Libya and Nigeria are set to have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct technical and economic feasibility studies on a potential gas pipeline project.
Libya’s Ministry of Oil and Gas said the move follows a consultative meeting between Libya’s Acting Oil and Gas Minister Khalifa Abdel Sadeg and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo during the GASTECH 2024 conference in Houston.
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Pipeline project
The proposed pipeline would serve as a strategic infrastructure project, offering Nigeria a direct route to export its gas to Europe through Libya, an alternative to the existing plans that involve Algeria. The Libyan Ministry highlighted the significant economic benefits this project could bring to Libya, especially given the global demand for natural gas due to supply disruptions caused by geopolitical events like the Ukraine war.
The idea of a gas pipeline linking Nigeria and Europe through Libya was initially discussed at a press conference in 2023 by Libya’s former Oil and Gas Minister Mohamed Aoun. Since then, the Libyan Cabinet has authorized preliminary studies, but Libya’s political stability remains a key concern that could impact the project’s execution.
There are two other alternative routes to deliver Nigerian gas to Europe: one via Algeria, which is in advanced planning stages, and another following the West African coast to Morocco and into Spain. Both options are seen as feasible, but the Libya-Nigeria pipeline could offer a unique advantage if realized, given Europe’s pressing need for diverse gas supplies.
