Morocco and Nigeria to Sign Key Agreement on Massive Gas Pipeline Project

Amina Benkhadra, Director General of the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) of Morocco, announced on Saturday the upcoming signing of a multilateral agreement for the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project. This agreement "should be initialed before the end of the current year," said the official, on the sidelines of the University of Young People of the National Rally of Independents (RNI) in Agadir.

This document will set the rules for the management, governance and operation of the pipeline, Benkhadra specified, stressing that the objective is to frame the technical and regulatory aspects of the gas pipeline. ONHYM and its partner, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), are continuing negotiations with Togo with a view to signing a memorandum of understanding as part of the implementation of this project, she added.

Memoranda of understanding have already been signed with all the other countries crossed by this transatlantic gas pipeline of 6,500 km. The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project is progressing. Six months ago, the two countries launched feasibility studies, including topographic ones. These studies are ongoing. The issue of financing this project will also be addressed next December, we learn.