Yemisi Izuora
The $25 billion African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) project, has scored a major milestone after it was announced that the project has reached the land acquisition and resettlement phase
The project anticipated to become a game-changer in the region’s energy landscape, would pass through 13 coastal countries and three landlocked countries in ECOWAS which have been designed to benefit from the gas pipeline
Nigeria’s national oil company, the NNPCL and its counterpart in Morocco, the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) recently announced a significant milestone in the plan to kickstart the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) project.
The update was given at the recently concluded Joint Meeting of the Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and officials from Mauritania and Morocco.
The gathering also provided an opportunity for ministers in charge of hydrocarbons in the concerned countries to review the latest documents from the committee.
According to the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, Sédiko Douka, the meeting enabled members to update each other on the project’s progress, fostering collaboration among member states in driving the project forward.
According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNCPL), the AAGP, also known as the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project, has reached the land acquisition and resettlement phase.
The project has reached the land acquisition and resettlement phase marks a crucial step forward for the $25 billion project which is poised to become a game-changer in the region’s energy landscape.
The Group Chief Executive of NNPCL, Mr. Mele Kyari,
applauded the project’s progress, attributing it to the effectiveness of regional collaboration and the collective efforts of all parties involved
Kyari, represented by the Executive Vice President Gas, Power and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, added that the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) Phase 2 study has been completed, and surveys are currently underway for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments.
“These achievements underscore our shared capacity and resolve to bring this pipeline project to fruition, demonstrating both the project’s viability and our capability for effective execution, supported by strong regional collaboration, which we continue to appreciate.” he noted.
This project was launched in 2016 by former President Muhammadu Buhari and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI with the major aim of creating a sustainable energy source for the region and beyond.
The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project is a massive undertaking that aims to connect Nigeria to Morocco with a 7,000 km gas pipeline. This project was formed by combining the West African Gas Pipeline Extension Project and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project into one.
The pipeline will supply gas to 13 coastal countries, and additional lines will connect the three landlocked countries in ECOWAS