Amid increasing interest from the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates has reportedly joined efforts to co-finance the $25 billion Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project.
Morocco’s Minister of Energy, Leila Benali, recently confirmed UAE’s involvement via a press statement, stressing that the project has also earned backing from top international institutions like the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the OPEC Fund, and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
In recent years, Morocco has focused on renewable energy development, technology localisation, and the establishment of local industrial supply chains to boost job creation, and this has gone a long way towards securing its growing position as a force to reckon with in the renewable energy sector.
The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, one of the continent’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, stretches 5,660 kilometres and is constructed to connect West Africa to Europe through Morocco.
First announced 9 years ago, during King Mohammed VI’s visit to Nigeria, the $25 billion initiative is set to traverse 13 nations as it links Nigeria to Morocco
Tipped to improve energy security for both coastal nations and the Alliance of Sahel States (ESA), the project will become the longest offshore gas pipeline the world has ever seen.
The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project has not stopped attracting major international interest since it was first mentioned, and the initiative even secured strategic backing from Jingye Group, a major Chinese steel producer, early this year.
Via its UK arm, Jingye British Steel, the company plans to supply top-quality steel products that are absolutely crucial for the pipeline’s construction.
Middle Eastern nations have also increased their investments in Africa lately. Reports have said Gulf nations have collectively shown interest in or sealed deals worth at least $6 billion in African energy assets in recent weeks.
