PRIME-GAS: Togo Expands Gas Ambitions Around Lomé Port and the PIA Industrial Hub

Energy

Thursday, 07 May 2026 12:16

PRIME-GAS: Togo Expands Gas Ambitions Around Lomé Port and the PIA Industrial Hub

(Togo First) - Togo is preparing feasibility studies for PRIME-GAS, a regional natural gas project aimed at strengthening energy links with Côte d'Ivoire and Benin.

Backed by the World Bank, the initiative seeks to develop a regional gas supply chain through infrastructure for LNG imports, transport, storage and distribution.

The plans include LNG import facilities as well as national and cross-border infrastructure to facilitate gas trade across West Africa.

Gas Interconnections and Industrial Ambitions

Togo is considering several strategic facilities, including LNG reception and storage infrastructure at the port of Lomé, a domestic gas network supplying future power plants, and a distribution network for industries near the port.

Authorities are also considering a pipeline linking the port of Lomé to the Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA), alongside the construction of a 500-megawatt gas-fired power plant.

Other options under review include the expansion of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) station in Lomé and a possible new pipeline between Nigeria and Togo aimed at diversifying supply sources.

According to technical documents, the proposed gas corridors could span between 30 and 40 kilometers in width to facilitate environmental and social assessments of potential routes.

A 20-Week Environmental Study

The World Bank has classified the project as high risk from an environmental and social standpoint, triggering a strategic environmental and social assessment.

The assessment will identify potential gas transport corridors and evaluate their impact on communities, farmland, biodiversity and existing infrastructure.

Initial projections indicate the study will take around 20 weeks and will be carried out in three phases: institutional launch, corridor assessment and publication of the selected routes.

Additional specialized studies are expected to follow, focusing on biodiversity, social impacts, industrial risks, seismic activity, agriculture and the effects of climate change on gas infrastructure.

R.E.D

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.