Fueling a Brighter Future: ECOWAS States Unite with Groundbreaking Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline Agreement

In search of better energy coverage in space in West Africa, the Ministers of Energy and Hydrocarbons of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on November 1, 2024, approved several projects related to the energy future of the region. Held in Abuja, Nigeria, this meeting, attended by the Kingdom of Morocco and Mauritania, recorded the signing of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Agreement.

Sylvestre TCHOMAKOU

In the context of energy shortages delaying growth as well as the industrial transformation of West African economies, ECOWAS ministers are moving to strengthen regional energy integration and promote renewable energy. Meeting in Abuja on November 1, 2024, these decision makers approved the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) agreement, a 6,800 km flagship project linking Nigeria to Morocco. This gas pipeline, of which 5,100 km will be underwater, will cross several ECOWAS countries, including coastal and landlocked states, before possibly extending to Europe. With an estimated transport capacity of 30 billion m³ of natural gas per year, this infrastructure aims to strengthen the energy security of Member States while supporting the production of electricity from natural gas, a transformation source that pollutes less than oil or coal.

Beyond the gas pipeline, another useful project was approved for the region: the creation of the ECOWAS Facility for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EREEEF). This facility, with a fund of $75 million, will be a catalyst for financing clean energy solutions in the region. It will provide support in the form of grants, loans, and guarantees to promote renewable energy projects. As part of these efforts, the ministers also approved a directive to promote solar photovoltaic energy in ECOWAS member countries. This directive encourages grid-connected solar power plant projects, with standard contract models such as power purchase and concession agreements, which will facilitate the development of renewable energy.

The ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitization, Sediko Douka, highlighted the importance of these initiatives for the region. “The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline is more than an energy project. This is a lever for regional integration that will not only provide a stable source of energy, but also stimulate industrial and agricultural growth throughout West Africa,” he said.
For his part, Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo, stressed the importance of the institutional agreements adopted, which will strengthen hydrocarbon trade and access to natural gas throughout the sub-region, while preparing the ground for an increased presence on the world -wide gas markets.

The meeting also saw the participation of many organizations and energy companies from the region, such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines du Maroc (ONHMN), which highlighted the importance of the pipeline project to guarantee wider access to gas and support the region’s energy transition. The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project, estimated to cost $26 billion, is a symbol of regional and international cooperation. It promises to transform the energy dynamics of West Africa while providing a solution to global challenges related to energy security and climate change.