Nigeria Morocco gas pipeline agreement expected this year as both nations advance $25bn project to boost energy trade and regional integration

Nigeria and Morocco are set to advance negotiations on the $25bn African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project with plans to sign an intergovernmental agreement before the end of the year, marking a significant milestone in one of Africa’s most ambitious energy infrastructure developments.

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The agreement is expected to formalise political and regulatory commitments for the 6,900 kilometre transcontinental project designed to transport natural gas from Nigeria through West Africa to Morocco and onward to Europe.

According to a report by Reuters, the Director General of Morocco’s hydrocarbons and mining agency, Amina Benkhadra, confirmed that the agreement would establish a stronger institutional framework for coordination among the 13 participating countries.

Benkhadra said the signing would lead to the creation of a high-level authority in Nigeria comprising ministerial representatives from all member states to oversee political and regulatory alignment.

She explained that the project, which has undergone feasibility studies and engineering design phases, is now entering a more structured implementation stage despite global financing challenges.

The Nigeria Morocco gas pipeline agreement is designed to be executed in phases, allowing individual segments to become operational before full completion of the entire system.

Benkhadra noted that the pipeline will have a capacity of up to 30 billion cubic metres annually, with half of the output allocated for Morocco’s domestic consumption and export to European markets.

She described the project as a hybrid offshore and onshore infrastructure network that will position Morocco as a strategic energy bridge between Africa and Europe.

A joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Morocco’s ONHYM is expected to lead the creation of a dedicated project company responsible for financing, construction and execution.

Benkhadra added that investor interest remains strong, although final funding commitments are still pending, with financing expected through a mix of equity and debt.

The Nigeria Morocco gas pipeline agreement is widely viewed as a transformative initiative that could reshape West Africa’s energy landscape by boosting electricity generation, industrial development and regional integration.

Early phases of the project are expected to link Nigeria’s gas fields with neighbouring West African countries, including Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Mauritania, before extending northward to Morocco.

The first gas flow from initial segments is projected for 2031, according to project timelines outlined by officials.

The initiative, backed by ECOWAS, is seen as a strategic alternative export route for Nigeria’s vast gas reserves and a key pillar in Europe’s efforts to diversify energy supply sources.

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If completed, the Nigeria Morocco gas pipeline agreement could significantly enhance energy security, deepen regional cooperation and strengthen Africa’s position in the global energy market.