Accra, March 9, GNA - Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Energy Ministers at the end of a Steering Committee Meeting of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) Project have stressed their commitment to completing the Project on schedule.

The Ministers are from Nigeria, Togo, Benin and Ghana, whose Energy Minister Dr Kwesi Nduom chairs the Committee.

Speaking individually to the Ghana News Agency, Business Desk in Accra during the weekend, the Nigerian Minister of Energy Dr Edmund Daukuro said the Project had come a long way and would not be allowed to falter.

It had involved a lot of give and take and discussions had gone very far towards a win-win conclusion for all concerned, he said. Dr Daukuro said Nigeria placed a lot of premium on the project since it had the capacity of providing one of the cheapest sources of energy to transform the industrial sectors of ECOWAS community.

He welcomed the support of the international agencies such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank in the Project. "This proves that we are engaged in a positive drive at bringing new hope and direction for our people across the four countries and beyond."

The Nigerian Energy Minister called for greater flexibility and openness for the subsequent stages of the Project and called for a quick ratification of the Treaty on the Project by the Parliaments of the four countries within a reasonable period.

Mr Issifu Okoulou Kantchati, Togo's Energy Minister, restated Togo's commitment to the Project saying: "Together with Benin we have put together private sector enterprises as base structures for the take off of the Project when it does come on stream."

He said finance was not as important to Togo and Benin since Togo had already to put funds aside towards the realization of the Project. He said he was optimistic that the State would play a major role in the entire project, indicating: "Togo is ready, as we have already created institutional support systems to make the Project a reality." He said the Government of Togo had secured the right of way for the pipes. "This we have done by inviting those affected along the route and signing agreements with them to release the land for the Project." Mr Kantchati urged his colleagues not to treat meetings on the Project as talking shops, saying: "Togo has a clear vision on it." Benin's Energy Minister Mr Kamarrou Fassassi said the various meetings and the activities going on in the four countries "show that we are certain to see this Project completed."

He said what was required was the attitude of member countries when it came to the element of financial commitment of members after the Final Investment Decision had been reached.

Mr Fassassi said each country was trying to make money available so that when the Project started there would be no problem of cash shortages, stressing that the commitment of the Heads of State to the WAGP was a clear manifestation.

Dr Nduom said Ghana, which would be using about 80 per cent of the gas, remained highly committed to the project and would do all it could to bring it to fruition.

He said decision of the World Bank to take part in the project was welcomed but expressed the hope that that would not lead to delays in the flowchart for the completion of the WAGP, since certain activities already conducted might have to be undertaken again.

"The World Bank participation, however, lends credence to the project and we hope this will give it a new impetus," he said. Dr Alabisi Arabisala, Deputy ECOWAS Executive Secretary, said the African Development Bank had indicated its intention to be part of the Project, adding that ECOWAS itself had reviewed the WAGP as the number one project for the Sub-Region.