The Alawi kingdom has already commissioned the preliminary engineering design of the pipeline and will soon be able to start supplying gas to Spain

Marruecos, cada vez más cerca de activar el gasoducto con Nigeria

photo_camera REUTERS/WOJCIECH KARDAS - The Moroccan-Nigerian gas pipeline is getting closer to becoming a reality. The project is already beginning to take shape thanks to the impetus of the Moroccan and Nigerian authorities, who confirm that it will soon be possible to start supplying gas to Spain.

The Moroccan-Nigerian gas pipeline is getting closer to becoming a reality. The project is already beginning to take shape thanks to the impetus of the Moroccan and Nigerian authorities, who confirm that it will soon be possible to start supplying gas to Spain. Morocco and Nigeria have already set in motion the creation of the project and have just confirmed the choice of the company that will be in charge of studying the preliminary engineering and design of the pipeline.

The two countries have chosen the Australian company Worley, a firm dedicated to the construction of energy-related projects in a more sustainable way. Worley announced to the press that it had won the tender to carry out the study prior to the construction of the pipeline.

"Also known as the African Atlantic gas pipeline, it will help boost local industries and economies by providing a reliable and sustainable source of energy. It will also support industrial development and create employment opportunities," says Worley.

The pipeline is one of Morocco and Nigeria's most eagerly awaited and efficient projects. When completed, it will become the longest offshore pipeline in the world, and the second longest after China's east-west pipeline. 

Fotografia de archivo, Maikanti Kacalla Baru, presidente y director general de la Compañía Nacional de Petróleo de Nigeria (izq.), y la directora general marroquí de la Junta Nacional de Hidrocarburos y Minas, Amina Benkhadra, firman los documentos del acuerdo de cooperación del proyecto de gasoducto Nigeria-Marruecos, que conectará las dos naciones, así como algunos otros países africanos, con Europa, en el Palacio del Rey en Rabat, Marruecos, 15 de mayo de 2017 PHOTO/REUTERS

"The pipeline, promoted by the Moroccan National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), will connect the two countries and will be more than 7,000 kilometres long," the energy company confirms.

It also says the pipeline will cross 13 West African countries and extend into Europe to provide resources to Spain. The pipeline will start in Nigeria and pass through Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania to Morocco. From there, the tunnel will be extended to supply gas to Europe.

Worley, for its part, has confirmed that it will mobilise its entire company to carry out this project. To this end, the general services are managed by Intecsea. The Dutch-based company has been innovating pipeline project technology for more than 30 years. The firm will oversee the project development and the engineering study.

On the other hand, the onshore scoping, environmental and social impact assessment and studies to purchase the land on which the pipeline will run will be carried out by the company's UK offices. The feasibility of the project will also be part of the company's network of offices spread across Africa and India.

Advisian, with offices in Madrid and the UK, another brand dedicated to the development of energy projects, will be in charge of exploring the acceleration of the electricity grid in the countries through which the pipeline will pass, as well as the feasibility of administering energy self-sufficiency to these countries.

PHOTO/ARCHIVE - The pipeline, promoted by Morocco's National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will connect the two countries and will stretch over 7,000 kilometres long

It should be noted that this is a highly sustainable and environmentally friendly project. Worley confirms that everything will be done to make the idea as climate and ecosystem friendly as possible.

"This is a project that not only looks at sustainability, but also contributes to boosting the regional economy and the development of local communities and is an incredible opportunity. It reflects our aim to deliver a more sustainable world. We look forward to working with ONHYM and NNPC as we move forward into a new chapter for West Africa," commented Ping Liu, CEO of Intecsea.

Funding for the project is largely provided by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). The bank reached an agreement with the Moroccan Ministry of Economy and ONHYM. As a result, the project will receive more than 90 million dollars for its study.

The determination to make this project a reality follows Algeria's decision to close the Maghreb-Europe pipeline after its diplomatic crisis with Morocco. The Kingdom has had to look for other alternatives, and the pipeline is expected to be of great benefit to the Kingdom in terms of weaning itself off its dependence on other energy powers

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