The United Arab Emirates has pledged its support for a $25 billion gas pipeline that will link Nigeria to Morocco and eventually reach Europe, marking a significant step in what is being described as one of Africa’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.
Leila Benali, Morocco’s minister of energy transition and sustainable development, announced the UAE’s involvement during a session with lawmakers on Tuesday.
“As for finance, the project has won the support of IDB, OPEC Fund, EIB and the UAE,” she said, listing the growing number of international partners backing the venture.
Named the African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline, the project will stretch 6,800 kilometres-including 5,100 kilometres offshore-making it the longest offshore gas pipeline in the world upon completion. It will transport natural gas from Nigeria’s reserves through 15 West African countries to Morocco’s southern city of Dakhla, and then northward to European markets.
According to Moroccan industry experts, the pipeline has already cleared its feasibility and Front End Engineering Design (FEED) stages. Benali confirmed that Morocco has completed all the required engineering studies, setting the stage for the next phase of the project.
The pipeline will be built in three phases. The first phase will connect Morocco to gas fields in Senegal and Mauritania and link Ghana to the Ivory Coast. The second phase will extend the line from Nigeria to Ghana, while the third phase will connect the Ivory Coast to Senegal.
Each phase is designed to improve regional gas distribution, trade, and electricity access.
More than 400 million people live along the pipeline’s proposed route. Experts say the project will bring significant improvements in power supply to homes and businesses across the region while deepening economic cooperation among participating countries.
The pipeline is also seen as a critical step toward integrating West African energy markets and enhancing energy security in Europe.
A joint venture between Nigeria and Morocco has been established to manage the project.
The two countries signed a financing agreement earlier to help move it forward. China’s Jingye Steel Group has been awarded the contract to supply pipes for construction.
Beyond fossil fuels, Morocco is also looking ahead. Benali said the country has strong ambitions to become a regional leader in clean energy, pointing to its high potential for producing green hydrogen and other renewables.
The African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline, once realised, could play a transformative role in both regional development and global energy dynamics, linking Africa’s natural resources with European demand while fostering greater cooperation across the continent.
