In a bid to accelerate the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project, the Nigerian government and the Kingdom of Morocco have intensified discussions to reach the Final Investment Decision (FID). The recent talks, which took place during a meeting between the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, and the Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, emphasized the significance of this ambitious energy endeavor.
According to a statement from the Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Olufemi Soneye, the discussions were centered around advancing the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project in alignment with the agreements made by both countries in 2022. The importance of the project to the economies of both nations and the urgent need to address energy poverty in Africa were key focal points of the dialogue.
Recalling that the NNPCL had signed an agreement for a 48” x 5,300Km pipeline from Nigeria to Dhakia, Morocco, and 1,700km from Dhakia to Northern Morocco back in 2017, it was reiterated that the pipeline is designed to have a capacity of 30 billion cubic meters per year, equivalent to 3.0 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
The extensive pipeline is expected to traverse multiple countries including the Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and terminate in Morocco with a spur to Spain. Notably, the ECOWAS Commission plays a crucial role in facilitating inter-governmental treaties, host government agreements, and ensuring alignment with international bodies such as the African Union and the United Nations due to the international nature of the project.
The significance of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project extends beyond bilateral cooperation, as it is poised to drive the monetization of Nigeria’s gas resources, bolster NNPC Ltd.’s energy leadership in Africa, and foster economic and regional cooperation among African countries.
With these recent developments, it is evident that the collaborative efforts between Nigeria and Morocco hold great promise for reshaping the energy landscape of not only both nations but also the entire African continent, ultimately aiming to elevate the region’s energy potential and fuel economic growth.
