Nigeria ( Commonwealth Union ) _ As a result of a gas supply shortage brought out by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago, both countries have taken actions to restart long-stalled projects. Costs skyrocketed, forcing Europe, which was highly dependent on Russian gas, to hunt for alternative sources of energy.
The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, which would run through the coastlines of 13 nations in West Africa, is something Rabat is hoping will happen. The gas would then travel through the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline (GME) and enter Spain and Portugal from there.
Timipre Sylva, Nigeria’s oil minister, told AFP that although a feasibility assessment was being conducted and that certain nations had already committed to the project, no start date had yet been determined. The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, which would connect Nigeria to Algeria’s Mediterranean coast via Niger, is being revived by Algeria, Morocco’s neighbour and bitter competitor.
A memorandum of understanding was signed by Algiers, Abuja, and Niamey in July to build the 4,128-kilometer (2,565-mile) pipeline, which might cost up to 18 billion euros ($19 billion). Following months of increased tension between Algeria and Morocco due to the breakdown of a long-standing truce in the Western Sahara and Morocco’s normalisation of relations with Israel in late 2020, both initiatives have recently gained momentum.
The revitalization discussions take place at a pivotal moment as the European Union looks for alternate sources of energy as it attempts to wean itself off Russian gas in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
According to the announcement, “(the pipeline) should enable Europe to diversify its natural gas supply sources while also enabling a number of African states to tap this high-value energy source.” The pipeline would extend 4,128 kilometers (2,565 miles) from Warri, Nigeria, to Hassi R’Mel, Algeria, where it would join other pipelines that already go to Europe.
Algiers severed all diplomatic ties with Rabat in August 2021 after accusing it of “hostile conduct,” which Morocco disputes. Later that year, in exchange for gas that satiated practically all of Morocco’s demands, Algeria declined to extend a 25-year agreement to pump fuel through Moroccan territory to Spain.
