The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged its member states to expedite action on the 6,800km Africa gas project originating from Nigeria’s Brass Island in Bayelsa State, which on completion, will supply gas to Morocco, 13 other African countries and Europe.
At a joint meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Hydrocarbons and Energy, with Morocco and Mauritania in attendance, on Friday in Abuja, Dr Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, urged member states to make the African-Atlantic gas project (AAGP) become a reality.
The meeting was to deliberate on AAGP’s institutional agreements to facilitate regional access to natural gas and expansion across global markets
It is a 6,800km gas pipeline network within the ECOWAS subregion, 5,100 kilometres offshore from Nigeria to Morocco, passing through the coastal countries to Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.
Mr Touray, who was represented by Sediko Douka, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, said “We have reached a critical phase in the development of this project, and it is essential for all parties to urgently collaborative and ensure that it becomes a reality.”
He noted that “This project is of vital importance for our region, as increased access to natural gas will not only boost our electricity production/generation capacity,” but lead to other benefits.
The ECOWAS president said “…the main challenges facing the ECOWAS region are the shortage of energy production capacity and the need to cover energy demand, as well as access issues.”
Also speaking, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Expo, said that the gas project, when operational, will bolster Africa’s energy security and unlock new markets.
He said that linking Nigeria’s natural gas reserves to North Africa and Europe would lead to economic growth, job creation, industrialisation, and benefit communities across the linkage countries.
He said AAGP was a crucial step towards an integrated hydrocarbon and energy infrastructure within Africa, and ECOWAS’ strategic vision for a connected and economically vibrant pipeline network.
“The draft agreement is therefore 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 AAGP is 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 on July 9, 2023.
(NAN)
