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Ghana: GRIDCO Sets August 23 To Replace Damaged Transmission Tower In Ashaiman
The Ghana Grid Company Ltd. (GRIDCo) has completed the initial phase of repair works on the Ashaiman section of the 161-kilovolt Tema-Achimota transmission line, the company said.
A team of GRIDCo engineers carried out the preliminary works on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, as part of efforts to replace a transmission tower damaged in a July incident.
The tower at Ashaiman Middle East was damaged on July 10 when a fuel tanker exploded while welding work was being carried out on its tank within the transmission line’s right of way, GRIDCo said.
GRIDCo said on Saturday that it would curtail power supply to parts of the Greater Accra region on Sunday to facilitate the repair works. Power supply to affected customers has since been restored, the company said in a statement on Sunday evening.
The remaining phase of the work, involving the replacement of the damaged transmission tower, will be undertaken on Sunday, Aug. 23, GRIDCo said.
In collaboration with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), GRIDCo said it would provide prior information to customers and communities that may be affected by the planned works, including any associated power supply interruptions.
GRIDCo said it would continue to work to complete the tower replacement and restore the full integrity, reliability and resilience of the transmission line.
The company thanked the public for its patience, understanding and cooperation as it works to complete the repair.
Ghana: Diesel Prices Expected To Rise, Petrol And LPG Prices To Fall
Motorists in Ghana are expected to face a 1.39% increase in diesel prices in the second pricing window of August, while petrol and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices are projected to decline by 2.90% and 0.93%, respectively, the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) said.
The mixed outlook reflects uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-Iran dispute and higher international crude oil prices.
COMAC said a recent 2-cedi reduction in the regulatory margin on diesel should continue to cushion consumers from the full impact of higher pump prices.
The chamber also said the recent appreciation of the cedi could provide further relief in coming pricing windows if the trend is sustained.
Average crude oil prices rose 2.02% to $90.41 a barrel in mid-August, driven by geopolitical risks and potential supply disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, COMAC said.
Refined petroleum products recorded mixed movements, with diesel prices rising 2.86%, while petrol and LPG prices fell 5.46% and 2.54%, respectively.
Diesel prices came under renewed pressure following another Ukrainian attack on a Russian refinery and a Houthi attack on a Saudi Arabian refining facility, COMAC said.
The cedi depreciated 1.20% to 11.80 cedis per dollar between July 27 and Aug. 11, based on bank averages, COMAC said.
The currency has since strengthened, with the Bank of Ghana’s rate at 10.98 cedis per dollar on Aug. 14.
COMAC expects further appreciation if current foreign exchange supply conditions persist, which could help lower the local cost of imported petroleum products in subsequent pricing windows.
The latest outlook is broadly consistent with the National Petroleum Authority’s price floors for the second pricing window of August.
The petrol price floor has been reduced by 0.61 cedi per litre to 13.92 cedis from 14.53 cedis, while the LPG price floor has fallen by 0.08 cedi per kilogram to 10.98 cedis from 11.06 cedis.
Diesel, however, has moved in the opposite direction, with its price floor rising by 0.22 cedi per litre to 15.19 cedis from 14.97 cedis.
The changes could provide some relief for petrol and LPG consumers, while diesel users may continue to face higher operating and transport costs.
The Gambia Begins Peak-Hour Load Shedding As Electricity Demand Hits 140 MW
The Gambia on Saturday began implementing load shedding during peak hours, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., following an unforeseen surge in electricity demand and constraints on power imports, the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) said.
In a statement issued on Saturday, NAWEC said the country had experienced an unforeseen surge in electricity demand during peak periods, reaching up to 140 MW nationwide.
The utility attributed the increase to prevailing high temperatures.
“This demand surge has coincided with constraints on electricity imports, despite NAWEC currently operating four local generating units,” the company said.
According to NAWEC, the situation has been further compounded by a technical incident affecting one of the major power-generating units on the import side.
“In view of these developments, NAWEC will institute load shedding during peak hours, mainly between 8:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., affecting several parts of the country,” it said.
NAWEC said the measure was necessary to maintain the secure and stable operation of the available power system.
The company apologised for the inconvenience and appealed to customers for their patience and cooperation, adding that it would continue to provide regular updates through its official communication channels as it works to manage the situation and ensure stable power supply.
South Africa’s Top Court Overturns Ruling Allowing Shell Seismic Surveys Off Wild Coast
Local communities and environmental groups had challenged the seismic survey plans, arguing in part that they had not been adequately consulted.
Justice Jody Kollapen said the Supreme Court of Appeal’s order was set aside.
Shell said it remained committed to responsible offshore exploration, stakeholder engagement and environmental stewardship.
The ruling does not affect Shell’s broader exploration plans in South Africa.
Shell received environmental authorisation last year to drill up to five ultra-deepwater exploration wells in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep Block off South Africa’s west coast, part of the Orange Basin, which extends north into Namibia.
Shell has made several major discoveries on the Namibian side of the basin, where exploration has advanced more rapidly.
The company is also pursuing a 60% operating interest in South Africa’s Block 2C through a proposed farm-in agreement with state-owned PetroSA.
Under the proposed deal, Shell would pay a $25 million signing bonus and fund about $135 million to $150 million for an initial three-well programme.
The transfer remains subject to regulatory approval.
South Africa’s offshore acreage lies alongside the Orange Basin, one of the world’s most closely watched emerging oil and gas exploration regions.
However, legal challenges and permitting disputes have repeatedly delayed exploration activity on the South African side of the basin.
Shell has meanwhile been reducing its downstream exposure in South Africa while continuing to pursue upstream opportunities.
The company has moved to sell its South African retail and trading business after previously disposing of its stake in the shuttered Sapref refinery.
Ghana: GRIDCo To Cut Power In Parts Of Greater Accra On Sunday For Emergency Repairs
Ghana Grid Company Ltd. (GRIDCo) will curtail power supply to parts of the Greater Accra Region on Sunday, August. 16, from 3:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. to allow engineers to carry out emergency works to replace a damaged tower on the Tema-Achimota 161-kV transmission line at Ashaiman Middle East.
“GRIDCo engineers and technical teams will use this period to safely undertake the required works and restore the integrity of the transmission line,” the company said in a statement on Saturday.
GRIDCo apologised to affected customers for the planned outage and appealed for public patience and cooperation while the emergency works are carried out.
The transmission tower was damaged on July 10 when a fuel tanker exploded while welding work was being carried out on its tank within the transmission line’s right-of-way (RoW), GRIDCo said.
The planned repairs prompted a visit to the site by Energy and Green Transition Minister Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, who inspected the damaged tower on Thursday.
GRIDCo said encroachment on a lawfully acquired or assigned transmission line right-of-way is prohibited by law.
The Transmission Line Protection Regulations, 1967 (L.I. 542), as amended by L.I. 1737 of 2004, prohibit activities including unauthorised construction, excavation, drilling, commercial operations, lorry parks, shops and garages within transmission line corridors.
During his visit, Jinapor warned people, businesses, land users and other entities encroaching on transmission line rights-of-way across the country to vacate the affected areas within one month or face enforcement action, including forced eviction and confiscation of items left behind, according to the statement.
The directive applies particularly to those who have erected structures, established businesses, parked heavy vehicles or carried out welding, excavation or other industrial activities within the transmission line corridors.
GRIDCo said that after the one-month period it would work with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, other statutory institutions and security agencies to enforce the law and remove unauthorised structures and activities from transmission line rights-of-way.
“Persons who fail to comply should therefore expect enforcement action in accordance with the applicable laws,” GRIDCo said.
The company said transmission line rights-of-way were not available for unrestricted occupation or commercial use and urged the public, traditional authorities, landowners, businesses and local authorities to cooperate in keeping the corridors clear of encroachment.
Kenya: EPRA Cuts Diesel Prices, Keeps Petrol And Kerosene Unchanged
Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has cut the price of diesel by 5 shillings per litre in its latest monthly review, while keeping the prices of Super Petrol and Kerosene unchanged.
The new prices take effect from midnight on Friday, Aug. 14, and will apply from Saturday, Aug. 15, EPRA said.
A litre of diesel in Nairobi will now retail at 217.86 shillings, down from 222.86 shillings. Super Petrol will remain at 214.03 shillings per litre, while Kerosene will remain at 191.38 shillings.
EPRA said the prices of Super Petrol and Kerosene were maintained with the support of an additional government fuel stabilisation subsidy of 938 million shillings.
“The prices are inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT),” EPRA said, citing the VAT Act of 2013, the Finance Act of 2023, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act of 2024 and revised excise duty rates adjusted for inflation.
The regulator attributed the changes to movements in the average landed cost of imported petroleum products.
The average landed cost of imported Super Petrol rose 6.99% to $894.92 per cubic metre in July from $836.92 in June, EPRA said.
Over the same period, the landed cost of diesel fell 13.08% to $855.59 per cubic metre from $984.37, while that of kerosene declined 11.01% to $915.01 per cubic metre from $1,028.17.
Ghana: Energy Minister Gives One-Month Ultimatum To GRIDCo Right-Of-Way Encroachers To Vacate Or Fce Eviction
Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has given individuals and businesses operating within Ghana Grid Company Limited’s (GRIDCo) transmission rights-of-way one month to voluntarily evacuate or face forced removal.
Jinapor said the directive was necessary to protect critical energy infrastructure and prevent activities within transmission corridors from endangering lives, property and Ghana’s power supply.
He issued the directive on Thursday during a visit to Ashaiman Middle East to inspect the assembly of a replacement transmission tower after a tanker explosion damaged an existing tower on July 10.
The tanker exploded while undergoing welding work beneath a transmission line, sending part of the vehicle more than 300 metres into one of the towers and compromising its structural integrity.
Under L.I. 542, as amended by L.I. 1737, activities are prohibited within protected corridors extending 15 metres on either side of 161-kilovolt transmission lines and 20 metres on either side of 330-kilovolt lines.
Jinapor said the government would use legal measures to remove people who failed to comply with the deadline, including confiscating and auctioning items left behind.
“We are giving all those operating under these pylons one month to evacuate on their own,” he said.
He said the government would work with the police, military, national security, local assemblies and other stakeholders to enforce the directive, adding that repeated appeals to encroachers had failed to resolve the problem.
“Where persuasion fails, force must be applied legally,” Jinapor said.
The chief executive of GRIDCo, Frank Asirifi Otchere, said the July 10 incident had compromised the structural integrity of the tower, which carries two critical transmission lines from the Volta Substation in Tema to the Achimota Substation.
“The power on it feeds most of Accra,” he said.
Otchere said the impact occurred after part of the tanker travelled more than 300 metres before hitting the tower, creating a risk that the structure could collapse and affect other towers along the transmission line.
GRIDCo has retrieved an identical spare tower from its stores and is assembling it to replace the damaged structure.
Otchere said the replacement work was scheduled for the weekend and had been compressed from the usual two days to about 12 hours to minimise disruption.
“Our men have done the programme and crashed it so that we’ll try to contain it within a day, within 12 hours,” he said.
He warned that the work could require a temporary reduction in electricity load in Accra to prevent adjacent transmission lines from becoming overloaded and tripping.
He appealed to the public to stay away from transmission rights-of-way, saying the restrictions were intended to protect lives and prevent damage to critical infrastructure.
“When GRIDCo comes around, and we say move away from our right of way, we are thinking of your good,” he said.
Nigeria: Five Transmission Towers In Akwa Ibom Have Collapsed After Vandalism, TCN Says
Nigeria’s Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said on Friday that five transmission towers in Akwa Ibom state had collapsed after vandals removed critical structural members, forcing the network to reconfigure power supplies in the area.
TCN said the damage was discovered on Aug. 9 during a routine joint patrol of the transmission line by its linesmen.
A preliminary assessment found that critical structural bracing members had been removed from towers N9, J4, N10, N11 and N12, causing the towers to collapse, the company said in a statement signed by its management and shared on X.
Further inspection found that structural members had also been removed and stolen from seven other towers along the same transmission corridor, TCN said.
The affected towers — J3, N8, N13, N14, N15, N18 and N19 — had been structurally compromised and could also collapse, it said.
“To mitigate the impact on electricity supply, the network has been reconfigured to prioritise supply to Ekim transmission station, leaving Ibom Power as the only station without supply,” TCN said.
The company said it was mobilising an urgent intervention to reconstruct the damaged sections of the transmission line and restore normal network operations.
Security agencies had been notified to support investigations and prevent further vandalism along the transmission route, TCN said.
The company condemned the vandalism as an act of sabotage and urged stakeholders and security agencies to remain vigilant as efforts continued to protect critical electricity infrastructure and prevent further disruptions to power supply.
Ghana Gas Posts GHS248 Million Net Profit In 2025 Despite Revenue Decline
The Ghana National Gas Company Ltd (Ghana Gas) posted a net profit of GHS248 million ($21.6 million) in 2025, despite a decline in revenue and gross profit, according to the company’s financial statements.
Gross profit fell to GHS1.23 billion in 2025 from GHS1.54 billion a year earlier, while revenue declined 11% to GHS5.85 billion from GHS6.56 billion.
Chief Executive Officer Judith Adjobah Blay said the decline in revenue was partly due to the appreciation of Ghana’s cedi, while prudent expenditure management and targeted cost-optimisation measures helped mitigate the impact on the company’s bottom line.
“Gross profit for the period amounted to Gh¢1,227,000,000, compared with Gh¢1,536,000,000 in 2024,” the company said in its financial statements. “While direct costs of sales declined during the period, the reduction did not fully absorb the adverse impact of lower approved tariff rates and unfavourable foreign exchange movements, resulting in a reduction in gross profit margin.”
Revenue from the sale of lean gas stood at GHS5.28 billion in 2025, down from GHS5.70 billion in 2024. Revenue from LPG sales fell to GHS482.1 million from GHS604.9 million, while condensate sales declined to GHS91.8 million from GHS255.6 million.
Operating expenses declined 8% to GHS4.62 billion from GHS5.03 billion in 2024, primarily due to lower operations and maintenance costs, the company said.
Ghana Gas invested GHS426 million in capital expenditure during the year, mainly on strategic infrastructure projects aimed at increasing processing capacity and improving the reliability of its gas facilities.
Blay said key achievements during the year included the acquisition of AKSA Energy Limited’s 4-km, 12-inch high-pressure natural gas pipeline in Tema.
The company also signed a construction and tie-in agreement with Continental Blue Investment (CBI) for an 8-inch gas pipeline to transport lean gas for the production of gypsum boards for export, as well as a gas sale and construction agreement with Tetracore Ghana Limited, she said.
“Beyond the visible achievements, there was also a shift in mindset across the organisation,” Blay said.
Looking ahead, Ghana Gas will accelerate investment in gas infrastructure to improve the reliability, security and efficiency of gas delivery while further consolidating its role as the National Gas Transmission Utility, Blay said.
Board Chairman Kofi Totobi Quakyi said the board and management had strengthened governance structures during the year through enhanced internal controls and reporting frameworks, with an emphasis on accountability and ethical conduct.
“These principles continue to underpin our reporting and decision-making processes, safeguard long-term sustainability, and drive organisational performance,” he said.
Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor commended Ghana Gas for its operational and financial performance, describing the company as a critical pillar of Ghana’s energy security and industrial development.
Jinapor said Ghana Gas recorded growth in gas processing and LPG production and achieved a 97% increase in net profit during the period under review.
He said the company’s performance underscored its role in supporting the government’s Gas-to-Power agenda and ensuring a reliable supply of natural gas to power producers and other sectors of the economy.
“Ghana Gas delivered strong results, recording growth in gas processing and LPG production, alongside an impressive 97% increase in net profit. These achievements reaffirm the Company’s vital role in strengthening Ghana’s energy security and supporting the Government’s Gas-to-Power agenda,” Jinapor said.
Jinapor said Ghana Gas recorded growth in gas processing and LPG production and achieved a 97% increase in net profit during the period under review.
He said the company’s performance underscored its role in supporting the government’s Gas-to-Power agenda and ensuring a reliable supply of natural gas to power producers and other sectors of the economy.
“Ghana Gas delivered strong results, recording growth in gas processing and LPG production, alongside an impressive 97% increase in net profit. These achievements reaffirm the Company’s vital role in strengthening Ghana’s energy security and supporting the Government’s Gas-to-Power agenda,” Jinapor said. UAE Accuses Iran Of Attacking Two ADNOC Vessels In Strait Of Hormuz
The United Arab Emirates has condemned Iran for attacking two vessels affiliated with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening.
“The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned and denounced the hostile Iranian attack that targeted two vessels affiliated with ADNOC as they transited the Strait of Hormuz,” the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement in the early hours of Friday.
No injuries were reported in the attack, the ministry added.
Iran did not immediately comment on the attack or the UAE’s accusations.
The incident comes days after the UAE reported a similar attack on an ADNOC tanker on Saturday. No injuries were reported in that incident either.
Iran has continued to enforce what it describes as control over passage through the Strait of Hormuz and has sought to impose charges on vessels using the waterway. The United States has strongly opposed the move and has imposed its own restrictions on Iranian shipping.
Iran is currently in talks with Oman over arrangements for the future management of the strait.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has previously threatened action against vessels transiting the strait if they are linked to Tehran’s adversaries or fail to comply with Iranian directives.
The Emirati Foreign Ministry said attempts by Iran to use the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of economic coercion amounted to “piracy” and constituted a “direct threat to the stability of the region, its peoples, and global energy supplies.”
Following Saturday’s attack on an ADNOC vessel, the UAE blamed the IRGC for the strike. That incident drew condemnation from regional and Arab governments.
ADNOC said a total of 15 of its vessels had been attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran in February.
The United States and Iran remain at odds over the Strait of Hormuz as mediators seek to bring the two sides back to negotiations.
Iran asserts control over the strategic waterway, challenging U.S. claims of dominance in the strait.
Two ADNOC Vessels Attacked In Strait of Hormuz; No Injuries
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said on Friday that two of its vessels were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening.
No injuries were reported and the situation was brought under control, the company said in a statement.
ADNOC stressed the importance of protecting the safety and well-being of seafarers and safeguarding freedom of navigation and maritime security.
The company urged the public to rely solely on official sources for information and avoid circulating rumours or unverified reports.
ADNOC said a total of 15 of its vessels had been attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran in February.Malawi: ESCOM Announces Emergency Load Shedding After Power Supply Falls
Malawi’s state power utility ESCOM said on Thursday it had introduced emergency load shedding after a sharp drop in solar power generation and a fault at one of the generating units at the Nkula B hydropower station reduced electricity supply.
ESCOM said solar generation from independent power producers had fallen to about 10 megawatts (MW) from 111 MW due to weather conditions.
The reduction was compounded by a fault at the Nkula B Unit 6 generating unit, operated by the utility’s main hydropower supplier, it said.
The utility warned that power cuts could extend beyond scheduled times and affect customers outside their planned load-shedding schedules.
ESCOM said its suppliers were working to restore the affected generating units and normal power supply.
It advised customers to follow the load-shedding programme published on Aug. 10 through its website and other communication platforms.
The disruption highlights the vulnerability of Malawi’s electricity supply to fluctuations in renewable generation and outages at major hydropower facilities.
Ukraine Strikes Gazprom’s 200,000-Bpd Salavat Refinery In The Urals
Ukraine struck another major Russian refinery Thursday, hitting Gazprom’s Neftekhim Salavat complex in the Urals as Kyiv intensified attacks that have already forced Moscow to curb fuel exports and even import gasoline.
The attack caused a fire at the 200,000-barrel-per-day facility in Russia’s Bashkortostan region, about 750 miles east of Moscow, according to Ukraine’s General Staff.
Regional governor Radiy Khabirov said falling drone debris started a fire in Salavat’s industrial area but did not identify the damaged facility.
Neftekhim Salavat was also attacked in mid-July.
Another Urals refinery is in worse shape. The 120,000-bpd Orsknefteorgsintez plant in the Orenburg region has completely halted operations following Ukrainian drone strikes, regional governor Yevgeny Solntsev said Thursday.
Repairs could take as long as six months because sanctions are making damaged equipment difficult to replace, Solntsev said. The refinery was hit Monday and the city of Orsk came under another drone attack Thursday.
Ukraine has targeted Russian refineries and export infrastructure nearly daily as it tries to squeeze Moscow’s oil revenue while tightening domestic fuel supplies. The refinery outages have already contributed to gasoline shortages and prompted Russia to restrict exports of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
Russia has even started importing gasoline from India. A 42,000-ton cargo from Nayara Energy’s Vadinar refinery arrived in Russia on August 5, according to Kpler data. The Indian refinery is partly owned by Rosneft and processes Russian crude.
Russian refinery runs averaged about 3.6 million bpd in July, more than 30% below seasonal levels, according to EA Analytics estimates cited by Bloomberg.
The processing losses are also showing up in Russia’s export numbers. Seaborne petroleum-product exports fell 33% in July from June and nearly 55% from a year earlier as refinery outages cut available fuel supplies.
Ukraine also targeted oil infrastructure connected to Transneft’s Sheskharis export terminal at Novorossiysk this week, according to Ukraine’s Security Service, extending the pressure from Russian refineries to the infrastructure needed to move crude abroad.
Ghana: GRIDCo Warns Of Power Outages In Parts Of Accra Over Weekend To Replace Damaged Tower
The Ghana Grid Company Ltd. (GRIDCo) has announced plans to reduce power supply to parts of Accra over the weekend to allow for the replacement of a damaged transmission tower at Ashaiman Middle East, near Tema.
GRIDCo Chief Executive Ing. Frank Asirifi Otchere disclosed this during a visit to the area by the sector minister, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, on Thursday afternoon.
Briefing the minister, Otchere said that on July 10, some welders were working on a fuel tanker beneath the Tema-Achimota 161 kV double-circuit transmission lines when the tanker suddenly exploded.
A part of the tanker was propelled more than 300 metres and struck a nearby transmission tower.
Otchere said the impact had compromised the structural integrity of the tower, making it necessary to replace it.
“We are planning that over the weekend we take the whole tower down and replace it with a new one,” Otchere said.
He said the transmission line where the tower was damaged is critical because it serves Accra.
To avoid overloading adjacent lines, GRIDCo will need to reduce the load serving Accra while the replacement work is carried out.
Otchere, however, did not specify the areas in Accra that will experience power outages.
The GRIDCo chief executive also urged artisans, welders, mechanics and shop owners who are illegally occupying GRIDCo’s right of way beneath transmission lines to vacate the area to avoid exposing themselves and others to danger.
Minister Jinapor noted that the replacement exercise would result in temporary power outages in some parts of Accra.
Jinapor commended the engineers and appealed to residents in the affected areas to bear with GRIDCo and the Ministry during the exercise.
