Nigeria plans for Africa-Europe gas pipeline

Nigeria is planning to for a trans-Sahara gas pipeline, designed to reach Europe, set to bridge the energy gap between the sources and consumers between the two continents.

Nigeria’s Junior Petroleum Minister, Timipre Sylva said the project has been justified as one way of leveling the energy access field. The trans-Sahara gas pipeline, is envisioned to run from Nigeria’s gas wells through the Western Sahara Desert to Morocco and onwards to Europe.

Mr Timipre Sylva said his country is building its portion and hoped to have it extended to Senegal and onwards to Morocco and other North African countries.

Read:Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline project in Nigeria on track

AKK gas pipeline project

“Morocco shares boundaries with Europe. So, once it gets to Morocco, we can hook up with their pipeline system and take our gas straight to Europe through pipelines. President Muhammadu Buhari and the King of Morocco are very committed to it and we believe that we will take it to an advanced stage,’’ said the Junior Petroleum Minister.

“These projects are fundamental to our desire to industrialize and energize the entrepreneurial spirit that is ever present in our population,” he added.

In Nigeria, officials say President Buhari sees the pipeline as very “dear” to him. Femi Adesina, his advisor on media and publicity said Buhari wants to see the project succeed.

“We promised the nation we will expand the critical gas infrastructure to promote the use of gas in the domestic market,” he said during the groundbreaking ceremony for pipeline known as the AKK Gas Pipeline last week.

The AKK gas pipeline project entails the construction of a 614km natural gas line from the Ajaokuta terminal gas station in the Kogi state in the north central region of Nigeria, through the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, and Kaduna, to terminate at a gas station in Kano.