Leaders from West African nations have formally approved the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline at a regional summit held in Freetown on Sunday evening. The project represents one of Africa’s most significant energy infrastructure undertakings, with an estimated cost of $25 billion and a planned construction start date of 2028.
The pipeline will extend approximately 6,000 kilometers along the Atlantic coast, passing through 14 African nations and transporting natural gas from Nigeria to Morocco, where it will connect to Europe’s existing gas infrastructure through Spain. The route was selected partly because it avoids the most unstable regions of the Sahel, though offshore construction significantly increases project expenses. When operational, the pipeline is projected to deliver 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually to approximately 400 million consumers, positioning it among the world’s longest offshore gas pipelines.
The formal agreement follows roughly a decade of negotiations and establishes the legal and governance framework necessary to advance the initiative. Technical work including feasibility studies and front-end engineering design assessments has been completed, and the pipeline route has been largely finalized. The project will be developed in phases, beginning with the Morocco-Mauritania-Senegal section before expanding to other regions, with Nigeria’s connection as the final phase.
Energy analysts and government officials view the pipeline as transformative for African economic development and global positioning. Beyond energy supply, the project is expected to support industrial development including power generation, fertilizer production, petrochemical manufacturing, and other industries along the Atlantic coast. Nigeria’s state oil firm and Morocco’s national mining body are jointly leading the effort, with support from regional institutions including Ecowas, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Opec Fund for International Development.
Significant challenges remain before construction can proceed. Securing $25 billion in financing, protecting extensive pipeline infrastructure from potential attacks, maintaining political stability across participating nations, and managing competition from alternative export routes including liquified natural gas projects represent ongoing obstacles. Additionally, uncertainty surrounding future European natural gas demand amid the continent’s renewable energy transition could affect long-term project viability.