Senegal's Ambitious Gas Pipeline Initiative
A government-backed initiative has unveiled plans for a strategic gas pipeline in Africa, aimed at fulfilling both local and export demands. According to details accessed by the energy-focused platform, Attaqa, Senegal's state gas company is expanding its infrastructure with a network of pipelines stretching nearly 400 kilometers, which will connect offshore gas fields to local power generation stations and international markets. This expansion has gained significant momentum following the commencement of production at the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim liquefied natural gas project, slated for 2025. Upon full operational status, the pipeline system is set to lower local electricity costs, lessen reliance on fuel imports, and supply industrial centers with necessary energy resources.
This project holds particular significance for Morocco, as it forms part of the broader Atlantic gas pipeline initiative, commonly referred to as the Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline. The CEO of the Senegalese Gas Network, Pape Momar Lou, provided a comprehensive overview of the multi-phase gas pipeline project ahead of his address at the African Energy Forum, part of a series of conferences held in Houston.
Key Features of the Gas Pipeline
The integrated national network is segmented into five strategically color-coded sectors. The first sector has already entered the market allocation phase, and officials anticipate launching the remaining four phases later this year (2026). Details of the pipeline sectors include:
- North Sector: An 85-kilometer pipeline transporting 300 million standard cubic feet per day, with an estimated cost of €275 million ($320 million).
- Green Sector: A 110-kilometer connection with a capacity of 300 million standard cubic feet per day, estimated to cost €183 million ($213 million).
- Blue Sector: A 100-kilometer pipeline, notable for having the highest capacity in the network at 713 million standard cubic feet per day, with a projected cost of €214 million ($249 million).
- Orange Sector: A 45-kilometer pipeline transmitting 300 million standard cubic feet per day, with an investment of €153 million ($178 million).
- Red Sector: A 17-kilometer branch carrying 150 million standard cubic feet per day, with an expected investment of €150 million ($175 million).
To finance this monumental project, the government utility company is adopting a hybrid funding model that combines public funds with private sector investments, as reported by Pipeline Journal. Company officials have indicated that they aim to secure steady and guaranteed revenue streams through long-term agreements with national utility companies and industrial consumers. These developments are poised to significantly enhance the local energy sector, following several months after the Senegalese Sovereign Wealth Fund (FONSIS) commenced its capital-raising process to launch a vital gas pipeline network in the country.
Moreover, the Senegalese gas pipeline carries substantial regional implications, designed to connect directly with the Atlantic gas pipeline (Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline) currently under consideration. This linkage will enable Senegal to export gas surpluses to global energy markets while diversifying regional supply routes. According to details reviewed by the energy platform, the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) represents a strategic transnational project designed to transport 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually, across multiple phases with costs potentially reaching $25 billion. The pipeline will stretch between Nigeria and Morocco, spearheaded by the Moroccan National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, traversing 13 countries along the West African coast.
The gas pipeline will commence in Nigeria, passing through Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and ultimately reaching Morocco, where it will connect with the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline, facilitating gas exports to the European market. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the signing of an international government agreement with Morocco in the last quarter of 2026 to launch the gas pipeline between the two nations, according to Reuters. Amine Benkhadra, head of the Moroccan National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines, stated that the project will span 6,900 kilometers via a hybrid marine-terrestrial route, with a maximum capacity of 30 billion cubic meters, of which 15 billion cubic meters is earmarked for Morocco and to support exports to Europe.
As reported by attaqa.net.
