The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project has reached a significant milestone with the commencement of initial topographic studies along the Morocco-Mauritania-Senegal axis. The Moroccan engineering and topography firm Etafat announced the start of these investigations, which are expected to continue until spring 2025. These studies aim to determine the optimal route for this strategic pipeline.
This ambitious project, projected to span 5,600 kilometers, will traverse 13 countries along the West African coast from Lagos to Tangier, before connecting to the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline. It is designed to enhance the energy sovereignty of African nations while providing a new supply route for gas to Europe
The project has also seen the involvement of the Dutch company N-Sea, which specializes in underwater solutions. N-Sea will conduct survey operations to support the development of this pipeline, marking its expansion into West Africa
The total cost of the project is estimated at $25 billion, with an initial investment of $12.5 billion announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) last April. In July, the Moroccan Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) and the NNPC signed a contract with the British consultancy RPS to carry out a study of the weather and oceanographic conditions along the offshore pipeline route
The pipeline is seen as a strategic alternative for Morocco, especially in anticipation of the potential non-renewal of the current agreement for the transit of Algerian gas to Europe. Consequently, this project is crucial not only for West Africa but also for European energy security.
Written by Imane Moumen
