Rabat — The Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project seems to be making significant progress, with Rabat hosting this week several high-level meetings to discuss the project.
The project, which will stretch across 13 African countries, gained momentum during technical and steering committee meetings held on July 10-11 in Rabat.
The gatherings brought together top executives from national oil companies across West Africa to review the project’s progress.
Officials from Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) organized the meetings, which also included representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO).
Project reaches key milestones
The ambitious pipeline has already cleared several important hurdles. Engineers completed detailed design studies in 2024, and teams finished environmental and social impact assessments for the northern section. Similar studies for the southern segment, running from Nigeria to Senegal, are now underway.
The pipeline will carry 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually when complete. Developers plan to build it in phases, with a holding company overseeing financing and construction. Three separate project companies will handle different segments of the route.
In December 2024, West African leaders approved the Intergovernmental Agreement during the 66th CEDEAO Summit, spelling out each country’s rights and responsibilities for the project.
New partnership agreement signed
During the Rabat meetings, officials signed a new memorandum of understanding between three key players, namely Nigeria’s National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Morocco’s ONHYM, and Togo’s National Gas Company (SOTOGAZ).
The agreement marks Togo’s official entry into the project and completes the series of partnerships with all countries along the pipeline route.
Connecting Africa to Europe
The pipeline will start in Nigeria and run along the Atlantic coast through Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, and Mauritania before reaching Morocco. From there, it will connect to the existing Maghreb-Europe Pipeline and European gas networks.
The project will also supply gas to three landlocked countries, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
Royal vision for African integration
King Mohammed VI and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched this strategic initiative together. The Moroccan monarch said he sees the pipeline as a way to boost African development, improve living conditions across the region, and strengthen economic ties between African nations.
Officials believe the project will give Africa greater economic, political, and strategic influence while serving as a major driver of regional integration.
The pipeline aligns with Morocco’s broader Atlantic Initiative, which aims to increase cooperation between Atlantic-facing African countries.
The project promises significant economic and social benefits for all 13 countries along its route, potentially transforming energy access and economic opportunities across West Africa.
