Plans have reached an advanced stage as the construction of $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project, expected to link European market will kick-start fully next year.
When completed, gas will be transported through benefitting countries such as Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco.
Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo stated this on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from the Kingdom of Morocco led by its Ambassador to Nigeria, Moha Ou Ali Tagma in Abuja.
Part of their talks was also to strengthen the cooperation and commitment toward finalising the Trans-Atlantic pipeline project, likewise on the development of its fertiliser plant in Nigeria.
Ekpo disclosed that Nigeria is ready and interested in the project.
Recall that four Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed between Nigeria and Morocco about the project in June 2023.
The deal was sealed between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) of Morocco and Société Nationale des Opérations Pétrolières of Cote d’Ivoire (PETROCI), among others.
Ekpo said though the pipeline existing within the corridor is currently 20 inches; that there are plans to increase the size to 46 inches after Togo for larger flow of gas.
“I believe by 2024, we will conclude on it. Your company has been relating with the NNPC Ltd and I have been receiving briefs. We also talked about it during the meeting of West African Gas Pipeline Committee Parties.
“Currently, the world is talking about climate change, and natural gas is the sure way to go with low carbon emission, so we have to be serious about utilisation of gas for prosperity,” he added.
Ekpo noted that since natural gas and its components are used to boost fertiliser industries, that the entire value chain in the upcoming fertiliser plant should be exploited.
The $25 billion Trans-Atlantic project is expected to enhance the monetisation of natural gas resources of benefitting African countries and also offer a new alternative export route to Europe.
Moroccan Envoy, Tagma described the project, which commenced in 2016 as the most important in Africa aimed at exporting gas to Europe, saying that between 2016 and 2023, several meetings were held ahead of the MoUs.
He informed that the economic and technical studies conducted on the project would be concluded early 2024, noting that the participating governments could decide to start its construction in 2024.
“The objective of this project is not to transport gas only but to also offer some opportunities between Nigeria and Morocco for the supply of energy,’’ he said.
Tagma hinted that its OCP Group, (formerly Office Chérifien des Phosphates), which is the biggest exporter of fertiliser in the world had inaugurated plants in Kaduna, Sokoto and Ogun states, and is currently opening another in Akwa Ibom.
He was optimistic that the construction of $1.5 dollars fertiliser plant project in Akwa Ibom would begin in December, a project he believed would spur investments.
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