Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Advances: FID Targeted for 2024
The $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) project is on the brink of a significant milestone, as the final investment decision (FID) is expected by the end of 2024, announced Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Kyari made this announcement at the CERAWeek energy conference held by S&P Global in Houston, Texas, emphasizing the project's progress beyond the planning stage.
Initiated in 2016, the NMGP is a monumental energy endeavor spanning 5,600 kilometers and cutting through 13 African nations. Once operational, it will serve around 400 million people along the West African coast, ranking as the world's second-longest pipeline, trailing only China's West-East Gas Pipeline.
Recent years have seen significant advancements in the project, with construction scheduled to commence in 2024, as announced by Nigeria's Energy Minister, Ekperikpe Ekpo, in November 2023. Moreover, international support has been crucial, with backing from entities like the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which have provided funding for feasibility and engineering studies.
Experts view the NMGP as a transformative force for Africa's socio-economic landscape, anticipating job creation and increased investment in the region. Additionally, the pipeline aims to meet Europe's gas demands while supplying energy to countries along its route, establishing itself as a continental game-changer.
With the FID nearing, the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project is poised to propel Africa into a new era of energy security and economic growth.