Between a deposit and power plants, factories or households, natural gas must travel through networks that sometimes cross borders. Two solutions dominate: pipelines, suited to continuous flows between connected territories, and liquefied natural gas (LNG), transported by ship when distance or geography makes pipelines less practical. In West Africa, the existing regional pipeline and major proposed projects illustrate the strategic role of this infrastructure.
Key facts
- Pipeline: a conduit through which gas flows under pressure, with compressor stations.
- LNG: gas cooled to approximately −162 °C, transported by LNG carrier and then regasified at its destination.
- Regional network: the West African Gas Pipeline connects Nigeria to Benin, Togo and Ghana.
- Key issue: the choice of transport method depends on distances, volumes, markets and the investment required.
From deposits to consumers
Gas transport involves moving the resource from production facilities to the places where it will be used. After extraction, gas is treated to remove water, liquids and certain unwanted compounds. It then enters a high-pressure transmission network or a liquefaction plant. At its destination, it is delivered to a distribution network, power plant or industrial site.
Transmission and distribution are two different functions. Transmission pipelines form the main routes connecting regions, borders and production sites. Distribution networks then deliver gas locally to users. Pressure reduction and metering stations adjust pressure and measure delivered volumes.
Pipelines: a continuous connection
A gas pipeline is a conduit, most often made of steel, that transports gas under pressure. This pressure allows large volumes to move through a pipe of a relatively manageable diameter. The network may be onshore, subsea or connected to dedicated industrial facilities.
Along the route, pressure falls because of friction. Compressor stations restore it to maintain flow. Valves allow sections to be isolated during works or incidents; sensors and control systems monitor pressures, flows and equipment condition. Pipelines are protected against corrosion and inspected regularly.
Pipelines are particularly suited to stable flows between producers and consumers connected by an onshore or subsea route. Their construction nevertheless requires substantial investment and agreements on the route, tariffs, volumes and responsibilities of the countries crossed. A pipeline dedicated to a single supplier can also create long-term dependence. Interconnections between networks improve flexibility by increasing entry points and possible routes.
LNG: crossing oceans
When markets are too far from a deposit or separated by sea, gas can be liquefied. Cooled to nearly −162 °C, it occupies approximately 600 times less volume than in its gaseous state. It is then stored in cryogenic tanks and transported by specialised ships called LNG carriers.
At its destination, a terminal unloads and stores the LNG. Equipment warms it to return it to a gaseous state, after which the gas is fed into a network or delivered directly to a user. Some floating units can regasify LNG offshore and send it to the coast through a pipeline. Road transport solutions also exist for customers far from major networks.
LNG makes trade more flexible: cargoes can connect producers to several markets depending on contracts, prices and vessel availability. However, this chain adds operations, terminals and costs. Liquefaction and transport consume energy; the climate footprint must also account for methane emissions throughout the chain.
How do you choose between pipeline and ship?
Pipelines and LNG are not universally competing solutions. A pipeline can be economically attractive for large, regular flows when the route is feasible and markets are nearby. LNG provides access to maritime markets and avoids building a continuous corridor between the producer and each buyer, but requires liquefaction and receiving facilities.
The choice depends in particular on distance, volumes, contract duration, the cost of capital, gas availability and corridor security. It also depends on lasting demand. A facility can remain underused if customers, connection infrastructure or gas volumes do not materialise.
A matter of safety and cooperation
Gas infrastructure requires constant monitoring. Risks include leaks, corrosion, damage caused by works, pressure incidents and accidents at stations or terminals. Prevention rests on design, inspections, shut-off systems, maintenance and coordination between operators and authorities.
Cross-border flows also raise commercial and geopolitical issues. Countries must agree on rules governing pipeline access, transit tariffs, quality measurement and dispute settlement. Diversified routes can reduce dependence on a supplier or a single transit point. Conversely, a conflict, major breakdown or contract breach can quickly affect downstream consumers.
The West African example
The West African Gas Pipeline, operated by the West African Gas Pipeline Company, transports Nigerian gas to Benin, Togo and Ghana. This regional infrastructure supplies power plants and industrial customers in particular. It embodies an important principle: a pipeline can share a resource among several countries, provided production, transport and purchases are coordinated.
The region is also studying larger corridors, including the Nigeria–Morocco gas pipeline project, presented as long-term infrastructure. It is a project rather than a pipeline currently operating along its entire route. Its delivery would depend on financing, interstate agreements, technical studies and commercial commitments. Potential benefits—energy access, regional trade or exports—must therefore be assessed alongside costs, risks and domestic needs.
For new gas producers such as Senegal and Mauritania, LNG also offers a maritime export route. Transport alone does not determine locally created value: decisions about volumes reserved for the domestic market, infrastructure, contracts and local content are equally decisive.
Frequently asked questions
Is gas compressed in a pipeline?
Yes. Pressure allows large volumes to be transported. Compressor stations restore pressure along pipelines, and pressure reduction stations adjust it before local distribution.
Why is LNG regasified?
Because most networks and consuming equipment use gas in its gaseous state. The terminal warms the LNG before it is fed into pipelines.
Does a large pipeline guarantee supply?
No. Security also depends on available volumes, equipment reliability, commercial agreements, demand and alternative routes.