Key facts
- West African leaders have formally approved the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline project.
- The pipeline will be 6,000km long, transporting Nigerian gas to Morocco and then to Europe.
- The estimated cost of the project is $25 billion, with construction expected to start in 2028.
- The project aims to monetize Nigeria's gas reserves and foster regional industrial growth.
- The pipeline is intended to supply gas to African nations and potentially create new industries.
West African leaders have formally endorsed the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline, a significant energy infrastructure project estimated to cost $25 billion. The 6,000km pipeline is designed to transport natural gas from Nigeria, which holds Africa's largest proven reserves, along the Atlantic coast through 14 African nations to Morocco. From Morocco, it is planned to connect to Europe's existing gas network via Spain.
Construction is anticipated to commence in 2028. This initiative marks a departure from current practices where African gas is often processed abroad and then re-imported at higher costs. Energy expert Charles Majomi highlighted that this project could stimulate regional industrial growth, enhance Africa's position in global negotiations, and open the continent as a corridor to international markets.
Professor Ganiyat Adejoke Adesina-Uthman noted the pipeline's potential to serve 400 million consumers and serve as a symbol of African collaboration. The agreement follows approximately a decade of negotiations and is considered the final major political hurdle before financing and construction decisions can be made. The project is expected to be built in phases, potentially starting with the Morocco-Mauritania-Senegal axis before connecting to Nigeria, which was initially flagged as a potential obstacle.
While feasibility and engineering design studies are reportedly complete, securing financing and ensuring the security of the pipeline route across multiple countries present substantial challenges. Majomi suggested that measures like drone monitoring and community involvement will be crucial for protecting the infrastructure. The project is led jointly by Nigeria's state oil firm and Morocco's national mining body, with support from Ecowas, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Opec Fund for International Development.
Beyond exports, the pipeline aims to supply natural gas to African countries currently reliant on expensive imported fuels, potentially supporting new power generation, fertilizer plants, and manufacturing industries. However, challenges include long offshore engineering sections, competition from other export routes like LNG projects and the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, and uncertainty over future European gas demand due to the continent's transition to renewable energy.