- Nigeria is advancing the Nigeria Equatorial Guinea Gas Pipeline, a cross-border project to transport stranded gas for processing and export.
- The project, signed in August 2024 by Presidents Bola Tinubu and Teodoro Obiang, aims to boost regional energy integration.
Nigeria is advancing the Nigeria Equatorial Guinea Gas Pipeline, a cross-border project designed to transport stranded Nigerian gas. The gas will be processed and exported in Equatorial Guinea. Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the pipeline as a “strategic collaboration.”
He explained that the project will connect Nigeria’s gas resources to Equatorial Guinea’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. Consequently, it will open new export channels while reinforcing regional energy integration.
During a webinar on August 21, Ekpo highlighted the project’s importance for regional energy connectivity. The event, themed Catalysing Investments for Nigeria’s Upstream Gas Sector: Global Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges, also marked his second year in office.
“This project exemplifies our commitment to energy interconnectivity and the monetisation of stranded gas assets,” the minister stated.
In August 2024, President Bola Tinubu and President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo signed a bilateral agreement in Malabo. The pact reaffirmed cooperation on the Gulf of Guinea Pipeline Project. Specifically, it covered ownership structures, transit arrangements, and guiding regulatory frameworks.
Once operational, the pipeline will grant Nigerian producers access to Equatorial Guinea’s Punta Europa complex. This facility houses LNG, methanol, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) export plants, significantly boosting Nigeria’s export capacity.
The initiative also aligns with Nigeria’s broader gas development strategy. Importantly, this strategy seeks to curb gas flaring, expand LPG and compressed natural gas (CNG) use, and ensure international market supply.
In addition, Ekpo stressed that Nigeria remains committed to the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline with Niger and Algeria. At the same time, the government is advancing domestic industrial projects such as the Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemical plant.
Nigeria holds Africa’s largest proven gas reserves, estimated at more than 210 trillion cubic feet. Consequently, the government is positioning gas as a “transition fuel” to drive industrialisation, reduce oil dependence, and meet global decarbonisation targets.
However, challenges persist. Financing gaps, infrastructure deficits, and limited private sector involvement remain barriers. Therefore, Ekpo emphasised that sustained investment and stronger partnerships are essential to unlock future growth.