Amina Benkhadra, head of Morocco’s national office of hydrocarbons and mines (ONHYM), says an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) on the planned $25 billion Nigeria–Morocco gas pipeline will be signed this year, setting the stage for a transformative energy project across West Africa.
In a report by Reuters on Monday, Benkhadra said that following the agreement, a dedicated pipeline authority will be established in Nigeria to coordinate implementation.
She disclosed that ONHYM and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) will form a joint venture project company based in Morocco to lead the execution, financing, and construction phases of the ambitious pipeline.
Benkhadra noted that the project—also known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP)—will span about 6,900 kilometres in a hybrid offshore-onshore route, with a maximum capacity of 30 billion cubic metres (bcm), including 15 bcm allocated to Morocco and exports to Europe.
She said the pipeline is expected to deepen economic integration across West Africa by boosting electricity generation and unlocking industrial and mining development opportunities across participating countries.
According to the report, the project has the backing of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with feasibility studies and front-end engineering design (FEED) already completed.
Benkhadra added that the pipeline would position Morocco as a strategic energy bridge between Africa and Europe, with initial segments linking gas fields in Mauritania and Senegal, and extending to connect Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire further south.
She explained that the final segment will link Ghana to Nigeria’s gas reserves, with first gas from the early phases expected by 2031.
“The project does not rely on a single global final investment decision,” Benkhadra said.
She explained that each segment is designed “to be developed as a standalone system” to enable early value creation.
Benkhadra also revealed that the project company will mobilise a mix of equity and debt to fund the development, noting that no final funding commitments have been secured yet.
“The project is attracting strong interest due to its scale, its phased structure, and its strategic positioning,” she added.
The pipeline builds on earlier agreements, including a memorandum of understanding signed in October 2022 by NNPC, Morocco, Senegal, and Mauritania.
