The United Arab Emirates has agreed to contribute to a massive $25 billion gas pipeline project connecting Nigeria to Morocco and eventually reaching Europe. Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, announced that the UAE is now one of the project’s supporters.
“We have won the support of IDB, OPEC Fund, EIB, and the UAE,” Benali told lawmakers. She added that Morocco has completed all necessary feasibility and engineering studies for the pipeline, known as the “African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline.”
The pipeline will span 6,800 km, including 5,100 km offshore, making it the longest offshore gas pipeline in the world. It will pass through 15 African countries, boosting trade, development, and access to electricity in the region. According to Moroccan industry experts, the project has already passed the feasibility study and Front End Engineering Design stages.
Project Phases and Benefits
The pipeline’s phases include linking Morocco to gas fields near Senegal and Mauritania, connecting Ghana to the Ivory Coast, and eventually connecting Nigeria to Ghana. Experts believe the pipeline will bring more power to African homes and businesses, encouraging economic partnerships across the region.
With over 400 million people living along its route, the pipeline is seen as a key driver of regional integration, industrial growth, and improved infrastructure. Morocco and Nigeria have established a joint venture to manage the project and signed a financing agreement to move it forward. China’s Jingye Steel Group has been awarded the contract to supply pipes for the construction.
Clean Energy Ambitions
Benali also highlighted Morocco’s aim to become a regional leader in clean energy, with high potential to produce green hydrogen and other renewable resources. The project is expected to have a significant impact on the region’s economic development and energy landscape.