Sinopec wins race for Ghana gas pipeline project.A Chinese firm overtook its main competitors from India in the race for a major gas pipeline project in West Africa, it emerged on Thursday.

Chinese state-run oil and gas firm Sinopec was Ghana's company of choice to develop an upcoming gas pipeline project in the West African nation.  An Indian team led by government-owned Gail India Ltd, China's main competitors in the race, was also bidding, in addition to the National Gas Company of Trinidad & Tobago.

"The African nation opted for China as it has been assured of funding… for various projects over the next five years," the official added. These projects include the development of gas processing plants; the installment of a cross-country railway network; as well as investment in the agriculture sector.

The outcome is indicative of China's considerable edge over India in the country in terms of investment. An official from the country's Petroleum Ministry said: the government of Ghana has had "a long-term funding assurance from China for not only this project but also other infrastructure projects," an official from the country's Petroleum Ministry said.

India has been slow to react to potential infrastructure projects in the country, the official also said. A potential USD 1.2bn deal with Rasthtriya Fertilizer Limited (RFL) under a USD 5bn credit line from Exim Bank of India has been mired by several delays since 2010.

China has assured Ghana it would provide the country with over USD 11.5bn for projects to be developed over the next five years.

In addition, the China Development Bank has agreed to release a USD 1.2.bn loan to the country to build a gas pipeline and processing plant for the country's Jubilee oil field, China Daily reported on Wednesday. In return, China will be provided with 13,000 bpd of crude oil for the next 15 years. The loan, to be released by the end of August, is part of a USD 3bn loan for a total of 12 projects for infrastructural development.