Hespress ENSunday 19 July 2026 – 22:13
Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) signed an intergovernmental agreement on Sunday establishing the framework for the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic gas pipeline, a major energy infrastructure project expected to transport natural gas from Nigeria to Morocco before connecting to Europe’s gas network.
The agreement was signed during the ECOWAS summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, marking a significant step forward for the project, which was launched by King Mohammed VI and former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and continues to enjoy the support of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The nearly 6,800-kilometer pipeline is being developed jointly by Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).
The signing formalizes the participation of ECOWAS member states in the project and paves the way for its next stages, including the establishment of a project company headquartered in Casablanca and the creation of a governing body, the Pipeline Higher Authority, which will be based in Abuja.
The project will then move toward attracting investors and preparing for the final investment decision.
Morocco and Mauritania, which are not members of ECOWAS, are expected to sign the agreement separately at a later date in a ceremony to be attended by the Nigerian president.
Once completed, the pipeline will cross 13 countries along Africa’s Atlantic coast and connect to the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline in northern Morocco. It is expected to transport up to 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually, with as much as 15 billion cubic meters destined for Morocco and European markets, while the remainder will supply regional demand.
The project, estimated to cost around $25 billion, aims to create an integrated natural gas market in West Africa, support electricity generation and industrial development, and enhance the value of the continent’s natural re
The first sections of the pipeline are expected to become operational early in the next decade.
Originally conceived as a strategic partnership between Morocco and Nigeria, the Atlantic gas pipeline has evolved into a regional initiative backed by ECOWAS member states, strengthening its political and institutional foundations.
According to ONHYM and NNPC, the main technical, environmental and engineering studies have already been completed, allowing the project to gradually enter its operational development phase once Morocco and Mauritania formally join the agreement.
Beyond its energy role, the pipeline is expected to serve as a corridor for economic development by linking African economies and promoting regional integration and competitiveness.
ECOWASNigeria-Morocco Gas PipelineONHYMWest Africa
