Morocco, Nigeria, ECOWAS ink gas pipeline deal

Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), and the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, ONHYM Director General Amina Benkhadra highlighted the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline’s potential to boost regional economic integration and reinforce sustainable development in the West African region.

“Energy is essential to all economic development, and gas is the backbone of the energy transition,” Benkhadra said, emphasizing Africa’s significant resource that could be used to accelerate the pace of economic and social development. Benkhadra highlighted the NNPC’s experience in operating major oil and gas projects, as well as the technical expertise it is bringing to this challenging project,” said Director Benkhadra.

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Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project

“The project seeks to achieve objectives such as accelerating the electrification and energy development, supporting social, industrial, and economic development, promoting regional integration, reducing gas flaring, and exporting gas to Europe,” said Benkhadra.

The US $25bn project will extend over 1,672 kilometers, connecting Nigerian gas to Europe through Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. The project upon completion aims to contribute to the development of key sectors, including food security, infrastructure, mining, renewable energy, and human development.

For his part, NNPC CEO Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari highlighted that the project will “provide the flexibility that is required in the long energy transition journey that every country is facing.”

“The project should create prosperity across the continent, notably in the west African sub-region, and potentially in Europe. It is absolutely necessary that we deliver on this project for the benefit of our people and for the global community,” said the CEO.

In addition to promoting regional integration in the west African region, the project is expected to reinforce European energy security. Last month, Benkhadra said that Morocco is in talks with European partners to guarantee financing for the gas pipeline project.