Crude Oil (LCO)—as the secondary fuel.
Liquid fuels provide strategic backup for generation when gas supply falls short due to planned or unplanned maintenance of gas facilities. However, liquid fuels are comparatively more expensive than natural gas, and higher consumption exposes the power sector to financial strain. In this regard, the Center for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) assessed the utilization patterns of liquid fuels from 2021 to 2025 and estimated the costs of HFO and Gasoil during this period.
Methodology
Ghana primarily uses three types of liquid fuels: LCO, HFO, and Gasoil. The Center sourced data on HFO and Gasoil from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) for the period 2021–2025. The data from NPA were utilization figures based on liters and metric tonnes.
The estimated cost per metric tonne of HFO and Diesel Fuel Oil (DFO) was based on GRIDCO’s fuel supply projections for the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) pigging period from January to February 2025. Crude oil data were sourced from the Bank of Ghana for 2024–2025.
Thermal plants that used LCO during the period include AKSA Energy, Cenpower, and Asogli, as indicated by the Bank of Ghana.
Results
Heavy Fuel Oil consumption in the power sector peaked in 2025 at approximately 134 million liters (133,237 MT), following 90 million liters (89,325 MT) in 2021. No HFO was used in 2022. Between 2024 (12,736 MT) and 2025, there was an increase of 120,537 MT, representing a 947% surge in HFO utilization for power generation.
Based on GRIDCO’s fuel requirement projections during the WAGP offshore pigging and cost per metric tonne, the estimated cost of HFO in 2025 was US$605/MT. With total HFO consumption of 133,237 MT, the total cost for the power sector in 2025 was US$80,608,385.
| Heavy Fuel Oil | Quantity (MT) | Cost (US$) | Total Cost (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projected (GRIDCO) | 19,800 | 605.05 | 11,980,000 |
| Actual | 133,237 | 605.05 | 80,608,385 |
Source: CEMSE Construct from GRIDCO and NPA Data, 2025
The 575% increase in HFO costs in 2025 indicates that beyond the pigging period in Q1 2025, additional HFO was used to operate thermal plants throughout the remaining three quarters of the year.
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The years 2021 and 2022 recorded zero Gasoil use in the power sector. Gasoil usage began in 2023 at approximately 263 thousand liters (222 MT), surging to about 8 million liters (7,121 MT) in 2024—a 3,107% increase. Utilization peaked in 2025 at around 24 million liters (20,246 MT), representing a 184% increase from 2024.
GRIDCO projected a DFO requirement of 16,800 MT at a cost of US$26.88 million for the WAGP offshore pigging, implying a unit cost of US$1,600/MT. Actual DFO consumption of 20,246 MT in 2025 resulted in a total cost of US$32.39 million, reflecting a 21% increase over projections.
Table 2: Estimated Cost of Diesel Fuel Oil in 2025
| Diesel Fuel Oil | Quantity (MT) | Cost per MT (US$) | Total Cost (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projected | 16,800 | 1,600 | 26,880,000 |
| Actual | 22,246 | 1,600 | 32,393,600 |
Source: CEMSE Construct from GRIDCO and NPA Data, 2025
According to the Bank of Ghana’s quarterly bulletin (4Q25), US$36.57 million was spent on LCO imports for the power sector in 2024. In 2025, this increased by approximately 210% to US$116.8 million, exceeding GRIDCO’s projection of US$50.94 million. All LCO imported in 2024 and 2025 was allocated to Cenpower, Asogli, and AKSA power plants.
Conclusion
The analysis reveals a concerning trend in Ghana’s power sector, highlighting a growing reliance on expensive liquid fuels (HFO, DFO, LCO) between 2021 and 2025. Despite GRIDCO’s projections, actual consumption surged significantly.
- HFO costs increased by 575%, exceeding projections by US$68.6 million.
- DFO costs rose by 21%, exceeding projections by US$5.5 million.
- LCO costs exceeded projections by US$65.95 million, representing a 129% increase in utilization in 2025.
The total cost of HFO, DFO, and LCO for 2025 is estimated at US$229 million, implying an average monthly expenditure of US$19.16 million on liquid fuels. The increasing reliance on liquid fuels is largely due to shortfalls in natural gas supply. Addressing the gas supply deficit would reduce sector debts and improve fiscal sustainability, as liquid fuels are not fully captured in the tariff regime, forcing the government to rely on petroleum levies for procurement.
These findings underscore the urgent need for diversified power generation and stricter fuel procurement discipline to prevent further financial distress in Ghana’s power sector.
Ghana Targets 1,000 MW Nuclear Power Generation
Ghana has announced an ambitious plan to construct a 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant, which will serve as a second baseload after the Akosombo Hydroelectric Power Dam, aimed at securing the country’s energy supply to support industrialisation.
Chief of Staff of Ghana, Mr. Julius Debrah, made this announcement at the opening of the Africa Energy Technology Conference (AETC) 2026 at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.
He emphasized that the nuclear power plan forms a cornerstone of President John Dramani Mahama’s strategy to deliver affordable, reliable, and clean electricity.
Debrah noted that as Ghana’s economy expands, the national energy mix must evolve to incorporate nuclear power in order to meet growing demand from the manufacturing and mining sectors.
He expressed the view that the 1,000 MW plant will provide critical baseload capacity to stabilize the grid and prevent future power fluctuations.
Debrah added that the government is engaging local and international partners to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) alongside the larger plant, describing this move as part of a broader transformational agenda.
He stated that officials are in advanced talks with international partners and regulatory bodies to ensure the program adheres to the highest global safety standards.
Regarding the technical assessment of the nuclear power program, he said the government has successfully completed the site selection stage and is now focused on detailed characterization and regulatory compliance ahead of construction.
Furthermore, he noted that if the roadmap is implemented as planned, the initiative will create thousands of technical jobs and position Ghana as an energy hub for the West African sub-region.
Debrah stressed that the transition to nuclear energy is not only about power generation but also about meeting Ghana’s climate commitments by reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
He therefore called on stakeholders and the private sector to support the initiative, emphasizing that sustained collaboration will be vital to achieving this ambition.
BP Signs Three Production Sharing Contracts In Indonesia
BP and its partners have signed three Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) in Indonesia, bringing BP’s total participation in oil and gas blocks in the country to 11.
Two of the contracts are for the Bintuni and Drawa exploration blocks, which are located near the existing BP-operated Tangguh LNG facility in Papua Barat, creating potential for short-cycle development.
BP also confirmed its participation in the INPEX-operated Barong block in East Java.
The agreements, part of the second Indonesia Petroleum Bidding Round 2025 hosted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, were signed between BP and the Government of Indonesia, represented by SKK Migas, and witnessed by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia.
“These agreements demonstrate our ongoing investment in Indonesia’s energy security and economic growth,” said William Lin, executive vice president for gas and low carbon energy at BP.
“We already have world-class assets in the country and, subject to success, the proximity of two of these new blocks to our existing infrastructure could support the potential future development and production of these resources,” he added.
“This year marks BP’s 60th anniversary in Indonesia and, through our dedicated regional team and continuous focus on safety and operational performance, we look forward to working with the government and our partners to continue supporting the country’s energy resilience and development objectives for years to come.”
The PSCs were signed at the Indonesian Petroleum Association Convention & Exhibition 2026.
At the Bintuni and Drawa blocks, BP’s partners include CNOOC Southeast Asia Limited, INPEX CORPORATION and Mitsubishi Corporation through MI Berau B.V., as well as Indonesia Natural Gas Resources Muturi, Inc., a subsidiary of LNG Japan Corporation.
Following the agreement signing, BP holds a 49 percent stake in the Barong block alongside INPEX CORPORATION, which holds 51 percent and serves as operator.
South Africa: Eskom Threatens Power Cuts In Johannesburg Over R5.2 Billion Debt
South African state-owned power utility Eskom has issued a formal notice of its intention to reduce or terminate electricity supply to the City of Johannesburg and its regional entity, City Power over mounting debt.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the utility stated that the City of Johannesburg currently owes arrears amounting to R5.25 billion (equivalent of 315,744,000)
An additional R1.58 billion is scheduled for payment on Friday, June 5, 2026, according to the Eskom Gauteng Cluster.
Eskom alleged that the municipality has repeatedly failed to honour its Electricity Supply Agreement despite more than two years of engagement.
The utility said it is no longer sustainable to allow the city to collect revenue from residents without transferring the required portion to the national supplier.
According to Eskom, the growing debt burden undermines its efforts to improve its balance sheet and maintain affordable electricity pricing.
The company added in a media statement that its financial sustainability depends on effective revenue collection and reduced expenditure.Eskom also announced on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, that nine other municipalities had moved toward signing Distribution Agency Agreements (DAAs).
These long-term contracts allow Eskom to manage technical and financial aspects of local electricity supply, including revenue collection and the installation of smart meters.
The utility did not specify when the planned interruptions or terminations in Johannesburg would begin.
The move follows a broader national trend of escalating municipal debt, which Eskom says threatens its operational viability.
COP31 President Calls For Faster Electrification, More Climate Finance For Developing Countries
The President-designate of COP31, Murat Kurum, has called for accelerated electrification and increased climate finance for developing countries ahead of the global climate summit in Turkey, scheduled for November 2026.
Addressing the opening session of the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial conference in Denmark on Wednesday, Kurum said electrification had emerged as a key theme during recent climate engagements, including meetings held in Berlin, Paris, Santa Marta and Baku.
According to him, electricity currently accounts for about 20 percent of global final energy consumption, adding that efforts should be intensified to increase its share.
Kurum said this would require both the decarbonisation of electricity generation and the expansion of electrification across sectors.
“We must make the technologies of the future accessible at scale — and we must ensure that no one is left behind,” he said.
He said the COP31 presidency would prioritise clean energy, clean cooking, resilient cities and industrial decarbonisation under its action agenda.
Kurum added that the presidency is already collaborating with key institutions, including the International Energy Agency, the International Renewable Energy Agency and the Global Renewables Alliance.
The COP31 president-designate also urged stakeholders to support funding for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
“For billions of people living along the world’s coasts, oceans are not an abstract climate issue. They are a source of food, livelihoods, identity and security,” he said.
Kurum said national climate roadmaps should remain central to the UN climate process through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Biennial Transparency Reports and National Adaptation Plans.
He also highlighted oceans and coastal communities as major priority areas.
On climate finance, Kurum said the COP31 presidency would work to increase funding for developing countries through the Global Implementation Accelerator and recommendations under the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap.
He said COP31 would seek stronger participation from the private sector to mobilise climate finance.
“Concessional and grant-based public finance will be indispensable — especially for developing economies that need to adapt, build resilience and respond to loss and damage,” he said.
Kurum noted that donor countries would be held accountable for commitments made under the $300 billion Baku climate finance goal.
He said efforts would continue to improve access to climate finance and increase funding from UN climate funds threefold by 2030.
Kurum added that the replenishment of the Green Climate Fund this year would be critical.
“Developed countries must also submit their first biennial communications this year, showing how they will deliver their fair share of the Baku Finance Goal,” he added.
“It is easy to say we support global climate action. But promises must be kept.”
UK Eases Sanctions On Russian-Origin Diesel And Jet Fuel As Prices Soar
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The UK temporarily allows imports of diesel and jet fuel processed from Russian-origin crude in third countries to address rising fuel prices and jet fuel shortages.
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The Labour government defends the move as necessary for supply security, while Conservatives criticize it as undermining sanctions and UK energy policy.
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The easing follows similar U.S. waivers on Russian oil sales amid global fuel price spikes, with UK gasoline prices reaching record highs since the Iran war.
The UK government has waived sanctions on imports of diesel and jet fuel processed from Russian-origin crude in third countries, citing spiking fuel prices and concerns over jet fuel supply shortages, according to Oilprice.com.
The easing of a small portion of the UK’s strict sanctions and bans on Russian crude and oil product imports is intended to protect supply security, the Labour government argues.
However, the Conservatives criticized the decision as “insane” and claimed it undermines the sanctions due to domestic political considerations.
This “small, specific, and time-limited” waiver in the UK’s sanctions regime was made to “protect the security of supply for essential foundational goods in our economy, such as jet fuel,” Treasury Minister Dan Tomlinson told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, the average UK gasoline price jumped to its highest level since the Iran war began, putting additional pressure on consumers already struggling with high gas and energy costs.
Commenting on the government’s decision to allow imports of diesel and jet fuel produced in third countries from Russian crude, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch posted on social media: “After 18 months of ‘standing up to Putin,’ the Labour government quietly issued a licence allowing imports of Russian oil refined in third countries. Yesterday, Labour MPs voted AGAINST UK oil and gas licences. We are now importing from Russia instead of drilling in the North Sea. Insane.”
UK Eases Sanctions On Russian-Origin Diesel And Jet Fuel As Prices Soar
The UK’s move to ease import restrictions on fuels made from Russian-origin crude in third countries comes just days after the U.S. Treasury extended a waiver of Russia-related sanctions, allowing the sale of Russian oil floating at sea for another 30 days until June 17.
The U.S. first issued a waiver in March, permitting Russian crude on tankers to be sold without penalties as oil and fuel prices spiked following the Iran war.
Ghana: Africa Can Solve Its Energy Challenges Using Local Engineers – Dr. Jinapor
Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, has challenged Africa to look inward to solve the continent’s energy challenges, stating that the continent is endowed with highly skilled and competent engineers.
He made the remarks at the opening of the Africa Energy Technology Conference (AETC), held in Accra, Ghana, from Tuesday, May 19, to Thursday, May 21, 2026.
The conference brought together ministers, energy sector professionals, academia, and innovators.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Jinapor emphasized that Africans are capable of addressing their own problems instead of relying on expatriates, noting that indigenous solutions are often more cost-effective.
He recounted how Ghanaian engineers successfully restored power supply from the Akosombo Generation Station to the national grid in just a few days after a fire completely destroyed the switchyard that receives and transmits power from the station.
“Recently, we had a major fire incident at our biggest hydro dam. The whole control centre was burnt, and we instantly lost 1,000 MW. If you have a peak demand of 4,500 MW and an installed capacity of 5,000 MW, losing 1,000 MW instantaneously is a huge challenge. For five days, it wasn’t easy for me as Minister for Energy. Despite this, the Ghanaian people demanded a reliable and uninterrupted power supply. Thanks to my engineers, within five days they resolved the issue, and we had reliable power,” the Minister said, illustrating how African engineers can solve their own problems without external support.
Organized by the Africa Energy Technology Centre in partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, AETC 2026 is themed “From Borders to Bridges: Driving Intra-African Trade and Development through Energy & Technology Services.”
Touching on the theme, Dr. Jinapor emphasized the need for African nations to collaborate by sharing ideas and leveraging each other’s resources to solve common challenges.
He highlighted Ghana’s energy trade, noting that the country imports gas from Nigeria for power generation and exports some of it to its West African neighbors.
He also mentioned a recent discussion with a delegation from Benin, which requested that Ghana increase power exports to them, reinforcing the importance of regional cooperation.
“We must work together. We take gas from Nigeria—about 100 mmscf/day—to generate power and export some to our neighbors. That is how we build bridges. That is how we move from borders to building bridges,” he stated.