West African leaders sign up to the Nigeria–Morocco gas pipeline
The $25 billion, 6,900km pipeline would carry gas along the Atlantic coast through 13 countries.
Key points
- ECOWAS heads of state, meeting in Freetown on 19 July 2026, signed the intergovernmental agreement for the Nigeria–Morocco African Atlantic Gas Pipeline.
- The 6,900km pipeline would carry up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas a year through 13 West African countries to Morocco, at a cost of about $25 billion.
- Construction is expected to start in 2028, with first gas in 2031.
West African leaders have given their formal backing to one of the continent's most ambitious infrastructure projects. Meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 19 July 2026, ECOWAS heads of state signed the intergovernmental agreement for the Nigeria–Morocco African Atlantic Gas Pipeline.
The plan
- Route: about 6,900 kilometres, partly offshore and partly onshore, along the Atlantic coast from Nigeria through 13 West African countries to Morocco.
- Capacity: up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas a year, with 15 bcm available to Moroccan and European markets through the existing Morocco–Spain link.
- Cost: about $25 billion.
- Timeline: construction expected to start in 2028, with first gas in 2031.
How it will be run
The agreement creates a project company based in Casablanca to handle technical and financial structuring, and a Pipeline Higher Authority headquartered in Abuja to coordinate the participating countries.
Why it matters
Many of the countries along the route have limited, unreliable electricity. Supporters say access to Nigerian gas could power homes and industry along the coast, and make West Africa a gas supplier to Europe. The project still has to raise its financing, which will be its biggest test.
Sources
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