Page 6 - GLNG Week 32

GLNG CommEntARy GLNG
Gas flexibility is coming to Ghana
Gas can now be moved both ways on a section of the WAGP in Ghana, allowing increased use of its domestic gas resources
invEstmEnt
WHAt:
Ghana has completed the TTip work on an offshore gas pipeline.
WHy:
This will allow gas to ow from Takoradi to Tema, with further expansion planned.
WHAt nExt:
improving pipeline links should reduce take-or- pay pressure on Ghana.
LARGE infrastructure projects are built on a set of assumptions. As these change, projects must adapt – or wither. e West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) has faced a number of obstacles and changes but news last week demonstrated that the link is taking steps to remain relevant.
e West African Gas Pipeline Co. (WAPCo), which operates the WAGP, has carried out test- ing and commissioning on the takoradi phase of the interconnection project. As such, gas was successfully transported from the country’s west to tema in the east, it said on August 6.
WAPCo said the takoradi-tema Intercon- nection Project (ttIP) was now running east, at the request of its customers.
the company’s managing director, Greg Germani, described the move as historic.
WAPCo is “happy to contribute in a positive way to economic development in the sub-region in general and within the speci c WAGP states by transporting natural gas from sources where there is abundance to other areas which have lit- tle or none”.
Gas can continue to be carried in the usual way, in keeping with the rst plans for the WAGP, moving from Nigeria into Benin, togo and Ghana.
ttIP was driven by agreements from WAPCo, Ghana’s Energy Ministry, Ghana National Petroleum Corp. (GNPC), Ghana Gas and Eni Ghana. WAPCo’s facilities at takoradi and tema were expanded, with a tie-in to Ghana Gas’ facilities at takoradi.
Work is continuing, with the expansion of the tema regulating and metering station. is should allow it to meet increased gas needs in the tema area.
Rationale
Explaining the ttIP work, WAPCo said it had recognised the “changing needs and develop- ments” in the sub-region. Changes were in line with the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) plans, which had driven the plan for the WAGP. ECOWAS set up the West African Gas Pipeline Authority in 2003 and has continued to push for increased access to power in the area.
e statement from WAPCo said upgrading the link, to allow it to ow in reverse, was the lat- est step in making the WAGP su ciently exible to meet the needs of the sub-region.
there has been some discussion about extending the WAGP further. In 2015, ECOWAS signed a deal with Penspen for the engineering company to carry out a study on its possible expansion. Nigeria has come out in support of such a plan, under a 2016 deal with Morocco. Front-end engineering and design (FEED) work on such an expansion – which would extend the WAGP from its cur- rent 678 km to around 5,700 km – was due to
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w w w . N E W S B A S E . c o m Week 32 15•August•2019