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The ambitious Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline – NMGP, also known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, is set to reach a pivotal milestone this year with the signing of a formal intergovernmental agreement.

Disclosed by Amina Benkhadra, Director-General of Morocco’s ONHYM, this agreement aims to solidify coordination among the 13 participating nations. To ensure seamless execution, the deal will establish a high authority based in Nigeria, comprising ministerial representatives tasked with overseeing the political and regulatory frameworks of this massive cross-border endeavor.

Spanning approximately 6,900 kilometers through a hybrid of offshore and onshore routes, the pipeline is designed to be a transformative energy artery for the West African coast.

With a projected capacity of 30 billion cubic meters annually, the infrastructure will serve dual purposes: fueling domestic industrialization within the region and positioning Morocco as a strategic energy bridge to Europe. By delivering gas to international markets, the project seeks to bolster electricity generation and economic integration across the continent.

To manage the complexities of such a high-value project, the development will be executed in phases. This modular approach allows individual segments to be developed independently, facilitating early economic returns rather than delaying progress for a single, comprehensive final investment decision.

A dedicated project company, formed as a joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company – NNPC Ltd and Morocco’s ONHYM, will be responsible for the financing, construction, and ultimate delivery of the pipeline.

The project has gained significant momentum since its inception in 2016, recently securing the backing of the Economic Community of West African States – ECOWAS. While the journey has seen its share of logistical and financing hurdles, several Memoranda of Understanding – MOU signed in 2022 and 2024 had paved the way for the Final Investment Decision – FID expected in late 2024. This progress aligns with Nigeria’s internal energy push, including the $2.8 billion AKK pipeline, which is nearing completion to boost domestic supply.

Once operational, the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline will stand as one of the world’s most significant energy infrastructure feats. Beyond just transporting a resource, it represents a vision of regional cooperation that could redefine Africa’s role in the global energy landscape.

By connecting resource-rich West Africa directly to the European Union, the project promises to provide a stable energy alternative for global markets while simultaneously empowering local economies through enhanced industrial capacity.