Abuja, Nigeria – The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr Omar Touray, has urged member states to work together swiftly to make the African-Atlantic Gas Project (AAGP) a reality.
Dr Touray’s call to action was conveyed at a joint meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Hydrocarbons and Energy, with Morocco and Mauritania in attendance, held on Friday in Abuja.
The energy ministers’ meeting focused on advancing AAGP’s institutional framework to enhance access to natural gas across the region and facilitate expansion into global markets.
The AAGP is a 6,800-kilometer gas pipeline network that will traverse West Africa, with 5,100 kilometres offshore, linking Nigeria to Morocco and passing through several coastal nations, including Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Representing Dr Touray, Mr Sediko Douka, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, highlighted the project’s progress and emphasised its significance.
“We have reached a critical phase in the development of this project,” Douka said. “It is essential for all parties to urgently collaborate and ensure that it becomes a reality.”
Douka underscored that the AAGP would drive economic growth by bolstering electricity generation capacity and fostering industrial and agricultural development. “This project is vital for our region,” he stated.
“Increased access to natural gas will not only boost energy production but also help our countries contribute to climate change mitigation efforts through cleaner energy solutions,” he added.
To further diversify the region’s energy mix, Dr Touray urged ECOWAS member states to expand renewable energy usage, noting that the subregion’s reliance on renewables remains low.
“Currently, renewable energy sources, excluding hydroelectric power, account for only a marginal portion of our energy mix,” he said. “Overcoming our region’s energy challenges requires action to strengthen our energy sector.”
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Expo, echoed the potential impact of AAGP, describing it as crucial for Africa’s energy security.
“Connecting Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves to North Africa and Europe will not only drive economic growth but also open up new markets, foster job creation, and benefit communities along the pipeline route,” he said.
Expo also lauded the project as a significant step toward ECOWAS’ vision of an interconnected energy infrastructure.
“The draft agreement reaffirms our commitment to enhancing trade within ECOWAS and expanding access to natural gas in global markets,” he added.
The AAGP emerged from the merger of the West African Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP) and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP), approved by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government during their 63rd Ordinary Session on July 9, 2023.
As ECOWAS intensifies efforts to bolster energy security and economic integration, the AAGP stands as a flagship project poised to transform the West African energy landscape.
