West African Nations Greenlight $25 Billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline
The 6,000km pipeline aims to transport Nigerian gas to Morocco, connecting to Europe's network and reshaping energy trade.
West African leaders have formally approved the long-anticipated Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline, a significant energy infrastructure project estimated to cost $25 billion. The announcement was made following a ceremony in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with the project set to commence construction in 2028.
The ambitious pipeline will span approximately 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) along the Atlantic coast, traversing 14 African nations. Its route is designed to carry natural gas from Nigeria to Morocco, where it will then connect to Europe's existing gas transmission network via Spain.
Energy experts suggest this project marks a departure from current practices where African nations extract gas that is processed abroad and then resold to African countries at a significantly higher cost. Charles Majomi, a former Nigerian government advisor, stated that this model represents a "complete devaluation of the resource." He believes the new pipeline offers the potential to foster regional industrial growth and enhance Africa's influence on the global stage by providing energy security and market access to European and potentially Asian markets.
Beyond energy, the pipeline is viewed as a symbol of Pan-African collaboration and self-sufficiency. Prof. Ganiyat Adejoke Adesina-Uthman of the National Open University of Nigeria noted that the project will "open up Africa as a corridor to international markets" and demonstrates the potential of collective action among African nations.