The ambitious Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project has marked significant progress in its implementation, with key agreements signed and feasibility and engineering studies completed.

With plans underway to establish a joint special-purpose company between Nigeria and Morocco to handle the implementation of the project, the latest developments move it closer to a final investment decision expected by the end of 2025. 

During a recent session in the Council of Advisors, the upper house of Morocco’s parliament, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, announced that recent ministerial meetings resulted in the approval of an agreement between participating countries and a Host Country Agreement.

This signals a major step forward for the pipeline designed to connect Nigeria's vast natural gas reserves to Morocco and potentially extend to Europe.

The minister stated the project will be executed in phases, adding that the initial feasibility and engineering studies have been completed, and the optimal route for the pipeline has already been determined. 

Estimated at around $25 billion, the pipeline is viewed as a significant catalyst for economic, industrial and digital growth, according to Benali. 

It is anticipated to generate thousands of jobs and position Morocco as a crucial energy transit point linking Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic basin.

Meanwhile, Morocco is working to expand the national gas network and integrate it with the planned Nigeria-Morocco pipeline.

The pipeline is expected to span approximately 6,000 kilometers, traversing several African nations, delivering 15 to 30 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas.

Additionally, the massive pipeline project is projected to provide energy access to about 400 million people across 13 countries, significantly enhancing energy supply in the region. 

Last week, Nigeria officials persuaded Ghana to join the historic pipeline project to boost their energy security and regional economic integration.