WAPCo begins 4- week pipeline maintenance to enhance safety
By Yunus Yusuf
The West African Gas Pipeline Company Ltd. (WAPCo), operator of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), has begun a four-week cleaning and maintenance operation on the vital pipeline stretching across Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, and Togo.
Mr Isaac Doku, General Manager of Corporate Affairs, WAPCo, made the disclosure during a news conference and inspection in Lagos on Friday.
Doku said that the maintenance activities involve pigging and in-line inspection of the 569 km offshore pipeline, designed to ensure the continued safe and efficient transportation of natural gas.
He explained that the maintenance would take place on the offshore section of the pipeline, which runs from Badagry, Nigeria to Aboadze in Ghana.
He added that the work would include the replacement of critical subsea valves at Tema, Ghana, and Cotonou, Benin.
“This cleaning and inspection process began on February 5th and is expected to be completed by March 2, 2025.
“The goal is to maintain the integrity of the pipeline, in line with the West African Gas Pipeline Authority’s regulations, which require this work every five years.
The last inspection was conducted five years ago,” he said.
Doku noted that the purpose of the media engagement was to promote public understanding, ensure transparency, and address any concerns regarding the potential impact of the maintenance on gas transportation services.
He also highlighted the opportunity for the media to observe the launch of the first Pipeline Inspection Gauge (PIG) for this operation.
“Throughout the maintenance period, some gas transportation services will be temporarily suspended.
“They include reverse flow transportation from Ghana’s Western Region to Tema, as well as gas transport services from Nigeria to Cotonou (Benin), Lomé (Togo), and Tema (Ghana),” Doku explained.
He, however, said that some transportation from Nigeria to Takoradi in Ghana would continue to support the successful execution of the cleaning and inspection tasks.
“WAPCo will utilise an average of about 85,000 MMSCF/d of gas to push the PIG from Nigeria to Takoradi, ensuring minimal disruption to operations,” he added.
According to Doku, the safety of workers is a top priority and WAPCo has extensively engaged with relevant stakeholders to ensure smooth operations.
Doku noted that the company had implemented a world-class effluent management system in Takoradi, addressing any environmental concerns that might arise during the pipeline cleaning process.
“Most of the maintenance activities will be offshore, limiting any potential disruption to host communities in Badagry, Nigeria and Aboadze, Ghana,” Doku added.
“We remain committed to completing the project as efficiently and safely as possible.
He also expressed gratitude to the governments of Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo for their ongoing support, along with the maritime and regulatory authorities, its customers, shippers, gas off-takers, host communities, shareholders, and other stakeholders for their continued collaboration.
Doku said that the company’s maintenance efforts were carried out in phases.
“The first phase, which involved cleaning and inspecting the onshore section of the pipeline in Nigeria, was completed in December 2024.
“The current second phase, focusing on the offshore section, began on February 5, 2025,” he added.
He said that WAPCo is committed to maintaining the integrity of the pipeline, ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of gas across the West African region.
It will would be recalled that WAPCo has a total capacity of 470 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD), with 150 MMSCFD available for transport.
