Nigeria’s power transmission company (TCN) has confirmed that Tower T99 along the Ughelli/Benin 330 kilovolt (330kV) transmission line collapsed as a result of vandalism.
A statement issued by Mrs Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, in Abuja on Friday said the incident was discovered during a line patrol at Coconut Village, Effurun Local Government Area of Warri, Delta State, following a line trip.
Mrs Mbah said that upon inspection by TCN’s linesmen, it was observed that the fallen tower had some of its bracing members vandalised and carted away, which led to its collapse.
She said that the adjoining towers, T100 and T101, were also vandalised, although they remained standing.
“As a result, there is a temporary disruption in the evacuation of bulk power supply from Transcorp Power Plc to the national grid through the Benin 330kV transmission line.”
However, TCN has commenced the mobilisation of resources to facilitate the reconstruction, restoration, and reinforcement of the vandalised towers and affected transmission line as soon as possible.
“We reiterate that vandalism poses a serious threat to the stability of the nation’s transmission system and urge host communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities around transmission installations to security operatives or the nearest TCN office,” she said.
According to her, the fight against vandalism of power infrastructure is a collective responsibility.
“We call on all stakeholders to join hands in protecting these critical national assets from further attacks.”
The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA), managed by the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), says it is making steady progress in expanding electricity access across rural Africa, with Zambia among the key beneficiary countries.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the 2026 Off-Grid Taskforce work plan meeting in Zambia, BGFA Senior Project Manager Kari Haemekoski said the fund is playing a pivotal role in supporting private sector-led off-grid energy solutions aimed at reaching underserved communities.
“Our role is to support private sector companies that provide off-grid electricity access,” Haemekoski explained.
“We are managing a programme that operates in six African countries, including Zambia, and focuses on delivering energy to areas beyond the reach of the national grid.”
The BGFA initiative began in Zambia as a pilot in 2018 and has since been scaled to other sub-Saharan African markets.
In addition to Zambia, the programme supports rural electrification initiatives in Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Liberia, Mozambique, and Uganda.
Of the targeted 1.9 million rural connections across these six countries, Zambia is expected to receive one million.
The beneficiary countries were selected to expand access to solar home systems, mini-grids, and other off-grid energy solutions for underserved rural communities.
Participants from the Ministry of Energy, energy regulatory agencies, and private sector energy players at the 2026 Off-Grid Taskforce work plan main meeting in Lusaka.
The BGFA programme operates through two main tracks: direct contracting of companies to deliver electricity connections, and institutional support through platforms such as the Off-Grid Taskforce. The latter aims to strengthen coordination and policy support within the energy sector.
Mr Haemekoski revealed that the programme has committed approximately €110 million in subsidies, with the ambition of leveraging two to four times that amount in private sector investment.
“We are using relatively limited subsidies to crowd in private financing. The idea is to make the model cost-effective and sustainable,” he said.
The initiative, which is expected to run until 2028, has already reached roughly halfway toward its target of delivering 1.9 million electricity connections across the six countries.
According to Mr Haemekoski, progress so far indicates the programme is on track to meet its goals.
A key feature of the BGFA model is its competitive “reverse auction” system, where companies bid for subsidies, with those requesting lower funding receiving higher evaluation scores.
This approach, he noted, has enhanced efficiency and encouraged innovation among participating firms.
Despite the progress, challenges remain—particularly in reaching the most remote rural communities.
“The biggest challenge is the ‘last mile’—serving very remote areas where costs are higher and returns are lower,” Mr Haemekoski said. “In such cases, slightly higher subsidy levels may be required to make projects viable.”
He added that the programme includes mechanisms to support smaller, local companies by allowing them to access relatively higher subsidy levels, ensuring inclusivity in the sector.
The BGFA initiative builds on earlier pilot projects launched in Zambia about a decade ago, with full-scale contracts under the current programme signed approximately five years ago.
Looking ahead, Haemekoski said discussions are underway regarding the future of the programme beyond 2028, particularly in alignment with emerging funding frameworks such as the World Bank-backed ASCENT-Zambia programme.
“If the BGFA programme does not continue in its current form, we hope that other financing mechanisms, including those from the World Bank, can take over and build on what has been achieved,” he said.
As Zambia continues to pursue universal energy access, initiatives like BGFA are expected to play a critical role in bridging the electricity gap and powering rural development.
Several European nations, along with Canada and Japan, have expressed readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and Canada condemned in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, including oil and gas installations, as well as the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces.
Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz—a vital shipping route for oil and gas exports to the global market—since the escalation of the war involving the United States and Israel on February 28, 2026.
This development has disrupted global energy supplies, leading to a spike in fuel costs across many economies.
The group of nations noted that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
They warned that the effects of Iran’s actions will be felt worldwide, particularly by the most vulnerable populations.
“We call on Iran to immediately cease its threats, the laying of mines, drone and missile attacks, and all other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817,” the statement said.
Consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2817, the nations emphasized that such interference with international shipping and disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security.
In this regard, they called for an immediate and comprehensive moratorium on attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations.
The group also welcomed the International Energy Agency’s decision to authorize a coordinated release of strategic petroleum reserves.
They further assured that “we will take additional steps to stabilize energy markets, including working with key producing nations to increase output.”
The group expressed readiness to support the most affected countries, including through the United Nations and international financial institutions.
The Tanzanian Electricity Corporation (TANESCO) has introduced the use of drones to monitor power transmission and distribution as part of efforts to improve service delivery efficiency and reduce the time required to resolve power outages.
TANESCO officially launched the drone initiative on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at its office in Ubungo, Dar es Salaam.
Speaking during the launch, Managing Director Mr. Lazaro Twange said the company manages the largest electricity infrastructure network in the country and therefore requires close monitoring using modern technologies.
“We have electricity transmission lines covering about 8,500 kilometers, and distribution networks extending nearly 200,000 kilometers. These networks run through forests, along roadsides, and across various terrains,” Mr. Twange said.
He explained that the organization’s primary responsibility is to ensure reduced response times when electricity challenges arise and to restore service promptly.
“Our job in customer service is to ensure that customers have reliable electricity supply. Today, we are embarking on a technological revolution to make our work more efficient,” he emphasized.
According to Mr. Twange, existing system faults have made it difficult to quickly identify the exact locations of problems, a challenge the new drone technology is expected to address.
The Governor of Imo State in the Federal Republic of Nigeria paid a courtesy visit on 11 March 2026 to the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to congratulate the Chairman on his appointment and to explore opportunities for strategic collaboration aimed at advancing the electricity market within the state.
The visit underscored a shared commitment to fostering a mutually beneficial partnership that will drive sustainable power sector development in Imo State.
In his remarks, the Governor sought the support of the Commission in ensuring the effective functioning of the state’s electricity market. He also appealed for the Chairman’s intervention in strengthening efforts to achieve a more stable and reliable power supply, a critical enabler of economic growth and development in the state.
In response, the Chairman commended the Governor for his proactive interest and demonstrated commitment to improving electricity supply in Imo State. He acknowledged that the provision of subnational electricity services is a fundamental responsibility of government and praised the Governor for taking decisive steps in that regard.
While reiterating the Commission’s support for government-led initiatives, the Chairman emphasized its role as an independent regulator, noting that its responsibility is to ensure fairness, transparency, and regulatory compliance across the sector.
He further urged all stakeholders to adhere strictly to established regulatory processes, particularly with respect to obtaining the necessary licenses and approvals for any grid-connected power projects.
The Chairman also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting Imo State within the bounds of its regulatory mandate.
Europe’s benchmark natural gas prices jumped by 35% at market open on Thursday, as fears of persistent gas supply disruptions intensified following the Iranian attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC), which hosts the world’s biggest LNG liquefaction complex.
The April 2026 contract of the Dutch TTF Natural Gas Futures opened 35% higher on Thursday, before easing the gain to 24% as of 7:48 a.m. Amsterdam time.
All the futures prices through the March 2027 futures contracts are now trading above $69 (60 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh), nearly double compared to just above $37 (32 euros) per MWh before the war in the Middle East started on February 28.
Qatar had already halted the Ras Laffan LNG complex in the early hours of the war, mostly as a precaution following a drone attack near the site and because of the de facto closed Strait of Hormuz.
European prices have soared since then as the supply shock of 20% of global LNG flows halted reverberated through markets and prompted Asia to outbid Europe for spot LNG supply.
With EU gas inventories at their lowest level in years at the end of this winter, Europe will need more supply than in the past few years to fill up reserves ahead of the 2026/2027 winter.
QatarEnergy confirmed damage from Thursday’s attack, saying that “several of its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities were the subject of missile attacks, causing sizeable fires and extensive further damage.”
Commenting on the attack and its consequences on the gas market, ING commodities strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey said in a Thursday note that “Damage to the LNG facilities means that the troubles for global gas markets aren’t just about when flows through the Strait of Hormuz resume, but how long repair work at the sites might take.”
“Even if it turns out that the LNG facilities are largely untouched, the market will have to price in a higher risk premium, given the growing threat to energy infrastructure in the region,” they added.
Ghana’s Parliamentary Minority is demanding the immediate scrapping of the GH₵1 levy imposed on a litre of petroleum products in 2025, in order to reduce fuel costs amid the US–Israel conflict with Iran, which has disrupted supply and driven up prices across global markets.
The Government of Ghana introduced the levy with the primary objective of securing dedicated funding for the procurement of liquid fuels for power generation.
At the time, fuel prices had been declining due to the strengthening of the local currency, the cedi, against major international currencies, particularly the US dollar.
However, the Minority says the levy has outlived its purpose and is worsening the financial burden on citizens amid rising fuel costs.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday, the Deputy Ranking Member of the Energy Committee, Collins Adomako-Mensah, said the ongoing tensions involving Israel, the United States, and Iran have driven up global crude oil prices, directly impacting fuel costs in Ghana.
On Monday, Oil Marketing Companies in the West African nation adjusted pump prices, with petrol selling between GH₵12.29 and GH₵13.29 per litre, and diesel between GH₵13.50 and GH₵16.29 per litre.
Given the current rise in fuel costs, Collins Adomako-Mensah said the Minority believes it is appropriate for the government to scrap the levy to cushion Ghanaians.
He further argued that if the government claims it has fully restored the World Bank’s US$597 million Partial Risk Guarantee, addressed the energy sector debt, and stabilized the cedi, then the justification for the GH₵1 “Dumsor Levy” has completely evaporated.
“Keeping the one Ghana cedi levy is punishment,” he said, urging the government to repeal it immediately under a certificate of urgency and to conduct a comprehensive review of all taxes and levies embedded in petroleum prices.
The Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025 added approximately GH₵1 to the price build-up, bringing the total levy for debt repayment and sector shortfalls to GH₵1.95 for petrol and GH₵1.93 for diesel.
The Minority also called on the government to undertake a comprehensive review of all taxes and levies embedded in the petroleum price build-up and to identify those that can be suspended or restructured to cushion consumers from the full impact of the current global oil price shock.
Iran has warned that oil and gas infrastructure across the Persian Gulf could become “legitimate targets” following a strike on its giant South Pars gas field, escalating concerns over regional supply disruptions and global energy market volatility.
Facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are now at heightened risk, according to Iranian state-linked media, as the conflict widens beyond Iran’s borders and increasingly threatens key hydrocarbon-producing regions.
The warning follows an Israeli strike on the South Pars field, one of the world’s largest natural gas developments and a cornerstone of global LNG supply. The field is shared between Iran and Qatar, making it a critical asset for both domestic consumption and export markets.
Energy infrastructure across the Gulf had largely been spared from direct damage during the early stages of the conflict. However, the latest escalation signals a potential shift, raising the risk of direct attacks on upstream facilities, processing hubs, and export terminals.
Regional energy flows are already under strain. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supply moves—has been severely disrupted, forcing production shut-ins across several Gulf producers and tightening global supply.
Crude prices have surged in response, with Brent rising above $108/bbl, reflecting market concerns that further escalation could lead to prolonged outages or damage to critical infrastructure.
Iran has intensified its use of drones and missiles across the region, targeting both military and energy-linked assets. Recent attacks have included strikes on facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, underscoring the expanding geographic scope of the conflict.
Despite the escalation, some Iranian export operations appear to be continuing. Crude loadings at Kharg Island—Iran’s primary export hub—have remained relatively steady, and Iranian-linked vessels have continued to move through the Strait of Hormuz under constrained conditions.
Analysts note that the greatest risk to markets lies in the potential for broader infrastructure disruption.
Key assets such as Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq processing facility, the UAE’s Fujairah export hub, and Qatar’s LNG infrastructure are considered critical nodes in global energy supply.
Any sustained damage to these facilities could trigger significant production losses and further tighten already constrained markets.
As the conflict enters its third week, the focus for energy markets is shifting from short-term price volatility to the longer-term risk of supply disruption, particularly if attacks expand to include major upstream or export infrastructure across the Gulf.
Kia Corporation and TotalEnergies Lubrifiants have renewed their global partnership for an additional five-year term, effective April 1, 2026.
The agreement builds on a 15-year collaboration dedicated to delivering high-quality lubricants across Kia’s global network.
Under the renewed partnership, Kia dealerships worldwide will continue to offer Quartz high-performance engine oils. The cooperation also leverages TotalEnergies’ expertise in lubricant technology, marketing support, and electric mobility solutions.
“We are truly honored to extend our longstanding partnership with Kia as we embark on a fourth consecutive global term, continuing to build a trusted collaboration dedicated to excellence and creating meaningful value for customers worldwide,” said Elodie Luce, Vice President of the Automotive Business Unit at TotalEnergies Lubrifiants.
“This renewed commitment strengthens our ability to accelerate the development of cutting-edge lubricant solutions tailored to the rapidly evolving demands of modern powertrains, including the latest hybrid and electric technologies.”
Dong-Hwan Hwang, Head of Ownership Management Subdivision at Kia Corporation, added, “TotalEnergies has been a valued partner for the past 15 years. This renewed agreement will enable us to explore new opportunities together, further enhancing the ownership experience for Kia drivers and improving service competitiveness in a changing market.”
Beyond lubricants, this new chapter also opens avenues for deeper collaboration in electrification, mobility services, and sustainability—areas that reflect both companies’ shared dedication to cleaner technologies, enhanced performance, and innovation that truly serves customers.
Italian oil and gas firm Eni has discovered more than 1 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas in two exploration wells drilled offshore Libya near the producing Bahr Essalam field, the company announced on Monday.
The discoveries were made at the Bahr Essalam South 2 (BESS-2) and Bahr Essalam South 3 (BESS-3) structures, located about 85 km offshore in approximately 650 ft of water and around 16 km south of the Bahr Essalam gas field.
The wells—B2-16/4 and C1-16/4—encountered gas-bearing intervals within the Metlaoui Formation, the main producing reservoir in the area.
According to Eni, data acquired during drilling and testing confirms the presence of high-quality reservoirs with strong production potential.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the two structures together contain more than 1 Tcf of gas in place.
Eni said the fields could be rapidly developed through tie-backs to existing facilities, as they are located close to the current Bahr Essalam offshore infrastructure.
The gas would be supplied to Libya’s domestic market and potentially exported to Italy.
Bahr Essalam is Libya’s largest offshore gas field and has been in production since 2005.
Eni has operated in Libya since 1959 and remains the country’s leading international operator.
The company reported equity production of about 162,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) in 2025 and currently has three development projects underway in the country, two of which are expected to start up in 2026.
Two American companies, Metalex Commodities Inc. (“Metalex”) and Anzana Electric Group (“Anzana”), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance the development of energy and critical minerals infrastructure in Zambia’s portion of the Lobito Corridor.
The MoU establishes a framework for Metalex and Anzana—through Anzana’s envisioned joint venture with the national electricity utility, ZESCO—to expedite the development, financing, and construction of a medium-voltage electricity network. This network will connect Metalex’s Kazozu copper-cobalt mine to the national grid.
In the long term, the joint venture will collaborate with Metalex to explore captive and local power generation opportunities to meet Kazozu’s growing electricity requirements, which could reach 30 MW by 2027.
Metalex expects to create up to 350 jobs through its mining operations, while the Anzana joint venture with ZESCO is projected to create up to 800 jobs.
Metalex’s flagship Kazozu copper-cobalt mine, located in Mwinilunga District in Zambia’s North-Western Province, is a joint venture with Terra Metals Inc. The project has received support from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and is currently ramping up operations while also exploring significant expansion opportunities in the surrounding area.
Connecting Kazozu to the national grid is expected to ensure a cost-effective and reliable power supply for both the mine and nearby communities, supporting broader electrification efforts.
Comments on the development Metalex CEO, Ayo Sopitan, said: “We are excited to sign this important memorandum of understanding with the Anzana team. This is a promising partnership that will ensure our copper-cobalt project, as well as the host communities surrounding us in Zambia’s North-Western Province, have access to reliable grid power. We look forward to working together to turn this vision into a win for all stakeholders.”
Anzana CEO, Brian Kelly, added: “This collaboration demonstrates the potential of American companies across sectors working together to accelerate infrastructure investment in Africa. As Zambia’s electricity partner for the Lobito Corridor, we look forward to seeing this project take shape under our new joint venture and powering new possibilities.”
In mid-2025, Anzana signed a binding term sheet with ZESCO to form a joint venture to develop, expand, and operate the national electricity distribution network in Zambia’s North-Western Province over a 25-year period.
The joint venture is expected to deploy approximately $300 million in capital and connect around 2 million Zambians to grid-based electricity for the first time.
Metalex is a Delaware-headquartered mining and processing company with operations across the African continent, while Anzana Electric Group is a leading developer, investor, and operator of hydropower and grid distribution projects across Africa.
Twelve (12) firefighters sustained injuries while attempting to contain a fuel tanker explosion early Tuesday morning at Gomoa Potsin along the Accra–Winneba Highway in the Central Region.
The tanker, with registration number GT 5671-22, was carrying 54,000 litres of petrol when it reportedly overturned on the stretch, leaking fuel that ignited a fire.
The blaze spread rapidly to nearby properties, posing a significant risk to lives and infrastructure. However, the driver and his mate escaped unhurt.
Through coordinated and tactical firefighting efforts, personnel were able to contain the fire, which had affected nearby structures, and brought it under control at 07:58 hours.
The fire was completely extinguished at 08:42 hours.
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In a statement signed by Divisional Officer Grade Two (DO II) Abdul Wasiu Hudu, Central Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, it was confirmed that twelve firefighters sustained varying degrees of injuries during the operation.
According to the statement, four of the injured personnel suffered severe injuries. Three were rushed to the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital, while one was treated at the Potsin Polyclinic.
The remaining eight sustained minor injuries and were treated on-site by an ambulance service team. All severely injured firefighters have since been treated and discharged.
The Central Regional Commander, Merinder Mary Attigah Mensah, accompanied by the Director of Operations, Roberta Aggrey Ghanson, visited both the injured personnel and the incident scene, assuring them of management’s commitment to their welfare and full recovery.
The cause of the crash and the resulting fire remains under investigation.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has completed the pre-qualification stage of the 2025 Licensing Round and has accordingly notified successful applicants.
A statement issued by the NUPRC, and signed by Eniola Akinkuotu, Head of Media and Strategic Communication, said the pre-qualification exercise was conducted on March 16 in line with the 2025 Licensing Round Guidelines.
With the pre-qualification stage now successfully completed, the Commission will, from March 17, 2026, permit successful applicants to lease data in preparation for technical and commercial bid submissions.
The statement urged pre-qualified applicants to lease data only from the two approved data sources (as applicable) and to upload evidence of payment as a prerequisite for bid submission.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Tuesday convened an urgent meeting with oil marketing companies aimed at protecting the country from the potential impact of rising fuel prices triggered by ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
The meeting was also attended by officials from the Energy Regulatory Board and the Ministry of Energy.
Discussions focused on safeguarding the country’s recent economic gains from external shocks affecting global petroleum markets.
During the engagement, President Hichilema warned against fuel hoarding and any form of market manipulation, stressing that the government will not hesitate to take decisive action against entities attempting to destabilise the market.
A statement issued by Chief Communication Specialist Clayson Hamasaka said President Hichilema noted that Zambia’s economic progress—anchored on debt restructuring, effective drought response, and sustained growth—remains vulnerable to global developments and must be protected.
He emphasised that preserving these gains is critical to maintaining economic stability and shielding citizens from rising living costs.
President Hichilema further directed the Ministry of Energy to work closely with stakeholders to develop short-, medium-, and long-term measures to ensure a stable and affordable petroleum supply across the country.
The ministry is already collaborating with industry players to implement strategies aimed at maintaining consistent fuel availability nationwide.
The government also indicated that emergency interventions previously activated during the drought period remain in place and can be deployed to respond to the current situation if necessary.
Meanwhile, the National Oil Marketing Association has confirmed continued engagement with the government, stating that the industry is working collaboratively with authorities to manage the potential impact of the Middle East conflict on Zambia’s fuel supply and pricing.
The move underscores the government’s commitment to protecting the country’s economic stability amid evolving global challenges.
“Our job in customer service is to ensure that customers have reliable electricity supply. Today, we are embarking on a technological revolution to make our work more efficient,” he emphasized.
According to Mr. Twange, existing system faults have made it difficult to quickly identify the exact locations of problems, a challenge the new drone technology is expected to address. 
The ministry is already collaborating with industry players to implement strategies aimed at maintaining consistent fuel availability nationwide.
The government also indicated that emergency interventions previously activated during the drought period remain in place and can be deployed to respond to the current situation if necessary.
Meanwhile, the National Oil Marketing Association has confirmed continued engagement with the government, stating that the industry is working collaboratively with authorities to manage the potential impact of the Middle East conflict on Zambia’s fuel supply and pricing.
The move underscores the government’s commitment to protecting the country’s economic stability amid evolving global challenges.