WAPCo

Driving Regional Energy Integration

As West Africa works to expand access to reliable and affordable energy, cross-border gas infrastructure has become a cornerstone of regional development. The West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) owns and operates the region’s only cross-border pipeline, West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), transporting natural gas in Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana. Since its inception, WAPCo has played a vital role in enabling energy trade in the region, displacing costlier liquid fuels, and strengthening the foundation for regional collaboration, power generation and industrial growth.

Name

West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo)

Address

Accra, Ghana

Incorporation Date

2003

Employees

200

Business/Services

WAPCo operates as a bi-directional regional gas transmission company, managing the 677.8 km West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) to deliver natural gas from Nigeria and Ghana to markets in Benin, Togo, and Ghana. The system is designed as an open-access, multi-shipper pipeline, enabling supply to both the power and industrial sectors. Gas enters the system through an interconnection with the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) at Itoki, Nigeria, and also through an interconnection with the Ghana National Gas Company’s (GNGC) pipeline at Aboadze, near Takoradi, in the Western Region of Ghana. The gas is transported offshore with delivery points at Cotonou, Lomé, Tema, and Takoradi. With an initial throughput of 170 MMscfd and a design capacity of 474 MMscfd, the WAGP has become a critical backbone for regional power generation, providing more affordable and cleaner fuel alternatives to liquid fuels while also supporting industrial growth across the ECOWAS region.

Company History and Expertise

WAPCo was incorporated in 2003 to develop, own, and operate the WAGP under a public–private partnership model following the signing of the WAGP Treaty by the four countries in 2003. Headquartered in Accra, Ghana, the company maintains operational offices across its four operating countries. Its shareholders bring together leading international and state-owned energy players, including Chevron (36.9%), NNPCL (24.9%), Shell (17.9%), TAPCo (100% owned by Ghana’s Volta River Authority) (16.3%), Société Togolaise de Gaz (2%), and Société BenGaz S.A (2%). WAPCo operates under the regulatory oversight of the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA), which harmonizes cross-border rules and ensures transparent and safe operations.

Following a Final Investment Decision (FID) in 2004, construction of the pipeline began in 2005 with an initial investment of $1 billion, financed through public–private partnerships. The project was governed by the International Project Agreement (IPA) ratified by all four states, while the WAGP Treaty provided the overarching legal framework. To ensure transparency and regulatory oversight, the treaty also established the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA), headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria. Construction was completed in 2008, with free-flow operations starting that year and full commercial operations commencing in March 2011. Since then, WAPCo has built strong technical expertise in both onshore and offshore pipeline management, gas quality assurance, and regional market operations.

Current Projects and Future Strategy

WAPCo continues to upgrade its system to meet rising regional gas demand. The Tema to Takoradi Interconnection Project (TTIP) was a milestone in enhancing flexibility, allowing Ghana’s domestic production to flow eastwards and diversifying supply beyond Nigeria. Capacity expansions at metering stations in Tema and Takoradi have further increased throughput, and by 2024, WAPCo was consistently transporting close to 180 MMscfd, supporting both electricity generation and industrial demand.

As the operator of sub-Saharan Africa’s first regional gas pipeline, WAPCo is at the heart of West Africa’s energy transition. Its infrastructure has reduced reliance on liquid fuels, enabled cost savings for power producers, and fostered regional cooperation. Looking forward, the company aims to maximize the use of its installed offshore capacity (474 MMscfd), strengthen bi-directional gas trading between Nigeria and Ghana, and expand its role as a reliable backbone for human development and regional energy security. Its long-term strategy aligns with ECOWAS’s agenda for a fully integrated energy market, where natural gas supports both power stability and industrial growth.

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