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ECOWAS presidents,
Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have endorsed the legal and institutional framework for the Nigeria-Morocco African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, marking a major step towards the realization of one of Africa’s largest energy infrastructure projects.
The endorsement followed the signing of an intergovernmental agreement during an ECOWAS Summit in Freetown on Sunday, providing broader regional political support for the proposed 6,800-kilometre pipeline that will transport Nigerian natural gas along Africa’s Atlantic coast to Morocco, with the potential to supply European markets.
The project, initiated by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016, is increasingly being viewed as a regional integration initiative rather than a purely bilateral venture between Morocco and Nigeria.
The agreement formalises the participation of ECOWAS member states in the project’s legal and governance framework, paving the way for the next phase of implementation.
The pipeline is being jointly developed by Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), with continued backing from Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Officials say the project forms part of King Mohammed VI’s broader vision of promoting African economic integration through strategic infrastructure, regional connectivity and South-South cooperation.
Although Morocco is not a member of ECOWAS, it participated in the Freetown ceremony as one of the project’s founding partners.
A separate signing ceremony involving Morocco, Nigeria and Mauritania is expected to be held in Morocco in the coming months. Mauritania, which is also outside ECOWAS, is considered a key transit country along the proposed route.
That meeting is expected to focus on the establishment of the project’s management and operational structures.
Under current plans, a dedicated project company will be established in Casablanca, while a Pipeline Higher Authority will be headquartered in Abuja to oversee regulatory, operational and financial matters.
The two bodies are expected to coordinate engagement among participating governments, national energy companies, investors and international financial institutions.
Project partners say major technical, environmental and engineering studies have already been completed, allowing preparations to advance towards implementation and financing.
The pipeline is expected to pass through 13 countries along Africa’s Atlantic coastline before linking with the existing Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline network in Morocco.
It is projected to transport about 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually, with up to 15 billion cubic metres potentially destined for Morocco and European markets, while the remainder would serve participating West African countries.
The project is estimated to cost about US$25 billion, with initial sections potentially becoming operational during the early years of the next decade, subject to financing, regulatory approvals and completion of technical preparations.
Observers believe the pipeline could significantly strengthen energy security across West Africa by improving access to natural gas for electricity generation and industrial development.
Several countries along the route continue to face energy shortages and high production costs, making expanded access to natural gas a potentially important driver of economic growth.
Supporters also argue that the project could promote industrialisation, create jobs and encourage the development of domestic gas resources by connecting producing countries to a regional transmission network.
The Morocco-Nigeria partnership remains at the centre of the initiative, combining Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves with Morocco’s strategic location and infrastructure expertise.
The project forms part of a wider Atlantic development strategy championed by King Mohammed VI, aimed at strengthening trade, transport and energy links across Africa’s Atlantic corridor and improving access to international markets.
With the endorsement of the intergovernmental agreement in Freetown, the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline has moved beyond its original bilateral framework and is increasingly emerging as a regional West African development project with significant implications for energy security, economic integration and industrial growth across the continent.
Source: GNA