The ambitious Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project is now awaiting the final institutional approval from ECOWAS heads of state before its official launch.
This announcement was made by Amina Benkhadra, Director General of Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM), on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the 17th US-Africa Business Summit in Luanda.
This strategic pipeline, spanning 6,900 kilometers, is designed to bolster energy security for 16 West African nations while simultaneously fostering their industrial and social development. Jointly spearheaded by ONHYM and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), the mega-project aligns with a broader regional energy transition and aims to establish an integrated West African electricity market.
Benkhadra confirmed that the Intergovernmental Agreement has already received ratification from the energy ministers of the involved countries and has been approved by ECOWAS. She emphasized that the project’s implementation will be gradual and tailored to local conditions. Benkhadra also highlighted Morocco’s pivotal role as a platform for continental integration, leveraging its geostrategic location and its unique free trade agreement with the United States—the only one in Africa. Through this initiative, Morocco intends to facilitate access to natural gas, recognized as a crucial transitional energy source, across the continent.
Morocco’s presence at the summit, Benkhadra noted, underscores the country’s dedication to forging strategic, inclusive, and sustainable partnerships, particularly within the energy sector. During the event, the ONHYM delegation engaged with various international partners, including Angola’s sovereign wealth fund.
The Moroccan delegation in Luanda was multi-sectoral, led by the Minister Delegate for Investment, Karim Zidane, and included representatives from ONHYM, AMDIE, ONCF, CGEM, MARSA Maroc, MEDZ, and several Moroccan banks. The summit, themed “Pathways to Prosperity: A Shared Vision for U.S.-Africa Partnership,” served as a significant platform for strengthening economic relations between Africa and the United States.
MK/te/fss/abj/APA