Ghana has reaffirmed plans to develop its gas resources, which will aid a steam-driven thermal power generation push, as gas supply from Nigeria proves insufficient.

The West African Transnational Gas Pipeline (WAGP), established in 1982 to supply gas from Nigeria to neighbouring countries, was billed to provide 70 million cubic feet daily to Ghana, but currently delivers 50 million cubic feet — well below the agreement.

In addition, the country’s demand for gas, which will drive an increase in energy output, has risen well above the maximum supply the regional pipeline can potentially offer, hence the need to develop its own resources.

“The West African Gas Pipeline as designed today can only give us 170 million cubic feet. We need extra investment to be able to move from 170 to 240 in order to realise the full potential of that pipeline,” said Kirk Koffi, a deputy chief executive of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana.

“The gas is there. The problem with getting enough supply from Nigeria is the investment to bring the gas from the ground; we are influencing that, but it’s not happening.”

Continuous breakdown of flowchart facilities as well as long and expensive repair projects have hampered the steady flow of gas between countries. The latest of such episodes resulted in a yearlong non-supply, after a loss of pressure around the Lome segment of the pipeline.

According to Koffi, the future of Ghana’s energy was dependent on its ability to meet the local gas consumption, noting that the country could no longer rely on irregular supply from its West African neighbour.