A TIMELY WARNING

AS the country awaits the delivery of gas through the West African Gas Pipeline, experts have warned of the dangers associated with using dynamite and other illegal methods in fishing near the pipelines.
According to the experts, such illicit activities could result in great loss of lives, the sinking of ships and heavy explosions that could also lead to loss of revenue.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that this is a very timely warning that should be taken with all the seriousness it deserves. People should not lose sight of the huge cost involved in the West African Gas Pipeline Project and its enormous importance to beneficiary countries.
It is important to bear in mind that with our growing energy demand, the natural gas expected to flow from Nigeria will serve a very critical need to spur economic development.
The country therefore needs to commit itself to sound and ethical practices that would protect these pipes and enhance their lifespan to ensure regular gas supplies to meet the needs of the people.
There are very useful lessons from Nigeria that our policy makers need to bring into focus so that our country can learn from their mistakes. Time and again deliberate puncturing of fuel pipes in Nigeria has resulted in huge explosions leading to loss of human lives and property.
For instance, in May 1998, at least 500 Nigerians were killed in an explosion in the oil-rich Niger delta as they collected oil from a leaking pipeline. Another explosion in December 2006 killed more than 250 Nigerians who had gathered around another punctured pipeline to scavenge for oil.
With the knowledge of hindsight, the people need to tread cautiously and not recklessly, be well-informed about the characteristics of natural gas and its combustible nature.
As long as natural gas flows through a closed controlled system, it remains a safe product. Only when gas unexpectedly escapes from a pipeline does it have the potential to be a hazard to life, property and the environment.
That would require that people around communities where the pipes run are adequately educated and sensitised to the best practices to ensure that pipes are not tampered with in any way, because it has been established that delivering gas through pipelines is currently the safest mode of transportation.
Additionally, the DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to stress the need to provide an effective security system or network to ensure that these pipes are not disturbed by criminals and reckless individuals.
As pointed out by the General Manager in charge of operations of the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAGPCo), Mr Aderemi Oladapo, the two major areas that need critical attention are the Tema and Takoradi destinations of the products.
These are harbour cities with a lot of commercial and human activities and providing effective security networks should not be an insurmountable task. To complement the efforts of security personnel, we wish to encourage the sensitisation of the general public to be vigilant and watch out for individuals or groups of individuals who may attempt to cause damage to these pipes.