The steady supply of Nigeria’s gas has assisted to boost electricity supply in Ghana, Togo and Benin. The power supply was hampered throughout a greater part of last year and this year as a result of the damage of the West African Gas Pipeline that supplies gas to the nations. However, good news is revealed when investigations over the weekend showed that the situation started to improve shortly after the completion of maintenance in July this year.
A source in Ghana who confirmed the development in a telephone interview said: “Power generation, transmission and distribution have improved significantly in Ghana. Unlike before when we used to experience some disruptions, it has become steadier these days.
At the moment there is no threat to electricity supply in the nation. It is cheaper for Ghana to take gas from Nigeria because of relatively cheap price and proximity. The official disclosed that Nigeria’s gas is also cheaper than depending on light crude which is very expensive in the global oil market. It is further stated that Ghana and other nations had no option in the past to depend on the expensive light crude for power generation, a development that culminated in high cost of operations.
The West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo), operator of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) it intensified efforts to ensure the pipeline was repaired this year. WAPCo shut down the pipeline in August last year after the line was severed by a ship’s anchor in Togolese waters. The WAGP has now been repaired, decommissioned and back in operation.
WAPCo is a limited liability company that owns and operates the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) and has headquarters across Africa. WAPCo is a joint venture between public and private sector companies from Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana. The company’s main mandate is to transport natural gas from Nigeria to customers in Benin, Togo and Ghana in a safe, responsible and reliable manner, at prices competitive with other fuel alternatives.
