Category: Editorial
Damilola Ogunbiyi and Riccardo Puliti: Energy access takes center stage in COVID-19 fight, powering Africa’s recovery
To avoid the worst impacts and help contain the virus worldwide, we must act now to deploy solutions that can provide life-saving energy access to those who need it most.
OPINION: Which world do we want after COVID-19?
By Bertrand Piccard and Frans Timmermans The coronavirus crisis has caused a lot of suffering and uncertainty, but its aftermath offers us an opportunity to break with old habits and build a circular, sustainable and highly competitive economy, write Frans Timmermans and Bertrand Piccard. Frans Timmermans is the executive vice-president of the European Commission. Bertrand…
OPINION: Turning COVID-19 tragedy into opportunity for New Nigeria
By Godwin Emefiele As many people are now aware, the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in China has rapidly permeated and profoundly changed the world. While this crisis is first and foremost a public health issue, which has claimed the lives of over 123,600 people worldwide, and counting, the economic damages are unprecedented…
There is still hope for oil prices
U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international benchmark Brent crude oil futures are likely to firm next week after OPEC and its allies agreed to a historic production cut agreement on Friday. The reason we’re not too enthusiastic about a major breakout to the upside or change in trend is because dealmakers hit a snag and…
Opinion: It’s time to review electricity tariffs
By Shaka Momodu It’s about time we stopped burying our heads in the sand, pretending that all is well with the power sector in Nigeria. Successive governments have been doing just that, and the result? Reality has always come to bite us harder. Nigerians are hoping that the problems they are facing will one day…
Op-Ed: The power priorities of mining decision-makers
By John Lewis The mining sector is one of the most energy-intensive industries in the world, accounting for an estimated 6.2% of the total global energy consumption. It has also historically been a disproportionately large contributor to global warming, through the intensive use of fossil fuels to power operations. But now there is a spotlight…
Why the Iran conflict won’t move oil prices
In addition to the Wednesday boost from a Phase 1 US-China trade deal that would ostensibly see China import tons of US LNG and coal, oil prices got a boost Thursday from the Senate’s approval of the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, with Mexico and Canada being the top two targets for US petroleum exports. However, by…
The rise and rise of Ikeja Electric
By Oke Peter Being a great leader is all about having a genuine willingness and a true commitment to lead others to achieve a common vision and goals through positive influence. —John C. Maxwell. For the leading Nigerian electricity distribution company, Ikeja Electric Plc, the will to win, the desire to succeed and the urge…
How do the Saudi attacks affect Nigeria?
A swarm of drones set off a chain of explosions the Saudi Aramco oil production facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais in eastern Saudi Arabia on 14 September 2019. It is important to note that the Abqaiq facility is not a refinery or a petrochemicals plant, but is a crude separating facility where impurities like hydrogen…
Clean energy, still scratching the surface
The industrial take-off required to support the much-needed economic diversification remains elusive. A principal reason is Nigeria’s structural deficit, in which the epileptic power supplies form a major part. Industry sources suggest that businesses suffer an average monthly power outage of 239 hours (equivalent to about two weeks). As such, self-generation and the associated costs…