A Memorandum of Understanding was recently signed on investment cooperation in the Africa-Atlantic gas pipeline project. The MoU was signed between Morocco and the UAE when King Mohammed VI visited the Gulf Arab state.
As per the MoU, UAE will contribute both financially and technically to the realization of the Africa-Atlantic gas pipeline project.
The length of the Africa-Atlantic gas pipeline
Also known as the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline, the Africa-Atlantic gas pipeline is 5,600 kilometres long.
It traverses a total of 13 countries along the Atlantic coast. These countries are Nigeria, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The others are Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco.
Upon completion, the Africa-Atlantic gas pipeline project will channel more than 5,000 billion cubic meters of Nigeria’s natural gas to Morocco. Ultimately the project will deliver gas to Europe via the Maghreb Europe Gas Pipeline (GME) and the European gas network.
Start of construction of the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline
Plans for the implementation of the Africa-Atlantic gas pipeline project began back in 2016. Between then and now (Dec 2023) many meetings have been held and MoUs signed.
Currently, economic and technical studies are being conducted on the project. The studies are expected to be concluded by early 2024. Reportedly, the participating governments could decide to start the implementation of the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline in the same year.
Benefits of the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline
The 25-billion-dollar pipeline will be “a strategic project that benefits all of West Africa” according to King Mohammed VI. The latter made the remarks in his speech to mark the 47th anniversary of the Green March.
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The project will not only provide energy security in West and North Africa but also boost the region’s economic integration.
“The Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline is a project for peace, for African economic integration and co-development. It is a project for the present and the future generations,” reiterated King Mohammed VI.
