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Nigeria , Libya Explore Plans for 5,600km Gas Pipeline Project

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The Nigerian government has begun discussions with Libya regarding the construction of a gas pipeline connecting the two countries.

During a meeting at the Gastech Exhibition and Conference 2024 in Houston, USA, Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, shared this information with Libya’s Minister of Oil, Dr. Khalifa AbduAlsadik.

Ekpo highlighted that the proposed pipeline would extend from Nigeria to Libya, emphasizing the importance of this initiative in enhancing energy cooperation between the nations.

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He also took to X to announce: “Today, I met with Libya’s Oil Minister, Dr. Khalifa AbduAlsadik, to explore the potential for a regional gas pipeline from Nigeria to Libya at the Gastech Exhibition and Conference 2024 in Houston.

“This strategic meeting aims to strengthen energy cooperation between the two nations.

“On the Nigerian delegation were  Olalekan Ogunleye, EVP Gas NNPC Ltd,  Maher Giundi, International Business Advisor to the GCEO of NNPC and  Odiong Ekanem, Technical Adviser  to Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas); while the Libyan team had Dr. Basteet Al Ashab,  Khalid Jatbi and  Yousef Al Shatwi.”

The discussions about constructing a regional pipeline linking Nigeria and Libya have been ongoing, given that both countries are significant oil and gas producers in Africa.

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In 2022, Libya’s former Oil Minister, Mohamed Aoun, suggested that the $13 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) should route through Libya instead of Algeria, another resource-rich nation.

Once completed, this cross-border pipeline is expected to transport gas from Nigeria to various African countries and the European market.

It will stretch 5,600 kilometers, passing through 13 African nations: Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco.

Nigeria has been shifting from oil to gas for decades, motivated by its abundant gas reserves compared to its crude oil. This transition has been supported by President Tinubu’s recent executive orders aimed at enhancing the gas sector.

Additionally, President Tinubu inaugurated three gas plants in Delta and Imo states, aiming to increase gas production by at least 25 percent.

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On June 16, 2023, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) signed four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with five African nations as part of the NMGP project, finalizing agreements with Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Benin, and Guinea.

Furthermore, on January 30, the NNPC held discussions with a South Korean consortium led by Daewoo Engineering & Construction regarding gas development initiatives in Nigeria.

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