By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
THE BUDGET for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, a landmark infrastructure project linking Nigeria to Morocco, has surged beyond $25 billion, according to Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition, Leila Benali.
She said the transcontinental pipeline is set to deliver gas to around 400 million people across 13 African countries, aiming to transform regional access to energy while bolstering socio-economic development.
Spanning 6,000 kilometres, the Moroccan minister noted that the project will connect Nigeria’s energy resources to Morocco, traversing multiple West African nations in its route northward.
Benali, speaking before the House of Councillors, confirmed that the pipeline will significantly support economic, industrial and digital advancement across the region.
In addition to job creation, she said the project is expected to consolidate Morocco’s strategic role as a nexus between Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic basin.
The gas infrastructure will also carry an estimated annual capacity of between 15 and 30 billion cubic metres. Participating nations along the route include Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, the Gambia, Senegal, and Mauritania.
Planning for the pipeline began following King Mohammed VI’s official visit to Nigeria in December 2016. Since then, technical studies and intergovernmental discussions have advanced steadily.
Benali confirmed that efforts are underway to finalise the partnership framework between the Moroccan and Nigerian sides.
A final investment decision is anticipated by the end of 2025, paving the way for implementation of what is poised to be one of the largest energy infrastructure projects on the continent.
