An African gas pipeline linking Nigeria and Morocco is set to be given the green light, in a project that could transform the Strait of Gibraltar into a critical global energy hub.
Known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, the project has been in development for a decade.
Now, Moroccan officials say they expect to sign a formal agreement with the 12 other countries which the pipeline will pass through in Nigeria later this year.
Spanning 6,000km across West Africa and requiring an estimated €30 billion investment, the project will carry gas from countries including Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria to Morocco, where around 50 per cent is expected to be exported to Europe.
Forecasts suggest that the first gas deliveries could begin in 2031.
As the conflict in Iran has been exposed, Europe has become dependent on the oil and LNG that flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
This new project could diversify Europe’s energy sources and reduce the continent’s dependence on unstable supplies.
It would also transform the Strait of Gibraltar into a global energy hub, positioning Morocco as a bridge between energy supplies in Africa and Europe.
Ahead of the construction of the pipeline, Morocco is currently investing significantly in its port infrastructure with over €6 million earmarked for new infrastructure.
Notably the government has invested €1.3 billion in the Nador West Med project – a port designed to bolster trade with Europe.
These investments strengthen Morocco’s capacity to serve as a key hub for energy and trade between the two continents.
Spain could also be a major player in the new pipeline.
With 30 per cent of Europe’s regasification capacity (the process by which liquefied natural gas (LNG) is converted back into gas for transport via pipelines), Spain could become a key gateway for African gas entering Europe.
The new pipeline could see the Strait of Gibraltar emerge as a major global energy hub, playing a key role in diversifying Europe’s energy supplies.
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