The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) has announced a revised schedule for its planned offshore pipeline cleaning and inspection exercise, commonly known as pigging.
Initially set to commence on January 20, 2025, the offshore pigging has been rescheduled to start on February 3, 2025, to better accommodate the interests of key stakeholders.
The four-week exercise will involve the temporary suspension of reverse gas flow from Ghana’s Western Region to Tema, also in Ghana, and the shutdown of key facilities in Tema, Ghana; Lomé, Togo; and Cotonou, Benin.
During this shutdown period, WAPCo will replace subsea valves located at these strategic locations to enhance operational safety.
In a press release dated Wednesday, January 15, 2025, it said, “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 project encompasses the entire pipeline infrastructure, from Itoki in Ogun State, Nigeria, to Takoradi in the Western Region, Ghana. The cleaning exercise is in two phases. The first phase, completed in December 2024, involved cleaning and inspecting the onshore section of the pipeline within Nigeria,” it added.
The second phase, scheduled to run from February 3 to March 2, 2025, will focus on the offshore section of the WAGP, stretching from Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria, to Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana.
WAPCo is required to conduct these inspections every five years, as part of efforts to maintain the integrity of the WAGP and ensure its continued safe and reliable operation across the West African region.
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