US ready to invest in Morocco-Nigeria pipeline- finance minister

Nigeria’s finance minister Wale Edun said the United States is interested in investing in the Atlantic pipeline that will link Nigeria to Morocco, helping 13 West African countries meet their energy needs.

Edun made the statement to Nigerian media following talks with Opayemi Cardoso, Nigeria’s central bank governor, and “the director of international economic relations, with representatives from the U.S. State Department”.

“Key areas of interest include U.S. interest in investments in Nigeria’s natural gas sector particularly the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline given the country’s vast gas reserves,” he said.

Morocco’s energy minister had said that feasibility and FEED studies have been completed for the pipeline.

The first phases of the project would connect Morocco to the gas fields offshore Senegal and Mauritania as well as Ghana to Côte d’Ivoire. The second phase will connect Nigeria to Ghana and the last phase will link Côte d’Ivoire to Senegal.

The pipeline is expected to cost 25 billion dollars and will run over 6800 km, including 5100 km offshore.