Energy
Harper in Mexico to Talk Energy, Trade
MEXICO CITY – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper landed in Mexico City on Monday to prep for his get-together with his Mexican counterpart, Enrique Pena Nieto, with the thorny issue of visas, trade and energy anticipated to dominate talks.
His first act after his government aircraft landed in the Mexican capital was to lay a wreath at a military memorial at Bosque de Chapultepec, or the city’s version of New York’s Central Park. He then regrouped with aides Monday evening ahead of bilateral with Mr. Pena Nieto, to be held Tuesday at the presidential palace in the capital city’s Centro Historico, or the old center of town.
Officially, this is Mr. Harper’s first state visit to Mexico, although he’s previously travelled to the country to participate in multilateral forums, such as the Group of 20 leaders’ summit in Los Cabos in the summer of 2012. He and his Mexican counterpart held a bilateral meeting in Ottawa in November 2012, about six months after Mr. Pena Nieto won an election.In the Americas, Mr. Pena Nieto has turned heads over his ambitious reform agenda, covering labor, education and telecommunications.
“Mr. Harper should embrace this Mexican president. He’s a true reformer, he means it, and he has congressional support to get important things done,” said John Manley, a former Canadian Cabinet minister who now heads the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. “Canada should be helping, aiding and demonstrating the depth of our commitment, and that will pay dividends down the road.”
Mexico has plans to liberalize its energy sector in order to attract foreign investment. The goal is to boost production and refining capacity. This state visit could help open the doors to Canadian oil and gas firms looking to pounce on opportunities available through Mexico’s proposed energy revamp.
“Canada offers the technology and know-how in in the energy field, and the Mexicans are interested in partnering with companies with that expertise,” said David Robillard, head of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico.According to notes distributed by Mr. Harper’s aides to reporters travelling with Mr. Harper, the Canadian leader plans to discuss global issues, such as defense and security, with Mr. Pena Nieto but also “seek ways” to boost trade, investment and tourism. The bilateral talks are taking place the day before the Canadian and Mexican leaders are joined by President Barack Obama to discuss the North American Free-Trade Agreement, or Nafta, and ways to improve the 20-year-old trade pact.
Canadian business leaders indicate one way to boost two-way investment and tourism spending by Mexicans in Canada is to remove a stringent visa requirement Ottawa imposes on Mexicans wishing to come to Canada – an issue Canada Real Time has previously explored.
A senior government official told Canada Real Time that Canada has no intention to lift the visa restriction at this time.
Lifting the restriction, which is unpopular in Mexico, would also please some business people in Canada.
“The fact we can’t figure it out tells me that the folks in Ottawa don’t think of or understand Mexico,” said Art DeFehr, chief executive of Palliser Furniture, a Winnipeg, Manitoba furniture maker with factories in Mexico.
– WALLSTREET JOURNAL
Energy
BP, Trafigura, Vitol Lead Global Offtake Of Dangote’s Refined Products
The Lagos based, 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) might be struggling for real acceptance in Nigeria’s domestic market, but the international markets appear to have embraced it with both hands.
As at Wednesday, November 6, 2024, three global oil dealers account for as much as 75 percent of refined products being lifted from the DPRP.
In a development touted as reshaping petroleum trading between Africa and Europe, Vitol Group, Trafigura Group, and BP Plc were listed by Bloomberg as the dominant buyers of fuels from the DPRP.
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Going by the data, it can be seen that the three global dealers accounted for the bulk of the plant’s shipments since flows began ratcheting up around the middle of 2024.
The report was backed by data from Precise Intelligence, a new oil-and-gas trading analytics firm based in Geneva.
The data showed refined products offtake from February 27 to October 10 with other customers, and indicated that the Nigerian market took 25 percent of total fuel purchases from the DPRP in the period under review.
Recall that the DPRP on starting operations, kick-started the production of diesel, aviation fuel, and LPG before subsequently progressing to the production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) (petrol).
The management of the DPRP has been consistent in expressing confidence that as soon as it becomes fully operational, it would peak at processing up to 650,000 barrels a day of crude into products including gasoline and diesel.
The implication is that at its peak, the DPRP would be the biggest single plant in Europe or Africa, conferring on it the capacity to reshape the regions’ oil and fuel trading.
Oil industry pundits note that the coming on stream of the DPRP has already trimmed a glut of Nigerian crude.
Analysis of the report showed that the refinery has loaded almost 6 million tons of fuel since starting up.
This is equivalent to almost 45 million barrels, loading rates averaged about 35,000 tonnes a day in October, its data showed.
The DPRP itself said late last month that the refinery had reached processing rates of about 420,000 barrels a day of crude.
Stakeholders are paying close attention, which sees the composition of fuel cargoes loading from the DPRP closely watched because it offers clues into where the refinery is at in terms of starting up different processing units.
On the products sold, the figures show that automotive gas oil — commonly known as diesel — is the largest cargo type being lifted, accounting for the highest proportion of shipments. This is followed by fuel oil, which ranks second in terms of volume.
Together, these two products make up more than 60 percent of the total output being collected from the plant.
Other significant fuel types being processed include gasoline, which is used for cars and other light vehicles, and jet fuel, primarily utilised by the aviation industry for aircraft.
Energy
Minister of Power, Adelabu Champions Mini-Grids Amid Northern Power Crisis
In the wake of a prolonged power crisis impacting Northern Nigeria, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu visited the Zawaciki 1MWp mini-grid project in Kano, underscoring the potential of decentralized renewable energy solutions to alleviate regional power shortages.
The project, operated by Bagaja Renewables, provides daytime electricity to the Gida Dubu community, offering a vital source of power as the region faces widespread blackouts.
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Sadiq Zakari, Managing Director of Bagaja Renewables, welcomed the Minister to the facility and highlighted the critical timing of the visit.
“Bagaja Renewables had the distinct honor of welcoming the Honorable Minister of Power to the Zawaciki 1MWp interconnected mini-grid,” Zakari said.
“This visit comes at a critical time, as Northern Nigeria endures a prolonged blackout, underscoring the urgent need for alternative power solutions.
The Zawaciki mini-grid has been instrumental during this crisis, providing at least 9 hours of daytime electricity to the Gida Dubu community, demonstrating the potential of renewable energy in addressing the region’s energy needs.”
Minister Adelabu praised the Zawaciki project as a model for interconnected mini-grids nationwide, noting its role as a sustainable solution for communities grappling with unreliable power supply.
“The Honorable Minister expressed admiration for the Zawaciki project, recognizing it as a viable proof of concept for interconnected mini-grids across Nigeria,” Zakari stated.
“He emphasized the importance of such initiatives and called on state governors and other key stakeholders to support efforts to decentralize and strengthen the nation’s power infrastructure.
By backing projects like Zawaciki, stakeholders can play an instrumental role in reducing reliance on the national grid and ensuring a more stable power supply for local communities.”
Zakari underscored the transformative potential of private-sector renewable energy projects in Nigeria’s power landscape.
He said, “As we have witnessed here at Zawaciki, private-sector-driven renewable energy solutions can transform Nigeria’s energy landscape. With the right policies and support, we can empower communities and enhance energy resilience, even in times of national power instability.”
In addition to the Zawaciki project, Bagaja Renewables is developing several renewable energy initiatives across Northern Nigeria. Among these are:
Barhim Estate, Katsina: A residential power initiative aimed at expanding energy access for households in the region.
Kura-Karfi Commercial Cluster, Kano: Focused on delivering clean and reliable power to commercial areas, this project aims to support local businesses and stimulate economic growth.
Kafin Hausa, Jigawa: With site fencing completed, Bagaja Renewables is preparing to begin technical design and engineering work for a mini-grid in Kafin Hausa, slated to start construction soon.
Zakari said, “These projects represent Bagaja Renewables’ unwavering commitment to building a resilient, decentralized, and renewable-powered energy future across Northern Nigeria.
“Bagaja Renewables is dedicated to collaborating with the government and stakeholders to scale up renewable energy solutions that will support communities, industries, and essential services.
“We believe that decentralized power generation is the future for Nigeria, and we are eager to contribute to a sustainable, reliable, and inclusive energy system for all.” he added
Energy
Power Restored In Four Northern States After 10-Day Blackout
Power has been restored across Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, and Benue States, bringing relief to residents who endured a 10-day blackout.
The Jos Electricity Distribution Company confirmed that electricity was reinstated around 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday, prompting celebrations in Jos, the Plateau State capital, and other affected areas.
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The prolonged outage was caused by the tripping of a major 330kV transmission line between Benue and Enugu states, leaving several northern states without power.
The blackout severely impacted daily life and economic activities, with residents expressing frustration over the disruption to businesses, healthcare services, and personal livelihoods.
In response, President Bola Tinubu took swift action, summoning Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to address the crisis.
Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga disclosed on Monday that President Tinubu directed the Ministry of Power and relevant agencies to expedite restoration efforts.
“President Tinubu is deeply concerned about the reports of vandalism and deliberate destruction of essential power infrastructure,” Onanuga said in a statement.
“The President has tasked TCN engineers with bringing immediate relief to the affected states and implementing a long-term solution to prevent future outages.”