Oil & Energy
Need For Sustainable Power Supply
The problem of poor power supply in Nigeria has been terribly lamentable and the situation seems to have defied all efforts by previous governments since in the 80s. one is tempted to now ask what the present administration under President Goodluck Jonathan can do to salvage the country from the ugly trend.
From on-set, the Federal Governemnt has been matching words with action on how better to improve the power sector by ensuring that the mega watt rose to 150 from less than 50, even within the short period of this present dispensation. This was after the Chief executive officer of Olornrisogo Power Station was redeployed to the headquarters for efficiency.
The redeployment followed the warning by the Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji that all managers of the different sections of the utility company –Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), from generation, transmission to distribution should either sit up or be prepared to be booted out. Nnaji first had a meeting with the Chief Executive officers of the different sections of the utility’s value chain when he stressed the need for them to show commitment to duty to give Nigerians the long expected power supply.
Although he agreed that the sector had suffered grave or gross neglect in a couple of decades ago, particularly under the military administration, he was optimistic that if the capacity Nigeria currently has fully utilized, there would be considerable improvement in power delivery. The question now is, who is the cause of Nigeria’s predicament in the power sector. Is it the government or the authorities of the utility company?
With the efforts so far made by the government, one would think that the utility firm, PHCN is to be held responsible for the incessant epileptic power supply in the country. The helmsmen of the company just as the former Nigeria Electricity Power Authority (NEPA), feel that their duties and at coming to defend their budgets and collecting electric bills and share same among themselves and sit back and seek frivolous reasons to justify spending such funds without practical evidence on ground.
Unlike in the past when all the funds that come to the different sections of PHCN pass through the headquarters, the CEOs of the different units currently go to government to defend their annual budgets and spend the money according to their discretions thereby and up at not utilizing the money to provide constant electricity for the people. Some utilize the money in providing poor service leaving undone what the money is meant for.
However, the Chief executive officers saw that it was no business as usual when the minister clamped down on four of their colleagues and that the ministry didn’t come to the combat in child’s gloves. Although, ever since that was done, the situation changed in terms of power supply but a lot needs to be done. The minister needs to tour all the power facilities across the country including the South-South and Port Harcourt in particular to see for himself or have a practical feel of what the people of the area are suffering. All is not well with the PHCN formations across the country and for the Niger Delta region that produces the bulk of the nation’s wealth, special attention should be paid to give the a sense of belonging and to compensate them for the long neglect.
The minister should extend his “Capacity Recovery” to Rivers State because from the look of things lack of commitment and human errors account for considerable power failure in the state. There is need to ensure sustainable electricity supply in Rivers State considering its population and economic contribution coupled with the fact that sustainable and successful business is bi-product of constant electricity supply.
An auto manufacturing company could not be built in Nnewi, Anambra State because of poor power supply in the country. According to the Minister of Power, his efforts as a key player in the do were fruitless as the planned power supply.
In a paper he presented during the 20th anniversary of Anambra State Nnaji said “it was the fledging auto industry in Nnewi which inspired me in the late 1990s to take steps to establish in Nigeria a state-of-the-art company to manufacture auto parts including engines, when I was the ALCOA foundation Professor of Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Pitts burgh”.
The only way to attract investment to Nigeria is for the government to ensure steady and uninterrupted electricity at all levels. The country is blessed with all kinds of natural resources which can attract foreign investors but because of the non-availability of uninterrupted electricity, investors are scared.
Most investors after carrying out feasibility study of the kind of investment they intend to bring into the country will end up being deterred because of the huge, cost of acquiring and fueling a generating plant that would be able to power their investment. Reports have shown that everyday industries and other manufacturing concerns are collspsing and unemployment rate rising as investors are not willing to come and do business in the country because of lack of sustainable power supply.
Sadly, an average Nigerian home spends more than the N18,000 minimum wage which is yet to be paid, a month to power its generator to have power. Much of the economic undevelopment in the country today is because of lack of power, at trend all patriotic Nigerians must not allow to continue. This power has risen to a point that the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and all the state governors should make steady power supply their one-point agenda and do everything humanly possible to ensure that this is achieved before the end of 2012.
Obviously, the government at federal and state levels should partner with other stakeholders or establishments in ensuring that the power problem becomes a thing of the past because until that is done, no matter how much we spend on jingles and advertisements in the local and foreign media to woo investors to come and invest here, it will continue to be a mirage.
Ghana and other industrialized countries did not advertise in international media before virtually multinational and local companies were attracted to invest there. The issue of power supply is however, over-flogged because it is the main key to industrialization and self-reliance in any country and any country without steady electricity remains impoverished with its people.
It has become necessary to suggest that Nigerian governments should send delegations to China and other countries and engage energy companies that will give the country steady power supply so that we can become economically viable, as that is the only way to generate to generate employment for our teeming youths.
In pursuance of its regulatory functions, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in collaboration with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has approved standards and guidelines for the issuance of clearance certificates for importers of generating sets and broken-down parts. This is to ensure that all generating sets to be imported into the country meet all the approved standards and quality and to stop the indiscriminate importation of generating sets into the country.
There has been little or no difference in the state of power supply in the country since the power reform was initiated by former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s government in 2005. This is why the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has embarked on a process of consulting with stakeholders over the need or otherwise to increase electricity tarriff in the country. Chief executive officer of NERC, Dr Sam Amadi, at a workshop on major Review of the Multi-year Tarriff Order (MYTO) urged the shareholders to be objective over the review process, noting that “public power supply in the country is still a standby in most homes and offices, as it was in 2005 when the reform in the power sector began.”
If we must achieve the goal of giving every citizen access to stable, reliable and fairly priced electric power, a reliable and sustainable framework must be put in place to ensure the robust interaction of market forces with social policy to attain equilibrium. This we can do by establishing a pricing regime that will sustain massive private sector investment and guarantee a positive return on investment, while also being fair to underprivileged consumers. The power industry is characterized by lack of a transparent price determination process and abysmally low tariffs, all based on the political whims and considerations of the PHCN, as opposed to the economic principle of full cost recovery.
Shedie Okpara
Oil & Energy
Savannah To Take Over Stubb Creek Field in Nigeria
Savannah Energy PLC has signed agreements to take over Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Nigeria Ltd. (SIPEC), the British company’s co-venturer in the Stubb Creek oil and gas field in Nigeria, for $61.5 million.
SIPEC owns a 49 percent interest in the proven onshore asset in the Akwa Ibom State, which sits on the southern coast of the Western African country.
Savannah affiliate Universal Energy Resources Ltd. operates Stubb Creek with a 51 percent interest.
London-based Savannah, in a Press Release, said it has now inked separate share purchase agreements (SPAs) with the Chinese and Nigerian owners of SIPEC—Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corp. (SIPC) and Jagal Ventures Ltd., the completion of which will result in Savannah taking full ownership of Stubb Creek, SIPEC’s principal asset.
“The SIPC SPA will see Savannah Energy SC Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Savannah) acquire a 75 percent equity interest in SIPEC for cash consideration of US$52 million, payable on completion and subject to customary adjustments for a transaction of this nature from 1 September 2023.
“The Jagal SPA will see Savannah Energy SC Limited acquire a 25 percent equity interest in SIPEC for cash consideration of US$7.5 million (without adjustment), payable on completion, plus US$2 million in deferred cash consideration payable in eight equal quarterly installments post-completion”, it stated.
Savannah simultaneously released an independent analysis showing gross proven and probable (2P) oil and condensate reserves of 11.9 million stock tank barrels (MMstb), as well as a gross best contingent gas estimate (2C) of 515.3 billion cubic feet (Bcf), in Stubb Creek as of January
It also holds an 80 percent interest in Accugas Midstream Business, which owns and operates the Uquo central gas processing facility and 260-kilometer (161.6 miles) pipeline network. The processing facility has a declared capacity of 200 million cubic feet a day.
SIPEC meanwhile had an estimated 8.1 MMstb of 2P oil reserves and 227 Bcf of 2C gas as of yearend, while its oil production is estimated to average 1,400 barrels per day (Kbpd) this year.
“Savannah’s Reserve and Resource base will increase by approximately 46 MMboe [million barrels of oil equivalent] following completion of the SIPEC Acquisition.
“It is anticipated that, within 12 months following completion of the SIPEC Acquisition, Stubb Creek gross production should increase by approximately 2.7 Kbopd to approximately 4.7 Kbopd through implementation of a de-bottlenecking program”, it said.
Oil & Energy
NNPCL Lists Transparency, Accountability, Others, As Transformation Drivers
The Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Olalekan Ogunleye, has identified transparency, accountability, research, technology and innovation as key drivers of the ongoing transformation in the company.
Ogunleye disclosed this while speaking during a Panel Session hosted by the NNPC Ltd at the ongoing 2024 CERAWeek Conference in Houston, the United States.
Ogunleye, whose session addressed the theme, “Africa’s Energy Future: Access, Investment & Sustainability”, said under the current leadership of Mr. Mele Kyari, the Company has institutionalized the use of modern technology to drive its operations, a development that has created tremendous value for the company in its quest to compete with its global peers.
He said with the coming of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2021, NNPC Ltd has today transformed into an integrated commercial entity that is focused on transparency and accountability, two core values that are vital towards the Company’s quest to float an Initial Public Offer (IPO) at the stock exchange.
“Over the last five years, the NNPC Ltd has been pushing the agenda of transparency, accountability and performance excellence. I am glad to say that we are setting very high standards, and this is a journey that we are all committed to going forward”, Ogunleye stated.
He further observed that transparency and accountability have a commercial component to them, because they can make any organisation attractive to its partners and potential investors.
He said currently, the NNPC Ltd is working assiduously to become IPO-ready, stressing that once that is done, the IPO would be phenomenal and successful.
Ogunleye, who described the future as exciting for the NNPC Ltd, said as the biggest energy company in Africa with the biggest resources and largest market, the Company remained committed to delivering value to its shareholders by relentlessly improving its processes in line with global best standards.
He said gas would continue to be an important resource for Africa because it is the surest tool for economic development and for delivering better living standards for the teeming population on the continent.
Ogunleye called on all gas players to sustain the advocacy for gas as a major energy source that will be utilised to develop the economic and industrial fortunes of the continent.
According to him, gas is a top priority for NNPC Ltd because the Company is at the forefront of Nigeria’s gas commercialization efforts and flare elimination.
“Gas has come to stay. It is going to be part of the energy mix for us in the long term. We shall continue to be at the forefront of accelerating gas development and commercialisation in Nigeria”, he added.
Oil & Energy
Africa’s Energy Leap From Fossil Fuels To Renewable Powerhouse
The African continent is at a critical turning point. The region’s energy demand is set to skyrocket, just as climate change is starting to impact local livelihoods in earnest.
African countries are among those most vulnerable to climate change despite having contributed the least to the climate crisis.
Faced by a sharp population growth, and a need to develop local and national economies, Africa also must simultaneously contend with the urgent imperative to keep emissions in check. It’s a tall order.
Indeed, Africa is a perfect example of what is known as the energy trilemma: the tricky problem of creating enough energy while also keeping that energy sustainable and affordable.
What makes Africa’s situation so unique and so dire is the intense scale of each of these trends. The continent has some of the most underdeveloped energy grids on the globe, and is also facing the biggest population boom anywhere on Earth.
Africa has the fastest growing population in the world, expected to double between now and 2050. This means that, by midcentury, a quarter of the global population will be in sub-Saharan Africa. This presents a massive energy and infrastructure gap in the coming decades.
Currently, about 600 million people across Africa completely lack access to electricity. Furthermore, for a great many of those who do have access, it is not reliable or stable, as power failures and rolling blackouts are a common occurrence.
Such intermittent electricity is common in urban areas, while in rural areas establishing any form of grid connectivity can present a major challenge.
African energy demand is expected to increase by a third over the next decade as sub-Saharan Africa grows, develops, and industrializses.
To meet this demand, power generation capacity will have to increase by a factor of 10 by 2065. But to advance toward such goals without breaking climate pledges and more generally counteracting global progress toward decarbonization, Africa has to “leapfrog” over what is normally the next phase of development in a poor nation’s economic journey.
Unlike other nations in history which have enriched themselves and developed their economy by burning massive amounts of cheap and abundant fossil fuels with abandon, countries developing now do not have the same option.
Luckily, Africa is a goldmine of potential renewable energy resources.
“The continent is extremely rich in natural gas (considered to be a stepping stone away from dirtier fossil fuels like coal and oil), as well as abundant sunshine, wind, and highly sought-after rare Earth minerals such as lithium and cobalt which are essential components of renewable technologies including photovoltaic solar panels and lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage”, Oilprice reported in July of 2023.
It’s just a matter of securing sufficient investment, fostering a supportive political environment, and establishing trans-national intra-African energy sharing agreements to be able to tap all of that green energy potential. If managed properly, clean energy could benefit the African economy enormously while helping to solve the riddle of the energy trilemma.
According to a new database of planned and installed renewable energy capacity across Africa, the continent is well on its way to achieving its ambitious energy “leapfrogging” goals.
In fact, figures show that if all planned additions are carried out without issue, some African nations could totally decarbonize by midcentury.
The Renewable Power Plant Database Africa, built by a renewable energy scientific modelling team from Rwanda and Germany, is the first comprehensive overview of renewable energy plants in Africa to include key details such as their geographic coordinates, construction status and capacity (in megawatts), allowing for more accurate and sophisticated modelling.
Such modelling shows that some of the countries with the most advanced renewable energy sectors and plans (such as Nigeria and Zimbabwe) already have enough clean energy projects lined up to conceivably transition away from fossil fuels as soon as 2050.
Furthermore, 76% of Africa’s electricity demand could be supplied by renewable sources by just 2040 in a scenario in which all clean energy plants in the pipeline are built as planned, and existing hydro-, solar and wind power plants are used to their full capacity.
This 76% would be composed of 82% hydropower, 11% solar power and 7% wind power.
However, the heavy dependence on hydropower in the short term is not a good long-term solution as periods of drought pose serious energy security risks.
“We conclude that combining the advantages of hydropower with wind and solar would be a more sustainable alternative to hydropower alone”, the Database team states, adding, “And that hybrid solutions would be the best option’.
Despite Africa’s many challenges, it stands to be one of the most important players in the global energy industry going forward. Its climatic and ecological characteristics and relatively low population density compared to other key regions gives it a major advantage as a hydro, wind, and solar powerhouse.
If built out according to plan, its clean energy output will be formidable. And as the continent develops, its massive workforce could make it a clean energy manufacturing source to reckon with.
Zaremba writes for oilprice.com concessional and semi-concessional.
By: Haley Zaremba
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