The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) has renewed its call for the Ghanaian government to remove the 16% tax on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), saying the move would make the fuel more affordable and increase consumption.
COMAC Board Chairman Gabriel Kumi, who is also managing director of Trinity Oil, made the call during a panel discussion at the 7th Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GHiPCON) in Accra.
Kumi said neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire had removed taxes on LPG and subsidised the fuel for rural households, helping to raise consumption to about 700,000 metric tonnes, compared with Ghana’s annual consumption of about 350,000 metric tonnes.
LPG consumption in Côte d’Ivoire per day as published by theglobaleconomy.com
“We started consuming LPG before Côte d’Ivoire, but today they consume about 700,000 metric tonnes, while Ghana consumes about 350,000 metric tonnes,” Kumi said.
“That is because they have taken measures to ensure LPG remains affordable. In Ghana, however, we continue to tax it. Research has shown that if the government removes these taxes, consumption could increase by about 20%,” he said.
Kumi said the cost of refilling a 14.5-kg LPG cylinder, at about 250 Ghana cedis, remained beyond the reach of many households. He argued that a worker earning a monthly salary of about 1,000 cedis would have to spend roughly a quarter of their income on a single refill.
LPG consumption trend in Ghana per day as published by theglobaleconomy.com
He urged the government not only to remove taxes on LPG but also to introduce subsidies for rural households to encourage cleaner cooking.
Kumi also called for an assessment of the government’s free LPG cylinder and improved cookstove distribution programme to determine whether it had achieved its intended objectives.
He said the free distribution of LPG cylinders would have a greater impact if the fuel itself became more affordable.
South Africa’s state-owned power utility, Eskom, has dismissed reports alleging a radiation leak during routine maintenance at Unit 2 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, saying there was no release of radioactive material beyond the plant’s containment structures.
“At no stage was there any release of radioactive material beyond the containment structures, and there was no risk to surrounding communities or the environment,” Eskom said in a statement.
The utility added that no iodine tablets were administered to employees and that there was no impact on workers, the public or the environment.
According to Eskom, highly sensitive radiation monitoring equipment detected two brief, localised airborne radioactivity events inside a controlled work area within the Unit 2 containment building during scheduled steam generator inspections on July 2 and July 7, 2026.
It said the airborne radioactivity remained confined to the designated work area and was managed in accordance with established radiation protection procedures.
The utility said the incident had no impact on nuclear safety, plant operations, maintenance activities or the planned completion of the outage in November 2026. Unit 1 remains in full operation.
Eskom classified the incident as Level 0 (No Safety Significance) on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES), the lowest possible rating, and said it notified South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) in line with regulatory requirements.
The company said it remained committed to maintaining the highest standards of nuclear safety, regulatory compliance and operational transparency.
Eddy Current Testing
Eskom said Eddy Current Testing (ECT) is a non-destructive inspection technique used to assess the condition and wall thickness of steam generator tubes, helping detect early signs of wear that could affect plant performance or safety.
The inspections are carried out using robotic probes inserted into the steam generator tubes. During the inspections, a minute quantity of microscopic oxide particles, known in the nuclear industry as “crud”, became airborne within the enclosed work area.
The utility said such minor airborne particulate events are a well-understood phenomenon during steam generator inspections at pressurised water reactors and are effectively managed through established containment, ventilation and radiation monitoring systems.
Safety systems operated as designed
Eskom said the affected work area was protected by multiple safety measures, including physical containment barriers, High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA)-filtered ventilation operating under negative pressure, continuous airborne radiation monitoring through Constant Air Monitors (CAMs), and comprehensive personnel protection programmes.
The monitoring equipment automatically detected the increase in airborne radioactivity, triggering standard safety procedures. Inspection work was temporarily halted while the area was secured, ventilation systems removed the airborne particles, and radiological assessments were completed before work resumed.
Eskom said the incident remained fully contained within the controlled work area, with no release of radioactive material into the environment.
The utility said the event demonstrated the effectiveness of Koeberg’s defence-in-depth safety systems, which detected and contained the airborne radioactivity as designed while allowing maintenance activities to continue safely.
Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has signed up Maxim Agri & Samakgro as the fifth investor in its Green Energy Park, where the company plans to build a fish feed manufacturing plant powered by geothermal energy.
KenGen said the investor plans to use 3 megawatts (MW) of electricity to develop an 8-metric-tonne-per-hour fish feed production plant at the park.
The company said the project, valued at about $3.95 million, is expected to increase Kenya’s fish feed production capacity to meet growing demand from the aquaculture sector.
Maxim Agri & Samakgro is the second investor to join the Green Energy Park this year, bringing the total number of investors to five.
KenGen Managing Director and Chief Executive Peter Njenga said the investment reflected growing demand for reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions to power industrial development.
“As Kenya’s leading green power producer, KenGen is well positioned to support the country’s industrial transformation through the provision of reliable geothermal energy,” Njenga said.
Maxim Agri Director Joachim Westerveld said the new plant would increase the company’s production capacity while reducing operating costs through access to geothermal power and steam.
He said lower production costs would enable the company to supply more affordable fish feed to farmers and support growth in Kenya’s aquaculture industry.
KenGen also launched an online investor portal for the Green Energy Park, which it said is intended to provide prospective investors with information on investment opportunities at the geothermal industrial hub.
The Green Energy Park has attracted investments from the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA), Eco-cloud, Kaishan Group, Aquilastar Corporate Investment Company, Synergetic Development Group and Maxim Agri & Samakgro.
Nigeria’s upstream oil regulator has urged newly awarded holders of Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs) to accelerate investment in their assets and fulfill their obligations to host communities under the country’s petroleum law.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) made the call during the signing ceremony for the second batch of winners of the 2022/2023 Mini Bid Round and the 2024 Licensing Round in Abuja on Friday.
NUPRC Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan said licence holders should prioritise engagement with host communities as required under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), describing it as critical to the success of their operations.
Read Also:ECOWAS Signs Agreement Backing Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline
She said the licences awarded under the 2022/2023 Mini Bid Round and the 2024 Licensing Round are expected to boost exploration activity, attract investment, accelerate the development of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources and support the country’s energy security and economic growth.
Eyesan said the awards are aligned with the federal government’s target of increasing crude oil production to 2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 3 million barrels per day by 2030.
She also urged the new licence holders to move quickly to develop their assets or risk forfeiting them under the Petroleum Industry Act’s “drill or drop” provision, which allows the regulator to revoke undeveloped licences.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has signed an intergovernmental agreement backing the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd said in a joint statement on Sunday.
The agreement was signed by the heads of state of participating ECOWAS member countries during the ECOWAS summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The statement said the pipeline is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas annually from Nigeria and other West African producers through 13 West African countries to Morocco.
It said 15 bcm of gas a year will be supplied to Moroccan and European markets through the existing pipeline linking Morocco and Spain.
“The AAGP is a transformative regional infrastructure initiative designed to unlock West Africa’s vast natural gas resources, connect them to major demand centres, integrate African energy markets and establish a strategic development corridor linking West Africa, the Sahel, Morocco and Europe,” the agencies said.
The agreement gives effect to the approval granted at the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja in December 2024, the statement said.
It also concludes the institutional process coordinated by ECOWAS following the 2022 memorandum of understanding between Nigeria and Morocco and reaffirms the participating states’ commitment to the project.
The statement said the agreement marks the start of the next implementation phase, which will include establishing the project company, to be headquartered in Casablanca, and the Pipeline Higher Authority (PHA), the project’s governing body, to be based in Abuja.
“These institutional milestones will pave the way for investor mobilisation and the preparation of the Final Investment Decision (FID),” ONHYM and NNPC said.
The final step will be a signing ceremony in Morocco, where Morocco and Mauritania will jointly sign the agreement in the presence of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the statement said.
The project was initiated under former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and continues to have the support of President Tinubu, it added.
According to the statement, front-end engineering design (FEED) studies have been completed, route reconnaissance surveys finalised, and environmental and social impact studies advanced. The agencies also said key legal, regulatory and commercial frameworks have been put in place.
The Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline will run from Nigeria to Morocco through 13 Atlantic coastal countries, with interconnections to supply landlocked Sahel states.
The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), a policy think tank in Ghana, has urged the government to base decisions on Ghana’s proposed second Gas Processing Plant (GPP2) on reliable gas supply, credible financing, and proven technical capacity rather than political considerations.
According to ACEP, while the project has the potential to strengthen Ghana’s energy security, reduce gas flaring, and improve fuel supply for thermal power generation, its success will depend on whether the country can secure sufficient gas volumes, attract sustainable financing, and ensure the project is executed by technically competent partners.
ACEP stressed that discussions surrounding GPP2 should focus on the country’s long-term national interest rather than political preferences, warning that infrastructure of such strategic importance requires careful planning and transparent decision-making.
Read Also:Egypt’s Petrojet, ENPPI Win Framework Agreement For Projects Worth Over $6 Billion In Oman
The policy institute noted that Ghana’s existing Atuabo Gas Processing Plant has played a significant role in supporting domestic power generation, but growing demand for natural gas makes additional processing capacity necessary.
However, ACEP cautioned that expanding processing infrastructure without guaranteed gas supply commitments could leave the new facility underutilised and undermine its commercial viability.
“Building a gas processing plant without secured volumes risks creating an expensive, underutilised asset,” Kodzo Yaotse, Head of Petroleum and Conventional Energy at ACEP, said in an interview monitored by this portal.
He also emphasised that financing arrangements must be transparent and sustainable to avoid placing unnecessary financial burdens on the country.
ACEP recommended integrating upstream petroleum partners, including operators of the Jubilee Field and adjacent fields, into the financing structure to help guarantee feedstock supply.
The organisation further argued that technical capability should be a key criterion in selecting any partner for the project. It added that the overriding objective should be to ensure GPP2 delivers value for money while strengthening Ghana’s gas-to-power strategy and overall energy security.
Ghana should position itself as the downstream petroleum and logistics hub for West Africa, recognised for reliability, efficiency, innovation and investment, Dr. Patrick K. Ofori, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), has said.
Ofori said Ghana should pursue an ambitious goal of becoming the region’s leading downstream petroleum and logistics hub through stronger collaboration between government and the private sector.
“Our goal should not simply be to keep pace with change. Our goal should be to position Ghana as the downstream petroleum and logistics hub for West Africa,” he said.
He said the ambition was achievable if government and the private sector continued to work together with a shared sense of purpose.
Speaking at the 7th Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GHiPCON) in Accra on the theme, “Building Resilience Through Policy, Innovation and Investment for Growth,” Ofori said recent geopolitical tensions that disrupted oil supplies, volatile exchange rates and shifting energy markets had shown that resilience was no longer simply about responding to crises.
Instead, he said, resilience requires anticipating risks, preparing for them, adapting to changing conditions and emerging stronger.
“Resilience is not measured by how we perform when conditions are favourable; it is measured by how prepared we are when they are not. That is the challenge before us today, and it is one we must address together,” he said.
Ofori said building resilience should be anchored on three priorities: policy, innovation and investment.
On policy, he said businesses thrive where policies are consistent, regulations are transparent and institutions are predictable.
“A stable policy environment encourages investment, promotes healthy competition, protects consumers and gives businesses the confidence to plan for the future,” he said.
On innovation, Ofori said technological advances were transforming every aspect of the downstream petroleum industry, from digital systems and smarter logistics to automation, predictive analytics, artificial intelligence and cleaner technologies.
He said innovation was helping the industry improve efficiency, strengthen safety, reduce costs and make better decisions.
On investment, Ofori said resilience depends on modern infrastructure. He called for increased investment in storage facilities, strategic petroleum reserves, local refining capacity, transport corridors and the road networks linking ports, depots and markets.
“These investments will improve supply reliability, lower logistics costs, create jobs, stimulate industrialisation and strengthen Ghana’s energy security,” he said.
Ofori said CBOD remained committed to working closely with government, regulators, industry players, development partners and the wider private sector to strengthen Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
The Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr. Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, Esq., has commended the nominees and winners of the 2026 Ghana Downstream Awards for their contributions to the growth and sustainability of the country’s downstream petroleum industry.
Speaking at the second edition of the Ghana Downstream Awards and Gala Night in Accra on Saturday, Mr. Tameklo said, “Every nominee and award recipient represents the progress and professionalism driving our industry forward.”
He added: “The future of Ghana’s downstream petroleum industry will be built on innovation, collaboration and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”
The NPA Chief Executive stressed that a strong downstream petroleum industry is fundamental to Ghana’s economic growth and national development.
“Our goal is to create a downstream sector that is competitive, sustainable and attractive to investment while ensuring that consumers are protected.
“Resilience is not built overnight. It requires continuous investment in infrastructure, technology, human capital and systems that allow us to respond effectively to changing global dynamics,” he said.
The Ghana Downstream Awards and Gala Night was dedicated to celebrating excellence, innovation and outstanding performance across the country’s downstream petroleum industry. It followed the successful organisation of the 2026 Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GhIPCon).
Sentuo Oil Refinery was named Refinery Company of the Year in recognition of its growing role in strengthening domestic refining capacity and supporting national energy security.
In the transportation category, Duah Boachie Training and Transport Limited earned the title of Emerging Transporter of the Year, while J. K. Horgle Transport & Company Limited was named Transporter of the Year for its sustained excellence in petroleum logistics.
Matrix Gas Ghana Limited received the Emerging Company of the Year award in recognition of its impressive growth and impact within the industry.
Juwel Energy Limited was recognised as BIDEC Company of the Year, celebrating excellence in the bulk import, distribution and export segment of the petroleum value chain.
Moari Oil Company Limited was honoured as Emerging OMC of the Year, while Star Oil secured one of the evening’s most prestigious accolades, OMC of the Year, in recognition of its leadership, market performance and commitment to quality service.
Petroleum Warehousing and Supplies Limited (PWSL) received the Special Recognition Award for its significant contribution to Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
The evening also recognised distinguished leadership and exceptional service to Ghana’s energy sector through a series of honorary awards.
Hon. Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition; Mr. Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, Esq., Chief Executive of the NPA; and Hon. Perry Curtis Kwabla Okudzeto, former Deputy Chief Executive of the NPA, were each presented with an honorary award in recognition of their contributions to the growth and development of Ghana’s downstream petroleum industry.
The Ghana Downstream Awards and Gala Night reaffirmed the industry’s shared commitment to raising standards, encouraging innovation and recognising excellence across every segment of the downstream petroleum value chain. As Ghana’s energy sector continues to evolve, the awards remain a testament to the industry’s drive for growth, sustainability and excellence.
A consortium comprising Egypt’s Petroleum Projects and Technical Consultations Company (Petrojet) and the Engineering for the Petroleum and Process Industries Company (ENPPI) has secured a long-term engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) framework agreement with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the country’s largest oil and gas producer.
The six-year agreement, signed at PDO’s headquarters in Oman, positions the Petrojet-ENPPI consortium as one of four international consortia and contractors eligible to bid for projects under a portfolio valued at more than $6 billion through competitive tenders.
In a statement, Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said the agreement reflects the ministry’s strategy, under the direction of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawi, to expand the regional and international presence of Egyptian energy companies, strengthen their competitiveness and leverage their expertise in executing large-scale energy projects.
The ministry said the agreement also reflects growing cooperation between Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals, opening new opportunities for partnership between the two countries in the energy sector.
It added that the selection of the Petrojet-ENPPI consortium alongside leading international companies underscores confidence in the technical and execution capabilities of Egyptian firms, citing their experience in delivering large-scale projects in line with international standards for quality, safety and operational excellence.
“This achievement confirms the growing stature of Egyptian petroleum sector companies as trusted partners in implementing large-scale energy projects across regional and international markets. It also demonstrates the ministry’s success in positioning Egyptian expertise as an exportable capability able to compete for and secure major projects overseas,” the ministry said.
Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Jinapor, has inspected the ongoing upgrade of the 161-kilovolt (kV) Ahodwo-Anwomaso transmission line in the Ashanti Region, a project expected to be completed within the next three months.The upgrade will increase the line’s transmission capacity to about 1,000 megawatts (MW) from 364 MW to meet rising electricity demand in Kumasi and support power exports.The project involves replacing the existing 19-km single-circuit, 364-megavolt-ampere (MVA) transmission line with a higher-capacity double-circuit line rated at 2 x 488 MVA, nearly tripling the current capacity.As part of the project, the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) will also upgrade one of the transformers at the Kumasi (Ahodwo) substation to 145 MVA from 66 MVA, a move expected to improve the reliability, stability and resilience of electricity supply.Speaking to reporters during the inspection, Jinapor said measures would be put in place to minimise disruptions to electricity supply while the work is carried out.“As we enter the final phase of construction from Monday, July 20, 2026, some customers may experience temporary and localised power interruptions to allow these essential works to be carried out safely,” he said.“These temporary inconveniences are necessary to deliver a stronger, more reliable electricity network that will support the continued growth and development of Kumasi and the Ashanti Region.”Read Also:Ghana: Gov’t To Deploy 55,000 Solar Home Systems To Wean Selected State Institutions Off National GridJinapor urged residents and businesses to be patient during the construction period.“Every effort will be made by GRIDCo and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to minimise disruptions and restore supply as quickly as possible. I thank the people of Kumasi for their patience, understanding and continued support,” he said.
ConocoPhillips will acquire a 42% stake in BP Energy Company of Kirkuk Limited, joining UK energy company bp in the redevelopment of several large oil fields in the Kirkuk region of northern Iraq.
The agreement is expected to be signed during an official visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi to Washington, D.C.
“Kirkuk is a world-class resource base that can support Iraq’s long-term energy ambitions while creating value for both the country and bp. This partnership with ConocoPhillips brings together two great teams and positions us well for the next phase of redevelopment. We’re being deliberate about where we invest, backing high-quality resources that can deliver long-term value for our shareholders,” Chief Executive Officer Meg O’Neill said.
The development and production contract covers an initial phase targeting more than 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent from the Baba and Avanah domes of the Kirkuk oil field, as well as the adjacent Bai Hassan, Jambur and Khabbaz fields in federal Iraq.
Read Also:Ghana’s Downstream Regulator Calls For Policy Reforms, Investment To Build Resilient Petroleum Sector
The fields are currently operated by the Northern Oil Company (NOC). The contract area also includes additional exploration potential.
bp’s relationship with Iraq spans more than a century and includes decades of operations in both the country’s north and south.
Following completion of the transaction, bp will remain the majority shareholder in BP Energy Company of Kirkuk Limited and a leading member of the contractor group.
Saudi Aramco has awarded Halliburton a multi-year contract to provide integrated stimulation and completion services for unconventional gas development in Saudi Arabia, Halliburton said.
The award forms part of a broader multi-billion-dollar contract supporting one of the world’s largest unconventional gas development programmes, the company said. Halliburton did not disclose the value of its contract.
Halliburton said the agreement expands its work on Aramco’s unconventional gas programme and covers a range of drilling and completion services.
The contract includes the deployment of intelligent automation technologies for hydraulic fracturing, including Halliburton’s OCTIV Auto Frac platform and Sensori fracturing monitoring services, beginning in the third quarter of 2026, the company said.
“Beginning in the third quarter of 2026, Halliburton will deploy the Kingdom’s first fully integrated intelligent fracturing platform … for one of the world’s largest unconventional fields,” Rami Yassine, Halliburton’s president for the Eastern Hemisphere, said in a statement.
Halliburton said the technologies are designed to optimise fracturing operations in real time, improve operational efficiency and support multi-well development campaigns.
Development of the Jafurah unconventional gas basin is already under way. Halliburton said it plans to expand local manufacturing, strengthen its supply chain and increase workforce development in Saudi Arabia to support the project’s growth.
Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) said OMV had declared its Essar oil discovery commercially viable following the drilling of appraisal well B1-106/4 and the completion of an evaluation of the field’s development plan.
The NOC said the evaluation confirmed the discovery’s commercial viability.
The discovery is estimated to contain about 195 million barrels of recoverable oil from the Upper and Lower Sabil reservoirs, with expected production of around 5,000 barrels per day, the NOC said.
Development of the field will be carried out by Zueitina Oil Company, the operator, with production expected to begin as quickly as possible because of the site’s proximity to existing surface facilities.
Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, has announced that the government will begin delivering 55,000 solar home systems to selected government institutions next month as part of efforts to reduce their dependence on the national electricity grid.
He made the announcement at the opening of the two-day 7th Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GHiPCON) at the Palms Convention Centre in Accra.
According to Dr. Jinapor, the initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to address rising electricity demand while advancing Ghana’s clean energy and climate objectives.
By equipping selected public institutions with solar power systems, the government aims to ease pressure on the national grid, improve energy efficiency, and enhance the reliability of electricity supply.
The minister said growing electricity consumption, driven by population growth, urbanisation, and expanding industrial activity, requires a diversified energy mix that incorporates more renewable energy sources alongside conventional power generation.
The planned deployment also aligns with Ghana’s renewable energy agenda, which seeks to increase the share of clean energy in the country’s electricity mix, improve energy access, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The announcement comes as Ghana continues to pursue its energy transition strategy, balancing investments in its petroleum sector with efforts to expand renewable energy generation and strengthen long-term energy security.
Speaking to reporters during the inspection, Jinapor said measures would be put in place to minimise disruptions to electricity supply while the work is carried out.
“As we enter the final phase of construction from Monday, July 20, 2026, some customers may experience temporary and localised power interruptions to allow these essential works to be carried out safely,” he said.
“These temporary inconveniences are necessary to deliver a stronger, more reliable electricity network that will support the continued growth and development of Kumasi and the Ashanti Region.”
Read Also:Ghana: Gov’t To Deploy 55,000 Solar Home Systems To Wean Selected State Institutions Off National Grid
Jinapor urged residents and businesses to be patient during the construction period.
“Every effort will be made by GRIDCo and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to minimise disruptions and restore supply as quickly as possible. I thank the people of Kumasi for their patience, understanding and continued support,” he said.
