The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and its counterpart in Morocco, the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) on Friday took a major step forward in their bid to ensure the take-off of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), estimated at about $26 billion.
Speaking at the Joint Meeting of Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Group Chief Executive of the NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, stated that the progress made so far underscores the impact of strong regional collaboration.
Aside ECOWAS ministers of hydrocarbons and energy, also present at the event were officials from Mauritania and Morocco.
Represented by the Executive Vice President Gas, Power and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, Kyari described the project as strategic and lauded President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian government for entrusting it with it.
He disclosed that progress had been made with the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) Phase 2 study now completed and work ongoing for surveys in Environmental and Social Impact Assessments as well as the Land Acquisition and Resettlement Policy Framework.
“These achievements underscore our shared capacity and resolve to bring this pipeline project to fruition, demonstrating both the project’s viability and our capability for effective execution, supported by strong regional collaboration, which we continue to appreciate.
“NNPC is well positioned to progress this project by leveraging on its expertise across gas production, processing, transmission and marketing, and experience having executed similar projects like the West African Gas Pipeline (WAPG).
“It is therefore essential that we work together to achieve our shared vision, which extends far beyond gas supply for energising our nations,” he stated.
Kyari added that the prompt completion of the project will depend on members’ continued commitment and collaboration to drive the success of the AAGP.
The 6,800-kilometre AAGP pipeline project will connect Nigeria to Morocco and is expected to supply all ECOWAS member states, Mauritania, and potentially Europe. It is projected to traverse 13 coastal countries.
The project now merges two key pipeline projects, which are the $975 million West African Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP), and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP), valued at about $25 billion.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the merger of the two projects reflected the region’s strategic vision for a more connected and economically vibrant pipeline network.
He noted that the project is expected to unlock new markets and bolster energy security throughout the region, explaining that by linking the natural gas reserves in Nigeria to North Africa and Europe, the initiative expands opportunities for economic growth, industrialisation, and job creation.
“We stand at a critical juncture where these draft agreements being deliberated today, hold the power to reshape our energy landscape, strengthen our economies, and uplift our people,” he stated.
In his remarks, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Sédiko Douka, said the main objective of the meeting was to present to ministers in charge of hydrocarbons, the latest version of the committee’s documents.
According to him, it will also afford members the opportunity to provide an update on the overall progress of the project, which is a necessary step to consolidate the involvement of all member states in the project development process.
“This project is of vital importance to our region, as increased access to natural gas will not only boost our electricity generation capacity, but also drive economic, industrial, and agricultural growth across the region.
“We have 6,800 kilometres of gas supply network, within we have 5,100 kilometres offshore that pass all the coastal countries, plus Mauritania, plus Morocco, and in the future is to bring gas to Europe,” he pointed out.
In her comments, the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Morocco, Leila Benali, said the event was historic, stressing that it meant that ECOWAS, as a regional structure was showing that multilateralism can work.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mahmuda Mamman, also pledged his support for the project which was first initiated in 2016 by Nigeria and Morocco.
Emmanuel Addeh and Michael Olugbode
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