Work on the $590-million project, which will extend Nigeria's existing Escravos-Lagos pipeline to Ghana's western port of Takoradi, began in early 2005 and was first expected to be complete by December 2006. "There were engineering and procurement delays... it will now be ready the middle of next year," Jack Derickson, managing director of the West African Gas Pipeline Co (WAGPC) said recently. "What we are trying to do is get the pipeline in place so we can have some early gas probably in the second quarter," he said. The pipeline will initially deliver 30m cuft/d Derickson said, with capacity rising to 170-200m cuft/d after the completion of a compressor station, scheduled for August, 2007. However, damaged gas supply lines in Nigeria's volatile Delta region will need to be repaired if the pipeline is to transport gas at its full capacity. Additional compressor stations could eventually increase daily capacity to 450m cuft/d. Chevron holds a 36.7% stake in WAGPC, whose other shareholders include the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Shell, Takoradi Power Co Ltd, and Societe Togolaise de Gaz and Societe Beninoise de Gaz. The pipeline is intended to supply gas-fired generating plants and help meet rising power demand in the three countries. Ghanaian officials say gas will also be cheaper than oil-fired generation, reducing the nation's fuel bill. In recent months, poor rains have led to power rationing in Ghana, the world's second-biggest cocoa grower, which relies on hydro-generation for about 60% of its power. Gold miners, including some of the world's biggest such as Newmont Mining Corp, AngloGold Ashanti, and Gold Fields, saw costs rise and production slow in September as they were forced to cut their use of power. The Volta River Authority (VRA) said power shortages and rationing would continue until at least the end of November. Mining companies are understandably impatient to find a way to make up the shortfall, and have suggested bringing in extra generating capacity to supply the industry. However, while fuel bills may fall with the advent of piped gas, with only one thermal plant in operation there may still not be enough generation capacity to significantly reduce the country's reliance on hydro power. More thermal plants are under consideration, including one due to be completed next year, and emergency generators are expected to be operational later this year, a spokeswoman for the VRA power firm said. A second hydro plant is also under consideration.