A total of four new Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were recently signed for the cross-border Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project.
The MoU which concerns involvement in the project was signed by the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Guinea, and Benin represented by their respective energy institutions. Ivory coast was represented by the Société Nationale des Opérations Pétrolières of Cote d’Ivoire (PETROCI).
National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) represented Liberia while Guinea was represented by Société Nationale des Pétroles of the Republic of Guinea (SONAP). Lastly, Benin was embodied by Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures of Benin (SNH-Benin).
The signing ceremony venue and attendees
The ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Lagos, Nigeria.
It was attended by ONHYM Director General, Amina Benkhadra and NNPC Limited CEO, Mele Kyari. ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitization, Sediko Douka and Moroccan Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Moha Ou Ali Tagma were also present.
Additionally, the ceremony had representatives from all the participating countries. These countries include Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco are also involved.
Also Read: Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) Project Updates
An affirmation of the participating countries to realise the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project
The new MoUs reportedly serve as a continuation of the MoUs signed by ECOWAS on 15 September 2022. Furthermore, they are a confirmation of the commitment of the participating parties to the realization of the development of the flagship pipeline project.
As it stands, the project is well underway. Reportedly the second phase of the front-end engineering and design (FEED) study is 70 per cent complete. This was revealed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Group CEO Mele Kyari.
On the other hand, the tendering processes for the surveys, environmental and social impact assessment and land acquisition and resettlement policy framework are well on track.
