Nigeria Breaks Ground on Massive Gas Pipeline to Morocco, Eyeing European Markets

Ranking among the 10 largest gas producing countries in the world with over 600,000 billion cubic feet, Nigeria has launched what it has called the first phase of its pipeline project targeting the trans-Saharan and European markets.

In a statement to The East African, Nigerian Oil Minister Timipre Sylva said his country has officially broken ground on this ambitious project and that Nigeria hopes to transport natural gas across 11 West African countries to Morocco.

"So, once it reaches Morocco, we can connect to their pipeline system and pipe our gas directly to Europe through pipelines," he detailed, adding that "President Muhammadu Buhari and the King of Morocco are very attached to it and we think we’re going to take it to an advanced stage."

The minister also said that despite the bottlenecks due to the cost of the project, President Buhari wanted to see it succeed. "We have promised the nation that we will extend the critical gas infrastructure to promote the use of gas in the domestic market," he said during the launch ceremony of the AKK gas pipeline.

Estimated to cost between $20 and $25 billion, this is one of Africa’s most ambitious energy projects. A feasibility study was carried out in 2019 and suggests a phased implementation over 25 years.

However, it has faced financing issues with reports that the chosen funder, China, was hesitant about its commitment, the media recalls.