• Nigeria and Morocco plan to sign a $25 billion gas pipeline agreement in 2026
• The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline will span 6,900km across offshore and onshore routes
• The project capacity is estimated at 30 billion cubic metres of gas annually and 13 West African countries will be connected through the pipeline

Nigeria and Morocco are set to sign a landmark intergovernmental agreement this year for the $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, a move expected to accelerate one of Africa’s most ambitious energy infrastructure initiatives.

The disclosure was made by Amina Benkhadra, Director-General of Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines, in a report published by Reuters on Monday, April 13.

Popularly known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, the project will stretch approximately 6,900 kilometres, combining offshore and onshore routes.

It is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas annually, with portions allocated for Morocco’s domestic use and exports to Europe.

In an email to Reuters, Benkhadra explained that the forthcoming agreement would enhance collaboration among participating nations and ensure smoother project execution.

“Following the intergovernmental agreement, a high authority for the pipeline will be established in Nigeria, bringing together ministerial representatives from each of the 13 participating countries to provide political and regulatory coordination,” she said.

She further highlighted the strategic importance of the pipeline in linking African gas resources to European markets.

“The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline will run along a hybrid offshore-onshore route covering approximately 6,900 kilometres. It will not only supply Morocco but also support exports to Europe, positioning Morocco as a key energy bridge between Africa and Europe,” she said.

Benkhadra added that the project would be implemented in phases, allowing different sections to progress independently and generate early economic benefits instead of waiting for a single final investment decision.

The pipeline, backed by the Economic Community of West African States, will connect 13 countries along the West African coastline, making it one of the continent’s largest cross-border energy ventures.

To drive execution, a dedicated project company will be created as a joint venture between Morocco’s hydrocarbons agency and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, overseeing financing, construction, and delivery.

Beyond energy supply, the project is expected to boost electricity generation, support industrialisation, and strengthen economic integration across West Africa, while positioning the region as a major gas supplier to global markets.

The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline has undergone years of planning and negotiations.

Initial memoranda of understanding were signed in 2016 and 2018, with broader regional involvement gaining momentum in 2022.

In June 2022, Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council approved NNPC to partner with ECOWAS on the project, aimed at transporting gas from West Africa through Morocco to Spain and the wider European market.

By December 2022, NNPC had signed additional agreements with five more African countries, further expanding the project’s scope.

In March 2024, former NNPC Group CEO Mele Kyari revealed that a Final Investment Decision (FID) was expected by December 2024.

Despite these milestones, progress has been slowed by financing hurdles and coordination challenges across multiple countries, making the planned agreement a critical step toward full implementation.

The renewed momentum also aligns with Nigeria’s push to strengthen domestic gas infrastructure, including the $2.8 billion AKK pipeline, which is expected to begin supplying gas to Abuja by July.

FG, Morocco, ECOWAS drive $26bn African gas pipeline initiative

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Morocco, and Mauritania, reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) project, a transformative initiative estimated to cost $26 billion.

The AAGP will merge two significant pipeline projects: the $975 million West African Gas Pipeline Extension, which will extend 678 kilometres, and the 5,669-kilometer Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, projected to cost around $25 billion.