Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline Set To Deliver First Output By 2031

According to Ireporter Online, the head of Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines, Amina Benkhadra, has announced that an intergovernmental agreement for the proposed $25 billion Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline is expected to be signed before the end of 2026, marking renewed momentum on the ambitious trans-African energy project.

She explained that once the agreement is concluded, a dedicated pipeline authority will be established in Nigeria to oversee coordination of the project. The body, she noted, will include ministerial representatives from 13 participating countries to ensure political oversight and regulatory alignment across the corridor.

The Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline, also known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, is projected to span about 6,900 kilometres, combining offshore and onshore infrastructure. It is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually, with around 15 billion cubic metres expected to supply Morocco and support exports to Europe.

Benkhadra added that the project has already secured backing from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), while key preparatory stages, including the feasibility study and front-end engineering design, have been completed.

She further disclosed that Morocco’s ONHYM and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) will establish a joint venture project company in Morocco to handle financing, construction, and overall execution of the pipeline. The project, she said, is expected to deepen regional integration by supporting electricity generation, accelerating industrialisation, and boosting mining development across participating countries.

The pipeline is also structured in phases, beginning with links connecting Morocco to gas resources in Mauritania and Senegal, followed by extensions involving Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, before ultimately reaching Nigeria’s vast gas reserves. Benkhadra noted that the first gas from the initial phases is projected to flow by 2031.

She explained that the project will not depend on a single final investment decision, as each segment is designed to function independently to allow gradual development and early returns. Funding will be raised through a mix of equity and debt, although no final financing commitments have yet been secured, despite growing investor interest due to the project’s scale and strategic importance.

The development comes as Nigeria also advances discussions on another major energy initiative, the $20 billion Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline, aimed at transporting gas through Niger and Algeria to European markets. Both projects are expected to significantly expand Nigeria’s gas export capacity and strengthen energy ties between Africa and Europe.