A joint declaration laying out the next steps for the completion of a gas pipeline deal between Nigeria and Morocco was on Sunday signed in Rabat, Morocco’s capital, at a ceremony chaired by King Mohammed VI and President Mohammadu Buhari.
A front-end engineering design (Feed) is to be launched as the next step by both countries. This will also involve other countries in the ECOWAS region to be crossed by the pipeline. It will further determine the amount of gas accessible for export to European off-takers. Also in this next step is the assessing of cost and funding from development banks.
Agreement on the deal was reached in December 2016 and feasibility studies launched, leading to the joint onshore, offshore project.
The two authorities overseeing the project; Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation-NNPC, and the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines in Morocco had in a joint statement said the decision for the collaboration was for economic, political, legal and security reasons.
The pipeline which will be 5,660 kilometres long, will be constructed in phases spanning 25years.
Image Credit: AFRIQUE TELEVISION
