The Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline, one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects ever conceived on the African continent, is gaining fresh momentum as Morocco’s state energy company ONHYM launches a formal fundraising process to secure financing for the multi-billion-dollar initiative — a development that marks a pivotal shift from long-term vision to active commercial execution.
The proposed pipeline, stretching approximately 7,000 kilometres along the Atlantic coast of West Africa before connecting to European gas networks via Spain, is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas annually. It would traverse 13 countries and draw on Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves as its primary feedstock, with emerging producers Senegal and Mauritania expected to contribute additional volumes — broadening the project’s supply base and reinforcing the case for its commercial viability. First gas is targeted for 2031, giving stakeholders several years to align production capacity, secure financing, and advance engineering across one of the most complex pipeline corridors in history.
The project’s roots stretch back to 2016, when Morocco’s King Mohammed VI visited Nigeria and held discussions with then-President Muhammadu Buhari that laid the groundwork for formal bilateral cooperation. Feasibility studies followed, placing the total project cost at approximately $25 billion. Nigeria and Morocco subsequently signed agreements to advance the Front-End Engineering Design phase in 2018, signalling sustained political commitment from both governments. ONHYM’s decision to now formally pursue financing represents the most significant concrete step forward in the project’s history, converting years of planning and diplomatic momentum into active engagement with capital markets and potential investors.
For Europe, the pipeline offers a meaningful pathway to diversify gas supply away from geographically concentrated traditional suppliers, reducing exposure to supply disruptions and improving overall energy security across the continent. For West Africa, the project presents a generational opportunity to monetise gas reserves that are currently underutilised, deepen regional economic integration across 13 participating countries, and establish a permanent presence in the global LNG and gas trade. If successfully executed, the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline would not only redefine energy flows between Africa and Europe but also unlock substantial economic development opportunities — from jobs and infrastructure to industrial growth — across one of the world’s most resource-rich but infrastructure-constrained regions.
Source: Angolan Mining Oil and Gas