The Chinese steel giant, Jingye Group, is embarking on a major strategic project linking Nigeria, Morocco and Europe through a gas pipeline whose cost is estimated at $26 billion. This ambitious infrastructure, planned to transform the energy and economic dynamics of West Africa, promises to strengthen regional energy connections while paving the way for sustainable economic development.
According to media reports, Jingye Group, which specializes in steel production, will play a key role in this project by providing high-quality steel products. Zhang Yuanyuan, vice president of the group’s international marketing division, said the company’s goal is to deliver top-notch metallurgical materials for this large-scale project. This commitment is based on Jingye’s industrial expertise, reinforced by the capabilities of its British subsidiary, Jingye British Steel, which it acquired in 2020.
This company, already involved in prestigious projects such as the Beijing Daxing airport and the Crossrail project in the United Kingdom, uses its experience to respond to the technical challenges of the construction of the gas pipeline, by offering adapted and innovative solutions. Through this project, Jingye demonstrates its ability to manage global projects, combining cutting-edge technology and industrial expertise.
The financing of this gigantic infrastructure benefits from broad support from several international financial institutions, notably the Islamic Development Bank and the OPEC Fund, whose investments will aim to improve access to energy for countries located along the African Atlantic coast. This project also promises to expand energy interconnections between Africa and Europe, a strategic issue for both continents.
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Tenders for the construction of the Moroccan sections of the gas pipeline are expected in 2025. The first phase of the project, covering Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal, could boost the regional economy by attracting massive investments and promoting the creation sustainable infrastructure for the countries concerned. This gas pipeline could thus become a lever for growth, propelling the region into a new era of energy exchanges and economic development.
Jingye Group, headquartered in China’s Hebei province, produces 15 million tons of steel each year and exports to more than 80 countries. Alongside this gas pipeline project, the company is involved in projects of international scope, such as the Brunei transoceanic bridge and the Shijiazhuang metro line. Since the acquisition of British Steel, Jingye has invested significantly in modernizing its infrastructure, while consolidating its international presence.
-With a global turnover of $13 billion and more than 23,500 employees, Jingye is positioned as a key player in the steel industry, a sector in search of greener solutions. The company focuses on sustainable technological innovation in order to establish itself as the world leader in an environmentally friendly steel industry.
Europe waiting
Although this project is also of interest to the European Union, particularly as a potential client, the EU seems hesitant to fully commit. European steel companies have failed to compete with Chinese competition, and the Union has failed to secure a strategic place in the project, either through direct investment or through greater cooperation. On the contrary, it seems to be waiting to see if African countries will be able to carry out such a large-scale project.
China, for its part, quickly recognized the strategic importance of this project and is sending its companies to actively participate in the investment, thus consolidating its economic and strategic influence in the region. The Chinese position is distinguished by its proactive approach, guaranteeing both economic benefits and growing political influence on the African continent.
Thus, the Nigeria-Morocco-Europe gas pipeline project, supported by Jingye Group, stands out as a major project for the energy and economic future of Africa, while affirming the central role of China in the development of global infrastructure.
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