Commitment to African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project Strengthened
The Federal Government, along with ECOWAS, Morocco, and Mauritania, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the $26 billion African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project, which aims to enhance regional energy access and economic growth. This announcement came during the ECOWAS Inter-Ministerial Meeting on the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project held in Abuja.
Progress and Partnerships
ECOWAS Ministers of Hydrocarbons and Energy, joined by representatives from Morocco and Mauritania, discussed new partnerships and progress milestones. The project, designed to connect 13 African nations, is seen as a major step toward regional integration and shared prosperity.
Key Project Milestones
Mele Kyari, CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), emphasized the importance of recent decisions for the pipeline’s future. Represented by NNPC Executive Vice President Olalekan Ogunleye, Kyari highlighted the completion of the project’s front-end engineering design and phase two studies. Environmental, social impact assessments, and land acquisition planning are now underway.
“These achievements underscore our shared capacity and resolve to bring this project to fruition,” Ogunleye noted, adding that NNPC’s expertise across production, processing, transmission, and marketing places it in a strong position to drive the project forward.
Transforming Africa’s Energy Landscape
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, emphasized the transformative potential of the pipeline for Africa’s energy landscape. “These draft agreements hold the power to reshape our energy sector, strengthen our economies, and uplift our people,” he said, stressing the importance of enhancing energy trade within ECOWAS.
Collaboration and Economic Growth
Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition, Laila Benali, expressed optimism about the project’s potential to unlock new markets and create jobs, while ECOWAS Commissioner Sediko Douka called for close collaboration, stating, “We have reached a critical phase in this project’s development, making cooperation essential.”
This strengthened regional partnership marks a significant step in advancing Africa’s role in the global energy market.