Newspaper Headlines Tuesday 13th October 2020
Africa: The Rise of the Independents, the Energy Transition and Natural Gas Emerge as Key Themes as Industry Unites Once Again
AOW (http://www.Africa-OilWeek.com
Day one of the conference began with the Operators’ Strategic Outlook session, in which senior representatives from Operators Kosmos Energy, Chariot Oil & Gas and Tullow Oil discussed the new ventures and geographies they are now prioritising within Africa. The tone of the session was pragmatic; it’s clear that Operators will need to divest certain assets in the new, low oil price environment. Tullow Ghana MD Wissam Al Monthiry was noticeably tight-lipped when quizzed on the company’s plans to sell assets as part of an effort to raise a billion dollars in proceeds to pay down debt. He commented “[apart from Uganda] we are looking at other asset sales to be able to get to that number, and we’re working hard to identify the right ones. All of our portfolio has aspects we’re excited about and has incremental value to Tullow, but it just becomes a question of trade-offs in today’s world”.
However, speakers agreed that there are exciting opportunities in Africa for Independents, who will undoubtedly play a more significant role on the continent as the majors look to meet ambitious emissions targets. Kosmos Energy CXO Tracey K Henderson commented that “positioning ourselves to thrive in a longer-term low-price environment […] has meant high-grading and rationalising of our portfolios, with a focus on ILX exploration [infrastructure-led exploration] and play extensions in proven basins”.
Linked to global emissions reductions targets is, of course, the rise of gas as a bridging fuel. Speakers across all sessions at AOW Virtual were excited about gas projects across the continent. Opening day two of the event, Hon. Gwede Mantashe, South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy said “We are re-positioning South Africa to be a serious player in the global gas market. We will promote the development of a domestic and regional gas market. We continue to advance our Gas to Power projects with the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) identified as the first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import terminal.”
Nigeria LNG CEO, Tony Attah, is similarly positive in his outlook for gas, saying “we took a big financial investment decision at the backend of last year – against the backdrop of what we call the Train 7 project – to grow capacity by 35%, moving from 22 million tonnes per annum today to 30 million tonnes.” Attah added that he is looking to increase the amount of gas NLNG sells within the African continent, the bulk of which previously went to the U.S. and is now exported to Europe.
When polled live at AOW Virtual, over 60% of delegates said they saw a mixture of gas and renewables being key to securing Africa’s energy future in the coming decades. Luc Koechlin, MD Southern Africa at EDF and Andrew Herscowitz, Chief Development Officer at the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), are advocates for solar power projects on the continent, the cost of which has decreased significantly in recent years. On this topic, Herscowitz commented “If you’ve got a solar project and if it’s going to be above ten cents per kilowatt hour, you’ve got some explaining to do. It’s a very different market than what it was 5-10 years ago”.
Overall, in a historically difficult and unprecedented environment, AOW Virtual highlighted areas of opportunity in African oil, gas and energy. Until the industry can unite in-person again, such virtual gatherings will have to serve the industry as best as they can. To learn more about the themes discussed in this piece, and to view the full recordings of sessions at AOW Virtual, go to https://bit.ly/34PqPyj. Content is CPD-certified, and completely free to access.
SOURCE
Africa Oil Week
EC, NDC disagree with filing procedure
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Electoral Commission of imposing challenges on the Party hence its inability to file the nomination at 1100hours as earlier promised.
The NDC said the decision by the EC to use a provisional register for the filing process instead of a certified one accounted for the delay of nomination submission.
The Electoral Commission, however, debunked the claims that the Commission was to blame for the errors detected in the Identity Cards and on the forms because all the minor errors were corrected and the political parties were notified in writing 10 days before the filing of nomination.
Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the General Secretary of the NDC, after presenting the nomination forms, said: “If the EC had used the old voters register the party wouldn’t have faced the situation where the EC detected mistakes and recall the identity cards of some voters who had endorsed the forms for their presidential candidate.”
He blamed the flaws in the register on the hurried nature by which the EC conducted the compilation saying: “As at today that we are filing the nomination forms, the EC is displaying provisional register”.
He said the nomination forms contained mistakes and that the PNDC Law, which was quoted on the form, had been repealed.
Mr Asideu Nketia said the challenges the EC was facing had vindicated the NDC’s position that time was not on the side on the Commission to compile a new register.
“Is it not strange that a certified register that is critical for the filing of the nomination is not ready while the process of nomination are on-going?” he asked.
Dr Bossman Eric Asare, the Deputy Commissioner in Charge of Corporate Service, said it was misleading for the NDC to claim that the EC was using a repealed law, noting that C.I.127 mandated the EC to use a provisional register for the filing process.
He described as strange the accusation being levelled against the EC by the NDC since the four other aspirants, who had earlier filed their nomination, did not raise any issues with the process.
He reiterated the determination and resolve of the Commission to run a credible election based on integrity and transparency.
“I can assure all Ghanaians that the process and the conduct of the elections will be the best in the history of the country,” he added.
Just as the Deputy Commissioner was clarifying the issue to the NDC, the delegation staged a walkout while singing redemption songs.
GNA
Parliament approves US$243.6 million Supplier’s Credit for trains
Parliament has approved an amount of US$243.6 million, being Supplier’s Credit Agreement between Ghana and Dongfang Electric International Corporation, for the procurement of Standard Gauge rolling stock (trains).
The terms and conditions of the Agreement are that the facility amounts to US$243,600,000, repayment period of 10 years, tenor of 12 years, grace period two years, interest rate of six months and Sinosure premium of up to seven per cent of the Supplier’s Credit.
Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah, Chairman of the Finance Committee, presenting the Committee’s report in Parliament, stated that the instant Credit Agreement was to finance the acquisition of standard gauge rolling stock to enable the testing, commissioning and immediate operation of the new standard gauge railway lines currently under construction in the country.
He explained that the scope of the contract includes the supply of nine 4500HP mainline diesel locomotives with maximum speed of 160km/hr for passengers, supply of 48 passenger coaches, 15 mainline diesel locomotives for freight, 330 freight wagons and 11 Shunting diesel locomotives.
As part of the contract, the Supplier is to supply the spares and tools along with the locomotives and rolling stocks within a 24-months warranty period.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah indicated that the contract also specified the establishment of one maintenance workshop with maintenance equipment at a location to be determined by the purchaser, and provision of After Sales Services to guarantee regular and proper maintenance of the trains during the operational period.
He said the Supplier is also expected to provide training for skilled personnel or railway engineers and managers in all aspects of the rolling stock systems including locomotive design, operation and maintenance.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah said the contract for the construction of the 97km railway line from the Port of Tema to Mpakadan was expected to be complete ahead of the contractual completion date of July, 2021.
He said the contract, however, did not include the supply of rolling stock to test and operationalise the line upon completion.
He noted that some of the rolling stock being financed under the instant Supplier’s Credit Agreement would be used to test, commission and operationalise the Tema-Mpakadan rail line.
The Supplier’s financing package provides a 100 percent financial solution and there would be no additional budgetary requirement on the part of Government to execute this project, Dr Assibey-Yeboah said.
Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, stated that the rail transport was supposed to complement the road transport.
He explained that if the country had an efficient and effective rail transport system, its roads would last longer as bulk cargo could be transported through rail.
“That is why it is important to support any arrangement, which would put rolling stock on the lines already constructed,” he added.
By Christopher Arko, GNA
Sudan floods: Another shock felt amid existing crises
Sudan has been hit by devastating floods; the worst seen in decades.
More than 600,000 people have been impacted across 17 of the country’s 18 states, with homes destroyed and farmland damaged just ahead of the harvest season.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is calling for urgent funding to support Sudan, a country already facing alarmingly high rates of hunger and food insecurity.
Dominique Burgeon, the Director of FAO’s Emergency and Rehabilitation Division, has just returned from a mission to Sudan.
Source
FAO
“I gave my evidence in court as a patriotic citizen”-Dr Adu-Ampomah
Dr Yaw Adu-Ampomah, third Prosecution witness in the trial involving Dr Stephen Opuni, former Chief Executive Officer, COCOBOD, and two others, has told an Accra High Court that he gave his evidence in court as a civic responsibility.
“My Lord, my evidence in court is coloured by me being a Ghanaian and it is my sole responsibility as a patriotic citizen,” he said.
Dr Adu-Ampomah was answering questions in a further cross-examination by Mr Nutifafa Nutsukpui, Counsel for Seidu Agongo, the CEO of Agricult Ghana Limited, the second accused in the trial in Accra on Wednesday.
He said “as a Ghanaian and as part of his civic responsibility he needs to speak against any ills in society.”
Mr Nutsukpui pointed to the witness that the evidence he gave before the court was completely coloured by his political persuasion but the witness disagreed.
Asked, whether he was a card bearing member of the New Patriotic Party, the witness answered in the negative.
The Counsel asked the witness, whether COCOBOD pre-financed the contracts to supply fertilizers with Agricult Ghana Limited and the witness said no, explaining that he was not aware.
Mr Nutsukpui pointed to the witness that per the contract, Agricult Ghana Limited would have to deliver the products before COCOBOD reimburses Agricult and Dr Adu-Ampomah agreed.
He again pointed to Dr Adu-Ampomah, whether he knew Agricult delivered the fertilizers to COCOBOD and the witness said he was aware.
“COCOBOD distributed the fertilizers to the Cocoa farmer,” the Counsel indicated and the witness agreed.
Asked, whether COCOBOD has any outstanding fertilizer with Agricult Ghana Limited for which the Board had paid and the witness answered in the negative.
The Counsel asked the witness, whether he was aware of any role played by Agricult in the testing process in respect of the fertilizer for which they were in court, the witness answered in the negative.
“Are you aware that the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) raised an invoice, demanding the sum of GHS 1,025 from Agricult as the cost of renewal of certification for lithovit liquid fertilizer for the year, 2015,” Mr Nutsukpui asked but the witness said he would not know.
The counsel further asked the witness whether he was aware that CRIG received payment for the said amount and issued receipt but the witness said he was not aware but it was possible.
He requested from the witness, whether he was aware that CRIG wrote a letter dated July 7, 2017 inviting Agricult Ghana Limited to pay a sum of GHS3, 000 for the renewal of certificate for the year, 2018 in respect to lithovit liquid fertilizer, the witness said he was not aware but it could be possible.
Dr Opuni and Mr Seidu Agongo are facing 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, corruption by public officer and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.
They have both pleaded not guilty to the charges and are on a GH¢300,000.00 self-recognisance bail each.
The defence has, therefore, ended its cross-examination of the third prosecution witness. The Prosecution will produce its next witness at the next adjourned date.
The case was adjourned to October 8, 2020.
By Morkporkpor Anku
Centre advocates the SRHR of Persons with Mental Disorder
The Centre for People’s Empowerment and Rights Initiatives (CPRI) has stressed the need for stakeholders to safeguard the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) of Persons with Mental Health Disorder.
It said persons with mental health disorders had the unalienable right to sexuality and reproduction and emphasised the need to ensure that they enjoyed those rights without impediment.
Mr Anacletus Seeninyin, the Programmes Advisor for CPRI, said this at a day’s orientation workshop for health services providers, including Mental Health Officers and Midwives in Wa.
“It is a known fact that less advantaged people are a group who have over the years not had their sexual and reproductive health rights acknowledged,” he said.
The workshop was organised by the CPRI in partnership with Basic Needs Ghana with funding support from AmplifyChange Fund under the “SRHR for Mental Health Project in Ghana.”
It was to sensitise the health personnel on the need for them to work towards ensuring that persons with mental health disorders enjoyed their SRHR.
About 40 health personnel from the Wa and Lawra Municipalities and the Daffiam-Bussie-Issa and Wa West Districts attended the workshop.
The 24-month project was designed to specifically target the sexual and reproductive health needs of persons with mental health disorders and epilepsy.
It is targeted to benefit 3,200 mental health disorder persons and 120 health personnel in the Wa and the Lawra Municipalities and the Daffiam-Bussie-Issa District of the Upper West Region as well as the Upper East, Northern and Greater Accra Regions.
Mr Seeninyin stated that the CPRI was working to “ensure an inclusive SRHR system that reaches out to the most vulnerable groups such as men, women and adolescent with mental disabilities/epilepsy.”
Madam Lillian Kuutiero, the Project Coordinator for Basic Needs Ghana, observed that the rights of persons with mental health disorder were abused with impunity by some unscrupulous individuals who forcefully slept with them, particularly the females, impregnated and left them to their fate.
She cited media reports in Ghana and other countries about persons with mental health disorder who were pregnant, delivered and breastfed their new-born babies, and questioned why society could not care for such people before and during the pregnancy.
She noted that mental health disorder person also had a sexual urge and had the right to satisfy that urge with dignity rather than being abused.
“Once someone sleeps with you without your consent, it is rape, the same way if you sleep with a mental health disorder person without his or her consent, it is also rape and an abuse of the person’s rights,” Madam Kuutiero explained.
She indicated that the project was to, among other things, build a stronger and more inclusive Civil Society Organisation movement for mental health and SRHR campaign and advocacy and to increase SRHR knowledge among vulnerable groups.
Some participants who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, commended the CPRI and Basic Needs Ghana for the orientation, saying it would help them in their advocacy and community sensitisation activities.
Credit: By Philip Tengzu, GNA