Regional bloc moves the trans-African energy project closer to construction, with pipeline expected to supply gas across West Africa and into Europe……
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has moved the proposed $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline a step closer to reality after member states signed a landmark intergovernmental agreement supporting the ambitious regional energy project.
The agreement was signed on Sunday in Freetown, Sierra Leone, marking one of the most significant milestones since the cross-border pipeline was first conceived. The development was confirmed in a joint statement issued by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM).
Once completed, the pipeline is expected to transform energy supply across West Africa, strengthen regional energy security, stimulate industrial growth and create a new export route for Nigerian natural gas to European markets.
According to the joint statement, the pipeline will have the capacity to transport 30 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas annually from Nigeria through 13 West African countries before reaching Morocco.
Of that volume, about 15 bcm each year is expected to be delivered to Morocco and onward to Europe through the existing gas pipeline connecting Morocco to Spain.
Stretching approximately 6,900 kilometres, the project will combine offshore and onshore infrastructure, making it one of the longest cross-border gas pipelines in the world.
Project promoters disclosed that both the feasibility study and the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase have now been completed, paving the way for the next stage of implementation.
They added that the next major milestone will be the signing of a separate agreement between Morocco and Mauritania in the presence of Nigeria’s President, further advancing the project’s execution.
Originally conceived nearly a decade ago through discussions between the leaders of Nigeria and Morocco, the pipeline is expected to deepen regional integration by expanding access to natural gas for electricity generation, manufacturing and mining across participating countries.
Nigeria has continued to advance the initiative in recent years. In 2022, the Federal Executive Council approved the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding between the NNPC and ECOWAS to facilitate the project’s development. Later that year, the national oil company signed additional agreements with five African countries to support implementation.
In March 2024, then NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari disclosed that a Final Investment Decision (FID) was expected before the end of that year. However, the project has experienced delays linked to financing, cross-border coordination and the technical complexity of constructing one of the world’s largest offshore pipeline networks.
Despite those challenges, the latest ECOWAS agreement is widely regarded as a breakthrough that brings participating countries closer to securing financing and commencing construction.
Beyond expanding gas exports, the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline is expected to improve electricity supply, support industrialisation, create jobs and strengthen long-term energy security across West Africa, while positioning the region as a more important supplier of natural gas to Europe.
