Energy
Energy access is vital to peace and security – Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy
BANJUL – The Vice President of The Gambia, Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy, has said that availability and access to modern energy services is not only vital to reducing poverty in West Africa but also critical in maintaining peace and security.
She made the declaration while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the two-day 4th ERERA Forum on Wednesday, 20th November 2013 in Banjul, The Gambia. The Forum is being attended by some 150 participants including regulators, operators, power experts and consumers in the electricity sector
According to her, there can be no meaningful and sustainable development without adequate, reliable and sustainable energy, considering that the region is blessed with some of the richest energy resources including oil, gas, coal, large hydro and abundant sources of renewable energy.
The Vice President however lamented the fact that ECOWAS Member States have been “pursuing our individual national energy policies without exploring the benefits of economies of scale”.
As a founding member of ECOWAS, The Gambia, she said, has “always believed in the benefits of regional integration as the best way of efficiently and sustainably exploiting and managing our resources for the common good of all our citizens”.
She recalled joint regional projects between The Gambia and her neighbours, and said that when completed, they would improve electricity supply as well as greatly enhance the socio-economic development of the region and enhance the integration of Community citizens.
While noting a paradigm shift through the creation of such institutions as ERERA, the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), which has led to the implementation of various developmental projects in the region, the Vice President urged the ECOWAS Commission to continue in the development and implementation of more projects for the benefit of the people. In this regard, she called for the development of new renewable energy technologies in such projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Dr. Njie-Saidy who noted that electricity regulation was relatively new in the ECOWAS region, called on ERERA to help Member States build their capacity, noting that they had different levels of competence in regulation.
In his remarks, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kadré Desiré Ouédraogo, described the performance in the power sector in Member States as unsatisfactory and unable to attract appreciable level of private investment despite the implementation of power sector reforms.
He recalled the many initiatives by ECOWAS to address the energy challenge, including the adoption of the 2003 regional Energy Protocol and the attendant actions undertaken resulting in the establishment of the West African Gas Pipeline Authority, the WAPP Secretariat, ECREEE and ERERA.
The President – represented by his Special Representative to Cote d’Ivoire, Ambassador Jonathan Oluwole Coker – noted ERERA’s contribution in the implementation of the roadmap leading to the regional electricity market, the hallmark being the adoption of the Directive on the organization of the regional electricity market by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in June 2013.
He called on ECOWAS’ partners to continue assisting ERERA in the discharge of its mandate and support it in the implementation of its strategic objectives.
“ECOWAS desires that regional regulation should help to improve governance by supporting the liberalization of exchanges and by promoting respect of contracts and sectoral standards by all partners”, the President stated.
Also addressing the participants, the Chairman of ERERA, El Hadj Ibrahima Thiam, enumerated the major activities of the Institution since its operationalization in 2010. While stating that energy is an important engine of economic growth, he described access to electricity as an essential catalyst for social development.
Furthermore, he stated that regulation is fundamental to the development of the electricity market in West Africa, adding that efficient regulation is critical to the optimal functioning of the electricity market.
He said the annual ERERA Forum is in response to the strong need for a permanent platform for dialogue among stakeholders towards the creation of favourable conditions for the mobilization of human and financial resources necessary for the development of infrastructure for the production and transportation of electricity.
El Hadj Thiam expressed confidence that the exchange of ideas at the Forum would lead to pertinent recommendations towards new levels of the flow of efficient and sustainable regional electricity.
In her statement, the Minister of Energy of The Gambia, Mrs. Teneng Mba Jaiteh, argued that the provision of electricity should no longer be considered the sole responsibility of governments due to the huge investments required and the limited and competitive nature of donor funds.
She said the private sector should be encouraged to invest in the energy sub-sector through the development of the right policy, legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as the visibility of efficient and financially viable power utility companies.
As generation of electricity increasingly becomes a private sector activity, utility companies can focus on enhancing and improving transmission and distribution networks and sale of electricity to consumers, Mrs. Jaiteh said.
According to her, it would make ERERA’s role even more critical in ensuring that regional trade in energy and electricity services is facilitated and encouraged. It would also require the development of trans-border infrastructure; that is, transmission networks inter-connecting countries in the region and the creation of grid codes, she added.
Similarly, the minister said it would reveal the vital role of national regulatory authorities in ensuring a level-playing field for investors, distributors and consumers.
Participants at the 4th ERERA Forum being hosted by The Gambia are to examine the place, roles and responsibilities of ERERA and the national regulators in speeding up the establishment of a regional electricity market in West Africa through the theme, ‘Fast-tracking the regional electricity market: the regulatory issues’.
BANJUL – The Vice President of The Gambia, Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy, has said that availability and access to modern energy services is not only vital to reducing poverty in West Africa but also critical in maintaining peace and security.
She made the declaration while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the two-day 4th ERERA Forum on Wednesday, 20th November 2013 in Banjul, The Gambia. The Forum is being attended by some 150 participants including regulators, operators, power experts and consumers in the electricity sector
According to her, there can be no meaningful and sustainable development without adequate, reliable and sustainable energy, considering that the region is blessed with some of the richest energy resources including oil, gas, coal, large hydro and abundant sources of renewable energy.
The Vice President however lamented the fact that ECOWAS Member States have been “pursuing our individual national energy policies without exploring the benefits of economies of scale”.
As a founding member of ECOWAS, The Gambia, she said, has “always believed in the benefits of regional integration as the best way of efficiently and sustainably exploiting and managing our resources for the common good of all our citizens”.
She recalled joint regional projects between The Gambia and her neighbours, and said that when completed, they would improve electricity supply as well as greatly enhance the socio-economic development of the region and enhance the integration of Community citizens.
While noting a paradigm shift through the creation of such institutions as ERERA, the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), which has led to the implementation of various developmental projects in the region, the Vice President urged the ECOWAS Commission to continue in the development and implementation of more projects for the benefit of the people. In this regard, she called for the development of new renewable energy technologies in such projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Dr. Njie-Saidy who noted that electricity regulation was relatively new in the ECOWAS region, called on ERERA to help Member States build their capacity, noting that they had different levels of competence in regulation.
In his remarks, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kadré Desiré Ouédraogo, described the performance in the power sector in Member States as unsatisfactory and unable to attract appreciable level of private investment despite the implementation of power sector reforms.
He recalled the many initiatives by ECOWAS to address the energy challenge, including the adoption of the 2003 regional Energy Protocol and the attendant actions undertaken resulting in the establishment of the West African Gas Pipeline Authority, the WAPP Secretariat, ECREEE and ERERA.
The President – represented by his Special Representative to Cote d’Ivoire, Ambassador Jonathan Oluwole Coker – noted ERERA’s contribution in the implementation of the roadmap leading to the regional electricity market, the hallmark being the adoption of the Directive on the organization of the regional electricity market by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in June 2013.
He called on ECOWAS’ partners to continue assisting ERERA in the discharge of its mandate and support it in the implementation of its strategic objectives.
“ECOWAS desires that regional regulation should help to improve governance by supporting the liberalization of exchanges and by promoting respect of contracts and sectoral standards by all partners”, the President stated.
Also addressing the participants, the Chairman of ERERA, El Hadj Ibrahima Thiam, enumerated the major activities of the Institution since its operationalization in 2010. While stating that energy is an important engine of economic growth, he described access to electricity as an essential catalyst for social development.
Furthermore, he stated that regulation is fundamental to the development of the electricity market in West Africa, adding that efficient regulation is critical to the optimal functioning of the electricity market.
He said the annual ERERA Forum is in response to the strong need for a permanent platform for dialogue among stakeholders towards the creation of favourable conditions for the mobilization of human and financial resources necessary for the development of infrastructure for the production and transportation of electricity.
El Hadj Thiam expressed confidence that the exchange of ideas at the Forum would lead to pertinent recommendations towards new levels of the flow of efficient and sustainable regional electricity.
In her statement, the Minister of Energy of The Gambia, Mrs. Teneng Mba Jaiteh, argued that the provision of electricity should no longer be considered the sole responsibility of governments due to the huge investments required and the limited and competitive nature of donor funds.
She said the private sector should be encouraged to invest in the energy sub-sector through the development of the right policy, legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as the visibility of efficient and financially viable power utility companies.
As generation of electricity increasingly becomes a private sector activity, utility companies can focus on enhancing and improving transmission and distribution networks and sale of electricity to consumers, Mrs. Jaiteh said.
According to her, it would make ERERA’s role even more critical in ensuring that regional trade in energy and electricity services is facilitated and encouraged. It would also require the development of trans-border infrastructure; that is, transmission networks inter-connecting countries in the region and the creation of grid codes, she added.
Similarly, the minister said it would reveal the vital role of national regulatory authorities in ensuring a level-playing field for investors, distributors and consumers.
Participants at the 4th ERERA Forum being hosted by The Gambia are to examine the place, roles and responsibilities of ERERA and the national regulators in speeding up the establishment of a regional electricity market in West Africa through the theme, ‘Fast-tracking the regional electricity market: the regulatory issues’.
The Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has completed the turnaround maintenance on the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, leading to resumption of production at Nigeria’s premier deepwater field on March 6, 2026.
Biztellers reports that the project was delivered 11 days ahead of schedule and without any safety incident, reinforcing SNEPCo’s longstanding commitment to operational excellence and asset integrity.
“Completing the turnaround safely and ahead of schedule is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our Nigerian workforce and the helpful support of our partners,” SNEPCo Managing Director Ronald Adams said. “The achievement not only secures the long‑term integrity of the Bonga FPSO but also positions us strongly for the successful delivery of the Bonga North project, which will leverage the improved reliability of the FPSO.”
The exercise which began on February 1, 2026, highlights SNEPCo’s leading role in advancing deep‑water expertise in Nigeria. Of the 55 companies involved in the execution, 43 were wholly Nigerian. Additionally, eight of the 12 international service providers maintain operational bases in Nigeria, contributing to knowledge transfer and increased local investments.
More than 1,000 personnel worked offshore during the turnaround, with over 95% being Nigerians involved in maintenance, engineering, operations, inspection and construction. Thousands more supported activities from onshore locations, reflecting the depth of Nigerian capability in offshore oil and gas operations.
Adams added: “We acknowledge the support of several stakeholders towards the successful execution of the exercise, including the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and our partners.”
Modupe Asudo
Sahara Group, a leading global energy and infrastructure conglomerate, has commissioned MT Asharami Ghana, a 40,000‑cubic‑metre Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carrier, expanding its fleet capacity, while strengthening Ghana’s clean energy supply chain and LPG distribution network.
The dual‑fuel vessel improves operational efficiency, enhances supply reliability, and supports lower‑emission LPG logistics as consumption grows across Ghana and the wider sub‑region.
Ghanaian President Mahama and Sahara Executive Directors
Speaking at the commissioning in Ulsan, South Korea, President John Dramani Mahama described the vessel as “a significant milestone in strengthening the infrastructure that underpins the global LPG supply chain,” noting that expanded shipping capacity is critical to improving supply security, reliability and efficiency for countries that rely partly on LPG imports.
He commended Sahara Group, WAGL Energy and all partners involved for their “leadership, technical expertise and strategic foresight,” adding that the project reflects “the power of partnership” in advancing safe, efficient, and responsible energy distribution.
President Mahama wished the MT Asharami Ghana safe sails, expressing confidence that the vessel would inspire further investment and collaboration across Africa’s energy value chain.
According to Wale Ajibade, Executive Director, Sahara Group, the vessel supports Ghana’s clean energy ambitions through integrated infrastructure.
“MT Asharami Ghana is more than a vessel; it is part of a deliberate strategy to strengthen LPG supply security and support Ghana’s clean energy ambitions. It secures an additional 25,000-Metric-tonne stock security for the Ghana economy, alongside the soon to be commissioned 6000-metric-tonee of 12.000-metric-tonne land storage in Tema,” he said.
With the addition of Asharami Ghana, Sahara Group’s LPG carrier fleet now comprises six delivered vessels with a combined capacity of 202,000 cubic metres. Supported by partnerships with WAGL Energy, NNPC Limited and other stakeholders, an additional 270,000 cubic metres of capacity is under construction and due for delivery by September 2028.
Temitope Shonubi, Executive Director, Sahara Group, said Asharami Ghana is part of Sahara’s integrated LPG infrastructure strategy spanning shipping, storage, and downstream distribution globally, including the development of a 12,000‑metric‑tonne land‑based LPG storage terminal in Tema, with a 6,000‑metric‑tonne first phase scheduled for completion in May 2026.
He thanked Yaa Serwaa Alifo, MD of Asharami Ghana, for her resilience and insistence to dedicate a ship of “this magnitude solely to the Ghana Market and its landlocked neighbours.”
Ghana is targeting LPG adoption of 50 per cent of households by 2030, up from about 30 per cent today. Sahara’s investments will support clean energy access for more than 35 million people, while strengthening Ghana’s role in regional LPG trade to neighbouring and landlocked West African markets.
The commissioning comes in Sahara Group’s 30th anniversary year, guided by the Sahara Beyond XXX milestone, underscoring Sahara’s focus on building an enduring enterprise that delivers responsible growth, shared prosperity and long‑term impact across its markets.
Nigeria’s crude oil production dropped to 1.31 million barrels per day in February, even as local refineries continue to grapple with inadequate domestic crude supply needed to sustain operations.
The development shows that Nigeria again failed to meet its crude oil production quota of 1.5 million barrels per day approved by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), as output declined sharply in February 2026.
Data from OPEC’s latest Monthly Oil Market Report, based on direct communication from member countries, showed that Nigeria produced 1.314 million barrels per day in February, down from 1.459 mbpd recorded in January.
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The figures indicate a month-on-month decline of 146,000 barrels per day, widening the country’s shortfall from its OPEC production allocation.
Nigeria’s inability to meet its OPEC production quota is not only affecting its oil export earnings but also adversely impacting domestic refineries that are starved of feedstock for their operations.
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