An ambitious gas pipeline project is about to see the light of day in West Africa. This project, called the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP)formerly called the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, will connect the Nigeria au Moroccocrossing sixteen countries, including members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Mauritania, Morocco, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
This is a major initiative that will allow to exploit the region’s vast natural gas reserves, foster economic and energy development and strengthen regional cooperation in the energy sector. The AAGP construction project is progressing with the imminent approval of cooperation agreements. West African leaders are expected to sign the final cooperation agreement next December in Abuja at the next ECOWAS summit, marking a decisive step.
This gas pipeline, 6,800 kilometers long, with a total cost estimated at more than $26 billion, will be built in three phases. The first will extend the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) to Ivory Coast and Morocco, the second will connect the production areas of southern Nigeria to Takoradi to Ghana and the third will connect San Pedro to Kayar, in northern Morocco. It will transport gas to Europe, via Morocco, and will also serve landlocked countries in West Africa. The commissioning of the gas pipeline is planned for 2029, once all stages are completed. This project could significantly reduce the costs of exporting gas from West Africa to Europe and offer a more competitive alternative to liquefied natural gas (LNG). The significant gas reserves discovered in Nigeriain Mauritaniaau Senegal and in other countries in the region guarantee the viability of this project in the long term.
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