Morocco to extend gas network to Dakhla and connect to Atlantic African Gas Pipeline
The Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, announced on Monday at the House of Representatives that her department is working on launching a call for expressions of interest regarding the national gas network, with the goal of extending it to the city of Dakhla to connect to the Atlantic African Gas Pipeline (Nigeria-Morocco).
In response to an oral question about the latest developments of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, the minister specified that work is underway on the first phase, which includes the Senegal-Mauritania-Morocco axis. She added that the project has made significant progress, with the completion of feasibility and engineering studies, as well as ongoing field studies and environmental and social impact assessments.
In this context, the minister indicated that her department had held a series of meetings, culminating in the ministerial meeting of the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Morocco, and Mauritania at the end of 2024. This meeting resulted in the adoption of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) and the Host Government Agreement (HGA).
The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, now called the Atlantic African Gas Pipeline, is a strategic project aimed at boosting economic and industrial development. It also serves as a lever to accelerate access to the electricity network and create job opportunities. This project will position the kingdom as the only energy corridor connecting Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic basin, Benali emphasized.
The minister recalled that this project is part of the royal vision, which reflects Morocco's strong desire to enhance the access of Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean and promote economic integration.
This gas pipeline, which stretches over more than 6,800 kilometers and has a transport capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, continued Benali, will require a total investment estimated at 25 billion dollars and will prepare the region for the green hydrogen economy.
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