Feasibility study update for the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline project is progressing and will be finished by September. Engineering firm Penspen based in the UK was hired in March to get it done in six months. Establishing technical and economic viability for this giant of a $13bn–$25bn project is what the study seeks to accomplish. With a stretch of over 4,000 kilometres from Nigeria to Algeria, the pipeline will carry up to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas a year.
Penspen performed the initial study in 2006 and is now looking to update past findings and routing alternatives. The company operates from its UK and Middle East headquarters with some assistance from Sidara brand Dar, which works in Nigeria, Niger, and Algeria. Route analysis, market research, and environmental and social appraisal are also included in construction planning. Moreover, the team is assessing legislative requirements and developing front-end engineering design scope. The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline will transform regional energy transport infrastructure.
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Significance of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project
Trans-Saharan gas pipeline project has enormous strategic importance for Africa and the rest of the world. It aims to provide a safe method of transporting natural gas from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe. This is important in reducing Europe’s dependence on finite energy sources and enhancing global energy security. Furthermore, the project has the capacity to drive industrialization, infrastructure, and employment levels in transit countries. Above all, it consolidates regional cooperation among Nigeria, Niger, and Algeria. Such cooperation is expected to promote political stability as well as investor confidence.
With the growing energy needs of Africa, the pipeline will be critical to meeting regional consumption needs and enabling exports. The feasibility update currently available also ensures that modern standards are applied in building the project. It is composed of very rigorous research on environmental, legislative, and economic considerations. This means there is a clear scope for potential future engineering and designing work. Moreover, successful completion of the study will impact the follow-on project implementation steps and investment planning in the long term.
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