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OPEC Hinges Attainment of Global 6.9mbpd Refining Capacity Addition on Dangote Refinery

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Aliko Dangote

Dangote’s 650,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) oil refinery project has been identified as one of the oil distillation companies that would boost global refining capacity by 6.9 million barrels per day between 2021 and 2026.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which made this disclosure in its 2021 World Oil Outlook released recently, said Africa’s medium-term outlook appears more optimistic with 1.2 million barrels-per-day (mb/d) of new capacity expected by 2026; half of which is to be accounted for by the 650,000 bpd Dangote Oil Refinery project in Nigeria, which is likely to come on stream in 2022.

The oil cartel identified these projects, which are located mostly in Nigeria, Angola and Ghana, to include a number of pre-fabricated modular facilities. “Once commissioned, these projects will help to reduce product imports to Nigeria and West Africa and will, in turn, increase the use of local crude. In North Africa, refinery capacity expansions are likely in Algeria and Egypt,” it said.

Similar to previous outlooks, OPEC said refinery additions are concentrated in developing regions, such as the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. OPEC added that the total medium-term capacity additions of 6.9 mb/d are composed of projects in different development stages.

“Around 3.5 mb/d of capacity is under construction or close to this stage; hence, these are the projects with the highest certainty to materialize in the medium-term. There are also projects totalling 3.4 mb/d that are mostly in early stages of development, but still advanced enough in terms of financing and engineering to be considered ‘firm’ medium-term additions,” the global organisation stated.

These regions, it noted, account for almost 90% of the additions in the period 2021–2026. “The medium-term outlook contains several large projects, many of which have petrochemical integration as well. These developments are in line with expected oil demand growth,” it added.

Speaking on investments in refinery projects, OPEC puts the total global estimated required investments at $1.5 trillion in the 2021-2045 period. It noted that these include investments of nearly $450 billion in new refinery projects and expansions of existing units located mostly in developing countries, including those in the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America.

OPEC stated, “Required investments in the midstream sector are estimated at around $1.1 billion in the same time horizon and are attributed to the expansion of the infrastructure for refining, storage and pipeline systems, predominantly in developing regions, but also in large oil exporting regions (e.g. the US & Canada and the Russia & Caspian). Thus, globally, oil-related investment needs in the long-term are estimated at $11.8 trillion.

“Long-term (2021–2045) capacity additions are expected at 14 mb/d, mostly in developing countries. However, the Reference Case projects a significant slowdown in the rate of additions. Africa and Other Asia-Pacific are the regions where significant incremental capacities are expected, even after 2030.

The report said, “The continent of Africa is home to an abundance of energy resources, including about 10 per cent of the world’s oil reserves; however, it still has difficulty in harnessing these precious resources to meet its energy demand. This, in turn, hinders efforts to provide affordable and reliable energy required for economic growth and development.

“Africa has yet to unlock its huge potential in the energy sector, although its ever-increasing population growth and economic prospects require more energy. This drawback is mostly due to regional uncertainties, as well as government policies and regulatory frameworks guiding the energy sector, and more recently, the efficiencies required to reduce CO2 emissions in exploration and production activities. These challenges have made it increasingly difficult to secure much-needed financing for E&P from foreign investors.”

The report noted that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic had also been a major setback, especially for those countries depending heavily on revenue from fossil fuels for their economic growth and development.

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Galaxy Backbone Unveils Ambitious 4-Year Digital Transformation Roadmap for Nigeria

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Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), Nigeria’s foremost digital infrastructure and services provider, has unveiled a bold and comprehensive four-year strategic plan (2025-2028) aimed at accelerating the integrated digital transformation Strategy (|DTS) plan for government and businesses in Nigeria.

This strategy is designed to enhance digital service delivery, strengthen connectivity, and support
Nigeria’s vision of a fully integrated digital economy.

Developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, the strategy focuses on five core pillars that will drive efficiency innovation, and sustainability in Nigeria’s digital landscape.

Mr. Chidi Okpala Head, Corporate Communications in a statement said the first focuses on building a Resilient Digital Infrastructure; ensuring that govemment and businesses have access to secure, high-speed, and scalable digital platforms.

He said by building and maintaining a robust digital backbone, GBB aims to support the nation’s growing demand for seamless connectivity and data security.

He also said the second pillar, Integrated Digital Ecosystems; fosters coll aboration between
government, businesses, and local communities, creating a more connected Nigeria.

He however said, through this initiative, GBB seeks to break silos and establish a unified digital
experience that enhances communication, innovation, and service delivery.

He added that to meet the evolving demands of governance and business, the strate gy prioritizes Innovative Service Delivery; ensuring that digital solutions are tailored to address economic, social, and administrative needs.

“By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, GBB is committed to driving efficiency, economic growth, and improved public service delivery.”

“Now, recognizing the critical role of trust in the digital era, the fourth pillar of the strategy places a strong emphasis on Digital Leadership & Trust.

“GBB is dedicated to fostering a culture of cybersecurity transparency, and accountability, ensuring that Nigerias digital infrastructure is not only efficient but also secure and reliable.”

“To sustain long-term impact, the fifth pillar, Financial Sustainability; remains a key priority.”

According to him, by investing in innovative technologies and expanding its digital services, GBB aims to drive revenue growth while ensuring affordability and accessibility for all users.

He also maintained that at its core, this strategic roadmap is designed to enhance government efficiency, boost economic development, and improve the overall digital experience for Nigerians.

” So, as part of its commitment to achieving these goals, GBB is actively engaging with government agencies, private sector players, and international and local partners to foster collaboration and accelerate implementation.”

He pointed out that through strategic partnerships, the organization is poised to lead Nigeria into a new era of digital excellence, ensuring that businesses and government institutions alike are equipped for the future.

Galaxy Backbone, through its IDTS plan, remains steadfast in its mission to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation through world-class infrastructure, secure connectivity, and innovative solutions that power progress.

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GBB to Train Over 300 Civil Servants on Govmail

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Abuja, Nigeria – Galaxy Backbone (GBB), the nation’s foremost digital infrastructure and services provider, is set to train over 300 civil servants, including Email Administrators and Heads of ICT, on the adoption, management, and administration of Govmail—the secure official email platform for Nigeria’s public sector. The training, which will be conducted in batches throughout the month of March 2025, aims to ensure maximum impact and effective knowledge transfer.

This initiative is in alignment with the Federal Government’s digitalisation agenda, which prioritizes secure, efficient, and technology-driven governance. By equipping civil servants with the necessary expertise to optimize Govmail, the government is ensuring seamless communication across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) while strengthening data security and operational efficiency.

Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, the Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to driving Nigeria’s digital transformation through innovative and secure technology solutions. “As the nation’s leading provider of digital infrastructure, GBB is playing a pivotal role in ensuring that government communications are secured, professional, and aligned with global best practices. This training will enhance civil servants’ ability to effectively utilize Govmail in carrying out their official responsibilities,” he stated.

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The training is being conducted in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), who has sent out a Circular to all MDAs informing them of this specialized training aimed at providing hands on experience with GOVMAIl features and ensure uniform adoption of and compliance with government approved digital communications standards. This further reinforces the government’s commitment to a digitally-driven public service. It would be recalled that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation recently described Govmail as a ‘game changer’ for government communication. This underscores the significance of the platform in enhancing inter-agency collaboration, data sovereignty, and information security across all MDAs.
Through this capacity-building initiative, GBB is reinforcing its role as a key enabler of Nigeria’s digital transformation journey, ensuring that public sector professionals are well-equipped to harness the full potential of digital tools in their daily operations.

 

About Galaxy Backbone
Galaxy Backbone Ltd is a digital infrastructure and services company committed to providing secure and efficient digital solutions to support governance, service delivery, and national development for public and private sector organisatuons. GBB plays a critical role in the digitalisation of government processes, ensuring efficiency, security, seamless collaboration across MDAs and providing a platform for enabling digital services across corporate and public organisations.

Signed:
Chidi Okpala
Head, Corporate Communications

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KEDCO Sees Improvement in Financial Performance Following Power Restoration, Appeals for Prompt Payment

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Kano Electricity Distribution Plc. (KEDCO) has reported steady improvements in financial and business performance following the restoration of power supply after a significant blackout during the September-October 2024 billing and collection cycle. This was disclosed in a press statement signed by Sani Bala Sani, Head of Corporate Communication at KEDCO.

According to Sani, the blackout had severely impacted KEDCO and three other distribution companies in the North East and North West regions, with KEDCO being the worst hit. “Recall that KEDCO, alongside three other distribution companies in the North East and North West had significant disruption to power supply in October, with KEDCO being the worst hit,” he stated.

The operations at KEDCO were initially affected on October 13th, 2024, with only 40% of their grid allocation being supplied after the Shiroro-Kaduna 330kV line incident. This situation was exacerbated by a total blackout on October 20th, 2024, during the peak of the revenue collection cycle. “Although the power supply was partially restored to a 40% level on 30th October, we were only availed with up to around 85% supply levels on November 14th and are anxiously awaiting the completion of the Shiroro-Kaduna repairs,” Sani explained.

The blackout resulted in KEDCO’s worst market performance of the year, posing significant financial and economic challenges for both KEDCO and its customers. “Having zero grid supply posed significant financial and economic challenges for KEDCO and its customers, with many customers resorting to costly backup sources or shutting down operations,” Sani noted.

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Despite the challenges, KEDCO has seen improvements in power supply, which now stands at around 85%, leading to significant collections from last month’s arrears. Sani urged customers to cooperate by paying their current bills and outstanding arrears promptly to ensure business sustainability. “Thankfully, with the current power supply at around 85%, we have recorded significant collections from last month’s arrears and are appealing to our customers to continue to cooperate with us on prompt settlement of their current bills and arrears, for business sustainability,” he appealed.

Sani also commended the resilience of KEDCO’s customers and vowed to continue improving the performance in supplying safe and reliable electricity. “We commend the resilience of our customers and vow to continue to improve our performance in supplying them with safe and reliable electricity,” he said. He thanked the Honourable Minister of Power for his timely intervention and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for their restoration efforts. “We equally acknowledge TCN’s restoration efforts and appreciate the Federal Government’s commitment to helping improve the redundancy and safety of the National Grid,” he added.

Looking ahead, KEDCO’s core investor and Board remain committed to driving investments and improving performance through embedded generation supply options via the Safe Grid and Utility 2.0 projects. “It remains our core investor and Board’s resolve to continue to drive investments and improved performance through embedded generation supply options in our network via the Safe Grid and Utility 2.0 projects,” Sani stated.

 

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