Keypoints:
- Nigeria, Morocco to sign $25bn pipeline agreement in 2026
- 6,900 km project to link 13 West African nations to Europe
- First gas targeted for 2031 via phased rollout
NIGERIA and Morocco are set to sign a long-awaited intergovernmental agreement for a $25bn transcontinental gas pipeline, marking a decisive step forward for one of Africa’s most ambitious energy projects.
The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline—backed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)—aims to connect gas-rich West Africa to North Africa and European markets, potentially reshaping energy supply for more than 400 million people across the region.
The agreement unlocks the next phase of the infrastructure, enabling governance structures, financing plans, and construction timelines for a 6,900 km pipeline designed to deepen regional integration, expand electricity access, and position Morocco as a strategic energy bridge to Europe.
Scale and capacity underline strategic ambition
Stretching approximately 6,900 kilometres across a hybrid offshore and onshore route, the pipeline is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas annually.
Around 15 billion cubic metres will supply Morocco’s domestic market, while the remainder will be exported to Europe, supporting diversification efforts amid shifting global energy dynamics.
The development builds on earlier feasibility and engineering work already completed, with international partners stepping in to support early-stage planning. Previous reporting by Africa Briefing highlighted how multilateral lenders have backed initial studies for the project.
Investment momentum builds ahead of Paris forum
Momentum behind Africa-Europe gas partnerships is also expected to intensify at the upcoming Invest in African Energy forum, where policymakers and investors will convene to accelerate cross-border gas infrastructure deals.
The Paris-based forum is designed to connect African energy producers with European capital, creating a platform to advance projects such as the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline and unlock new financing pathways.
New governance body to coordinate 13 nations
Following the signing of the agreement, a high-level authority will be established in Nigeria to oversee political and regulatory coordination across the 13 participating countries.
This body will bring together ministerial representatives from each state, ensuring alignment on cross-border energy policy, infrastructure standards, and implementation timelines.
At the same time, a joint project company will be created in Morocco by ONHYM and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), tasked with execution, financing, and construction.
Phased rollout to reduce risk, accelerate returns
Developers have adopted a modular approach, allowing different segments of the pipeline to be built and operated independently.
Early phases will prioritise connections between Morocco and gas reserves in Mauritania and Senegal, alongside linking Ghana with Cote d’Ivoire. A later phase will extend the network to Nigeria’s gas fields.
This structure enables early revenue generation while reducing reliance on a single final investment decision, improving investor confidence and accelerating delivery timelines.
Europe demand drives strategic urgency
The project comes at a time when Europe is actively seeking to diversify gas supplies away from traditional sources, increasing the strategic relevance of African energy corridors.
Morocco is positioning itself as a key transit hub in this evolving landscape, leveraging geography and infrastructure to connect African producers with European consumers.
According to ONHYM head Amina Benkhadra, ‘The project is attracting strong interest due to its scale, its phased structure, and its strategic positioning.’
Economic integration and energy access gains
The pipeline is expected to transform West Africa’s energy landscape by expanding access to natural gas for power generation, industry, and mining.
Improved energy availability could unlock manufacturing growth, reduce electricity shortages, and deepen regional integration across ECOWAS member states.
For participating countries, the corridor offers a long-term opportunity to industrialise using cleaner-burning fuel while strengthening cross-border energy cooperation.
Financing structure still in development
While the infrastructure has attracted strong international interest, final funding commitments are still being assembled.
The financing model is expected to combine equity and debt, led by the project company, with capital likely to come from a mix of multilateral institutions, private investors, and sovereign partners.
Stakeholders say the scale of the development and its phased design continue to drive investor appetite despite global financing constraints.
First gas targeted for 2031
Initial gas flows from the first completed segments are expected by 2031, provided financing and construction timelines proceed as planned.
If delivered on schedule, the pipeline will rank among Africa’s largest energy infrastructure projects, linking multiple economies through a shared energy network and reinforcing the continent’s role in global gas markets.
