Page 8 - AfrElec Week 13 2022
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AfrElec INVESTMENT AfrElec
TotalEnergies, GECOL eye
construction of 500-MW
solar power facility in Libya
LIBYA FRENCH energy group TotalEnergies and TotalEnergies said then it will inject $2bn into
Libya’s power utility the General Electricity Libya’s Waha oil project to boost production by
Company of Libya (GECOL) have discussed around 100,000 barrels per day (bpd). It also said
a proposed plan to construct a new solar plant it will raise output at the Mabruk field and help
in the country, according to a statement by to construct the 500 MW of solar power to feed
GECOL. the local grid.
The new facility will produce around 500 This week, Libya’s state oil utility National Oil
MW of solar power Corporation (NOC) and TotalEnergies said in a
he proposed project fits in with the Libyan joint statement they will raise the capacity of the
government’s vision of expanding renewable oil sector in the country to increase crude output
energy projects. while minimising carbon emissions.
In November last year, Total and GECOL The Libyan government has been diversify-
signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) ing its energy mix to support the country’s solar
to develop the project, which will feed electricity and wind potential. By 2030, Libya aims for 22%
to the national power grid and will power indus- of electricity generation to come from renewable
trial facilities at the Waha oilfield. energy.
Ghana ready to phase
out fossil fuel to
renewable energy
GHANA GHANA is ready to phase out fossil fuels and especially natural gas, would continue to be part
make the transition to renewable energy, in line of Ghana’s energy mix, while Accra develops
with worldwide efforts to reduce carbon diox- strategies to increase renewable energy produc-
ide emissions, Deputy Energy Minister Andrew tion in the medium term.
Agyapa Mercer has said, local media outlet Starr “Currently, about 70% of Ghana’s [installed
Fm reports. generating capacity] of 5,321 MW is from a ther-
He acknowledged, though, that the shift mal plant that uses natural gas as its primary fuel.
would not be easy nor cheap, meaning that a This proportion is projected to increase to meet
lack of funding could delay the move to cleaner the [country’s] growing energy demand, com-
energy sources. mensurate with energy demands and national
Accordingly, Mercer said, Ghana’s govern- economic growth,” he is quoted as saying by
ment is determined to use revenues earned from Starr Fm.
the sale of domestic crude oil and natural gas Mercer also noted that afforestation pro-
production to develop its capacity with respect grammes and carbon credits would be intro-
to cleaner energy. duced to offset the environmental impact of oil
The deputy minister also said that fossil fuels, and gas development.
P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 13 31•March•2022
