Morocco has officially announced the definitive route for the ambitious Africa-Atlantic gas pipeline, a strategic infrastructure project spanning approximately 6,000 kilometers that will connect Nigeria to the Moroccan kingdom.
This milestone signifies significant progress for the large-scale project, estimated to cost $25 billion.
Addressing the House of Councilors in Rabat on Tuesday, Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition Leila Benali confirmed the completion of feasibility and initial engineering studies, as well as the validation of the optimal route for the pipeline, which will traverse several West African nations.
Minister Benali specified that the project will be implemented in phases and that a joint venture between Morocco and Nigeria is currently being established to oversee its execution. The final investment decision is anticipated by the end of the current year. She also noted that all participating partner countries had validated the intergovernmental agreements, along with the host country agreements, during the most recent ministerial meeting dedicated to the project.
This megaproject has the capacity to transport between 15 and 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually, potentially benefiting approximately 400 million people across 13 African countries. It aims to bolster the region’s energy security while aligning with Morocco’s strategic vision to position itself as a key energy hub bridging Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic.
Concurrently, Morocco has launched a call for expressions of interest to develop a national natural gas infrastructure network. This domestic network will connect the port of Nador to several major Moroccan cities, including Kenitra, Mohammedia, and Dakhla, ultimately linking it to the future Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline. Presented as a significant catalyst for economic, industrial, and digital development, the project also offers substantial prospects for job creation and enhanced regional integration, particularly within the context of the accelerating global energy transition.
MK/te/Sf/fss/abj/APA