The investment plan is coming to fruition after the project parties have resolved an extended Production Sharing (PSC) contract.
"The pipeline project, which will connect Nigeria to Morocco, is already in FEED Phase II, undergoing Environmental Impact Assessmentand Right of Way Surveys", said NNPCL Group Executive Director (CEO),Mallam Mele Kyari.
The CEO highlighted that further investment is expected as a result of the recently resolved production sharing contract disputes with partners.
According to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources of Nigeria, Timipre Sylva, the start date for construction of the gas pipeline has not yet been defined, as some administrative issues need to be resolved.
Morocco will host 1,672 kilometers of the pipeline, which is expected to benefit more than 400 million people in West Africa.
King Mohammed VI emphasized the importance of the project, describing it as a strategic turning point that will significantly advance the development of the continent.
"I want this to be a strategic project that benefits all of West Africa - a region that is home to more than 440 million people. This is a project for peace, for African economic integration and for co-development: a project for the present and for future generations", he said.
The project was first proposed by King Mohammed VI and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016, but has gained substantial traction recently due to rising energy prices and dwindling European gas supplies amid the war in Ukraine.
The pipeline is expected to help Morocco overcome its persistent energy crisis, with the North African country currently importing 90% of its energy needs.
The 5,600 kilometer long pipeline project will cover 13 countries along the Atlantic coast, and has gained support from many countries, including Nigeria, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Ghana.
The countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines of Morocco (ONHYM) in December 2022, reflecting their determination to support the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project, which aims to improve the energy infrastructure in the region.
