Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, has said sustainability of the West African Gas Pipeline Project (WAGP) will increase supply of gas to West African countries and boost power supply within the region.
He stated this while speaking at the 17th meeting of Committee of Ministers of West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA) on Tuesday.
The Tuesday meeting held in Nigeria was conveyed to consider the feedback on the issues discussed at the Dec. 2017 meeting in Lome.
While emphasising the significance of the project, Dr Kachikwu said providing power to the African people, especially the West African people is always the single most important development item in the sub-continent.
“We all have nurtured the WAGP project and today’s meeting will further strengthen our resolve to see that we move forward on pending issues to achieve the set targets.
“We must continue to build on our achievements and not to relent on our efforts. We must endeavour to resolve issues that will lead to the advancement and aspiration of our respective countries and region,” he said.
He said the project should be sustained with the cooperation from all parties, as it was being celebrated all over Africa as the flagship project for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
Managing Director of West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAGPC), Mr. Walter Perez, said the situation in WAGPC had improved due to upgrade of the compressor station in Nigeria as a result of which the project have been able to transport over 85,000 MMBtu/d.
Perez also disclosed that efforts by Ghana’s Minister of Energy had resulted in the payment of a material portion of the company`s legacy debt, adding however that more work was needed to retire the debt.
He stated that WAGPCO was currently working with WAGPA to redefine the tariff structure for the WAGP to promote increased utilisation and diversification of both supply and off-take, noting that doing so will also enable gas from the WAGP to remain the fuel of choice in the West African sub-region.
The WAGPA is an international institution established by the Treaty on the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) Project And signed on to by the Heads of States of the Republic of Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo.
It consists of 678 km pipeline to transport natural gas from Nigeria to Benin, Togo and Ghana for power plants and heat-using industries.
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