Nigeria-Morocco Pipeline Offers Europe Viable Alternative to Russian Gas

Rabat – The Nigeria-Morocco Pipeline Project has significant potential to support Europe enact a break from its over-dependence on Russian gas – – currently a high priority within European politics.

In a policy brief titled “Why Europe has a strategic interest in the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline,” from think tank the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS), Senior Researcher Jamal Machrouh argues that Europe has much to benefit from the gas pipeline as it would help the continent diversify its sources of energy.

“The current energy supply map of gas pipelines in Europe shows a high concentration of the sources of supply … In total, more than 50% of the European Union’s gas needs come from a single source of supply,” Machrouh explains, adding that the current status quo “would naturally pose a threat to Europe as its energy needs could be weaponized.”

In light of this data, the expert underscores the importance for Europe to work towards diversifying the base of its energy suppliers, noting that Africa is a promising alternative source of gas given the continent’s important reserves of onshore and offshore gas.

In addition, relying on African gas through the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline would reduce the risk of Europe replacing Russian gas with unconventional energy sources, and support the EU in its endeavor to phase out coal completely, as well as prevent the emergence of strong gas dependence on Algeria, the expert adds.

First launched in 2016, the pipeline has recently been at the center of attention amid the ongoing Ukraine crisis, the tightening of global gas supplies, and the west’s sanctioning of Russia.

The ambitious project is extremely capital intensive as it requires a total investment of almost $25 billion and would take 25 years to go online, reports indicate.

Earlier this year, the project received significant funding from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The investment went to fund the project’s initial feasibility study also known as Front-End Engineering Design (FEED).

Aside from its potential to end the era of Europe’s dependency on Russian gas, the project promises significant socio-political advantages for the African continent, experts argue.

The project will cross 11 African countries, delivering a reliable and stable source of gas that would boost the continent’s prospects to host business activities and contribute to socio-economic development.