Joint Paper on WAGP
The Oil & Gas Journal's August 27 issue included a paper on the West African Gas Pipeline. The paper titled "Net WAGP economic benefit requires Ghana development" was jointly written by Joseph Essandoh-Yeddu (Ghana's Energy Commission), Dr. Felix Asante (ISSER, University of Ghana) and CEE's Dr. Gürcan Gülen. Read article (subscription required)

West Africa Regional Gas Workshop - Accra, Ghana
On July 9-13, Resource Center for Energy Economics and Regulation organized the West Africa Regional Natural Gas Workshop in Accra, Ghana. The event was supported by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, and Kumasi Institute of Technology, Energy and the Environment (KITE). The workshop welcomed delegates from Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Benin and Cote d'Ivoire. It is the next in the series of training programs for capacity-building of energy professionals and public education on energy issues in West Africa, undertaken by CEE through the Smart Development Initiative for Energy Sector Governance Grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
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Natural Gas Workshop - Abuja, Nigeria
On February 5-9, 2007 Resource Center for Energy Economics and Regulation (RCEER) and CEE prepared and delivered a one-week regional natural gas workshop in Abuja, Nigeria with the assistance of Kumasi Institute for Environment and Technology (KITE), one of RCEER’s supporters, and support of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). This week-long program helped participants better understand the requirements for a reasonably well-functioning natural gas marketplace in the West Africa sub-region. The program covered both the West Africa Gas Pipeline and directly affected countries (Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana) as well as internal and other regional considerations for expanded development of natural gas resources and enhanced use of natural gas for domestic and regional economic development and trade. The program was attended by over 40 specialists from 4 countries.

CEE holds a Think Day on Africa
On November 1, 2006 CEE held a Think Day on Africa in Houston. The Think Day included presentations of delegations from Ghana and Nigeria, visiting CEE on a study tour on natural gas industry in the U.S .

KITE Director Visits CEE

In late October 2006, CEE welcomed Ms. Harriette Amissah-Arthur, a Director of the Kumasi Institute of Technology and Environment. She was invited to present at the Gulf Publishing Company's " Women's Global Leadership Conference in Energy & Technology." Ms. Amissah-Arthur presented in a session "Sustainable Development: What are the Duties of Energy Companies?"

Delegations from Nigeria and Ghana On Study Tour in Texas
In October 2006, CEE welcomed a group of energy sector professionals from Nigeria and Ghana. The delegations stayed in Houston for a two-week study tour on natural gas. The visit included a number of lectures at CEE, guest speaker presentations and site visits to local distribution companies, CNG and LNG fleets, and regulatory agencies.

The Launching of the "Guide to Natural Gas in Ghana
In August 2006, the Resource Center for Energy Economics and Regulation (RCEER) has completed and published the first edition of the Guide to Natural Gas in Ghana. The Guide provides comprehensive facts on Ghana 's natural gas sector. It discusses the nature and composition of natural gas, the processes of natural gas production, transportation, regulation, marketing and consumption. It looks at natural gas utilization strategies, natural gas and the environment and the prospects of the natural gas industry. The guide focuses mainly on natural gas in Ghana, its sources, consumption patters, and the general effects of natural gas and other sources of energy on the economy of Ghana. It also traces the history of the natural gas exploration in Ghana by considering actors, regulatory institutions, policy issues and review reports. The guide also discusses the entries process of the development of the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP). The launching of the Guide was held on September 15 and was osted jointly by RCEER and the Institute for Financial and Economics Journalists (IFEJ). The event was chaired by Mr. Kwame Pianim, Chairman of the PURC. The event was attended by about 75 people, including the RCEER Advisory Board members, several TV stations, newspapers and radio stations. The Guide will available for download in October 2006.

RCEER Holds a Natural Gas Workshop
Resource Center for Energy Economics and Regulation (RCEER) held a Natural Gas Workshop on September 12 in Accra. Dr. Foss and Dr. Gülen presented at the event. They provided information on natural gas industry infrastructure, commercial arrangements, investment considerations, case studies on distribution network development and economics of CNG use for transportation. The workshop was attended by energy sector professionals representing a variety of Ghana's entities, including EC, PURC, Ministry of Energy, GOIL, VRA, NPA, EPA, and WAPCO. [september 2006]

CEE Travels to Ghana for Various Meetings
Dr. Foss and Dr. Gülen spent two weeks in Ghana meeting with the RCEER, its Advisory Board and other key agencies. Many meetings were held to discuss strategies to the operation of the RCEER in the future. The visit also included preparations for the Natural Gas Workshop and the launching of the Guide to Natural Gas in Ghana. Dr. Foss and Dr. Gülen also attended a workshop organized by the Energy Commission of Ghana on natural gas pipeline development in Ghana. The workshop was attended by Ghana's key stakeholders, including the Minister of Energy. [september 2006]

Joseph Essandoh-Yeddu Completes His Exchange Visit to CEE
Joseph Essandoh-Yeddu, who was visiting CEE for 6 months, has returned to Ghana. During his trip, Joseph, who is a Director of Strategic Planning and Policy Division at Ghana's Energy Commission, worked with CEE researchers on natural gas issues relevant to Ghana for RCEER. He also worked with BEG on CO2 modeling for the Gulf Coast. [august 2006]

CEE Travels to Ghana for RCEER Advisory Board Meeting
In June, Dr. Foss and Dr. Gülen traveled to Ghana to visit various counterpart agencies, including Chamber of Mines, Energy Commission, Energy Ministry, GNPC, KITE, National Petroleum Authority and PURC. They also visited the Tema Oil Refinery. CEE's week-long visit finished with a meeting of the RCEER Advisory Board on June 16. After a quick review of past year's activities, the Board considered the current activities, providing suggestions in implementation of surveys and outreach activities. RCEER Steering Committee will use these suggestions to structure the outreach activities and informational seminars. The RCEER's expansion to become a regional center for West Africa was also discussed and key decisions have been made. For more information, see June monthly report

Delegates from Ghana's Energy Commission and Ministry of Energy Participate in New Era

From May 8 to May 19, three delegates from Ghana attended CEE's annual capacity-building program New Era in Oil, Gas & Power Value Creation. This year's participants, supported by USAID through CEE's Smart Development Initiative grant, were Mr. Joseph Essandoh-Yeddu, Chief Programme Analyst, Energy Commission of Ghana, Mr. Francis Gbeddy, Head of Power Division, Energy Commission of Ghana, and Mr. Kwaku Boateng from Ghana's Energy Ministry. [ more ]

Joseph Essandoh-Yeddu Speaks at BEG Seminar
On Friday, April 28th, the seminar speaker was Joseph Essandoh-Yeddu, Chief Planning Analyst, Ghana Energy Commission. He spoke on "Capacity Building in the Ghana Energy Sector: the Contribution of CEE/BEG". [ Abstract ]

Two-Week Exchange Visit to CEE
From February 18 through March 3, CEE hosted a two-week program on the natural gas industry for three Ghanaian colleagues: Mr. Emmanuel Quaye-Foli from the Ministry of Energy, Mr. Joseph Essandoh-Yeddu from the Energy Commission and Mr. Seth Adjei-Boye from the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission. more

CEE Senior Staff Conducts a Natural Gas Workshop
Dr. Gülen conducted a workshop on natural gas investments. The workshop was organized for a delegation from Ghana, attending the NARUC Winter Meetings. Delegates represented the Energy Commission, Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, and the Energy Ministry. CEE and NARUC both have USAID agreements that cover natural gas market and regulatory development in Ghana and they collaborate to ensure positive impact and to avoid duplicative activities. Ms. Miranda Wainberg of CEE and Mr. Mark Lewis of Baker Botts also presented at the workshop.

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Exchange Visit of Essandoh-Yeddu to CEE
CEE welcomed Mr. Joseph Essandoh-Yeddu, Director of Strategic Planning and Policy Division at Ghana's Energy Commission. During his six-month stay, Mr. Essandoh-Yeddu will work with CEE senior research staff on natural gas issues relevant to Ghana for RCEER. While in the U.S., he will also work on his Ph.D. thesis, and CO2 modeling in the Gulf Coast for the Bureau of Economic Geology.

Dr. Gülen's Visit to Ghana
Dr. Gülen spent the first week of January in Ghana, meeting with RCEER supporters regarding RCEER activities and its future, and energy sector stakeholders regarding natural gas market and regulatory developments. The trip was the first activity under the new USAID grant to the Center for Energy Economics to continue its "Smart Development Initiative." Click here for more information about CEE's Smart Development Initiative