Togo’s October power cuts expose its reliance on one gas pipeline

Togolese households and businesses faced power cuts through much of October, as maintenance on the West African Gas Pipeline interrupted supplies of natural gas to the country’s thermal power plants.

What happened

The state utility, Compagnie Énergie Électrique du Togo (CEET), warned on 5 October that supply could be disrupted while the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) carried out maintenance. The work had originally been planned for September and was postponed several times. It eventually ran from about 12 to 27 October.

To limit the damage, CEET switched part of its generation to liquid fuels, which cost more than gas, and asked customers to unplug appliances during outages to protect them from surges. Government media said a gradual return to normal was expected from 27 October.

A pipeline from Nigeria

The West African Gas Pipeline carries Nigerian gas along the coast to Benin, Togo and Ghana. It was built to give these countries cheaper, cleaner fuel for power generation than diesel or heavy fuel oil. But it also means that when the pipeline stops, or when gas supply from Nigeria falls, Togo’s power plants are affected.

Not the first squeeze this year

In March, Togo faced rolling power cuts after an unplanned technical shutdown at a national power plant coincided with lower electricity imports. Togo imports power from Nigeria, estimated at about 75 MW, and has accumulated debts to its supplier. CEET’s director general met Nigerian officials to negotiate higher volumes, and asked large industrial users to temporarily reduce consumption.

CEET has also said that growing demand from households and businesses is straining supply.

The bigger plan

Togo is trying to reduce its dependence on imports and gas:

• Solar. The Blitta solar plant, inaugurated in 2021 with 50 MW, is being expanded, and a new 70 to 110 MW solar plant is planned at Nangbéto.
• Universal access. CEET aims for universal electricity coverage by 2030, including through rural mini-grids.

What to watch

• Whether supply returns to normal after the maintenance.
• New import agreements with Nigeria and Ghana.
• Progress on the solar programme.

Sources: Togo First, 6 October 2026; Icilome, 21 October 2026; Le Gnawo, 23 March 2026; République Togolaise.

Top photo: The beach road in Lomé, Togo (file photo). Photo: Philip Nalangan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0