The United Arab Emirates has indicated commitment to invest hugely in the gas pipeline project that will connect Nigeria to Morocco and to be terminated in Europe. The Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, made the disclosure to lawmakers on Tuesday that the UAE is now one of the supporters of the project, which is estimated to consume $25 billion.
She said, “As for finance. The project has won the support of IDB, OPEC Fund, EIB and the UAE”.
According to her, the Morocco government has finished all feasibility and engineering studies needed for the pipeline project.
The gas pipeline, now called the “African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline”, will connect Nigeria’s gas network with Morocco’s southern city of Dakhla and then go northward toward Europe.
In the line with the engineering design, the pipe will navigate through 15 African countries, boosting trade, development, and access to electricity in the region.
In Phase One, it will link Morocco to gas fields near Senegal and Mauritania, and connect Ghana to the Ivory Coast.
Meanwhile, phase Two will link Nigeria to Ghana, while Phase Three will connect the Ivory Coast to Senegal.
Experts said this pipeline will help bring more power to African homes and businesses while encouraging economic partnerships across the region.
With with an estimated 400 million people living along its coastal line, the pipeline is considered as a key driver of regional integration, industrial growth, and improved infrastructure.
Morocco and Nigeria have set up a joint venture to manage the project and have since signed the financing agreement.
China’s Jingye Steel Group has been awarded the contract to supply pipes for the construction.
The project measured at 6,800km long, including 5,100 offshore, making it the longest offshore gas line project in the world once is successfully completed.
Benali revealed that the Moroccan government also hopes to become a regional leader in the clean energy, while maintaining high potential tp produce green hydrogen and other renewable resources.
