In the presence of King Mohammed VI, agreements were signed concerning the beginning of the project of the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline. During the ceremony held at the Royal Palace in Rabat, the Moroccan Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nasser Bourita, illustrated the main lines of this south-south energy development and cooperation project. Once realized, the pipeline will have a positive impact on over 300 million Africans, enabling acceleration of electrification projects in the western part of the continent. The beginning of such collaboration had been discussed during an official visit to King Mohammed VI in Nigeria last December. The agreement for launching feasibility studies for the gas pipeline was signed by the National Hydrocarbons and Mines Office and, for Nigeria, by the National Petroleum Company. Nigeria, which has the highest GDP in the continent, is the 22nd global gas producer, the fifth global exporter and the 1st exporter in Africa. The gas pipeline project would be 4,000 kilometers long and would cross 15 West African countries, then move on to Europe via the Strait of Gibraltar. 

Morocco, in continental terms, is a country with recognized infrastructure capacity, thanks also to the large logistic port projects of Tanger Med and solar energy, with the Noor central station in Ouarzazate. Western Africa has an important energy potential, with almost 31% of natural gas reserves in the continent (3.6 billion cubic meters). The gas pipeline project would allow all the countries in the West African Economic Community (CEDEAO) to dispose of energy with a low environmental impact (as it produces less greenhouse gases than coal and oil).

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews