- Nigeria, Morocco, Mauritania, and ECOWAS reaffirm their commitment to the $26 billion African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, which will connect 13 African nations.
- The project, progressing with engineering and environmental studies, aims to transform Africa’s energy landscape and boost regional economies.
The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to the ambitious $26 billion African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) project, which, in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), aims to connect Nigeria, Morocco, Mauritania, and 13 other African nations.
At the ECOWAS Inter-Ministerial Meeting on the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project held in Abuja, key officials underscored the importance of advancing the initiative, which is poised to boost economic development across the region. The meeting was attended by the ECOWAS Ministers of Energy and Hydrocarbons and delegates from Morocco and Mauritania.
The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline is designed to stimulate economic growth by improving energy access across West Africa. It will connect at least 13 countries, enhancing regional integration and boosting the continent’s energy infrastructure. Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), stressed that the decisions made during this meeting would be crucial to the project’s success, which he described as transformative for the region.
Through Olalekan Ogunleye, NNPC’s Executive Vice President for Gas, Power, and new Energy, Kyari highlighted the project’s potential to impact Nigeria’s economy and the wider region profoundly. Ogunleye stated, “This is perhaps the largest African infrastructure project, with the capacity to drive shared prosperity and development across the continent.”
He further emphasised that significant progress has already been made on the project, including completing the front-end engineering design and phase two studies. Ongoing work includes environmental and social impact assessments, land acquisition, and resettlement efforts. These achievements, Ogunleye noted, underscore the project’s viability and the stakeholders’ readiness to move forward.
Regional Collaboration Key to Success
Ogunleye also pointed out that the AAGP’s success relies heavily on continued regional cooperation. “NNPC, with its vast expertise in production, processing, transmission, and marketing, is well-positioned to lead the execution of this project,” he added.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the project would fundamentally transform Africa’s energy landscape. He also underscored the significance of the discussed agreements, which are expected to boost the continent’s global participation in the gas market, improve access to natural gas in West Africa, and foster more significant energy trade among ECOWAS nations.
Job Creation and Market Expansion
Laila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, expressed optimism about the project’s potential to open new markets and create regional jobs. She emphasised that the initiative is now at a “critical phase,” with all parties needing to collaborate closely to ensure its successful completion.
Sediko Douka, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, also called for intensified cooperation and urged all stakeholders to focus on bringing the project to fruition.
Project Overview: A Pan-African Initiative
The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline was first proposed during King Mohammed VI’s visit to Nigeria in December 2016. The AAGP consists of two key components: the $975 million West African Gas Pipeline Extension (678 kilometres) and the central 5,669 km Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, projected to cost $25 billion. The entire AAGP is expected to cost around $26 billion.
This pipeline project will harness Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves to boost national income, reduce gas flaring, and diversify export routes. It will also facilitate natural gas supply to Morocco, 13 ECOWAS countries, and Europe, fostering regional economic integration and energy security.
The pipeline will run from Nigeria to Dakhla in Morocco, covering a distance of 5,300 kilometres, with an additional 1,700 kilometres of onshore pipeline connecting Dakhla to northern Morocco. The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline is seen as a significant step toward energy sustainability and economic development in West Africa, and it has the potential to reshape the continent’s energy landscape for decades to come.