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LATEST ARTICLES
Nigeria: Expect Reliable Power Supply In 2026 – Minister Assures
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has assured Nigerians of a reliable, accessible and sustainable electricity supply across the country in 2026.
“Looking ahead, our focus remains unshakable: to deliver reliable, accessible and sustainable electricity to power our homes, industries and dreams,” Mr. Adelabu said in a New Year message to Nigerians and the people of Oyo State, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji.
The minister said the path forward would be driven by continuity and renewed vigour, with efforts focused on enhancing grid stability and expanding transmission infrastructure.
Mr. Adelabu said collaboration with electricity distribution companies would be intensified to improve service delivery and ensure that metering initiatives reach every community.
“Our Light Up Nigeria initiative remains a priority, focusing on industrial clusters and agricultural hubs to stimulate economic growth and job creation,” he said.
The minister added that renewable energy development would also be prioritised, with solar and hydropower projects deployed to serve underserved communities.
He described 2025 as a year of focused groundwork and deliberate progress in the power sector, despite prevailing challenges.
According to him, notable progress was made in strengthening the national grid and improving overall system stability during the year.
Mr. Adelabu said the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), also known as the Siemens deal, had helped curb the frequent grid collapses experienced in previous years.
“As Phase One of the PPI continues, we assure Nigerians of a strengthened grid that will make disturbances a thing of the past,” he said.
The minister thanked Nigerians for their resilience, noting that their support remains critical to building a robust energy future.
“The journey ahead requires a united front,” Mr. Adelabu said, calling on governments, communities, the private sector and citizens to partner in ongoing reforms.
Nigeria has struggled to provide reliable electricity to homes and industries, forcing many businesses to abandon the national grid and resort to self-generation.
Trump Says US Oil Firms To Enter Venezuela After Maduro’s Abduction
United States President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the US would temporarily administer oil-rich Venezuela until a leadership transition takes place.
The president made the statement at a news conference following the widely condemned military operation in Venezuela and the abduction of the country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, during a raid on Friday night.
Trump, who had previously banned American oil and gas firms from investing in Venezuela, now says US oil companies would enter the country, boasting that “no nation in the world could achieve what America achieved” on Saturday.
Venezuela sits on an estimated 303 billion barrels of crude oil — about one-fifth of the world’s proven reserves — according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). The type of oil Venezuela possesses — heavy, sour crude — requires specialized equipment and a high level of technical expertise to process.
The United States, the world’s largest oil producer, primarily produces light, sweet crude, which is ideal for gasoline production but less suitable for other refined products.
Heavy, sour crude, such as Venezuela’s, is critical for producing diesel, asphalt and fuels used in factories and other heavy equipment.
Although Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, its output remains low. The country currently produces about one million barrels of oil per day — roughly 0.8% of global crude production.
International sanctions on the Venezuelan government and a deep economic crisis have contributed to the decline of the country’s oil industry, but a lack of investment and maintenance has also played a significant role, according to the EIA.
U.S. Attack On Venezuela: Is President Maduro’s Arrest About Oil Control?
The United States on Saturday launched a large-scale air strike on Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, after its military reportedly captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and took them to an undisclosed location.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation on Saturday, describing the mission as a “successful large-scale strike against Venezuela.”
He added that the operation was conducted “in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement.”
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement,” President Trump wrote on social media following the operation.
The United States and Venezuela have had a long-standing, fraught relationship shaped by disputes over oil, politics, sanctions and security concerns.
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, estimated at 303 billion barrels (Bbbl) as of 2023.
Saudi Arabia ranks second with 267.2 Bbbl, followed by Iran at 208.6 Bbbl and Canada at 163.6 Bbbl. Together, these four countries account for more than half of global oil reserves.
By comparison, the United States holds about 55 Bbbl, placing it ninth globally. Venezuela’s reserves are therefore more than five times larger than those of the U.S.
Analysts view the U.S. attack and the reported capture of President Maduro as part of Washington’s broader plan to take control of Venezuela’s oil resources.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro has been indicted in New York on drug trafficking and weapons charges and will “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio anticipates no further action against Venezuela, according to a Republican senator.
Venezuela has declared a national emergency, denouncing what it described as “extremely serious military aggression.”
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government is unaware of the whereabouts of President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, adding that the U.S. attack has resulted in the deaths of government officials, military personnel and civilians across the country.
Several explosions were reported in Caracas, with parts of the city experiencing power outages. The first blast was recorded at approximately 1:50 a.m. local time on Saturday (12:50 a.m. ET).
The U.S. operation appears to have been carried out with “impressive speed,” likely involving special operations forces, according to a munitions and intelligence specialist.
N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of research firm Armament Research Services, told CNN that the operation “appears at first blush to have been carried out with impressive speed and precision.”
“The mix of visible aircraft, the known presence of certain U.S. vessels, and the nature and volume of the reported strikes in imagery circulating online immediately suggested that a raid using special operations forces (SOF) was underway,” he said.
“In addition to at least a dozen helicopters, the operation would have been supported by a robust air package comprising both fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets, including specialist aircraft,” Jenzen-Jones added.
He noted that while the operation would have required extensive planning, the “number and nature” of reported strikes suggest a limited target set.
Venezuela maintains “robust air defence systems and locally distributed military, paramilitary and law enforcement forces” in Caracas, which should have made such a raid difficult, Jenzen-Jones said.
“In practice, corruption, poor training, lack of maintenance and other factors significantly reduce this threat,” he added.
By comparison, the United States holds about 55 Bbbl, placing it ninth globally. Venezuela’s reserves are therefore more than five times larger than those of the U.S.
Analysts view the U.S. attack and the reported capture of President Maduro as part of Washington’s broader plan to take control of Venezuela’s oil resources.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro has been indicted in New York on drug trafficking and weapons charges and will “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio anticipates no further action against Venezuela, according to a Republican senator.
Venezuela has declared a national emergency, denouncing what it described as “extremely serious military aggression.”
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government is unaware of the whereabouts of President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, adding that the U.S. attack has resulted in the deaths of government officials, military personnel and civilians across the country.
Several explosions were reported in Caracas, with parts of the city experiencing power outages. The first blast was recorded at approximately 1:50 a.m. local time on Saturday (12:50 a.m. ET).
The U.S. operation appears to have been carried out with “impressive speed,” likely involving special operations forces, according to a munitions and intelligence specialist.
N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of research firm Armament Research Services, told CNN that the operation “appears at first blush to have been carried out with impressive speed and precision.”
“The mix of visible aircraft, the known presence of certain U.S. vessels, and the nature and volume of the reported strikes in imagery circulating online immediately suggested that a raid using special operations forces (SOF) was underway,” he said.
“In addition to at least a dozen helicopters, the operation would have been supported by a robust air package comprising both fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets, including specialist aircraft,” Jenzen-Jones added.
He noted that while the operation would have required extensive planning, the “number and nature” of reported strikes suggest a limited target set.
Venezuela maintains “robust air defence systems and locally distributed military, paramilitary and law enforcement forces” in Caracas, which should have made such a raid difficult, Jenzen-Jones said.
“In practice, corruption, poor training, lack of maintenance and other factors significantly reduce this threat,” he added.
South Africa: Power Supply Stable For More Than Seven Months – Eskom
South Africa’s power supply has remained stable for more than seven months, with minimal load shedding recorded during the current financial year, state-owned power utility Eskom has said.
In a statement issued on Friday, Eskom said the country has experienced 231 consecutive days without prolonged load shedding, marking one of the longest periods of sustained electricity supply stability in recent years.
The utility reported that only 26 hours of load shedding were recorded during April and May, which it attributed to short-term generation constraints.
Eskom said it plans to bring 5,585 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity online ahead of the evening peak on Monday, January 5, 2026, as part of ongoing measures to maintain grid stability.
According to the utility, the improved performance reflects progress made under its Generation Recovery Plan, including enhanced planned maintenance, improved energy availability factors, and stricter operational discipline across its power stations.
Eskom noted that unplanned outages had declined compared to previous years, allowing the power system operator to manage demand more effectively, even during periods of higher electricity consumption.
Eskom added that it remains focused on ensuring adequate capacity to meet demand, particularly during peak periods.
Despite the progress, the utility cautioned that the power system remains vulnerable and urged continued support for energy-saving measures to help maintain stability.
Eskom noted that although the system remains stable and generation capacity continues to exceed demand, festive-season weather conditions led to a sharp rise in faults across its distribution network.
Reported incidents increased by about 40 percent compared with the same period last year.
While electricity supply has been restored in most affected areas, some communities remain without power due to severely damaged infrastructure.
Eskom said its teams have been working throughout the period and continue efforts to restore supply safely and as quickly as possible.
As a temporary measure, the utility said it is maintaining load reduction in high-risk areas to protect communities and the electricity network.
The power company also raised concerns about illegal connections and meter tampering, warning that the practices continue to damage infrastructure and pose serious safety risks.
Orsted Challenges U.S. Decision To Halt Its $5 Billion Offshore Wind Project
Denmark-based energy firm Ørsted has indicated it will challenge the U.S. government’s decision to suspend the lease for its Revolution Wind joint venture and is seeking a court injunction to overturn the move to halt the $5 billion offshore wind project, according to a Reuters report.
The Trump administration on December 22 suspended leases for five large offshore wind projects under construction off the U.S. East Coast, citing national security concerns.
The announcement sent shares of offshore wind developers sharply lower.
The suspension marked the latest setback for offshore wind developers, who have faced repeated disruptions to multi-billion-dollar projects under U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump has previously criticised wind turbines as unattractive, costly and inefficient.
Ørsted said in a statement on Friday that the Revolution Wind project was about 87 percent complete and, prior to the lease suspension, was expected to begin generating power as early as January 2026.
“Revolution Wind has spent and committed billions of dollars in reliance upon, and has met the requirements of, a thorough regulatory review process,” Ørsted said.
Revolution Wind LLC, a 50-50 joint venture between Ørsted and Global Infrastructure Partners’ Skyborn Renewables, has filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables said in September that they had already spent or committed approximately $5 billion on the project.
Ørsted’s share price fell 13 percent on Monday following the U.S. government’s announcement.
Squeezed by inflation, higher interest rates, supply-chain disruptions and regulatory headwinds, Ørsted last year raised 60 billion Danish crowns ($9.4 billion) through a heavily discounted share issue to strengthen its balance sheet.
State officials, Democratic lawmakers and industry trade groups have criticised the government’s decision as unjustified.
The U.S. Department of the Interior said the suspension followed complaints from the Pentagon, which argued that the movement of large turbine blades and the highly reflective turbine towers could interfere with radar systems used to detect and track security threats.
Sunrise Wind LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ørsted that also received a lease suspension order, said it continues to evaluate all options to resolve the matter.
Turkey Plans First Overseas Deepwater Drilling In Somalia Next Month
Turkey will conduct its first overseas deepwater exploration project offshore Somalia in the first quarter of 2026, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has said, according to a Reuters report.
Bayraktar said a drilling vessel, Cagri Bey, is expected to sail to Somalia in February for the operation.
In 2024, Turkey signed an energy exploration agreement with Somalia as part of efforts to diversify its energy sources and reduce reliance on imports by investing in exploration activities both domestically and abroad.
The minister did not provide detailed information on the drilling programme, noting only that the Somalia project would mark Turkey’s first deepwater exploration venture outside the country.
Last month, Bayraktar told the media that exploration activities in Somalia would be conducted both offshore and onshore following the completion of seismic studies, which began in October last year on behalf of state-owned Turkish Petroleum.
The seismic surveys covered three exploration zones, each spanning about 5,000 square kilometres (approximately 1,930 square miles).
“We carried out seismic operations this year, and most likely 2026 will be a drilling year for us in Somalia’s offshore region,” Bayraktar said at the time.
However, he acknowledged that significant challenges remain in pursuing oil and gas exploration in Somalia.
“They don’t even have roads to access the area, so we need to build the necessary infrastructure. Security is another challenge, and we are working to address these issues,” Bayraktar said in December.
Ghana: TUC, PURC Agree On Roadmap For Future Water And Electricity Tariffs
Ghana’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) has agreed to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission’s (PURC) decision to increase electricity and water tariffs, which took effect on January 1, 2026.
The decision follows a two-day meeting between the leadership of the TUC and management of the PURC.
In December 2025, the PURC announced increases of 15.92 percent for water tariffs and 9.86 percent for electricity tariffs under the 2026–2030 Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO), following nationwide stakeholder consultations.
The TUC had initially rejected the tariff hikes, citing concerns over their impact on workers’ living conditions.
However, after further engagements, both parties agreed to maintain the increases, citing the need to ensure stability in the energy and water sectors and safeguard the broader Ghanaian economy.
This was confirmed in a joint statement signed by Mr. Joshua Ansah, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress, and Dr. Shafic Suleman, Executive Secretary of the PURC.
The PURC reaffirmed that a reversal of the decision would have significant implications for the Commission’s independence and the stability of the utility sectors.
On the other hand, the TUC said it would continue to monitor the impact of the tariff adjustments on salaries and wages, and engage government on wage levels and cost-of-living conditions.
Kenya: EPRA Flags 10 Fuel Stations Caught Selling Adulterated Fuel
Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has cautioned fuel consumers following the discovery of adulterated and export-bound motor fuels being sold on the local market. The regulator identified ten non-compliant petroleum retail sites across the country.
In a notice issued on Wednesday, EPRA said it carried out 4,394 fuel quality tests at 967 petroleum sites during routine inspections conducted between October and December 2025.
Of the sites inspected, 957 (98.97 per cent) were found to be compliant, while ten sites (1.03 per cent) failed to meet regulatory standards.
EPRA said the violations included selling diesel adulterated with domestic kerosene, offering diesel meant for export on the local market, transporting adulterated or export-bound fuel using local trucks, and storing diesel with high sulphur content suspected to have been smuggled into the country.
Among the affected outlets was Meridian Fuels Filling Station in Ngata, Nakuru County, which was found selling diesel adulterated with domestic kerosene. The station was later reopened after upgrading its products and paying taxes and penalties amounting to Ksh140,144.
In Taita Taveta County, a local truck belonging to Mohamed Boat Services Limited was intercepted in Marungu while transporting diesel with high sulphur content adulterated with domestic kerosene. The truck was impounded, and the matter is currently before the court.
Akabi Filling Station in Bukura, Kakamega County, was also cited for selling diesel adulterated with domestic kerosene and has since been closed.
EPRA further listed Eden Energy Service Station in Wote, Makueni County, which was found selling diesel meant for export on the local market. The station was reopened after compliance upgrades and payment of taxes and penalties amounting to Ksh132,780.
In Mombasa County, two local trucks licensed under Abdi Mohammed Technologies Limited were impounded in Likoni after being found transporting diesel meant for export. The cases remain before the court.
The authority also flagged multiple sites in Moyale, Marsabit County, where diesel stored in jerrycans at a Kenya Revenue Authority yard was found to have high sulphur content, raising suspicions of smuggling. The jerrycans were impounded, and investigations are ongoing.
EPRA said enforcement actions were taken in line with the Energy (Retail Facility Construction and Licensing) Regulations, 2013, and reiterated its commitment to continuous monitoring of petroleum products during sale, transportation, and storage.
The authority appealed to the public to report any suspected cases of fuel adulteration at petrol stations.
“Members of the public are requested to report suspected cases of petroleum fuel adulteration or export dumping through the hotline number, the Authority’s USSD code (*363#), or SMS service code (40850),” EPRA said.
Ghana: TOR, Sentuo Refinery Likely To Supply 40% Of The Market – NPA Boss
Ghana’s downstream petroleum regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), says the restart of crude oil refining at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) could deliver significant economic benefits, including reduced pressure on the local currency and improved fuel pricing dynamics.
Speaking on the development, the Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Mr. Godwin Edudzi Tameklo Esq., hailed the resumption of operations at the country’s premier refinery, noting that local refining would ease pressure on the Ghanaian Cedi and positively influence the petroleum pricing regime.
The restart of TOR, following major rehabilitation works after more than six years of inactivity, has reignited optimism among Ghanaians, particularly fuel consumers.
Currently, the refinery is processing about 28,000 barrels per stream day at its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU).
Management plans to commission a newly installed furnace to integrate with the CDU, increasing refining capacity to 45,000 barrels per stream day, with further expansion to 60,000 barrels per stream day in the medium term.
Contributing to a discussion on the resumption of operations at the Tema Oil Refinery on Accra-based TV3’s New Day programme on Monday, December 29, Mr. Tameklo said that with TOR resuming crude refining alongside the Sentuo Refinery, Ghana could significantly reduce the importation of finished petroleum products.
“Sentuo is doing extremely well and has supplied almost 20 per cent of the market over the past few months. I strongly believe that if TOR is able to ramp up production to about 45,000 barrels per day, TOR and Sentuo alone could supply around 40 per cent of the market. That would be significant and would greatly project the country well,” he said.
He added that increased local refining would have a positive impact on fuel pricing and foreign exchange demand.
“One of the key benefits is that it will greatly influence pricing dynamics because we will be importing less. Even more importantly, the foreign exchange required to import finished products will reduce, and the pressure on the Ghana cedi will ease significantly. The economic impact is substantial. Once we are able to do more of these things locally, it strengthens the economy and reduces pressure on the cedi,” Mr. Tameklo said.
Ghana: Fuel Prices To Drop Further By Between 2%-4.8% In January
Consumers of petroleum products are expected to see a further reduction in the prices of petrol, diesel, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the New Year, following a marginal decline during the second pricing window of December 2025, the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) has projected.
According to the chamber, petrol prices are expected to fall by between 2.40% and 4.80%, diesel by 2.42% to 3.77%, and LPG by 1.20% to 2.19%.
“These anticipated reductions are being driven by a significant decline in international petroleum product prices, coupled with the sharp appreciation of the Ghana cedi,” the chamber said in its January 2026 outlook.
During the second pricing window of December 2025, which ends today, petrol was sold between Gh¢12.50 and Gh¢11.35 per litre, while diesel was sold between Gh¢12.99 and Gh¢11.80 per litre, with LPG selling between Gh¢14.20 and Gh¢12.32 per kilogram.
On the international front, crude oil prices eased into the start of 2026, falling by 3.86% from US$63.79 to US$61.33 per barrel, as abundant global supply and rising inventories continued to outweigh geopolitical risks stemming from Russia, the Middle East, and Venezuela.
Driven by the decline in crude oil prices, international refined product markets dropped significantly, with petrol falling by 9.17%, diesel declining by 8.11%, and LPG easing by 3.82% over the period.
The above factors, coupled with the appreciation of the Ghana cedi against major trading currencies as the year draws to a close, are what COMAC says will drive fuel prices further down effective, January 1, 2026.
Nigeria: Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Fully Restored After Explosion – NNPC
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced the successful restoration of the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System, a critical piece of energy infrastructure in Warri, Delta State, following an unexpected explosion on December 10, 2025.
According to the company, emergency response protocols were immediately activated after the incident, with coordinated containment measures deployed.
Multidisciplinary teams worked round the clock to repair the damaged section, conduct pressure testing, and safely recommission the pipeline.
“Today, the pipeline is fully operational, reaffirming our resilience and commitment to energy security,” NNPC Ltd. said in a statement issued on Monday.
The company noted that the swift restoration was made possible through the unwavering support of host communities, the guidance of regulators, the vigilance of security agencies, and the dedication of its partners and staff.
“Together, we turned a challenging moment into a success story, restoring operations in record time while upholding the highest standards of safety and environmental stewardship,” the statement added.
NNPC Ltd. further reaffirmed its commitment to environmental protection, community safety, and the integrity and reliability of its assets as it moves forward.
Ghana: Okada Bill Creates New Pathway For Electric Mobility – Chamber Of Clean Energy
The Ghana Chamber of Clean Energy (GCCE) has welcomed the passage of the Road Traffic Amendment Bill, 2025, describing it as a significant policy development in Ghana’s transport sector and a strategic opportunity to accelerate the deployment and local manufacturing of two- and three-wheel electric motorcycles in the country.
The Bill, popularly referred to as the Okada Bill, amends the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683) to, among other things, legalise the commercial use of motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles, while also introducing strengthened road safety provisions.
Parliament passed the legislation under a Certificate of Urgency, citing the need to regulate a transport segment that has expanded rapidly across the country.
In a press statement, Mr. Seth Owusu-Mante, Founder and Executive Director of GCCE, said the legalisation of commercial motorcycles and light vehicles formally recognises a mode of transport that plays a vital role in urban mobility, informal logistics and delivery services, last-mile connectivity, and employment creation, particularly in Ghana’s cities and peri-urban areas.
The Chamber noted that the move provides an opportunity to introduce structure, enforce safety standards, and support long-term planning in a sector that has largely operated informally.
From a clean energy perspective, GCCE said the Bill creates a strategic opportunity to accelerate the deployment and local manufacturing of electric mobility solutions, particularly within the two- and three-wheeler segment.
The Chamber observed that commercial motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles account for a growing share of vehicle kilometres travelled in Ghana’s urban centres and are predominantly powered by internal combustion engines, contributing to urban air pollution, public health challenges, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and noise pollution.
Mr. Owusu-Mante emphasised that the formal recognition of the commercial motorcycle sector under law provides an important policy lever to shape its future development.
Rather than remaining emissions-intensive, the sector can now be guided toward cleaner, safer, and more efficient technologies through targeted standards, policy incentives, and effective enforcement mechanisms.
GCCE further highlighted that effective implementation of the Bill—particularly with the targeted deployment of electric motorcycles—could unlock broader benefits, including reduced urban air pollution and associated public health risks.
It could also lower operating costs for riders through reduced fuel and maintenance expenses, while creating new jobs across assembly, maintenance, battery services, and charging infrastructure.
The Chamber added that the development of a local electric mobility value chain could position Ghana as a regional hub for the manufacturing and export of electric two- and three-wheelers and related components to other African markets, in line with the country’s broader energy transition and economic development goals.
GCCE said it will study the Road Traffic Amendment Bill, 2025, in detail as part of its ongoing policy and regulatory review process.
The Chamber also expressed its readiness to work closely with its members, government, Parliament, regulators, metropolitan and municipal authorities, transport unions, manufacturers, financiers, and development partners to support the accelerated manufacturing, deployment, and scaling of electric motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles in a safe, environmentally responsible, and economically inclusive manner that supports job creation and Ghana’s economic growth.
Togolese Gov’t Overhauls Tax Framework For Nigeria–Ghana Gas Pipeline
The Government of Togo has revised the tax regime governing the West African Gas Pipeline, a key source of gas supply for the country.
According to local reports, the changes, enacted on December 24, extend the tax exemption for the pipeline operator, West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo), by five years, bringing the total exemption period to 10 years.
Under the new framework, WAPCo’s corporate tax rate has been reduced to 30 percent from 35 percent, aligning it with rates in other countries participating in the regional project.
The law allows Togo to increase the rate if necessary, but caps it at 35 percent.
The National Assembly approved the amendments to the pipeline’s legal and fiscal framework during a plenary session.
Deputy Energy Minister Messan Eklo presented the bill to lawmakers.
Eklo said the changes were designed to ease WAPCo’s financial constraints, which have limited its investment capacity, and to reflect shifts in operating conditions.
These include the opening of a second gas entry point at Takoradi in Ghana and an increase in the number of operators in the sector.
The amendments also grant the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA) regulatory oversight of gas shippers, in line with the network code.
The 678-kilometre pipeline—most of it offshore in the Gulf of Guinea—transports natural gas from Nigeria to Benin, Togo and Ghana. Operations began following a treaty signed by the four countries in January 2003. The previous legal framework dated back to December 2004.
Tanzania: TPDC Launches Second Phase Of Eyasi–Wembere Oil Exploration
The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has officially launched the second phase of the Eyasi–Wembere oil and gas exploration project at Endeshi Village in Karatu District, Arusha Region.
This phase involves the acquisition of two-dimensional (2D) seismic data around Lake Eyasi, with a total of 914 kilometres of seismic lines expected to be surveyed.
Unlike the first phase, which relied on a fleet of advanced vehicles that generated vibrations with reflected signals collected for analysis, the second phase will employ explosives in the lake as the seismic source.
During a recent field visit organised by the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA), the Eyasi–Wembere Oil and Gas Exploration Project Manager, Mr Sindi Maduhu, told local media that the sound waves produced would be captured using 2D seismic technology for further analysis.
PURA is closely involved in the project to ensure all activities comply with the National Energy Policy of 2015, the Petroleum Act of 2015 and its accompanying regulations, while also ensuring that local communities are fully engaged.
Mr Maduhu, who is also TPDC’s geophysicist, said the project contractor, Africa Geophysical Services (AGS), is preparing 15-metre-deep holes in which explosives will be placed ahead of controlled detonations in Lake Eyasi to generate seismic vibrations.
So far, he said, 490 kilometres of seismic lines have been covered, with TPDC targeting a total of 779 kilometres by April next year out of the planned 914 kilometres.
The remaining 139 kilometres will be covered the following year.
“As you can see, we are currently digging holes in Lake Eyasi where explosives will be placed and later detonated to produce the required seismic signals, which will then be analysed to guide the next stages of exploration,” he said.
The geophysicist added that seismic data collected during both the first and second phases will be processed and critically analysed to determine the exact location of the exploration well.
As part of preparations to acquire geological information, Mr Vincent Evance, AGS Project Manager, said the contractor was assembling boats to facilitate movement within the lake during the installation of explosives.
He noted that AGS has recruited a large number of local residents to participate in various project activities.
Karatu, where Lake Eyasi is located, is among the areas covered by the project. Other areas include Ngorongoro (Arusha), Meatu (Simiyu), Kishapu (Shinyanga), Igunga (Tabora), and Iramba and Mkalama (Singida).