Ghana: WAPCo Has Begun Major Inspection And Maintenance Project On Its Offshore Pipeline

The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo), owner and operator of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), has begun a major maintenance project on its 569 km offshore pipeline infrastructure that traverses four West African nations from Wednesday, February 5th to March 2, 2025.

The maintenance includes the pigging and the in-line inspection of the 569 km offshore pipeline infrastructure, from Ajido, Lagos State, Nigeria to Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana and replacement of critical subsea valves at Tema and Cotonou to enhance operational safety.

This maintenance project will necessitate the temporary suspension of specific services, including the reverse flow transportation of natural gas from Ghana’s Western Region to Tema in the east, as well as gas transportation services from Nigeria to Cotonou (Benin), Lomé (Togo), and Tema (Ghana).

However, some gas transportation services from Nigeria to Takoradi in Ghana will continue during this period to ensure the successful execution of the pipeline cleaning and inspection activities.

The comprehensive cleaning and inspection exercise is a key regulatory requirement and aligns with industry best practices to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP).

The cleaning and inspection, which encompasses the entire pipeline stretch from Itoki, Ogun State, Nigeria to Takoradi, Western Region Ghana is in two phases.

The first phase, which was completed in December 2024, involved cleaning and inspecting the onshore section of the pipeline within Nigeria.

The second phase was scheduled in January 2025 but rescheduled to February 3, 2025, to allow the new administration arrange for adequate fuel to power the thermal plants to keep the lights on. The second phase will  focus on the offshore section of the WAGP.

WAPCo is mandated to conduct these inspections every five years (or on a risk-based schedule) as part of its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the WAGP and ensuring its safe and reliable operation across the West African region.

WAPCo has actively engaged with key stakeholders to ensure the necessary alignment for the successful implementation of this project.

WAPCo expressed appreciation to the maritime and regulatory authorities across the four West African nations as well as its customers, shippers, gas off-takers, host communities, shareholders, and all other relevant stakeholders for their continued collaboration and contribution to the success of this exercise “WAPCo is committed to maintaining the proactive stakeholder engagement processes established during the project’s preparation phase, during execution.

The company will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders on all matters to ensure the project’s safe execution and success,” says Auwal Ibrahim, WAPCo’s General Manager Operations & Maintenance.

Source: https://energynewsafrica.com