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Category: ENVIRONMENT

  • Addressing the Renewable Energy Storage Conundrum

    Addressing the Renewable Energy Storage Conundrum

    Regenbiomass US, Offers “Aquifer Pumped Storage Hydropower” Game Changer Technological Solution

    For Mitigating Battery Storage Challenges

    Story: Mohammed Abu

    The South Africa based, Africa Energy Chambers has since taken serious exception to the call made by some environmentalists for an abrupt halt to fossil fuel exploration and a switch over to renewable energy production and utilization in Africa.

    The Chamber has made unequivocal statements relating to Africa’s determination to chart an independent self-paced energy transition course as it’s fair to her development needs and would therefore continue exploring the continent’s rich oil and gas resources with particular reference to LNG alongside investments in renewable energy projects.

    Energy poverty/transition justice issues and lack of easy access to renewable energy projects financing at affordable cost, are some of the major challenges to transition from fossil fuels derived energy to renewable sources in Africa. The storage of renewable energy storage lapse, could constitute, yet another add-on as the fossil versus renewable energy debates and discourse continues.

    It is therefore against this background that, the importance of the Aquifer Pumped Storage Hydropower as a novel solution for providing clean and consistent electricity for overcoming the shortcoming of intermittent renewable energy offered by Regenbiomass, could be best appreciated.

    How it Works

    Pumped storage hydroelectricity is an effective means of storing renewable energy. When the wind blows and the sun shines, water is pumped from a lower elevation reservoir into a higher elevation reservoir and when there is no sun or wind, the water is released for driving a turbine producing electric power.

    Energy is stored in the form of gravitation potential from the weight of the water pumped to an above ground reservoir and when there is no sun or wind, the water is released back into the aquifer reversing the operation of the motor pump to generate electricity as a turbine generator.

    With utility load balancing of renewable solar and wind energy development projected to skyrocket in the coming years, aquifer pumped storage presents a clean, sustainable, and scalable solution for the energy storage conundrum faced by the renewable energy industry.

    It’s Benefits Over Battery Storage Technology

    The technology has many benefits over battery storage which is typically limited to about 2-4 hours for backup power with limited lifetime due to number of charging cycles which are exceeded in about 3 years. Moreover, lithium batteries are subject to material and mineral shortages and disposal problems.

    Pumping water from an underground aquifer for hydro storage in an above ground reservoir, is a novel application for producing a reliable source of sustainable and clean electricity for rural “mini-grids” and water for agriculture irrigation. Regen Biomass has patents pending on its novel methods and technology for pumped storage of hydroelectricity from underground aquifers as an effective means for storing intermittent renewable energy.

    The US Context

    Driving innovation for development and scaling Aquifer Pumped Storage Hydropower is the $369 billion Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which contains incentives for boosting investments to accelerate renewable energy storage projects in the United States.

    On January 2023, an investment tax credit (ITC) of 30% for energy storage facilities became effective and an additional 20% ITC is eligible if deployed in low-income underserved areas.

    A 50% tax credit will mitigate investment risk to unleash private sector capital for developing and deploying bold and innovative storage technologies for utility load balancing of wind and PV technologies that are projected to exceed an additional 22 gigawatts (GW) by 2025 in California and Texas alone.

    Fortunately, both states are sitting on top of massive aquifers that could provide a more sustainable and economical solution for energy storage than batteries. Furthermore, these technologies can be transferred to Africa which also possesses massive underground aquifers.

    Africa

    The Sahel region of Africa spans eleven countries in the Sahara Desert and as of 2021, the estimated population of these countries was around 482 million and the United Nations expects the population to reach 898 million by 2050. This enormous population growth poses challenges for the region, including increased pressure on limited natural resources, such as water and arable land.

    Fortunately, the Sahel region also possesses some of the world’s largest aquifers that could provide a solution for the challenges and ample opportunities supporting economic growth. The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System is one of the largest aquifers in the world spanning across Chad, Egypt, Libya, and Sudan.

    A recent groundbreaking discovery of the aquifer beneath Niger identified approximately 50 billion cubic meters of available groundwater with an estimated annual recharge of 2 billion cubic meters. This qualifies Niger as the most groundwater rich country in the Sahel region which is ironic because it is also one of the most impoverished nations on the planet.

    Like the rest of Africa, where one-half of the continent’s 1.2 billion population are deprived of electricity, Sahel countries also lack access to electricity.  As of 2021, the total installed electricity capacity in the 11 Sahel countries was a mere 23 GW; thus, 52.4% of the current population are impoverished from future prosperity that electric power provides.

    However, if the abundant intermittent renewable energy resources could be harnessed, and the region’s massive underground aquifers could be tapped into for storage, it would be possible to provide clean, reliable, and consistent electricity with the bonus of irrigation water for agriculture.

    Paulownia Trees on Marginal Land Pilot Project in US

    During 2022, Regen Biomass developed a pilot project for growing 800 paulownia trees on marginal land in the desert of Southern California, which was funded by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant.

    The plantlets were imported from Germany to California with a permit from the USDA as they were a 4th generation hybrid and sterile eliminating the “invasive species” issue. This species of paulownia tree was bred over a decade for desirable traits more tolerant to desert heat, drought conditions, and producing higher quality lumber.

    Paulownias are the fastest growing trees on the planet reaching 20 feet in the first year and can be harvested for timber in the fifth year. Furthermore, paulownia trees are regenerative so that when the trees are coppiced for harvesting, they will continue growing back for harvesting timber every five years. Moreover, because paulownia trees grow so fast, they sequester massive amounts of carbon dioxide estimated at 5 to 10 times that of other trees depending on the species.

    Paulownia trees also have deep roots that can help to improve soil structure and increase soil fertility. They also can fix nitrogen, which can help to reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers. The large leaves provide shade during hot summer months and, as a deciduous tree, shed their leaves for allowing full sunlight during the winter. Avocado trees, on the other hand, have a shallow root system and require a more fertile soil to grow well.

    Paulownia Trees Intercropping With Avocado Benefits

    By intercropping avocado trees with paulownia trees, farmers can benefit from the nutrient-rich soil created by the paulownia trees, while also maximizing the use of the land by growing two crops simultaneously. Intercropping avocado and paulownia trees also provide important environmental benefits. The trees can help to reduce soil erosion, improve water retention, and mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide.

    Regenbiomass is planning to develop a methodology for the intercropping of paulownia and avocado trees on marginal lands for the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM). The VCM rose to $2 billion in 2022 and estimates suggest it could reach $50 billion by 2030, equivalent to a billion tons of CO2.

    It is estimated that paulownia and avocado trees can sequester about 50 tons of carbon per acre per year and that does not include the carbon sequestered from the soil with the tree’s root structure. This can contribute to the Net Zero goals and promoting sustainable land management practices while reducing the impact of climate change.

    The Green Wall Initiative in Africa

    The Great Green Wall Initiative proposes an 8,000-kilometer wall of trees across the entire width of Africa. Led by the African Union, this initiative was conceived to combat desertification and hold back expansion of the Sahara by planting a wall of trees stretching across the entire Sahel.

    Aquifer Pumped Storage Hydropower could provide reliable electric power and water for the Sahel region by pumping groundwater from the massive aquafers to irrigate the intercropping of paulownia and avocado trees for building the Great Green Wall while also providing valuable lumber and nutritious fruit and giving local communities access to water resources for drinking, agriculture, and livestock.

  • ”How Nigeria Could Turn Climate Change into Economic Opportunity”-Prof Okereke

    ”How Nigeria Could Turn Climate Change into Economic Opportunity”-Prof Okereke

    The ongoing effort to stem the negative impact of climate change presents Nigeria with unique opportunities to boost its economy and improve electricity supply through renewable sources, expert on climate change issues, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke has said.

    Okereke who is the Director, Centre for Climate Change and Development, CCCD, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, stated this in Abuja at the award ceremony for the winners of the second National Essay Competition titled ‘Climate Change and Nigeria’s Economic Development: A letter to Mr. Incoming President’.

    Prof. Okereke said the essays written by the three finalists would be sent to whoever emerges Nigeria’s President in the general elections.

    He noted that climate change was not just an environmental issue but a national emergency that should be paid serious attention to by all Nigerians.

    According to him, “Many people misunderstand climate change as a small environmental problem somewhere. We are saying that climate change is a national economic development issue. It has to do with agriculture. It has to do with migration. It has to do with security. It has to do with water resources. It has to do with energy. It has to do with urban planning. It has to do with transportation.

    “Nigeria is losing according to the statistics and research done by the UK Government up to $100 billion a year to climate change as at 2020. And that number may go up to $250 billion per year by 2050 if Nigeria fails to take drastic action to tackle the problem. And the youth is the future.

    “They’re our leaders. You can see how massive their engagement in the current election campaign is. So we thought that it’s important to bring the youth together, to animate them, to equip them to empower them, to sensitise them so that they can champion the cause of climate change and the action to solve the problem in Nigeria.

    “As to whether the right is going to get to the President, absolutely. We will make sure that we email these three winning essays to whoever becomes the next president”.

    Prof. Okereke explained that the government needs to create more awareness among Nigerians on the impact of climate change and also set out a national plan to tackle the issues.

    He said that the national plan has to be implemented to the letter and also ensure that institutions charged with implementing the policies are staffed with competent people to drive the process.

    “The good news is that if we can act on climate change in a sensible and wise and intelligent manner, we can actually turn it from being a threat to being an opportunity. For example, in the area of renewable energy, we have just about 4,000 megawatts of energy that we are generating for a country of about 200 million people. South Africa generates about 40 gigawatts. And yet, Nigeria is a land of sun, we can harvest all the energy we need to meet our power and electricity from the sun.

    “Second, we can begin to utilise what we call green agriculture to be able to deal with the issue of desertification, desert encroachment, the degradation of the Lake Chad lecture and begin to create opportunity for women and men to go into green agriculture, which will build resilience to climate change and also lead to a lot of job opportunities.

    “We should stop the flaring of our gas in the Niger Delta, because its contribution is about 55 million metric tonnes of CO2 per annum to Nigeria. And yet if we harness those gases we can use it to power modular cooking and energy in the rural areas of the country”, he added.

    Source:(CCCD Post)

  • Investment Forum for Access to Energy: the African Development Bank conducts consultations for the implementation of its strategy on mini-grids in the Sahel

    The event also aimed to raise awareness of the Desert to Power initiative and promote strategic investments in solar energy in the Sahel countries.
    ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, March 30 , 2023/ — On the sidelines of the Energy Access Investment Forum, held in Abidjan from March 21 to 23, 2023, the African Development Bank ( http://www .AfDB.org ) organized two-day consultations with stakeholders in the mini-grid sector in Africa. Objective: to attract the main actors of the sector in order to discuss the strategy of mini-grids that the bank plans to put in place through the Desert to Power taskforce ( https://apo-opa.info/3ZBnD3W ).

    The event also aimed to raise awareness of the Desert to Power initiative and to promote strategic investments in solar energy in the countries of the Sahel as a major contribution to the fight against climate change.

    The first session, which brought together nearly 50 participants including actors from the private and public sectors and then financial partners, made it possible to discuss the bottlenecks in the promotion of mini-grids in the countries of the Sahel. Participants shared best practices and lessons learned from their experiences.

    The second session, which brought together around forty participants, focused on the use of technology platforms to plan, acquire and operate mini-grids and monitor their performance. The results of the two sessions will make it possible to refine and finalize the bank’s intervention strategy in the financing and development of mini-grids in the countries of the Sahel.

    The National Focal Points of the Desert to Power Initiative and the Directors General of Rural Electrification Agencies from Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad, met with the Desert to Power Taskforce on 20 March 2023, ahead of the two sessions in order to discuss the challenges of deploying mini-grids in the region. This consultation had been requested, during the 3rd ministerial meeting on the Desert to Power Initiative, held in Nouakchott in December 2022. The energy ministers of these five countries wanted more in-depth discussions for an approach that would make the strategy applicable. in each country given the importance of the deployment of mini-grids in achieving universal access to electricity in the region.

    Daniel Schroth, Director of Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency at the African Development Bank, welcomed the strong mobilization and the active and fruitful participation of the various delegations. He particularly underlined the need to accelerate the deployment of green mini-grids in the Sahel.

    The managing directors of rural electrification agencies welcomed the bank’s initiative, which made it possible to capitalize on various expertise for the development of mini-grids while being based on the specific realities of each country. They expressed their expectations on the final document which they hope will serve as a reference for the deployment of mini-grids in the Sahel countries.

    Distributed by APO Group for African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Media contact:
    Xiaomi Ollo HIEN
    Department of Communication and External Relations
    o.hien@afdb.org

    Technical contacts:
    Franklin GBEDEY
    Head of the Renewable Energy Division
    f.gbedey@afdb.org

    About the Desert to Power Initiative:
    Launched in 2019, “Desert to Power” ( https://apo-opa.info/3ZBnD3W ) is a flagship renewable energy and socio-economic development initiative initiated and piloted by the African Development Bank Group . As part of the first strategic priority of the Bank Group’s “High 5s”, the initiative has a great ambition “ to light up and supply electricity “ to eleven countries in the Sahel region by increasing, by 2030, 10 gigawatts of solar generation capacity through public and private, on-grid and off-grid projects. The initiative should thus provide 250 million people with access to electricity throughout the Sahel region, for socio-economic development purposes. It covers 11 countries in the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan and Chad), where 64% of the population lives without electricity — with consequences for education, health and business.

    SOURCE
    African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

     

  • Sierra Leone Seeks Upstream Partners to Fast-Track Exploration, says Petroleum Directorate

    Sierra Leone Seeks Upstream Partners to Fast-Track Exploration, says Petroleum Directorate

    In an exclusive interview with the African Energy Chamber, Foday B. L. Mansaray, Director General of Sierra Leone’s Petroleum Directorate, spoke on the country’s exploration agenda to develop its hydrocarbon-rich, ultra-deep basins
    JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 27, 2023/ — The African Energy Chamber (http://www.EnergyChamber.org) – the voice of the African energy sector – spoke with Foday B. L. Mansaray, Director General of the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone, in an exclusive interview on the country’s latest oil and gas developments. These include a fifth licensing round launched last May, ongoing evaluation of its gas prospects, streamlined concession terms, and an upcoming wildcat and appraisal well to be drilled later this year.

    What is the current state of Sierra Leone’s oil and gas industry?

    We are still a nation in its infancy and we want to get to a stage where we can commercialize our oil and gas reserves. Over the past years, we have managed to streamline the process for application to conduct exploration works. So far, we have a Nigerian independent in our basin which – in its first evaluation conducted last year – has highlighted gas prospects. With the energy transition taking center stage, having gas in our energy mix will be crucial in driving energy security and sustainability.

    Last year, Sierra Leone launched its fifth licensing round to kickstart new exploration in the country. How has engagement with operators been to date?  

    The licensing round closes at the end of September and has been an excellent round so far, with very strong interest from majors, IOCs and independents that have already looked at our data and are conducting data and financial evaluation. We have 56 graticules and 63,000 ㎢ in area on offer. We also have hydrocarbon-rich, ultra-deep basins on offer through direct negotiations. We want technically-sound companies to partner with – those that can drill and have the capability to progress our exploration agenda. Our entire basin is covered with 3D and 2D data, hence there is a strong foundation for companies to advance and fast-track exploration.

    How does your latest licensing round differ from previous rounds and from others being launched across the continent?

    We are determined to make this round the most successful licensing round we have ever had. The conversation around energy transition is shifting slightly, with major companies approaching us to participate. We have reduced the red tape for companies to come in with very simple and straightforward terms. We have only three non-negotiable terms: a corporate income tax of 25%; a 10% royalty for oil and 5% royalty for gas; and a petroleum resources tax. The barriers to entry are very low. The period from application to ratification is 85 days, hence we have heavily improved our application period. We are also positioned within the Office of the Presidency and are very quick and nimble at making decisions.

    Sierra Leone’s basins are similar to Guyana’s where huge discoveries have been made, and we are positive that we will attract major IOCs and a few independents. Once we open our doors for them to enter, we expect more firms to flood into our sector. We are willing to learn from neighbors such as Namibia and Angola to enhance our sector growth.

    How is Sierra Leone prioritizing local content and skills development as its energy sector develops?

    Our local content laws are very strong and the area is a very important aspect regarding how we want to develop our industry. We have existing Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia and Ghana. Last year, we sent 18 people for training in Ghana from different departments. We want to capacitate local content into our sector and ensure that we have as many qualified Sierra Leoneans as possible wherever there is a gap. We also want to focus on African local content with our neighbors because local content is key to driving industry growth. We have many programs and training that we offer around petroleum engineering and geology.

    How is Sierra Leone balancing the energy transition with its need for energy security?

    Our plan is to not leave our oil and gas resources in the ground. A key part of industrialization is driving access to energy. We are aware of climate change, and as we develop our resources, we will make sure our sector is ready for future business models and low-carbon operations. Our resources are more useful in shaping the energy transition and economic development when they are on the surface than in the ground, hence we will continue with drilling, development and monetization of our resources.

    How is the Petroleum Directorate serving to attract new investment?  

    We are very active in terms of attracting investments and promoting opportunities within Sierra Leone. We are not just waiting for investments to come to us – we are going where they are. We had very fruitful meetings and conversations with companies in Qatar around natural gas, and we will be chatting with two Italian IOCs. The industry is competitive and we need to be actively seeking investors.

    What are the key investment opportunities within Sierra Leone’s energy value chain?

    We have recently made a discovery with a small-to-medium upstream company and are looking for companies willing to develop that to meet our in-country energy needs. We have also signed an MoU for the development of the Nigeria-Morocco-Niger Gas Pipeline for us to tap into – as well as feed into – that pipeline to meet our demands. In the downstream sector, we are ensuring fuel security with the development of more pipes to import more fuels. The key area that will give us energy independence is exploration.

    With the 2023 edition of African Energy Week being held this October, what message will you be sharing during the event and what deals do you hope to be signed?

    We are closing the licensing round around the time of African Energy Week (AEW) and we plan to sign the agreements during the event. We are currently speaking to one supermajor and we want AEW to be the platform where we make a huge announcement. With the Nigerian company that is already in the basin, it will start drilling a wildcat and appraisal well later this year, so we also plan to announce the size and scope of its discovery at AEW.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    SOURCE
    African Energy Chamber

     

     

  • Groups List 11 Economic Development Measures To Achieve Net Zero Emissions By 2060

    Groups List 11 Economic Development Measures To Achieve Net Zero Emissions By 2060

    The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), GCA Capital Partners and Climate Advisers Network (Berlin) have listed 11 key measures for Nigeria to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.

    Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, an internationally recorgnised scholar, stated this at a news conference on Monday, March 20, 2023, in Abuja.

    Okereke, who is Director, SPP, said that the 11 measures were adopted out of a long list of 35 measures identified in key policy documents across priority sectors: Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use, Industry and Housing, Oil & Gas, Power, Transport, Waste and Water.

    Okereke listed the top 11 measures to include: on- and Off-grid generation of renewable electricity, elimination of Diesel and Gasoline generators by 2030, and Planting of 300 million trees by 2030.

    Others included End gas flaring by 2030, reduce wood cooking and introduce clean cooking to 30 million households, Construction of 300,000 green home annually for 5 years, shift to Bus Rapid Transport with enforcement of emission standards.

    He also added Transition to properly designed engineered landfill with state-of-the-art gas collection, enhanced irrigation powered by renewable energy, increase energy efficiency by reducing transmission losses, and restoration of landscape scale and recharge of Lake Chad Basin.

    According to him, a rough calculation indicates that these measures could result in emission reduction of about 174.01 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030, similar to fossil emissions of Algeria or Iraq in 2021.

    The scholar said that the aim of the project was to present the steps and decisions in a format that is accessible to a wider public through communication materials that can stimulate and inform a wider public debate involving civil society, policymakers and more importantly, the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) as it embarks on its full implementation of its mandate.

    “Taken together, the Top 11 measures are best-suited to private and blended types of investment, which is essential in the current circumstances and are expected to signal an observable shift in the course of decision making for massive economic and social development while putting Nigeria on the path of achieving her net-zero ambition by 2060,” Okereke said.

    He said that Nigeria at the brink of multiple climate crisis submitted an ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), presented its Energy Transition Plan and subsequently passed the Climate Change Act into law in 2021.

    He said that few months later, Nigeria launched its Long-Term Vision to 2050 (LTV2050) that is now expected to appraise the development of its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy.

    He added that the significance of these steps was to galvanise effective action towards meeting its commitment made at the COP26 in Glasgow to achieve net-zero target by 2060.

    Okereke said that the project embarked by SPP, and others analysed decisions and actions that, if taken in the next five years, would underpin a socio-economic transformation required to enable Nigeria to meet the government’s 2060 net-zero objective announced at COP26 in Glasgow.

    According to him, the context of the project with regards to benefits and successful implementation of each measure were assessed based on four criteria, listed to include:

    1. Economic diversification, (youth) job creation and poverty reduction;
    2. Security, social safeguards, and gender equality;
    3. Food security & public and environmental health; and,
    4. Sustainable and affordable power and transport to justify the diversity and sustainability of the measures.

    Source:(Centre for Climate Change & Dev.Blog News)

  • African Development Bank issues AUD 50 million 15-year Kangaroo Green Bond due March 2038

    African Development Bank issues AUD 50 million 15-year Kangaroo Green Bond due March 2038

    The transaction is the Bank’s 2nd green bond issued in 2023 across all currencies
    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, March 8, 2023/ — The African Development Bank (http://www.AfDB.org), rated Aaa/AAA/AAA/AAA (Moody’s/S&P/Fitch/Japan Credit Rating, all stable) has successfully launched an AUD 50 million 15-year Kangaroo Green Bond due March 2038. The new issuance was arranged by RBC Capital Markets and sold to a single Japanese investor, Taiju Life Insurance Company.

    This is the African Development Bank’s sophomore green bond in the Australian dollar market since the inaugural 15-year Kangaroo green bond was issued in 2016, and marks an extension of the Bank’s existing Kangaroo curve.

    The funds raised through this green bond transaction will support the Bank’s efforts in the areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation. The bond proceeds will finance eligible green projects, including forestry conservation projects, aimed at supporting the transition to green growth in Africa in accordance with the AfDB Green Bond Framework.

    Despite renewed global efforts toward climate change evidenced by the new and ambitious climate targets established at the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Africa requires particular attention and a more targeted response.

    Africa, with its unique biodiversity and ecosystems, including savannas, mountains, plateaus, deserts, and its variety of organisms and plants, is threatened by climate change unlike any other region. As a result, the transition to green growth in Africa has become even more important and urgent.

    Japan’s announcement of the “Africa Green Growth Initiative” to promote and attract investments into sustainable green growth in Africa, is ample evidence of its recognition of the need for this transition. The announcement was made at the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8) in August 2022.

    In order to promote sustainable development in Africa, the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy focuses on two overarching objectives: to promote inclusive growth and to support African countries transition to green growth. The Bank has contributed to improving the lives in Africa by providing better access to water, energy and food, enabling sustainable use of natural resources, and promoting innovations, employment and economic growth.

    The transaction is the Bank’s 2nd green bond issued in 2023 across all currencies, following on from a successful SEK 1.5 billion 5-year Green Bond issued in the Swedish krone market in January.

    Bond Terms Summary:

    Issuer African Development Bank
    Rating Aaa/AAA/AAA/AAA (All Stable)
    Issue Amount AUD 50 million
    Trade Date 22 February 2023
    Settlement Date 8 March 2023
    Maturity Date 8 March 2038
    Coupon 5.000%
    ISIN AU3CB0297273
    Arranger RBC Capital Markets

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

     

  • Decarbonisation of Hospitality Industry Gets Major Boost

    ……As Studio Moren and EAA Join Hands

    9th January 2023

    Hospitality design specialist Studio Moren has announced a strategic partnership with the Energy and Environment Alliance (EEA) – an international not-for-profit coalition driving the decarbonisation of the hospitality industry – to provide expertise on sustainable architecture and interior design practices across the sector.

    The EEA’s mission is to develop the first universal sustainability standard for the hospitality industry, including the design, build and operation of buildings. Studio Moren, working in collaboration with EEA and its other partners, will utilise its substantial knowledge and experience designing effective and energy-efficient hotel and hospitality projects to help steer the ongoing development of the new BREEAM in Use Hospitality (BiUH) standard.

    Studio Moren Senior Designer and Certified Passive House Designer, Bryan Oknyansky, AIA, will sit on the EEA Technical Committee to work with the EAA and BRE Group in the development of hospitality-specific standards, metrics and methodologies, embracing all lifecycle stages of hotel or apart-hotel development, including design, construction and operations to redevelopment or decommissioning.

    As a world-renowned hotel and hospitality architect and interior designer, Studio Moren has a long-term commitment to both sustainability and the hospitality industry and shares EEA’s mission to improve sustainable outcomes in the sector. Whilst it is well understood that hospitality operations require a considerable amount of energy to ensure the comfort of guests and offer individualised experiences and services, in addition to generating a considerable amount of waste from consumables, Studio Moren believes a lot can be done to decarbonise the hospitality sector to enable sustainable growth.

    Bryan Oknyansky says: “According to U.N data, the built environment is currently responsible for about 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions. As architects and designers, we have a key role to play in driving a reduction in carbon emissions, as the greatest opportunity for impact on building performance and energy efficiency comes at the design stage.

    “Measures being more widely adopted by the hospitality industry include designing out the excess energy demands of operating buildings and recovering heat from both plant equipment and wastewater for reuse elsewhere in building services. Additionally, exploiting opportunities for circularity will lead to the use of materials and products that have lower embodied carbon through sourcing locally, recycling and reuse. We look forward to working collaboratively with the EEA and its partners to further increase the uptake of such measures, whilst also helping asset owners and managers in the hospitality industry mitigate climate risk and meet net zero targets.”

    Ufi Ibrahim, CEO & Founder, the Energy & Environment Alliance (EEA), said: “Studio Moren stands out as a hospitality focused architectural and design practice that puts sustainability at the heart of its creative philosophy. We are therefore delighted to have its input into our Technical Committee, helping to determine the most relevant and useful standards and metrics for ESG in the industry.”

    ENDS

    For media enquiries, please contact Zoe Couch:

    zoe@satellitempr.com / +44 (0)777 159 8483

    Notes to Editors

    All images © Studio Moren

    Studio Moren

    Studio Moren is an award-winning practice of 70 architecture and interior design specialists, working right across the hospitality spectrum. Over the past 30 years in business we have established a world-renowned reputation as leaders in hospitality design, based on our ability to deliver intelligent, creative and bespoke solutions which meld both developer and operator requirements. With a design-led ethos of ‘creating places people want to stay’, we have taken our hospitality experience into other sectors including resorts, serviced apartments, build-to-rent, co-living and co-working. We are passionate, commercially astute and committed to producing beautiful buildings and interiors that respond to location and context.

    About Energy & Environment Alliance (EEA)

    The Energy & Environment Alliance (EEA) is a company limited by guarantee, run by its members for the benefit of its members. A small executive team is responsible for running and growing the organisation, it is supervised and directed by an advisory board, comprised of leading figures from the hospitality industry. The EEA’s immediate priority is to achieve faster carbon reduction rates in the hospitality industry. It will help its members do so in three practical ways: first by bringing the industry together with renowned experts, regulators and specialist services, to share knowledge and implement new technologies; second, by enabling member companies to purchase their energy 100% sustainably; and third by helping members drive energy productivity levels in a highly cost-effective manner.

  • Independents Energy Companies are Raring to Go in Africa in 2023 with Sustainable Energy Development (By NJ Ayuk)

    Independents Energy Companies are Raring to Go in Africa in 2023 with Sustainable Energy Development (By NJ Ayuk)

     

    OPINION PIECE
    They’re bringing private capital, experience, and know-how to the continent
    JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, December 26, 2022/ — By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber

    In late 2019, Africa Oil Corp. President and CEO Keith Hill told Petroleum Economist that, given Africa’s unproven oil and gas basins, the continent was probably “the greatest frontier,” with outstanding opportunities for exploration, production, and development companies, including independents.

    Three years later, Hill remains bullish about Africa, and Canada-headquartered Africa Oil Corp. is driving oil and gas exploration here. The company is part of a growing trend we’re seeing: independent oil and gas companies that recognize the tremendous promise of our underexplored continent and are finding ways to thrive here — and make a positive impact.

    I’m extremely optimistic about independents like Africa Oil Corp and BW Energy, which are building on their successful track records in exploration and production, and Perenco, which is building Africa’s natural gas industry. I’m encouraged by the efforts of Trident Energy, which is finding ways to bolster production in mature fields, and by Eco Atlantic, which has been convincing investors not to turn their backs on our continent. Companies like these are exactly what Africa needs. They’re bringing private capital, experience, and know-how to the continent. They are accelerating resource monetization and maximization for the good of Africa. And, honestly, I can’t wait to see what they do in 2023.

    Putting Natural Gas to Work for Africa

    As David Christianson so eloquently put it in a recent blog for Trade Law Centre (tralac), a South Africa-based think tank, “Africa’s gas future is floating offshore.” Floating liquified natural gas (FLNG) units are an ideal way to capitalize on Africa’s abundant natural gas resources. They can be deployed rapidly and more affordably than onshore LNG trains, creating a practical pathway to gas monetization. London-headquartered independent, Perenco, which has operated in Cameroon for nearly 30 years, is capitalizing on these opportunities.

    Not only did Perenco establish an FLNG plant in Cameroon, it made history there. The Hilli Episeyo FLNG, which began commercial operations in March 2018, is the world’s second-ever FLNG plant to enter operation and the first in the world to operate from a converted LNG tanker. The plant, moored off the coast of Kribi, is the property of Norwegian Golar. Not only does the project have global significance, but it also involves local entities. Perenco partnered with Cameroon’s Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures (National Hydrocarbons Company) to launch the project. The Hilli Episeyo is designed to produce 2.4 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of LNG and has 125,000 cubic meters of storage capacity. Natural gas for the plant is sourced from Perenco’s Sanaga and Ebome gas fields.

    What’s more, Perenco is growing its upstream activity in the continent. Earlier this year, it signed a deal with oil and gas company New Age Ltd. to buy its stake and take over the operatorship of the Etinde gas field, which is in shallow water in the Rio del Rey Basin offshore Cameroon. In July, Perenco acquired Anglo-Swiss multinational Glencore’s entities in North Africa, The acquisition includes PetroChad Mangara, which operates the Mangara, Badila, and Krim oilfields in Chad’s Doba Basin. And in November, the company announced it had discovered oil in the Tchibeli North East pre-salt Vandji exploration prospect offshore Congo, describing it as a potential “play opener.”

    Each of these activities and successes represents potential for greater energy security, economic growth, and based on Perenco’s track record, more good jobs for Africans.

    Perenco is a strong example of an independent that has successfully developed strategies for Africa’s unique challenges, needs, and opportunities. And, it’s not alone.

    Breathing New Life Into Maturing Fields

    Look at British independent Trident Energy, which is introducing a new era of operational efficiency and production improvements in Equatorial Guinea.

    Trident’s business strategy calls for acquiring mid-life producing assets around the globe, particularly oil and gas fields lacking attention and investment, re-developing them, increasing production, and unlocking reserves. In Africa, where we’re seeing production declines occur in legacy assets throughout the continent, this approach is tremendously valuable.

    In Equatorial Guinea, Trident is the operator of Block G, which includes the producing Ceiba and Okume Complex fields — made up of six oil fields in the Gulf of Guinea, in shallow and deep water in the Rio Muni basin –  with a 40.375% working interest. The company also holds a 40% stake in Block S, W & EG-21.

    In May of this year, the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea and Trident’s joint venture partners for Block G, Kosmos Energy, Panoro Energy, and GEPetrol, agreed to extend the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for the block through 2040, giving Trident more time to unlock the block’s full potential.

    Trident has earned the respect of both the government and the companies it works with. Trident credits those strong working relationships with the company’s commitment to be an active, visible member of the communities where it operates.

    Foreign project leaders and their families relocate in-country, as the company fulfils its role as a major contributor to the local economy and community. Most importantly building local capacity and improving local content has been a key strategy for the company’s leadership.

    Trident also is known for offering local residents high-quality jobs and respectful treatment; for creating empowering skill development, healthcare, and education programs in host communities; and for implementing best practices to protect the environment.

    Trident Energy’s upgrades at Okume Field, which have been underway this year, call for converting 15 gas lift wells to electrical submersible pumps (ESPs), which are more affordable to operate and maintain.

    To prepare for the conversion, the company has been working on a $57 million upgrade at Okume’s central processing facilities. Trident Energy’s team in Equatorial Guinea has managed every aspect of the project including supply chain, logistics, and coordination. Approximately 55% of the services (in-value) were provided by local contractors; 32% of services were provided by regional contractors; and only 13% were provided by international contractors.

    Projects that boost production in declining assets, like the Okume upgrades, are extremely important for both Equatorial Guinea and the continent at large. We hope more companies follow Trident’s lead.

    Setting the Stage for Success

    The African Energy Chamber also has been impressed with Norwegian independent BW Energy, which has been very strategic in its approach to gas exploration and production in Namibia.

    BW, which also has a strong presence in Gabon, targets proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs and minimizes risk with phased developments. By operating in sites with existing production facilities, the company reduces time to first oil and keeps cash flow in check, the company website explains.

    In 2017, the company acquired a 56% stake in the Kudu gas field in the northern Orange sub-basin, approximately 130 kilometers off the southwest coast of Namibia. Several years later, BW increased its interest in the gas project to 95%.

    The Kudu field is believed to hold at least 1.3 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas, but the site has remained undeveloped since ChevronTexaco first discovered gas there in 1974. The field has had a long string of operators, but as Pan-African research agency Hawilti put it, factors ranging from the inability to agree on a gas price to delays in getting governmental support projects have kept the project in limbo. The site’s isolated location, and lack of infrastructure to transport gas, have not helped matters.

    But, with BW in the driver’s seat, I believe that chapter is now closed. As announced during African Energy Week in Cape Town, BW is pursuing a revised development plan for Kudu that includes using a repurposed semisubmersible drilling rig as a floating production unit (FPU), which will allow it to move gas onshore for domestic energy generation. BW purchased the rig it needs for this effort earlier this year.

    BW’s efforts could have far-reaching effects on day-to-day life in Namibia. Currently, the country relies on electricity imports to meet its domestic needs. BW’s work at Kudu will help provide the gas Namibia means to reliably deliver electricity to its people, drive industrial growth, create jobs, and position Namibia as a regional energy hub.
    Overcoming Hurdles, Modeling Determination
    Another independent modeling what can be achieved in Africa is Toronto-headquartered Eco Atlantic. It has been overcoming the challenges of raising capital in an era when companies are being pressured not to begin new oil and gas projects on our continent.

    In April, Eco Atlantic raised approximately $25.5 million to cover drilling expenses on the Gazania-1 well, on Block 2B offshore South Africa, although the company announced that its evaluation well did not show evidence of commercial hydrocarbons. That’s not stopping the company from moving forward in Africa. Along with its partners, Africa Energy Corp, Panoro 2B Limited (a subsidiary of Panoro Energy ASA), and Crown Energy AB, Eco Atlantic is planning additional exploration drilling, including a two-well campaign on Block 3B/4B offshore South Africa, set to begin in 2023, and at least one well on the Orinduik Block offshore Guyana.

    “While it is naturally disappointing not having made a commercial discovery, the Gazania-1 well was only the first of four wells we have planned for the next 18-24 months across our wider portfolio,” Eco Atlantic co-founder and CEO Gil Holzman said.

    Tenacity is a required trait for all companies in this industry. Eco Atlantic’s ongoing commitment to exploring South Africa’s offshore basins is commendable.

    As recently as Dec. 19, the company announced its subsidiary, Azinam Limited, had acquired another 6.25% participating interest in Block 3B/4B offshore South Africa. Eco Atlantic also received regulatory approval for the acquisition. Now Eco Atlantic will hold an increased participating interest of 26.25% in Block 3B/4B, with Africa Oil Corp., the block’s operator, and Cape Town-based upstream company, Ricocure.

    Big Finds, Big Ambitions
    As for Africa Oil Corp., one of its strengths is the respect it has earned in the sector and among government leaders. The company has been involved in such major finds as the 2022 Venus light oil discovery made with Total Energies offshore Namibia (through subsidiary Impact Oil & Gas Limited).

    Since then, the company has kept its focus on continued exploration operations. It has producing and development assets in deep-water offshore Nigeria, development assets in Kenya, and a portfolio of exploration assets in Guyana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and the Senegal Guinea Bissau Joint Development Zone (AGC).

    The companies’ successes in East Africa are particularly exciting. Exploration in Kenya within the last decade has opened two new basins that extend into southern Somalia. Keith recently told Energy, Oil & Gas magazine that the basins cover an area the size of the North Sea.

    And in Puntland, the company is confident that it found an oilfield through drilling on the Shabeel well.

    Hill said he remembers when most companies believed opportunities in East Africa were limited.

    “At most oil and gas conferences today the universal opinion is that East Africa now represents one of the hottest oil and gas exploration areas anywhere in the world,” he said. “Africa Oil Corp’s forward thinking approach meant that it was able to get in and secure all the acreage it wanted before this region really took off. What that means is that today you are looking at an organization that boasts the best onshore acreage position of any company now present in East Africa.”

    Well done.

    Earlier this year, I said Africa will not achieve the energy future it wants, including making energy poverty history, without the presence of independents. Today, that truth is clearer than ever. Yes, majors and national oil companies still have an important part to play in Africa’s energy industry, but the independent companies at work here are giving us every reason to be optimistic about Africa’s future.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Week (AEW).

    SOURCE
    African Energy Week (AEW)

     

     

  • About rising Global Warming and Carbon Emission Cuts

    About rising Global Warming and Carbon Emission Cuts

    “Seychelles is Already Net Zero” Says President Ramkalawan

    …. As U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit ends in Washington DC

    By: Mohammed Abu

    African Small Island Developing State of Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan has recently disclosed that his country is already net zero and even cleaning up the emissions of the world while also taking note of the efforts of others to achieve same in 2030, 2040, 2050 or 2060.

    President Ramkalawan noted that despite its size, Seychelles is not only talking about saving the planet but rather playing an active role through the application of concrete actions of increasing the percentage of its territory dedicated to conservation and protection, implementing quotas for exploiting marine resources and the relentless commitment to cleaning up the atmosphere to ensure the survival of not only its islands and the world.

    “Unfortunately when we talk of Africa we sometimes forget about the islands, we talk of the Congo Bassin, the Green Belt and others and we forget that the oceanic states and islands play an important role. When we are talk of trees, the Sea grass Meadows removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than trees. For example, right now Seychelles and Mauritius are jointly managing the ‘Saya de Malha bank where the Sea grass Meadow is larger than Switzerland. Seychelles is also already protecting 32% of its Ocean, which is equivalent to a size larger than Zimbabwe. As part of our commitment, as of 2023, small Seychelles will be protecting 100% of its Mangroves and also the Sea grass Meadows”, President Ramkalawan intimated.

    President Wavel Ramkalawan made these disclosures during the thematic session held at the Washington Convention Centre as part of the recently held U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit under the banner themed “Building Our Green Future Together.

    ” The segment focused on three main overarching themes; Conservation, Climate Adaptation, and a Just Energy Transition where members of the various high-level panel exchanged views.

    Moderated by Haydé FitzPatrick, from Voice of America, the thematic session was officially launched by the US Secretary of State, T. H Anthony Blinken who delivered the welcoming remarks followed by remarks by the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E Felix Tshisekedi and the Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, T.H Gregory Meeks.

    During his intervention on Conservation, the highlight of President Wavel Ramkalawan’s Statement stressed on the significant efforts undertaken by Seychelles as an African Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in order to maximize conservation of both its land mass and oceanic territories whilst also promoting the country’s economic growth.

    The session explored ways that the governments and peoples of the United States and African nations are partnering to address conservation, climate adaptation, and the just energy transition based on shared priorities. The discussion identified ways to better integrate natural resource planning and infrastructure development, including clean energy. These areas included 1) conservation based on forests and wildlife and protecting Africa’s waters – ending Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing; 2) climate adaptation and 3) the clean energy transition.

    On President Ramkalawan’s panel of discussion on the Conservation theme also included the Administrator of United States Agency for International Development (USAID), T.H Samantha Power, and the Chief Executive Officer of Africa Wildlife Federation (AWF) Kaddu Sebunya.

    Other African Heads of State who also addressed the floor on other proposed themes on the agenda included Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Nigeria.