The United States Coast Guard has called for greater vigilance at Nigerian ports.

The call was made by a visiting US Coast Guard team led by Lt. Commander Janna Ott. The delegation was in Nigeria to inspect facilities and ports.

Ott, who commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, for its efforts at improving security and operational efficiency within Nigeria’s maritime domain, said NIMASA had taken laudable steps to improve Nigeria’s compliance with the International Ship and Port Security, ISPS, code.

“It’s very important that you know in your port facilities who is gaining access and they are authorised to be there before they go through those gates of the ISPS zone,” Ott, a representative of the US Coast Guard in International Port Security Programme, said.

“You also need to be consistent with the proficiencies of all the security personnel in holding people accountable that are coming through those port facilities. We already had a very good discussion with NIMASA,” she added.

Sweetcrude

French energy giant Total is in advanced talks with privately owned firms Albion Energy and First Alpha Energy Capital on the sale of some of its British North Sea assets, two industry sources said.

In July, four banking sources told Reuters Total was set to sell a third of its stake in the Laggan Tormore gas field along with other oil and gas assets North Sea that could fetch a total of $1.5 billion.

Total and First Alpha had no comment. Albion could not be reached for comment.

Total sold its interest in the Bruce and Keith fields in the North Sea during the summer. This included stakes in a number of smaller fields Total acquired as part of the 2017 $4.95 billion deal to buy the oil and gas division of A.P. Moller-Maersk, the sources said in July.

Albion, linked to Heritage Oil founder Executive Tony Buckingham, is fully financed through a hedge fund, one of the sources said.

First Alpha, established in 2016 and private-equity backed, and has no assets so far, according to its website. Its founders include former BP and OMV manager David Latin and its advisors former BG Chief Frank Chapman and former OMV CFO David Davies.Total’s fields include Golden Eagle, in which Total has a 32 percent stake, and Dumbarton, in which it holds 30 percent.

One of the sources said Premier Oil was no longer in the process to buy Total’s assets.

• Reuters

For nearly two decades, the United States has strongly pushed for the electrification of rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa to raise the standard of living. It has carried out these goals via the USAID’s Power Africa and the World Bank, and under the UN Sustainable Development Goal on Energy (SDG7).

And yet, it remains unclear whether electrification can actually improve living standards in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. As researchers, we have previously documented the positive effects of electrification schemes. Still, we think that money earmarked for rural electrification in sub-Saharan Africa might be better spent elsewhere.

Providing people with clean drinking water and sanitation infrastructure may do more to improve living standards than providing them with electricity. In addition, water and sanitation provisions are generally less expensive than rural electrification. They could improve many more lives at the same cost.

The electrification of low-density rural areas in Nicaragua, Guatemala and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa has increased the number of working women. Rural electrification substantially increased household living standards in India.

However, South Asian rural electrification schemes often did not reach the poor. Similarly, in Ghana and Rwanda, economic opportunities were not obviously increased. In Ghana, electricity remains prohibitively expensive for newly connected rural households. In Rwanda, grid electrification did not result in significant new income generation in rural areas.

While there is some potential for off-grid solar energy to improve agricultural productivity in Africa, very small-scale solar provisions are unlikely to do so.

Solar provisions may be commercially viable, but they are not necessarily the most cost-effective source of clean energy. A home installation in sub-Saharan Africa may cost $500-$1,000, far above what most rural households can pay.

Energy News

Reports emerged weekend that the Nigerian government has increased the cost of procuring the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (otherwise known as CERPAC card or green card) to $2,000. 

The card is a must-have for visiting sailors who stay ashore for more than 28 days. It is also compulsory for foreigners residing in Nigeria beyond 56 days and for expatriates working in the country. 

The card, which is produced by a firm, Continental Transfer Technique Limited for the Nigeria Immigration Service, is valid for a year.

The Federal Government generated N1.2 billion between 2016 and 2017 from the sale of the cards to foreigners.

The new price of the CERPAC card was reportedly effected last week without warning by the Ministry of Interior, a development that said to have caught many foreigners unawares.

A local newspaper reported that many foreigners had visited the banks to pay the old rate of $1,000 for the card, but were informed that the document is now sold for $2,000. 

According to the newspaper, “Many of the foreigners could not obtain the card last week on hearing that the price had been hiked by 100 per cent by the Ministry of Interior. Most of them simply went back home because they were shocked by the development which they felt was uncalled for.”    

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DP World is introducing a world’s first intelligent high bay container storing system touted as the disruptive technology that will radically improve operations.

DP World and industrial engineering specialist SMS Group have formed a joint venture to roll out the new and intelligent storing system, which will be applied for the first time at Jebel Ali Terminal 4.

The High Bay Storage system was originally developed by SMS Group subsidiary AMOVA for round the clock handling of metal coils that weigh as much as 50 tonnes each in racks as high as 50 metres.

Instead of stacking containers directly on top of each other, which has been global standard practice for decades, the new system places each container in an individual rack compartment. Containers are stored in an 11-storey rack, creating 200% more capacity than a conventional container terminal, or creating the same capacity in less than a third of the space.

The rack’s design means that each container can be accessed without having to move another one, enabling 100% utilisation in a terminal yard.
DP World said the system brings huge gains in speed, energy efficiency, better safety and a major reduction in costs. Costs are further cut by the ability to shorten the time taken to load and unload mega-ships by as much as 30%.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World group chairman and ceo, said: “DP World’s experience and expertise in moving cargo coupled with the technology of AMOVA will ensure the system is remarkably efficient and relevant for present and future operations.”

Dr. Mathias Dobner, ceo of the joint venture, commented: “This new container handling technology allows cities to use their expensive and sensitive land and waterfront areas more effectively. Our system will significantly increase the productivity of handling ships on the quay. This means that quay walls can be shortened by a third. This disruptive innovation will greatly improve the financial performance of container ports, and well as their overall appearance.”

Culled from Seatrade

…….banks directed to freeze interest on related loans
By Chibisi Ohakah 
Petroleum products marketers have confirmed receiving payment of N236 billion from the federal government being the first tranche of the outstanding fuel subsidy claims. The payment of this money was the major reason the oil workers suspended their proposed nationwide strike action a fortnight ago.

Executive secretary of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Mr Olufemi Adewole, said, however, that the oil marketers still needed clarifications as regards the payments made by the federal government.

“Yes, we collected promissory notes, but we need clarification. DAPPMAN chief executive officers are reviewing the total scenarios and would meet with the Senate Committee, which has been of so much help to iron out things,” he told newsmen in Abuja yesterday He further confirmed that the payment was made via promissory notes, adding that DAPPMAN was already reviewing the situation.

Adewole confirmed that the petroleum marketers would be meeting with the Senate Committee on Downstream to address other pending issues. The federal government, through the chief operating officer, Downstream, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC], Mr. Henry Ikem-Obih, dropped the hint about the payment early on Monday.
He said the federal government has paid the agreed N236 billion as first tranche of the outstanding subsidy claims to oil marketers. The federal government has equally directed banks through the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] to freeze interests on loans related to the scheme while making the payments.

“Yes, I can confirm that the promissory note has been issued; in fact, they were ready on Wednesday. The marketers got emails inviting them to come and receive them on Monday. By the end of Tuesday, they were actually ready from the Debt Management Office (DMO). We had a meeting with the CBN governor on Thursday and they were informed officially, the director general of DMO was there that they should pick up the promissory note,” he said
He said that the meeting with the CBN governor went very well. “One of the things that CBN governor has taken the initiative to do is to ask the banks to freeze the interest on any loan that are related to that scheme, the outstanding payment, from end of June 2017 to date. Those are some of the additional concessions that government has done,’’ he said, adding that all the promissory notes for this first tranche will mature by 2019.

“The CBN governor will give the Liquid assets status; so, it is as good as cash,’’ he added. Commenting on petrol scarcity, he said that at the moment, the country had in stock 2.7 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) that would last for 54 days and still importing. He noted that in terms of supply, the NNPC was very robust and had never been this good in the least 10 years, at this time of the year.

“We are very good with distribution in terms of how much products is on land because 2.8 billion litres is what is between Lagos waters and land. Most Farm tanks cannot receive PMS at the moment; our vessels have to queue for days to be able to discharge to the storage.’’ He added

*Addax in 5-year tax default, owing N700m

Two international oil companies operating in the country were Monday accused by the Federal Government of various levels of indebtedness to the nation and contributing to Nigeria’s economic woes.

The companies are US oil giant ExxonMobil and Addax Petroleum, a subsidiary of China’s Sinopec Group.

This was disclosed by the Special Presidential Investigative Panel on the Recovery of Public Property, SPIP, which said three other oil companies were under investigation for not paying taxes and royalties.

According to the chairman of the panel, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, who spoke at a news conference in Abuja on the activities of the panel during the year, Mobil – a subsidiary of ExxonMobil – was indebted to the country to the tune of $1.9 billion while Addax owed N700 million in tax.

Chief Obono-Obla, who is also the Special Assistant to the President on Public Prosecution, said: “A lot of oil companies are contributing to the economic challenges facing the country, denying Nigeria of royalties and also evading taxes, money that would have been channeled to the development of the country.

“Working with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) we discovered that Addax Petroleum has failed to pay tax for five years and so they are owing about N700 million. Then, thanks to a petition we received from Femi Falana, SAN, Mobil which purchased an oil bloc in 2001 for $2.5 billion dollars is yet to pay about $1.9 billion of that money to the government. We have commenced our investigations too”.

He did not give further details on the three other oil companies under investigation by the government for tax and royalties evasion.

Efforts last night to reach officials of both ExxonMobil and Addax for comments on this matter proved abortive.

Okono-Obla also revealed during the press briefing that the Federal Government had written the United Kingdom’s National Crime Commission to help in the probe of five senators, who owned properties in the UK and the British Virgin Islands.

Listing the affected five senators as Ike Ekweremadu, Stella Oduah, Hope Uzodinma, Albert Bassey Akpan and Peter Nwaoboshi, the special assistant to the president said: “The UK has passed a law that will also help us in Nigeria fight corruption and that is the ‘Unexplained Wealth Regulation’ which entails that if you have a property in the UK that is above $50, 000, you have to explain your source of wealth, and property here does not just mean a building but even jewelries.

“So, we have written the National Crime Authority in the UK asking them to investigate some Nigerian public officers who have property in the UK and the Virgin Islands”.

KEFFES Foundation inaugurates N24m projects in Chevron’s host communities in Bayelsa

 By Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa. 

KEFFES Rural Development Foundation (RDF) at the weekend inaugurated some 20 projects in eight communities hosting the operations of Chevron Nigeria Limited in Bayelsa.

It was learnt that the 20 projects were implemented at a total cost of N241.43 million over the last two years.

KEFFES, is an acronym for eight Chevron host communities in Bayelsa comprising Koluama 1 & 2, Ezetu 1 & 2, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni and Sangana located along the Atlantic coastline within Bayelsa.

 Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at Koluama 1, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA), Mr Mathew Sele-Epri Chairman of KEFFES RDF said that the projects were financed by Chevron.

According to him, the oil firm had ensured prompt release of funds to the RDF under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) between Chevron and its host communities in Southern Ijaw and Brass LGAs in Bayelsa.

“As you may know, KEFFES RDF is saddled with the responsibility of developing the KEFFES communities and it is furtherance of this mandate that we are gathered here.

“The KEFFES RDF embarked on some 20 capital projects years back and we are here today to commission these projects so they can be put to use for the benefit of the members of the KEFFES communities.

“These projects range from Educational interventions in building of teachers’ quarters to accommodate teachers and youth corps members, roads, power, bridges amongst others.

“These projects were executed with funds from FEFFES/NNPC/Chevron GMoU, our commitment to development of our communities was a major drive towards to prudent management of limited funds accruing to FEFFES RDF,” Sele-Eprie said.

Mr Christmas Brass who represented the Bayelsa Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Mr Markson Fefegha cut the tape to inaugurate the projects in Koluama 1.

The projects are, two 100 meters by 4 meters concerete walkways and teachers quarters to symbolize inauguration of other projects sited across the eight communities.

Brass applauded the management of Chevron for meeting its social obligations to Bayelsa communities under the GMoU supervised by the Bayelsa Ministry of Mineral Resources.

Speaking on behalf of the benefiting communities Chief Marcus Gorley appealed to Bayelsa government to compliment the efforts of Chevron and other oil firms by extending development to rural oil communities.

He said that the development intervention by oil firms was appreciated but grossly inadequate given the development challenges in the Niger Delta and urged the state to channel part of its 13 per cent derivation funds to oil communities

The Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli has enjoined the federal government to resume work on the Ogidigben gas revolution park project in Escravos.

The Itsekiri monarch spoke in his palace in Warri, Delta at a colourful ceremony to mark his 3rd year coronation anniversary.

“A prominent one among them is the Ogidigben gas revolution park in Escravos. we reiterate our federal government and especially the activities at the oil and gas free trade zone, OGFZA, to sort whatever bottleneck issues might be there regarding this project and quickly return to the site of our people ad our dear country, Nigeria “

He also appealed to warring parties over the Itsekiri Regional Development Committee to sheath their sword to allow the almost two billion Naira meant for the IRDC to develop Itsekiri communities be used for the purpose

He said it was sad that the board of the IRDC had not been able to take off because of the crisis, adding that impoverished Itsekiri communities were the most affected by the ugly situation.

“It is now clear since more than one ear since the new board of IRDC was inaugurated, but they have been unable to achieve anything, principally because of avoidable litigation, which has frozen billions of naira in the banks. Our appeal to those behind these endless superiority contests is that they should sheath their swords”, he said.