Nigeria and Morocco are set to sign an intergovernmental agreement in 2026 for the proposed $25 billion gas pipeline project linking both countries, marking a major step forward in the transcontinental energy initiative.
The development was disclosed by Amina Benkhadra, head of National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines, who said the agreement would formalise cooperation among participating countries and pave the way for project implementation.
The pipeline, known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, spans approximately 6,900 kilometres across offshore and onshore routes and is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas annually.
Benkhadra said the agreement would also lead to the creation of a joint regulatory authority in Nigeria, comprising ministerial representatives from 13 countries to coordinate policy and regulatory frameworks.
The project, supported by the Economic Community of West African States, has already completed feasibility and front-end engineering design phases, positioning it for execution.
According to her, a joint venture between ONHYM and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited will be established in Morocco to drive financing, construction and overall project delivery.
The pipeline is expected to enhance energy security and economic integration across West Africa, while also enabling gas exports to Europe.
Read Also:Ogun APC adopts Yayi as consensus governorship candidate for 2027
Initial phases will connect Morocco to gas resources in Mauritania and Senegal, extend links between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, and ultimately connect to Nigeria’s gas fields.
First gas from the early stages of the project is projected for 2031.
Benkhadra noted that the project would be developed in phases, with each segment operating as a standalone system to allow early value creation.
She added that financing would be structured through a mix of equity and debt, although final commitments are yet to be secured.
The planned agreement comes amid broader efforts by Nigeria to expand its gas export infrastructure, including ongoing discussions on the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline aimed at supplying natural gas to European markets
