A landmark intergovernmental agreement for one of the world’s most ambitious energy infrastructure projects is expected to be sealed before the end of the year, signaling a new chapter in Africa’s push to harness its vast natural gas resources.
The agreement centers on the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, a $25 billion project linking Nigeria’s gas fields to Morocco — and ultimately to European markets — through a 6,900-kilometre hybrid offshore-onshore corridor. Amina Benkhadra, director general of Morocco’s hydrocarbons and mining agency ONHYM, confirmed the timeline to reporters, offering the clearest indication yet that the project is transitioning from planning to execution.
First conceived roughly a decade ago and backed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the pipeline has already cleared significant technical hurdles, completing both its feasibility study and front-end engineering design (FEED) stages. With a maximum designed capacity of 30 billion cubic metres (bcm) — including 15 bcm earmarked for Moroccan supply and European exports — the project’s scale places it among the most consequential energy ventures on the continent.
Construction will not follow a single, all-or-nothing investment decision. Benkhadra stressed that the pipeline is deliberately structured in segments, each capable of functioning as a “standalone system” to allow for early value build up. Initial phases would connect Morocco to existing gas fields in Mauritania and Senegal, while a parallel segment links Ghana to neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire. A final stretch would then tie Ghana back to Nigeria’s prolific gas reserves. First gas from the early phases is targeted for 2031.
Once the intergovernmental agreement is signed, a high authority will be established in Nigeria to bring together ministerial representatives from each of the 13 participating countries, providing the political and regulatory framework the project requires. Alongside that body, a dedicated project company will be incorporated in Morocco as a joint venture between ONHYM and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), tasked with overseeing financing, execution, and construction.
On funding, Benkhadra acknowledged that no final commitments have been secured, but said the project company will lead efforts to mobilise a blend of equity and debt financing. Investor appetite, she suggested, is encouraging. “The project is attracting strong interest due to its scale, its phased structure, and its strategic positioning,” she said.
Beyond energy supply, proponents argue the pipeline carries broader economic significance. Benkhadra said it would accelerate electricity generation, stimulate industrial growth, and unlock mining development across West Africa — while cementing Morocco’s role as a critical energy corridor between sub-Saharan Africa and Europe, a position Rabat has been cultivating as European nations diversify away from Russian gas following the disruptions triggered by the war in Ukraine.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah