The Director General (DG) of the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA), Barr/Mrs. Chafari Kanya Hanawa, met with the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters at Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria on 9th October 2024.
The Director General used the occasion to brief H.E. the President, on the activities and operations of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) and WAGPA. WAGPA is the regulator of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), a 678Km gas pipeline established under the WAGP Treaty signed in Dakar – Senegal, in 2003, between the – Republic of Benin, Republic of Ghana, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Togolese Republic.
The WAGP was envisioned by ECOWAS as one of the key instruments in implementing the ECOWAS Energy Policy of 1982. In her briefing, Mrs. HANAWA highlighted the significant contribution of the WAGP to electricity generation in Benin, Ghana and Togo. She intimated that since the start of commercial operations in 2011, except for some brief pause due to force majeure event, the WAGP has been transporting natural gas from Nigeria to the three countries.
In addition, since 2020, natural gas produced at the western part of Ghana has also been transported through the WAGP to the eastern part to feed thermal power plants as well as industrial users in Ghana. Between 2011 and end of 2022, the WAGP delivered over 35 trillion Btu of natural gas to Benin, 33 trillion Btu to Togo and 245 trillion Btu to Ghana.
This has made natural gas the dominant source of electricity generation in these countries. Thus, in 2022, natural gas accounted for 63%, 66% and 79% of electricity generated in Ghana, Togo and Benin respectively. In terms of cost savings against alternative fuels, the natural gas delivered through the WAGP from inception to end 2022 yielded over US$123 million for Benin, US$114 million for Togo and US$1 billion for Ghana.To ensure other ECOWAS member countries get access to natural gas through the pipeline, the Authority is working with ECOWAS Commission and other stakeholders within the context of the proposed African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) to extend the WAGP beyond its current reach.
On his part, H.E. the President of the ECOWAS Commission underscored the importance of the WAGP as a strategic regional project which is associated with ECOWAS, adding that ECOWAS is proud of the achievements of the WAGP. H.E. stated that energy security is vital for the ECOWAS region and an initiative like the WAGP is critical to achieving energy security, especially in the wake of the transition to greener sources of energy.
He added that the WAGP extension has become more important as more countries in the region, such as Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal are making significant discoveries of natural gas in their offshore fields. He reiterated the Commission’s support for the extension.
Also at the meeting on the ECOWAS Commission side were: Dr. Habibu Yaya BAPPAH – the Executive Assistant to the ECOWAS Commission President, Ms. Anna WADDA – Advisor to the ECOWAS Commission President on Policy and Mr. CHUKWUEMEKA Francis Ezekiel – Communication Officer, ECOWAS Commission.
Others on the WAGPA side were Mr. Hamis USSIF, the Director for Market Surveillance and Development, WAGPA; and Mr. Yao Oniakitan IROKO, the Director, Environment, Safety and External Relations, WAGPA.
Photo 1: ECOWAS President Commission, His Excellency Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY welcoming DG of WAGPA, Mrs. Chafari Kanya Hanawa
Photo 2: ECOWAS President Commission, His Excellency Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY with Dr. Habibu Yaya Bappah on the right; and DG of WAGPA, Mrs. Chafari Kanya Hanawa on the left with Mr. Hamis Ussif and Yao Oniakitan Iroko from WAGPA.
