The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCO) have attributed recent power supply disruptions to maintenance activities on the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP).
During a cleaning exercise, the Lagos Beach Compressor Station received an unexpectedly large volume of liquids and debris, causing operational disturbances and necessitating the temporary shutdown of Ghana’s Tema Regulatory and Metering Station.
The shutdown also temporarily closed some thermal power plants in Tema, further impacting electricity generation.
“This has caused a shortfall in power supply, requiring some limited load management in parts of the country,” a joint statement from ECG and GRIDCo explained.
WAPCo plans phase 2 maintenance
In a separate statement, Dr. Isaac Adjei Doku, General Manager of Corporate Affairs at WAPCo, announced that the second phase of the WAGP cleaning and inspection project is scheduled for January 2025.
This phase will focus on cleaning and inspecting the offshore section of the pipeline, which runs from Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria, to Takoradi, Ghana.
WAPCo emphasized that the comprehensive exercise is a regulatory requirement to ensure the pipeline’s safe and efficient operation.
Temporary suspension of operations
WAPCo indicated that during the offshore maintenance, reverse gas flow from the Western Region to Tema would be suspended. This will also necessitate the shutdown of key facilities in Tema, Ghana; Lomé, Togo; and Cotonou, Benin.
Additionally, subsea valves at strategic locations will be replaced to enhance operational safety.
The company stressed that the inspection, conducted every five years, is vital for maintaining pipeline integrity.
Previous maintenance efforts
The first phase of the pipeline cleaning and inspection was completed on November 25, 2024.
The 10-day exercise, covering the onshore section of the pipeline in Nigeria, adhered to industry best practices and was aimed at maintaining infrastructure integrity.
Stakeholder engagement
WAPCo has engaged and will continue to engage relevant stakeholders to address potential issues and ensure the project’s success.
“We are committed to ensuring the continued safe and reliable operation of the pipeline across the West African region,” the statement concluded.
This inspection underscores WAPCo’s commitment to maintaining the pipeline as a crucial energy infrastructure for the region.
