At the Africa Energy Forum in New York, held on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, Morocco’s ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, set out the North African country’s vision for Africa’s energy future.
He told participants that Morocco’s “determined and active commitment” reflects the broader vision of King Mohammed VI. Amrani argued that the continent’s energy initiatives must be framed within a spirit of regional integration and solidarity rather than narrow national interests.
Using the Africa-Atlantic gas pipeline as an example, he explained that the Morocco-Nigeria initiative embodies the ambition to “build a more united, stronger, and more integrated Africa.”
“It is not just about transporting gas,” Amrani said. “It is about transmitting energy in the noblest sense – the energy that fuels growth, connects people, and builds bridges between continents.”
For him, the pipeline stands as a symbol of South-South cooperation rooted in trust, solidarity, and shared responsibility. “This is the logic of concrete cooperation through which Africa must affirm its unity and strength,” he argued.
Amrani noted that the pipeline has completed its technical and environmental studies and is now moving into a new stage, with a specialized entity to be created soon to oversee its execution.
He emphasized the project’s geostrategic weight, adding that “Morocco, through its position and commitment, is asserting itself as a natural gateway to the Atlantic.”
Amrani described Morocco as a forward-looking energy corridor linking Africa and Europe. “With its structural projects, Morocco is positioning itself as an advanced energy corridor between Africa and Europe,” he said, portraying this as a trajectory that fuses political vision, innovation, and cooperation.
This, he noted, illustrates Morocco’s capacity to build an integrated and prosperous Africa, one that looks confidently toward the future.
Looking more broadly at Africa’s energy prospects, Amrani said the continent’s future hinges on its ability to turn natural resources into a true engine of inclusive development.
“When energy is conceived in an inclusive logic, it becomes the foundation of positive change,” he remarked. “It drives industry, stimulates innovation, creates jobs, and above all, transforms the lives of millions of Africans.”
MWN with MAP
