Oil & Energy

Towards Stable Electricity Supply In Rivers

Published

13 years ago

February 13, 2012

The Rivers State Government recently reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring stable and constant electricity in the State.

The State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who disclosed this at the Inter-denominational church service to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day assured that citizens of the State would by December this year enjoy stable and constant electricity.

Acknowledging the challenges facing the people of the state, the governor said he would tackle them promptly, adding “Government is fully aware of its commitment to the people who elected me into office”. He reaffirmed that plans were on-going to provide stable and constant electricity in the state by December 2012.

To further reaffirm this commitment, the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shell Nigeria Gas, a subsidiary of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) for the development and distribution of natural gas within Port Harcourt and its environs. A similar agreement was also signed with Oando Gas and Power on the same issue as its determination to reposition the state in the development of the gas sector as well as help in improving the power plans of the state government.

The MoU represents a key step in not only the gas masterplan implementation but will also put the state reputation as the energy hub of the country and improve the socio-economic benefits of the state. This can only be possible if the parties keep to the agreements. The MOU covers a period of thirty years.

Rivers State is a major oil and gas province in the Sub-Saharan Africa with more than 40 percent of Nigeria’s crude oil reserves and 55 percent of natural gas reserves located in the state. Many key players in the Nigerian Petroleum and natural gas industry have their regional offices in Port Harcourt, the capital of the state.

However, despite the more than 50 years of active operation in the state, there is very little synergy between the oil and gas industry and the local economy, particularly with respect to power distribution and transmission, and effective participation of indigeneous entrepreneurs.

The on-going efforts by the Rivers State government at repositioning the power sector would boost electricity supply in the state and take the state to a greater heights in our pursuit of making electricity safe, reliable and affordable. There is currently an increase in electricity generation in the state but that would not solve the problem until there is a corresponding increase in distribution.

The vision of the present administration in the State is to transform the economy through efficient use of energy resources as well as to position Port Harcourt as the Energy capital of the West African Sub-Region and the Gulf of Guinea. The use of gas resources to power electricity in Rivers State will enable its people get the benefits of the resources of their land.

One very important aim of the state government from the time past has been to develop its gas turbine into one of the leading Independent Power Project (IPP) in the country and the government had continued to offer a wide range of solutions to the problem of power shortage for which several feasibility studies and plans have been done. The government has continously placed priority on the development of the power sector in the state, hence the Omoku gas turbine, Trans-Amadi and Eleme gas turbines had undergone processes of power distribution and transmission, yet their aims are not fully achieved, though the state power station at Oyigbo (Afam) is giving a boost to the power project of the state.

The government of Amaechi believes in serving as a reference for excellence, this, he wants to show in the power supply as he did in the social responsibility. The governor’s reassurance to fulfil his promise of providing adequate electricity to the entire state before the end of his tenure, no doubt, must be backed with action.

At a meeting with Chiefs, elders, youths, women and opinion leaders of communities whose lands would be acquired for the construction of the planned 33/11/KV injection Sub-Stations and Rows for transmission lines, the state Commissioner for Power, Hon. Augustine Wokocha reiterated that government was committed to providing a stable and an affordable electricity supply in the state.

He advised communities against unnecessary interruption that would impede the course of the surveyors and valuers, stating the resolve of government to complete its projects in record time. “Communities should cooperate with surveyors and valuers as well as the contractors that would handle the projects to enable them carry out power work that would be beneficial to both the government and the communities”, he stressed.

Port Harcourt is a very comfortable investment zone and the state continues to make its mark and contribution towards sustainable power production and distribution. It is hoped that the government will establish an Independent Power Project (IPP) that will power the business sector in the state and have other things that will enable the state have independent power plants in the strategic areas. It is also hoped that the state would work with the Federal Government plans to privatize the power sector, bearing in mind that power is still in the exclusive list.

The government has so many things to put in place before it can go into the Independent Power Project which President Goodluck Jonathan is trying to do in the reodmap on power sector reform. The Federal Government’s gas-to-power initiative, the passing into law of the Nigerian Local Content Bill and other initiatives by the Rivers State government from its Petroleum and Natural gas resources would provide the necessary enabling materials for the achievement of stable and constant electricity supply to the state.

With the Federal Government’s intention to ensure that oil companies end gas flaring by December this year, it is expected that the Rivers State government would key into the programme to make energy-driven economy for the state as it will attract investment opportunities and create jobs for the people in the power and industrial sectors.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has put in place necessary mechanism in order to have an acceptable platform for the proposed electricity tariff review and already collating materials to work with, with a view to issuing a new cost of electricity in the country. This will usher in a subsidised cost of electricity for ordinary Nigerians who may not be able to afford the proposed increase in tarrif, especially those in the rural areas and others. More than 40 per cent of the electricity in the country are generated privately for greater efficiency.

This calls for the Federal Government to reduce import taxes paid on components used for producing power equipment. Such reduction of import duties would encourage investors and governments in the country to produce more power to improve the supply situation, create jobs and wealth for the country. Regular and efficient power supply remains the only infrastructure that is required to install the full entrepreneurial energies of the state and nation’s economy, and unleash unprecedented economic growth.

The Rivers State government’s focus is to make progress in optimizing its gas for distribution to power industries and key into the President’s gas-to-power framework or masterplan. The power sector in the state, in the third quarter of last year showed good signs of improvement which began after the turn-around maintenance and upgrading of the electricity supply and distribution by the State government in conjunction with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in the State. Residents of Port Harcourt and the state are concerned about whether the tempo can be sustained to end the blackouts suffered in recent past. Thanks to the Amaechi government because the situation which was described as failure and epileptic has resurrected with unending power supply chain-transmission, distribution and generation.

In the electricity business, if any section of the chain is insufficient or works at sub-optiomal level as a result of poor equipment or operation, it would affect other sections, so the state government in its commitment to providing electricity for the people overhauled the entire supply chain of the power sector in the state, which is currently paying off. Rivers people and residents of Port Harcourt and its environs are now enjoying improved power supply and it is hoped that by the end of this year and with the plans underway, there will be substantial increase in power generation in the state, even with the envisaged growth in gas supply next year.

The current development exemplifies the government’s seriousness in ensuring stable and constant electricity by December this year and also underscores the government’s capability in managing the complex synergies in the power sector reform which seems to task more responsibilities to the PHCN. Seven years after the Power Sector reform Act 2005, we ought to have moved to the point of counting our gains of the reform as against the benefits lost. In the light of emerging realities, there is a lot more that needs to be done to secure an anchor to the reforms which are proving unworkable.

It will be a worthwhile experience for Rivers people to have a telling reference of the improvement or stability in power supply in the State from the Governor Amaechi-led administration. The State Power Station in Afam which is off-grid is on course and it is giving what the metropolis wants and enabling the state deliver services that are so critical to the welfare of the people.

The governor has thought reasonably by trying to replicate the model in his state. What the nation needs at this time are scores of compact micro-schemes to deliver power off-grid to take the wind out of the sail of the inept PHCN.

Shedie Okpara

Oil & Energy

Hedge Funds Turn Bearish On Oil, Bullish On Natural Gas

Published

2 months ago

March 17, 2025

The Tide

Traders have not been this bearish on oil in months or so bullish on United States natural gas in years.
The latest data on money managers’ positioning in the WTI and Brent crude and U.S. natural gas futures showed two contrasting trends—speculators are betting that oil prices would remain low or go even lower while increasing the bets that natural gas prices would continue marching higher.
So far this year, geopolitical and supply and demand factors have been increasingly bearish for the oil price outlook and increasingly bullish for natural gas prices.
In the oil market, hedge funds and other portfolio managers have been slashing their bullish bets since the end of January, when the U.S. sanctions on Russia’s oil trade were the primary bullish driver of managed money to bet on a tightening market.
With U.S. President, Donald Trump, now in office, the sentiment has quickly soured amid the president’s insistence on lower oil prices, his efforts to broker an end to the war in Ukraine, and – most of all – the enormous uncertainty about on-and-off tariffs and tariff threats and their potential impact on the American economy.
As a result, market participants are preparing for lower oil prices, even amid expectations of declining oil supply from Iran and Venezuela due to President Trump’s hawkish policy toward these OPEC producers.
Speaking of OPEC, the wider OPEC+ group has just said it would begin increasing supply as of April, adding further downward pressure on prices.
Faced with all these bearish drivers, money managers have been reducing their bullish bets on crude oil futures, with the U.S. WTI Crude hitting the lowest net long position – the difference between bullish and bearish bets – in 15 years at the end of February.
In the week to March 4, the latest reporting week with data released on March 7, speculators bought WTI amid a major selloff in all other commodities except for U.S. natural gas.
The net long in WTI rebounded from the 15-year low, but it wasn’t because the market suddenly started betting on higher prices going forward. The rise in WTI buying and the net long was the result of short covering in the U.S. crude futures contract.
In Brent, hedge funds cut their bullish-only bets in the week to March 4 for the biggest decline in longs since July 2024.
Unlike in crude oil, money managers have become increasingly bullish on U.S. natural gas after inventories dipped this winter to below the five-year average as demand surged in the coldest winter for six years.
The net long in natural gas further swelled in the week to March 4, as the number of new bullish bets was four times higher than the new short positions.
“Natural gas continues to benefit from rising demand, both domestically in the US and towards exports via LNG,” Ole Hansen, Head of Commodity Strategy at Saxo Bank, said, commenting on the latest Commitment of Traders report.
At the start of the winter heating season in November, U.S. natural gas inventories were higher than average for the time of the year as America entered the season with stocks at their highest level since 2016.
These stocks, however, were quickly depleted during the coldest winter for six years, with demand for space heating and power generation soaring. A month before the end of the winter heating season, U.S. natural gas inventories have now slumped to below the five-year average and well below the levels from the same time in 2024, at the end of a mild winter.
The lower inventories and the higher demand – both for domestic consumption and LNG exports – have pushed prices higher, encouraging producers to boost gas output this year. Traders bet that prices will go even higher as demand from LNG plants is set to accelerate with the ramp-up of new U.S. export plants.
Paraskova writes for Oilprice.com.

By: Tsvetana Paraskova

Oil & Energy

Renaissance Finalises Acquisition Of SPDC

Published

2 months ago

March 17, 2025

The Tide

Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings says it has successfully completed the acquisition of 100 percent equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC).
Spokesperson of the company, Tony Okonedo, who disclosed this in a Press Release, Last Thursday, said Renaissance has completed all processes for the full transfer of ownership of SPDC to the consortium, adding that it will now operate as Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
“Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings today announced that it has successfully completed the landmark transaction between itself and Shell for the acquisition of the entire (100%) equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC).
“This follows the signing of a sale and purchase agreement with Shell in January 2024 and obtaining all regulatory approvals required for the transaction. Going forward, SPDC will be renamed as ‘Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
“Going forward, SPDC will be renamed as ‘Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited’.
“Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings is a consortium consisting of four successful Nigerian independent oil and gas companies: ND Western Limited, Aradel Holdings Plc. FIRST Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited and the Waltersmith Group, each with considerable operations experience in the Niger Delta, and Petrolin, an international energy company with global trading experience and a pan African outlook”, the statement reads.
Speaking on the acquisition, the Managing Director/CEO, Renaissance Africa Energy Holding,Tony Attah, said Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has a vision to be the leading oil and gas producer in Africa and to help the continent achieve energy security.
Attah expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its support and pledged the company’s commitment to the Petroleum Industry Act.
“We are extremely proud to have completed this strategic acquisition. The Renaissance vision is to be ‘Africa’s leading oil and gas company, enabling energy security and industrialization in a sustainable manner’.
“We and our shareholder companies are therefore pleased that the Federal Government has given the green light for this milestone acquisition in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act”, he said.
The CEO acknowledged the contributions of Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in facilitating the deal.
He said, “we extend our appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, the CEO of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the CEO of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for their foresight and belief, paving the way for the rapid development of Nigeria’s vast oil and gas resources as strategic accelerator for the country’s industrial development”.
The Statement further revealed that Renaissance partner companies collectively have an asset base of more than $3 billion and currently safely produce approximately 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) from 12 oil mining leases and operate two functioning modular refineries in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.

Oil & Energy

Oil-Rich Communities Must End Infighting To Access Dev Funds – FG

Published

2 months ago

March 17, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Government has cautioned oil-rich communities against infighting and disruption of oil production, saying it could hinder their access to the Host Community Development Fund.
Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, made the appeal while speaking at the KEFFESO Stakeholders Forum, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Lokpobiri noted that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) was enacted to bring stability to the oil sector and address longstanding grievances about underdevelopment in host communities.
He lamented, however, that internal disputes among stakeholders have made it difficult for these communities to access and utilize the funds meant for their development.
Lokpobiri insisted that host communities must overcome internal conflicts that hinder their access to the funds.
“This KEFFESO Stakeholders Forum is to see how host communities can maximize the benefits from the Host Communities Trust Funds as prescribed by the PIA.
“If oil production is disrupted, everyone loses — the Federal Government, oil companies, and the host communities themselves. That is why host communities must collaborate with the government and oil companies to ensure smooth operations” Lokpobiri stated.
The Minister called on Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) in the Niger Delta to effectively utilize the 3% operational funds allocated to them under the PIA 2021 to drive sustainable development.
He further called that oil-producing communities should take ownership of the oil and gas facilities within their domains and work with relevant stakeholders to ensure sustainable benefits.
“As stakeholders who have their respective stakes in oil and gas operations in the country, we should work together to ensure that we maximize the benefits of oil and gas.”
The minister also emphasized the global push for cleaner energy, warning that the relevance of fossil fuels depends on their extraction and marketability.
“Don’t forget there is a global campaign against the continuation of production of fossil fuel.
“Fossil fuel will never go away. Fossil fuel will not have any value unless you bring it out of the ground or from the sea to the market, that is why we need this collaboration,” he said.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Omotsola Ogbe, reaffirmed the board’s commitment to leveraging the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
Represented by the Board’s Director of Legal Services, Naboth Onyesoh, Ogbe noted that the NCDMB’s Community Content Guidelines were designed to ensure sustained community engagement as local content is prioritized throughout the oil and gas value chain.
Ogbe praised the KEFFESO Host Community Development Trust for its efforts in ensuring that oil revenues benefit local communities.
Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, First E & P, Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, described the KEFFESO Stakeholders Forum as a crucial platform for discussing and strategizing solutions to the challenges facing marginalized communities in the Niger Delta.
He reiterated the company’s commitment to fostering meaningful and sustainable development in the region.
The forum, themed “Envisioning Sustainable Community Development in Niger Delta Host Communities: Identifying Challenges and Actualising The PIA Paradigm Shift,” brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for maximising the benefits of the Petroleum Industry Act(PIA).