Algeria, Nigeria and Niger have signed a memorandum of understanding to relaunch the Trans-Sahara gas pipeline project, Algeria Press Service reported on Friday.
The memorandum was signed during a trilateral meeting attended by Algerian Energy and Mines Minister Mohamed Arkab, Nigerian Minister for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva and Energy and Renewable Energy Minister of Niger Mahamane Sani Mahamadou.
It is assumed that the 4,000 km long trunk pipeline will be used to transport gas from Nigeria to Algeria. From there, Nigerian gas can be exported to Europe via the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline, which connects Algeria and Italy, or in the form of liquefied natural gas.
The agreement to build the Trans-Sahara gas pipeline was signed by the authorities of Algeria, Nigeria and Niger back in 2009. However, the project has been repeatedly postponed, including due to the activities of the rebel Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta. According to France-Presse, at the time the agreement was signed, the total investment in the project was estimated at $10 bln.
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Based on materials from TASS