By Tosin Olatokunbo
The Nigerian and Morocco governments have teamed up to build the world’s longest offshore pipeline and second-longest pipeline that will, in the long term serves as one of energy sources for Europe. When completed, the pipelines is expected to carry gas from Nigeria to Morocco, running across 11 West African countries.
The two countries, it was learnt signed the agreement to build the pipelines when President Muhammadu Buhari visited Morocco King in 2018.
The project has stalled due to unavailability of funds on the Nigerian side. But due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, more focus has now turned on the project, which when completed, many believe will serve as one of the alternative energy sources for Europe as Russian gas becomes more unreliable. The project is estimated to cost several billion of dollars when completed.
More investors from the United States of America, USA and Europe are now said to be interested in providing funding for the project. Also, the Russian Federation is said to have also shown interest in the project.
Sources said the project originally meant to terminate at Morocco will now be extended to Europe due to the energy instability in Europe caused by the Russo-Ukraine war which started two months ago.
Revealing the details of the project, a media aide to the President, Tolu Ogunlesi, disclosed via his official Twitter handle that the partnership is between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited and ONHYM of Morocco.
He said, “Nigeria (@NNPCgroup) and Morocco (#ONHYM) are teaming together to build the longest offshore pipeline in the world and second-longest pipeline in the world.
“It will carry gas from Nigeria to Morocco (and Europe), running across 11 West African countries. The agreement for the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline was originally signed by the two countries when President @MBuhari paid a state visit to Morocco in June 2018.
“When completed, the over 7,000km long gas pipeline will link Nigeria with Morocco, across 11 West African countries and extend to Europe. It will be the longest offshore pipeline in the world and the second-longest pipeline overall.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, has said that the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline may not be completed under the Buhari regime.
Sylva said, “The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline is a continuation of the West African Gas Pipeline project which has already reached Ghana. It is already operational connecting Nigeria to the Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana. We want to continue that same pipeline all the way to Morocco down the coast.
“Right now, we are still at the level of studies and securing the funding for this project and a lot of people are indicating interest. The Russians were with me in the office last week, they are very desirous to invest in this project
“This administration cannot finish the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline but we can at least get it at the point of starting before we leave.”
