The Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project is gaining momentum as the United Arab Emirates has agreed to contribute to the funding of this $25 billion project to ship Nigerian gas to Europe through Morocco.
The announcement was made lately by Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition Leila Benali in a statement at the Moroccan Parliament.
She told MPs that other major investors and financial institutions including the European Investment Bank (EIB),the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the OPEC Fund will also contribute to this landmark energy project to transform the economies of several African countries and create more job opportunities.
China’s Jingye Steel Group has been awarded a contract to supply pipes to the African-Atlantic project which will diversify export routes,reduce gas flaring and reshape the region’s energy landscape. The United States has also expressed interest in investing in this gas pipeline project,according to Nigeria’s Finance Minister Wale Edun.
Morocco has completed all preliminary feasibility and engineering studies for the 5,660-km long gas pipeline to cross 13 African coastal countries before reaching Europe. Additional lines will be made to connect member countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (ESA),formed of Mali,Niger and Burkina-faso.
Last month,Morocco and Nigeria agreed to create a joint venture to spearhead management of the pipeline which will have a capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The first gas shipments is expected in 2029.
United News - unews.co.za