WAPCo reschedules offshore pipeline cleaning to February 2025

The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) has announced a revised schedule for its offshore pipeline cleaning and inspection exercise.

The offshore pigging exercise, initially scheduled for January 20, 2025, will now commence on February 3,  2025 to better align with the interests of key stakeholders.

In a statement, WAPCo SAID the four-week exercise will involve the temporary suspension of reverse gas flow from the Western Region to Tema and the shutdown of key facilities in Tema, Lomé, Togo and Cotonou, Benin. 

"During this shutdown period, WAPCo will replace subsea valves located at these strategic locations to enhance operational safety. The comprehensive cleaning and inspection exercise is a key regulatory requirement and aligns with industry best practices to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP)", the statement said.

The project covers the entire pipeline infrastructure, spanning from Itoki in Ogun State, Nigeria, to Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana.

According to WAPCo, the cleaning exercise consists of two phases. The first phase, completed in December 2024, involved cleaning and inspecting the onshore section of the pipeline within Nigeria.

The second phase, now rescheduled to run from February 3 to March 2, 2025, will focus on the offshore section of the WAGP, extending from Badagry, Lagos State (Nigeria), to Takoradi in the Western Region.

WAPCo is mandated to conduct these inspections every five years as part of efforts to maintain the pipeline's integrity and ensure its continued safe and reliable operation across the West African region.

Read full statement;