Significant Step Towards Energy Cooperation in West Africa
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has officially approved the construction of the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline during its 69th summit of Heads of State and Government, which took place on July 19, 2026, in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This decision marks a crucial milestone in the realization of a project that was first proposed by King Mohammed VI of Morocco during a visit to Nigeria in 2016.
Once completed, this ambitious infrastructure project will stretch approximately 6,800 kilometers, traversing several West African countries along the Atlantic coastline and reaching Mauritania before finally connecting to Morocco. The Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline is expected to have a substantial transportation capacity, capable of moving around 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. Half of this volume is designated for the Moroccan and European markets, while the remaining 15 billion cubic meters will supply the other nations along the pipeline's route.
Investment and Future Developments
The estimated cost of developing this extensive pipeline is around $25 billion. The project will be jointly overseen by Morocco's National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.). Following ECOWAS's approval, a dedicated Nigeria-Morocco pipeline company will be established, with its headquarters in Casablanca, Morocco. Additionally, plans are in place to construct the headquarters of the Pipeline Higher Authority in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, ensuring effective governance and oversight of the pipeline's operations.
As reported by aa.com.tr.
