Africa-Atlantic gas pipeline enters crucial investment phase
The ambitious Africa-Atlantic Gas Pipeline project has entered a decisive investment phase, with initial segments expected to become operational by 2029.
The announcement was made by General Director of the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mining (ONHYM), Amina Benkhadra, during a high-profile briefing in Washington, organized by the American think tank Atlantic Council, on the sidelines of the Powering Africa Summit, an event dedicated to the energy partnership between the United States and Africa, taking place March 6-7.
The event brought together key stakeholders who discussed this transformative energy infrastructure initiative conceived through Moroccan-Nigerian leadership.
Addressing diplomats, energy experts, private sector representatives, and financial institutions, ONHYM chief highlighted the pipeline’s fundamental importance to energy security across West Africa, Europe, and the broader Atlantic region. This megaproject embodies regional cooperation principles while addressing Africa’s pressing energy challenges through sustainable development frameworks.
The 6,000-kilometer pipeline represents far more than an energy conduit—it stands as a comprehensive socioeconomic catalyst poised to serve nearly 400 million people across several nations. This transformative infrastructure will significantly boost electricity access in a region where currently only 40% of citizens have reliable power in certain countries.
Advanced discussions with major international operators, including American companies and financial institutions, are progressing to ensure the project’s economic and technical viability. These strategic partnerships underscore the global significance of this intercontinental energy corridor as stakeholders move toward the final investment decision, Mrs Benkhadra pointed out.
Beyond energy provision, the pipeline creates a powerful industrial development lever, enabling new production hubs while stimulating local economies throughout its extensive route. Particularly noteworthy are the expected synergies between the pipeline and critical minerals sector—a key domain that will directly benefit from improved energy access, facilitating both extraction and processing of vital natural resources, she explained.
The project exemplifies how transnational cooperation can address shared challenges while creating mutual prosperity. By connecting Nigerian gas fields to European markets via West African coastal nations up to Morocco, this initiative establishes new energy security paradigms while fostering sustainable development across previously underserved regions.
