‘Feb. 5 To March 2,’ what to know about third major maintenance on 569-kilometre offshore pipeline that serves gas to over 650 plants, supports 1,000 MW generation in Ghana, others
The West African Gas Pipeline (WAPCo) on Friday flagged off the second phase of its pipeline maintenance, allaying fear that the exercise would plunge Ghana, Togo, and Benin Republic into power Outage.
Platforms Africa, which witnessed the pigging (cleaning) exercise at the transnational company’s LBS in Ajido, reports that the multi million naira contract is being handled by Topline.
Addressing newsmen during the exercise, WAPCo’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Isaac Adjei Doku, PhD, maintained that the major maintenance is to upscale the company’s efficient service to its customers.
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Stating that the maintenence is statutorily done every five years, Doku said; “we do this, which includes cleaning of pipelines as a part of the standard procedure for efficiency, integrity, and as a requirement for insurance.”
Confirming that the pipeline, which transports gas from N-gas in Nigeria to over 650 plants – including electricity generation companies – in Ghana, Togo, and Benin Republic, supplies the commodity that helps power over 1,000 MW in the three nations, Doku said that the ongoing efforts, which would guarantee the integrity of the pipeline is to make sure that the asset is in pristine position.
“We have done the first phase, which is the maintenance of our onshore line starting from Itoki in Ogun Nigeria to LBS in Ajido here, in October.
“The second is starting from the 5th of February to the 2nd of March. It is the maintenance of our offshore lines for the four weeks window from LBS to Takoradi in Ghana.
“The last phase is the intelligence phase, where technology will be deployed to detect any possible anomaly that can be detected, may be due to corrosion, or any other things, and such will be fixed.
Giving the assurance that the maintenance won’t cause major supply dislocation, the WAPCo’s spokesman added; “We have engaged the government of Ghana, we have engaged the government of Togo, and we have engaged the government of Benin Republic, and proper arrangements have been made by the governments of these countries to engage the use of liquid gas pending when this maintenance is completed.”
The company, which operates a 569-kilometre offshore pipeline infrastructure from Ajido, Lagos State, to Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana, Doku continued; “has an excellent safety record with 2.5 million man (workforce) hour without any incident of death or injury.”
Platforms Africa reports that the replacement of critical subsea valves at Tema and Cotonou in Benin Republic, will be done to enhance operational safety.
Doku continued; “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, according to him, a key regulatory requirement and aligns with industry best practices to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the West African Gas Pipeline.
“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, which started on February 5, 2025, will focus on the offshore section of the WAGP.”
Doku expressed his company’s appreciation to the maritime and regulatory authorities across the four countries, 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,” Doku added.
Platforms Africa
