West African Gas Pipeline resumes supply

The West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) has resumed natural gas transportation services from Nigeria to the Tema Regulating and Metering Station of the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo).

This follows the successful completion of maintenance activities, including cleaning the pipeline to remove any accumulated debris.

The maintenance project, which is carried out every five years, began on February 5, 2025, and was initially scheduled for completion on March 2, 2025. However, the team managed to complete the task last Thursday ahead of schedule, paving way for the resumption of the supply and transportation of gas to Tema.

This came to light last Friday, when the Director-General of the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA), Chafari Kanya Hanawa, paid an assessment visit to the WAPCo Tema Regulating and Metering Station facilities.

Mrs Hanawa was accompanied by the authority’s Director, Technical, Sedjo Alain Houha; the Director of Administration and Legal, Peter Danladi; the Director of Market Surveillance and Development, Hamis Ussif; the Director of Environment Safety and External Relations, Yao Oniakitan Iroko, and the Chief Accountant, Botimi Ebiokobo.

Maintenance

The mandatory cleaning and inspection activities, which have been postponed three times since last year, were to ensure safe and reliable operations of the facility in conformity with industry best practices.

Works carried out included an offshore pipeline cleaning and inspection exercise known as pigging of the 20-inch mainline and laterals in Tema and Cotonou, as well as the replacement of subsea valves in Tema and Cotonou.

Explaining the reason for the visit, Mrs Hanawa said it was important for her team to be on the ground to learn first-hand the outcome of the maintenance programme and ensure that WAPCo met the regulatory requirements and had conformed to the safety and security standards, as required by the WAGP regulations.

She stated that the inspection was part of WAPCo’s routine schedule to ensure compliance with safety regulations, which included periodic inspections of the pipeline, and commended WAPCo for completing the maintenance works ahead of schedule as it would go a long way to ameliorate the power generation deficit and bring relief to the people of Ghana.

Mrs Hanawa emphasised that maintenance works were crucial to ensuring the efficiency and safety of the gas pipeline, which played a key role in Ghana’s energy supply.

The Operations Coordinator at WAPCo Tema Regulating and Metering Station, Samuel Buckman, welcomed the delegation and took them on a tour of the facility and a visit to the right of way at the beachside in Tema Manhean.

He confirmed that WAPCo was currently running at full capacity and receiving 150 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) of gas for supply to power generation plants to support a stable supply of electricity.

Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh