The United Arab Emirates has agreed to support a major gas pipeline project that will link Nigeria to Morocco and eventually extend to Europe.
Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, informed lawmakers on Tuesday that the UAE has joined other financial backers of the $25 billion initiative.
“In terms of financing, the project is now supported by the Islamic Development Bank, OPEC Fund, European Investment Bank, and the UAE,” she said.
Benali noted that Morocco has completed all required feasibility and engineering studies for the pipeline. According to local industry experts, the project has successfully passed both the feasibility and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) stages.
Named the African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline, the project will connect Nigeria’s gas infrastructure with Morocco’s southern city of Dakhla, eventually stretching north toward Europe.
The pipeline will cross 15 African countries, boosting trade, energy access, and regional development. In Phase One, it will connect Morocco with gas reserves near Mauritania and Senegal, and link Ghana to Ivory Coast. Phase Two will extend from Nigeria to Ghana, while Phase Three will join Ivory Coast with Senegal.
Experts believe the pipeline will expand electricity access and promote economic cooperation across the region. With over 400 million people living along the route, it is seen as a major step toward regional integration, industrial development, and infrastructure improvement.
A joint venture between Nigeria and Morocco has been established to oversee the project, and a financing deal was signed to facilitate its progress.
China’s Jingye Steel Group has been selected to supply the pipes. Spanning 6,800 km — including 5,100 km offshore — the project will be the longest offshore gas pipeline in the world upon completion.
Benali added that Morocco is also working to become a regional hub for clean energy, with significant potential in green hydrogen and other renewables.
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