The Ministry of Energy says the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo), operators of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), will commence a cleanup and inspection exercise of its offshore pipeline from Nigeria to Ghana.

In a statement signed by the Head of Communications and Public Affairs of the Energy Ministry, Nana Kofi Oppong-Damoah, the exercise which is to start on January 20, and be completed no later than March 21, 2020, is intended to protect the integrity and assure safe operations of WAPCo’s offshore pipeline.

“In addition to cleaning the pipeline of debris, pigging will provide critical information on the condition of the pipeline to improve decisions on effective maintenance of the pipeline, prolong its lifespan and to improve safety of the pipeline operations,” the statement explained.

The Cleanup exercise will temporarily limit the availability of gas at the Tema offtake facility posing a challenge to power generation in the country.

To allay fears, the Energy Ministry says it is working in collaboration with the Finance Ministry and other key holders in the country’s gas-to-power sector, to reduce the impact on power supply in the country.

“Since there will be limited gas supply for power generation in Tema during the period, the Ministry of Energy in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and other key players in the country’s gas-to-power sector have made provision to mitigate the impact on the country’s grid system to ensure reliable and stable power supply.”

Read below the full statement:

For Immediate Release

OFFSHORE PIPELINE CLEANING AND INSPECTION EXERCISE

Accra, January 17, 2020 - Ministry of Energy wishes to inform the general public that, the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo), operator of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) will commence a cleaning and inspection of its offshore pipeline from Nigeria to Ghana, often referred to as “pigging” in the pipeline industry. This customary maintenance activity is intended to protect the integrity and assure safe operations of WAPCo’s offshore pipeline which is the main critical asset of the company, transporting natural gas within the four (4) West African States of Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana. The exercise will start on January 20, and is expected to be completed no later than March 21, 2020.

This activity is consistent with regulatory requirements and also important for maintaining the integrity of the pipeline to ensure efficient and reliable operations.  In addition to cleaning the pipeline of debris, pigging will provide critical information on the condition of the pipeline to improve decisions on effective maintenance of the pipeline, prolong its lifespan and to improve safety of the pipeline operations. Effluents from the pigging will be discharged in Takoradi in line with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.

Pigging consists of cleaning and internal inspection of the offshore pipeline from Nigeria to Ghana using multiple cleaning Pipeline Inspection Gauges (PIGS) and an “intelligent pig” for data gathering on structural integrity. The PIG will be launched from WAPCo’s Lagos Beach Compressor Station (LBCS) in Badagry, Nigeria and will be received at their Takoradi Regulating & Metering Station (RMS).

This maintenance activity is expected to temporarily limit availability of gas at the Tema, Lome and Cotonou offtake facilities. Since there will be limited gas supply for power generation in Tema during the period, the Ministry of Energy in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and other key players in the country’s gas-to-power sector have made provision to mitigate the impact on the country’s grid system to ensure reliable and stable power supply.

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NANA KOFI OPPONG-DAMOAH

HEAD, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS