Latest news with #Nigeria-MoroccoGasPipeline
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline: ECOWAS Poised to Give Final Approval
Marrakech – The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project awaits its final institutional step as ECOWAS heads of state prepare to give their official approval. This strategic 6,900-kilometer pipeline aims to strengthen energy security across West Africa while fostering industrial and social development in the region. Amina Benkhadra, Director General of Morocco's National Office of Hydrocarbures and Mines (ONHYM), announced the project's advancement during the 17th US-Africa Business Summit in Luanda, which concluded yesterday. 'The Intergovernmental Agreement has been endorsed by energy ministers of the concerned countries and approved by ECOWAS,' Benkhadra stated. 'The official signature by the heads of state will constitute the final institutional milestone before implementation begins.' The project, co-led by ONHYM and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), has already achieved several key technical, environmental, and institutional benchmarks. Implementation will proceed gradually, adapted to regional specificities. Also known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, it will benefit 13 coastal countries and 3 landlocked countries, helping to structure a regional electricity market. Morocco views this initiative as part of its broader energy strategy aimed at ensuring national energy security while expanding access to natural gas across the continent. 'Access to natural gas, a clean and available resource, must be expanded across the continent to support its development,' Benkhadra noted during a high-level session titled 'Unleashing Africa's Gas Potential: Pathways to Sustainable Growth and Energy Security.' She stressed Morocco's position as a bridge between continents and a regional stability actor. 'Morocco, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, is working to play a driving role in African development by leveraging its geostrategic position at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and America,' Benkhadra added. The director general pointed out Morocco's unique status as the only African country with a free trade agreement with the United States, positioning it as a convergence platform between Africa and major global economies. Morocco was represented at the summit by a strong multisectoral delegation led by Karim Zidane, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government for Investment, Convergence, and Evaluation of Public Policies. The delegation included leaders from key public and private sector organizations, including AMDIE, ONHYM, ONCF, CGEM, MEDZ, MARSA Maroc, and representatives from Moroccan banks. During the summit, Zidane held bilateral meetings with several counterparts, including José de Lima Massano, Angola's Minister of State for Economic Coordination, Rui Miguêns de Oliveira, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Isaac Francisco Maria dos Anjos, Minister of Agriculture and Forests of Angola, and Mohamed Chimi, Egyptian Minister of Public Business Sector. These discussions confirmed a shared desire to strengthen dynamic partnerships in strategic sectors, including investment, industry, agriculture, and trade. The summit, themed 'Pathways to Prosperity: A Shared Vision for US-Africa Partnership,' gathered over 1,500 participants, including heads of state and high-level government officials, serving as a major platform for economic dialogue between the US and African countries. Notably, the US and Angola refused to allow the Polisario Front's self-styled 'SADR' to participate, marking another diplomatic setback for the Algiers regime. This decision reinforces Morocco's legitimate rights over its Sahara, with over 90% of African nations now supporting the North African country's position. The ONHYM delegation also held exchanges with several partners, including the Angolan sovereign wealth fund. Read also: Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Tops President Tinubu's Priorities
Ya Biladi
22-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
US eyes investment In Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline
The United States has shown strong interest in the gas pipeline project linking Morocco to Nigeria, according to media reports from Abuja. The Trump administration is showing «interest in investing in the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) project», said Nigeria's Minister of Finance and Economy, Wale Edun, during a press conference. This week, the minister visited Washington to attend the 2025 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. His Moroccan counterpart, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, also participated in the gatherings. The project enjoys the backing of Nigeria's federal government, in contrast to the difficulties faced by the Nigeria-Niger-Algeria pipeline, which has been hampered by crises in the Sahel and strained relations between Abuja and Niamey, and more recently between Niamey and Algiers. As a reminder, Amina Benkhadra, Director General of the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM), presented the significant progress of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) on March 6 in Washington. Her presentation took place during an event organized by an American think tank on the sidelines of the «Powering Africa Summit», which focused on energy partnerships between the United States and Africa.
Morocco World
13-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline: Feasibility Study, Route Finalized
Rabat – The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project has made significant progress, with key agreements signed, feasibility and engineering studies completed. Plans are also underway to create a special-purpose company and make the final investment decision by the end of 2025. Morocco's Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, shared the latest developments on the project during a session in the Council of Advisors, the upper house of Morocco's parliament. Speaking at the oral questions session, Benali revealed that the latest ministerial meeting concerning the project had resulted in the approval of an agreement between the participating countries, along with the Host Country Agreement. These agreements mark a significant step forward in the project, which aims to connect Nigeria's vast natural gas reserves to Morocco, and further extend to Europe. The minister explained that the project will proceed in phases, noting that the feasibility study and initial engineering studies have been completed, along with determining the optimal route for the pipeline. The focus currently is on creating a special-purpose company between Morocco and Nigeria to oversee the implementation of the project. This company will be responsible for the final investment decision, which is expected to be made by the end of this year. Read also: UAE To Invest in Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline Project The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project, which is estimated to cost approximately $25 billion, represents a major driver for economic, industrial, and digital development, Benali says. It is also expected to create thousands of job opportunities and serve as a key factor in transforming Morocco into a primary energy transit hub linking Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic basin. One of the key components of this project is the creation of a national gas infrastructure. The Moroccan government launched a call for interest in April 2025 to develop infrastructure that will connect the northern regions of Morocco, including the port of Nador, to cities such as Kenitra, Mohammedia, and eventually to Dakhla. This expansion will help integrate the national network with the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline. The pipeline itself will span approximately 6,000 kilometers, passing through several African countries, with an annual capacity of 15 to 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas. It is expected to provide access to energy for about 400 million people across 13 countries, dramatically improving energy access in the region. Tags: gas projectMorocco Nigeria
Morocco World
28-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
US Interested in Investing in Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline
Rabat – The US is interested in investing in the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project, Voice of Naija reported on Sunday. Quoting Nigeria's Minister of Finance Wale Edun, the news outlet said the Nigerian official announced the news on Saturday, where he outlined his ministry's engagement during the 2025 Spring Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank. The Nigerian official announced that he held a meeting with Nigeria's Central Bank Governor Olayemi Gardoso and the director of international economic relations, as well as with representatives from the US State Department. 'Key areas of interest include U.S. interest in investments in Nigeria's natural gas sector, particularly the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, given the country's vast gas reserves,' the minister said . The much-anticipated project was first initiated by King Mohammed VI and former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016, with the goal to promote regional integration in the West African region, reinforcing African energy security. Both countries have expressed determination to continue boosting cooperation, including through the gas pipeline project, which will span over 13 countries along the Atlantic coast, with the ambition of benefiting over 34 million inhabitants. Morocco is set to be home to 1,672 kilometers of the pipeline, which will connect the Nigerian gas to Europe and to other destinations, including Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. King Mohammed VI has constantly emphasized the importance of the project, within which investors seek to contribute by putting a budget of $25 billion. 'This is a project for peace for African economic integration and for co-development: A project for the present and for the future generations,' the King said, noting that the project's goal is in a bid to support accelerating socio-economic development across the continent. The US' interest in the project comes as the country continues to express determination to further boost cooperation with Morocco. On April 8, the US reaffirmed this determination when Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita was on a visit to Washington, where he met senior officials from the White House, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Notably, Morocco is the only African country with a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US. A source told Morocco World News (MWN) earlier this month that since the FTA came into force in 2006, trade exchanges have 'shown a fluctuating yet upward trend.' Trade between the two countries has increased sixfold, reaching $7.2 billion in 2023 compared to $1.3 billion in 2006. US goods to Morocco reached $5.3 billion in value in 2024, representing a 37.3% rise from the previous year. This makes Morocco the 64th largest export market for US goods. US imports from Morocco reached 1.9 billion, with a 12.3% increase from 2023. Tags: Algeria-Morocco gas pipelinegas pipeline
Business Insider
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
U.S. considers investment in Africa's most ambitious gas pipeline project
The United States has expressed interest in investing in Africa's most ambitious gas pipeline project, which aims to connect Nigeria to Morocco. The United States is interested in investing in the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, aiming to connect Nigeria to Morocco Interest in the project was revealed during bilateral engagements at the 2025 Spring Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C. The pipeline project spans 5,660 kilometers and aims to connect West Africa to Europe via Morocco, with a total estimated cost of $25 billion The United State's interest in the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project was revealed by Nigeria's Finance Minister, Wale Edun, who highlighted the potential for U.S. involvement in the initiative. According to The Cable, Minister Edun disclosed this in a statement outlining the outcomes of the ministry's bilateral engagements at the recently concluded 2025 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C. Minister Edun emphasized that during a high-level meeting with Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso and representatives from the U.S. State Department, the U.S. highlighted the importance of showcasing Nigeria's economic reforms to attract investor confidence. 'Key areas of interest includes U.S. interest in investments in Nigeria's natural gas sector particularly the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline given the country's vast gas reserves, ' he noted. The Nigeria-Morroco gas pipeline project The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, one of Africa's most ambitious infrastructure initiatives, spans 5,660 kilometers and aims to connect West Africa to Europe via Morocco. Launched in December 2016 during King Mohammed VI's visit to Nigeria, this $25 billion project will link Nigeria to Morocco through 13 countries. Expected to enhance energy security for both coastal nations and the Alliance of Sahel States (ESA), the pipeline will become the world's longest offshore gas pipeline. In 2022, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) and Morocco's ONHYM signed an agreement to begin construction, with contributions from ECOWAS, SMH of Tanzania, and Petrosen of Senegal, aiming to increase gas supply to Europe. Rival powers target Africa The rivalry between the U.S. and China over Africa's development is intensifying as both nations vie for involvement in critical projects across the continent. From mining to infrastructure, both countries have steadily expanded their influence over the years, seeking investments that align with their national interests. Earlier this year, the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project gained significant strategic backing from Jingye Group, a prominent Chinese steel producer. Through its UK subsidiary, Jingye British Steel, the company plans to supply high-quality steel products essential for the pipeline's construction.
