ECOWAS countries join the "Pan-African" Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Pipeline

The Summit of Heads of State and Government of the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) hosted, yesterday, Sunday the 19th, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) governing the development of the Nigeria-Morocco African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), an energy infrastructure of almost 6,800 kilometers intended to transport natural gas from Nigeria to Morocco, before its connection to the European gas network. This signing marks the commitment of the ECOWAS member states to the Nigeria-Morocco African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, initiated by King Mohammed VI of Morocco and the late former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, with the continued support of the current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This project is being developed by the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines of Morocco (ONHYM) and the National Oil Company of Nigeria (NNPC Ltd.).

This important milestone achieved in Freetown precedes the next stages of the project launch, which will include the creation of the venture company, based in Casablanca, and the Higher Pipeline Authority, based in Abuja, before attracting investors and preparing the final investment decision.

This phase will conclude with the joint signing of the agreement by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, non-ECOWAS member countries, in a separate ceremony to be held later, in the presence of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Once completed, the pipeline will cross thirteen countries along the African Atlantic coast and connect to the Maghreb-Europe pipeline in northern Morocco.

It will have a transport capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, of which up to 15 billion cubic meters could be exported to Morocco and Europe, with the remainder destined for regional markets. Estimated at approximately 25 billion dollars, the Atlantic-African Pipeline aims to create an integrated regional natural gas market in West Africa, supporting electricity generation, industrialization, and the development of the continent's natural resources. The commissioning of the first sections is scheduled for the beginning of the next decade.

Launched as a joint strategic initiative between Morocco and Nigeria, the African Atlantic Pipeline is now consolidating itself as a project championed by the entire West African region.

The participation of ECOWAS member states in the project strengthens their political and institutional base, while also reinforcing the initial impetus given by the two promoting countries, which believe that Africa's energy security is a key factor for sovereignty, industrialization and shared prosperity.

By formalizing the collective commitment of the ECOWAS member states, the Freetown Summit confirms the African scope of this initiative and its central role in the continent's integration policies.

ONHYM and NNPC Ltd. indicate that the main technical, environmental and engineering studies have already been completed, allowing the project to gradually enter its operational development phase, following the signing of this Agreement in Rabat by Morocco and Mauritania.

Beyond its energy role, this infrastructure aims to create a true development corridor linking African economies, strengthening their integration and competitiveness.