**African Atlantic Pipeline Receives Major Backing from West African Leaders**
West African leaders have taken a significant step towards enhancing energy cooperation in the region by signing an intergovernmental agreement to support the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline. The agreement was formalized on Sunday during a summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held in Sierra Leone. This ambitious multibillion-dollar project aims to transport natural gas from Nigeria along the Atlantic coast to Morocco, creating a new energy corridor that could connect West Africa with European markets.
The agreement establishes a common legal framework for the participating countries involved in the project, although it does not represent a final investment decision. A joint statement released by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Morocco’s Office National of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) highlighted that the nearly 6,900-kilometer pipeline is projected to cost approximately $25 billion.
Once completed, the pipeline is expected to have the capacity to transport up to 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. It will traverse 13 West African nations and include interconnections that will serve landlocked countries in the Sahel region. The project also has the potential to link with the existing Maghreb-Europe gas network, thereby facilitating access to European markets.
The idea for the pipeline was first initiated by Nigeria and Morocco in 2016, with ECOWAS formally joining the initiative in 2022 through a memorandum of understanding signed with NNPC and ONHYM. Nigeria, recognized as one of Africa’s leading energy producers, was reported to be the sixth-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas in 2024, according to the US Energy Information Administration. In contrast, Morocco relies heavily on fossil fuel imports and aims to leverage the pipeline to bolster its status as an energy transit hub between West Africa and Europe.
However, the project has not been without its challenges. Concerns regarding financing and security risks have been raised, particularly given the pipeline's extensive route through various countries. Environmental and civil society groups have also voiced their opposition to the project. In 2018, a coalition of 40 organizations, including ATTAC Morocco, Nigeria’s Health of Mother Earth Foundation, and 350 Africa, argued that the pipeline would exacerbate fossil fuel extraction and contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Additionally, the planned route through Western Sahara—a territory that is subject to a territorial dispute claimed by Morocco—has attracted criticism from activists. They contend that any infrastructure development in the region should require the consent of the indigenous Sahrawi population.
The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline is not the only project vying for attention in the region. It faces competition from the proposed Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, which aims to transport Nigerian gas to Europe through Niger and Algeria. Algeria, the largest natural gas producer in Africa, has expressed a renewed interest in reviving this long-discussed project, with agreements reached in February to restart work after years of delays.
As the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline moves forward, its impact on regional energy dynamics and international markets will be closely monitored. The support from ECOWAS leaders marks a crucial milestone in the development of this ambitious energy corridor, with the potential to reshape the energy landscape in West Africa and beyond.