- Nigeria and Morocco advance the $25bn African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project, as both countries prepare to sign an intergovernmental agreement.
- The 6,900-kilometre pipeline aims to transform West Africa’s energy landscape, enabling gas exports to Europe.
Nigeria and Morocco will sign an intergovernmental agreement this year to advance the $25 billion African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project. Reuters reported the development, citing officials involved in the project.
Amina Benkhadra said the agreement will establish stronger political and regulatory coordination among the 13 participating countries. She explained that the pipeline will move forward under a phased development model rather than a single final investment decision.
The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline will span about 6,900 kilometres and will transport natural gas from Nigeria through West Africa to Morocco and onward to Europe. Meanwhile, the system will operate as a hybrid offshore and onshore network. It will reach a maximum capacity of 30 billion cubic metres per year. There is about 15 billion cubic metres allocated for Morocco’s domestic use and exports.
The project will also establish a high-level authority in Nigeria to coordinate ministerial representation across participating countries. In addition, a dedicated project company will manage execution, financing, and construction. This company will operate as a joint venture between Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and ONHYM.
Benkhadra explained that the pipeline will support early economic returns by developing segments independently. She added that initial phases will connect Morocco to gas fields in Mauritania and Senegal, while later phases will link Ghana to Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria.
Furthermore, she projected that the first gas delivery could begin by 2031. She also noted that the project has attracted strong investor interest due to its scale and strategic importance, although final financing commitments remain pending.
The pipeline aims to strengthen energy access, expand electricity generation, and support industrial growth across West Africa. It will also position Morocco as a key energy hub linking Africa and Europe, especially as Europe seeks to diversify gas supplies following global geopolitical disruptions.
If completed, the project will unlock Nigeria’s vast gas reserves, increase regional energy trade, and reshape West Africa’s role in the global energy market.