Norway-based Scatec Solar has begun construction on a 75MW photovoltaic (PV) project in South Africa
Energy
Cove executives to start Africa-focussed exploration firm
Former executives from Cove Energy Plc will start an Africa-focussed oil and gas exploration firm after the company was sold for US$1.9bn to Thailand’s PTTE, earlier in 2012
Ugandans evicted to make way for oil refinery
Nearly 8,000 people in total will be evicted from their homes and farms to make way for the refinery. (Image source: gordontour)
Residents in the Kabaale village in
Tanzania draws up fuel stock strategy
The Tanzanian government is to introduce a Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) plan to ensure the country has adequate stock of fuel at all times
Tanzanias deputy minister for energy and minerals, George Simbachawene, informed the National Assembly that the move would ensure a constant supply of oil in the country.
The Ministry of Energy and Minerals has also been considering a review of regulations regarding its bulk procurement system (BPS).
The deputy minister said the recent shortage of petroleum was due to inefficiency by the Petroleum Importation Co-ordinator (PIC), an entity charged with co-ordinating importation of oil through a BPS.
Simbachawene added, “At present, the government has been forced to restructure the PIC Board of Directors to address challenges that have afflicted the industry."
He also explained that joint efforts were underway between the Ministry of Energy and Ministry for Transport to bring about efficient functioning of single point mooring to improve oil discharging capacity at the port of Dar es Salaam.
The deputy minister had earlier indicated that poor discharging infrastructure at the port was among the factors that led to the shortage.
The existing facility, the Kurasini Oil Jetty, has recently been overwhelmed by increased demand for both local and transit markets.
Abengoa begins construction of solar power plants in South Africa
The two Abengoa plants are part of the 28 renewable energy projects announced in late 2011 by the South Africa Department of Energy. (Image source: Pure3d/Flickr)
Abengoa, provider of technological solutions to energy and environment sectors, has announced that it has begun construction of two concentrated solar power (CSP) plants in South Africa