Ghana to receive West African gas April 30

The West Africa Gas Pipeline Company (WAGPCO), has set April 30 as the tentative day of resuming gas flow through its pipeline.

“If all things go well, by April 30, 2013 gas should start flowing,” Mrs Harriet Wereko-Brobby, General Manager in charge of Corporate Affairs of  WAGPCO gave the assurance on Tuesday, during an interaction with the media at Aboadze in the Shama District of the Western Region.

She said the gas pipe line which was damaged is receiving intensive repairs, which include testing the pipeline for leakages.

Talking about the protection of the pipeline with its source from Nigeria to Ghana, Mrs Wereko-Brobby indicated that stringent measures have been put in place to ensure its safety.

She said while fisher folks, shipping companies and stakeholders are being educated on the need to protect the pipelines during their operations at sea, Naval personnel from the four countries have also been charged to protect the facility.

She said efforts are underway for WAGPCO to enter into an agreement with Togo’s Navy  to institute strict surveillance on the gas equipment to avoid damage.

The Company has adopted the Environmental Impact Assessment Plan to free the environment from pollution.

WAGPCO poured its first free flow gas in small quantity from Nigeria through Benin, Togo to Ghana’s two port cities at Tema and Takoradi in December 2008.

It however, run into hitches  and was therefore halted, and resumed commercial operations through the compressors in 2011.

The equipment was damaged off Togo, which caused the suspension of operation resulting in the repair work that should completed by April.

Ghana, Nigeria, Benin and Togo have entered into agreement for the flow of the gas.

Source: GNA