The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Expo, has said that the proposed African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) when operational will bolster Africa’s energy security and unlock new markets.
Ekpo stated this at a joint meeting of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Ministers of Hydrocarbons and Energy, with Morocco and Mauritania participating, on Friday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the energy ministers’ meeting was to deliberate on institutional agreements aimed at facilitating regional access to natural gas and expansion across global markets.
The draft strategic institutional documents are pivotal to regional cooperation and the advancement of the hydrocarbon sector.
The minister described the AAGP project as a crucial step toward achieving the vision of an integrated hydrocarbon and energy infrastructure within Africa.
According to him, the project is a reflection of the subregion’s strategic vision for a connected and economically vibrant pipeline network.
“These draft institutional documents, which we will agree upon, will be presented to the ECOWAS Heads of Government during the forthcoming meeting in Dec. 2024.
“The Intergovernmental Agreement serves as the framework guiding relations between the states involved, ensuring collaboration and equitable terms.
“The Host Government Agreement forms the foundation of a mutually beneficial partnership that promises stability in our investment climate.
“The draft agreements should be an affirmation of our commitment to enhance trade within ECOWAS and other African countries, facilitating natural gas access across the region, and expansion in global gas markets,” he said.
The minister added that linking Nigeria’s natural gas reserves to North Africa and Europe would expand opportunities for economic growth, job creation, industrialisation, and benefiting communities across the linkage countries.
Also speaking, Malam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), said the project was Africa’s largest transformative initiative that would connect 30 African countries in sheer prosperity and development.
Kyari, represented by Mr Ogunleye Olalekan, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, said NNPC Ltd was positioned to advance the project by leveraging its expertise across gas production, processing and transmission.
“Progress has been made with the front end engineering design phase two study now completed.
“Work is already ongoing for service, environmental and social impact assessments, while life acquisition and resettlement policy framework are also in progress.
“These achievements underscore our shared capacity and resolve to bring this pipeline project to fruition, demonstrating both the project’s viability and our capability for effective execution,” he said.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitisation, Mr Sédiko Douka, said they had reached a critical phase in the development of the project, and urged the parties to collaborate closely and effectively to make it a reality.
“This project is of vital importance to our region, as increased access to natural gas will not only boost our electricity generation capacity, but also will drive economic, industrial and agricultural growth across the region,” he said.
NAN also reports that AAGP is a the outcome of the merging of West African Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP) and Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP) into a single gas power plant project.
The merger was approved by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government at their 63rd Ordinary Session of the on July 9, 2023.