Chinese steel giant, Jingye Group, is set to play a key role in the monumental Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project. This infrastructure, estimated at $26 billion, aims to connect West Africa, Morocco and Europe, and to transform the energy and economic dynamics of the region.
According to Zhang Yuanyuan, deputy director of Jingye’s international marketing department, the group aspires to provide high-quality steel products for this major project, the result of cooperation between Morocco, Nigeria and several international partners. This involvement is based on the group’s industrial expertise and the capabilities of its British subsidiary, Jingye British Steel, acquired in 2020.
Jingye British Steel, already involved in prestigious international projects such as Beijing Daxing Airport and the Crossrail project in the United Kingdom, will provide tailored solutions to the technical challenges of the gas pipeline. This colossal infrastructure is backed by financial institutions such as the Islamic Development Bank and the OPEC Fund, and aims to improve access to natural gas for countries on Africa’s Atlantic coast while strengthening energy connections with the ‘Europe.
The National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) plans to launch calls for tenders in 2025 for the Moroccan sections of the gas pipeline, covering 1,672 kilometers. The first phase of the project, which will include Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal, promises to stimulate regional economic growth, attract investments and support sustainable infrastructure in the countries concerned.
Based in China’s Hebei province, Jingye Group produces 15 million tons of steel annually and exports to more than 80 countries. Among its signature projects are the Brunei Transoceanic Bridge and the Shijiazhuang Metro. Since its acquisition of British Steel, the group has invested massively to modernize its infrastructure and strengthen its international presence.
With a global turnover of 13 billion dollars and more than 23,500 employees, Jingye is positioned as a leading player in a steel industry in search of greener solutions. The company relies on environmentally friendly technological innovations to establish itself as a world leader in sustainable steelmaking.
By getting involved in the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, Jingye Group not only affirms its international ambition, but also contributes to a strategic project for the energy and economic development of Africa and beyond. This partnership demonstrates the convergence of interests between large industrial companies and global impact infrastructure projects.
