Africa’s $24 Billion Mega Gas Pipeline to Span 13 Nations in Groundbreaking Energy Project

The U.S. Energy Information Administration ranks Nigeria as holding the world’s ninth-largest proven gas reserves. Africa, meanwhile, is actively working to build out its energy infrastructure to better utilize its significant fossil fuel resources. With 12% of the world’s oil reserves and 8% of its gas supplies, the continent is drawing significant international investment as it plans to initiate more than 400 oil and gas projects within the next four years.

This year alone, Africa’s energy sector is expected to attract around $110 billion in investments, with $90 billion allocated to fossil fuel projects and the rest funding various clean energy technologies. Among the major initiatives under discussion is a proposed gas pipeline stretching from Nigeria to Morocco.

The pipeline would span 4,350 miles (7,000.65 km) along the Atlantic coast, traversing 13 countries, and have a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters per year. Its projected cost could reach $24 billion, and there is potential for it to be extended to Spain, offering African nations easier access to European gas markets.

Nigeria’s government is eager to advance this project to capitalize on the country’s ample gas reserves. However, due to limited infrastructure, Nigeria currently flares substantial volumes of gas produced alongside oil. Presently, it exports gas through the six-train Bonny LNG facility and the West African Gas Pipeline, which is managed by Chevron.