The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) is set to embark on a comprehensive offshore pipeline cleaning and inspection operation, reinforcing its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP).
The cleaning and inspection exercise, covering the 569km stretch of pipeline from Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria, to Aboadze, near Takoradi, Ghana, is scheduled to begin on February 5, 2025.
According to WAPCo’s General Manager for Operations & Maintenance, Auwal Ibrahim, the company is dedicated to ensuring the success of this maintenance activity through proactive stakeholder engagement and thorough planning.
“WAPCo is committed to maintaining the proactive stakeholder engagement processes established during the project’s preparation phase and execution.
“The company will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders on all matters to ensure the project’s safe execution and success.”
Auwal Ibrahim, WAPCo’s General Manager for Operations & Maintenance
During the cleaning and inspection exercise, WAPCo will replace subsea valves and carry out other essential maintenance activities. This initiative aims to enhance the pipeline’s operational efficiency and safeguard its structural integrity.
In preparation for the scheduled work, WAPCo has engaged key stakeholders and contractors to ensure seamless execution. The company is also deploying pre-mobilization teams at its operational bases in Nigeria and Ghana to oversee the setup of critical equipment required for the project.
One of the critical aspects of the preparation includes the installation of an effluent management system at WAPCo’s Takoradi facility, designed to handle waste materials generated during the offshore pipeline cleaning process.
Afolabi Oladimeji Ogunmefun, WAPCo’s Deputy Manager of Asset Integrity and team lead for the cleaning and inspection project, expressed confidence in the team’s readiness.
“The team is ready and is looking forward to undertaking this key pipeline integrity management program to manage our pipeline and confirm its integrity.”
Afolabi Oladimeji Ogunmefun, WAPCo’s Deputy Manager
Longest Shutdown in Five Years
The upcoming maintenance operation marks the longest planned shutdown of the WAGP in the last five years.
Speaking on the significance of the exercise, WAGPCo West’s Operations and Maintenance Manager, Engineer Benoni Owusu Ayeh, assured that the maintenance work would be completed within the scheduled timeframe.
“We are also using this opportunity to fix our sub-sea valves, particularly in Tema and Cotonou, where we had some issues. Additionally, we will undertake onshore maintenance activities.
“This is the longest shutdown we have had, occurring once every five years, and we have synchronized all activities to maximize efficiency.”
Engineer Benoni Owusu Ayeh, WAGPCo West’s Operations and Maintenance Manager
The maintenance work is essential to uphold the pipeline’s reliability, ensuring uninterrupted gas flow and sustained energy supply for key markets in Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana.
Initially slated to begin on January 20, 2025, WAPCo had earlier announced a two-week postponement of the cleaning and inspection operation to accommodate the interests of key stakeholders. The project, commonly referred to as “pigging,” will now commence on February 3, 2025.
This rescheduling allows for additional planning and coordination to minimize disruptions to gas supply and ensure that all technical and logistical arrangements are in place.
The cleaning and inspection exercise is a crucial component of WAPCo’s long-term infrastructure maintenance strategy.
The West African Gas Pipeline is a critical energy infrastructure that supplies natural gas for power generation and industrial applications across multiple West African nations.
By conducting this routine maintenance, WAPCo seeks to prevent potential operational challenges, enhance pipeline efficiency, and reinforce the company’s commitment to safety and environmental responsibility.
With a strong focus on stakeholder engagement and technical excellence, WAPCo is poised to execute the offshore cleaning and inspection exercise successfully, further strengthening the energy security of the West African subregion.
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