The West Africa Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCO) has announced plans to conduct feasibility studies this year to explore expanding its gas supply to additional areas.

This announcement follows ongoing maintenance work, which has resulted in the temporary suspension of the reverse gas flow from Takoradi to Tema and led to the shutdown of key facilities in Lomé, Togo, and Cotonou, Benin. The maintenance is expected to be completed by March 2, 2025, after which gas flow will resume.

During a press briefing, Ing. Benoni Owusu Ayeh, the Operations and Maintenance Superintendent for Western Operations at WAPCO, emphasized that the company is evaluating the financial investment required to achieve this goal.

“We need standby compressors, so additional investment is necessary, but it depends on demand. This will influence further investment in these facilities, which require upgrades to meet full capacity. We will begin the study this year, “he noted.

Meanwhile, the company has announced that 70% of its ongoing maintenance works have been completed, bringing the company closer to resuming gas supply to Tema.

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 project encompasses the entire pipeline infrastructure, from Itoki in Ogun State, Nigeria to Takoradi in Western Region, Ghana.

The cleaning exercise is in two phases. The first phase, completed in December 2024, involved cleaning and inspecting the onshore section of the pipeline within Nigeria.

The second phase scheduled to run from February 3 to March 2, 2025, will focus on the offshore section of the WAGP, stretching from Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria to Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana.

WAPCO is required to conduct these inspections every five years, as part of efforts to maintain the integrity of the WAGP and ensure its continued safe and reliable operation across the West African region.