Morocco and Nigeria are set to sign an intergovernmental agreement this year for a planned US$25 billion gas pipeline linking West Africa to Europe, officials said.
The project, known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, aims to transport Nigerian gas along the Atlantic coast to Morocco, where it could be exported onward to European markets.
Amina Benkhadra, head of Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines, said the agreement would mark a key milestone in advancing the long-delayed project.
She said a high-level committee would be established following the signing, bringing together ministerial representatives from participating countries to coordinate political and regulatory aspects of the initiative.
The pipeline is expected to span around 6,900 kilometres and cross 13 countries along West Africa’s Atlantic seaboard, potentially benefiting more than 340 million people.
Participating countries include Mauritania, Senegal, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin, among others.
The initial phases will involve connecting gas fields in Mauritania and Senegal to Morocco, as well as linking regional markets across West Africa before extending to Nigeria’s vast gas reserves.
Morocco is expected to host more than 1,600 kilometres of the pipeline infrastructure.
Authorities say the project is designed not only to supply gas to participating countries but also to strengthen regional integration and energy security.
It is also part of Morocco’s broader strategy to position itself as an energy hub linking Africa and Europe.
To manage the project, a joint venture company will be established between Morocco’s hydrocarbons agency and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company.
The entity will oversee financing, construction and implementation, including structuring funding through a mix of equity and debt.
Benkhadra said funding commitments have yet to be finalised, but noted that the project has attracted strong interest from potential investors given its scale and strategic importance.
The pipeline comes at a time of heightened global energy uncertainty, as conflicts and supply disruptions continue to affect markets.
Officials say the project could help diversify energy supply routes and reduce reliance on traditional sources, particularly for European consumers seeking alternatives.
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has previously described the pipeline as a major driver of African economic integration, emphasising its long-term development potential.
“This is a project for African economic integration and co-development,” he said in earlier remarks.
Analysts say the initiative could significantly reshape energy dynamics in West Africa by improving access to natural gas and supporting industrial development.
At the same time, they caution that large-scale infrastructure projects of this nature face significant challenges, including financing, coordination among multiple countries and regulatory alignment.
If completed, the pipeline would be one of the longest offshore and onshore gas pipelines in the world, underscoring its ambition and complexity.
For now, the planned agreement between Morocco and Nigeria represents a critical step toward turning a long-envisioned regional energy corridor into reality.
