African leaders and energy officials renewed their commitment to the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), a $26 billion project set to connect 13 African nations. Launched in 2016 during King Mohammed VI of Morocco’s visit to Nigeria, the AAGP unites the West African Gas Pipeline Extension Project with the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project.
During an ECOWAS Inter-Ministerial Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, officials underscored the pipeline’s transformative potential for regional economies. Mele Kyari, CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, stressed the importance of collaboration to advance the project.
Spanning over 7,000 kilometers from Nigeria to Morocco, the AAGP aims to monetize Nigeria’s natural gas, reduce gas flaring, and diversify export options, potentially supplying Europe. ECOWAS Commissioner Sediko Douka and Nigeria’s Petroleum Resources Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo highlighted the pipeline’s role in boosting economic growth and meeting energy demands.
Laila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, emphasized the project’s potential to generate jobs and open new markets. With significant progress in securing key agreements, the AAGP is on track to bridge Africa’s energy gap and expand access to European markets.