The future Trans-Saharan gas pipeline is poised to supply the international market, including Europe, with gas sourced from Algeria, Niger, and Nigeria, according to a statement from Niger's Ministry of Petroleum.
"The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline will traverse Niger for over 1,000 kilometers as part of a cooperative effort between Niger, Nigeria, and Algeria. Following earlier discussions, the ministers from the three countries have committed to the pipeline's implementation, which will deliver gas from these nations to the global market," stated Shaibu Ibra Abdul Nasser, the ministry's Director General of Hydrocarbons, as reported by the Niger's News Agency.
He noted that by 2027, the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline is expected to connect Nigeria to Algeria via Niger. Niger, which holds proven gas reserves exceeding 23 billion cubic meters, is prepared to contribute to this initiative, the official added.
"Once our gas enters the international market, we will reap substantial benefits," Abdul Nasser emphasized, adding that Niger will also gain from its role as a transit country for the pipeline.
An agreement to construct the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, which will span over 4,000 kilometers to transport gas from Nigeria to Algeria through Niger, was originally signed by the three countries' authorities in 2009. However, the project's progress was repeatedly delayed, partly due to the activities of the Niger Delta Liberation Movement. At the time of the agreement, the total investment required for the project was estimated at $10 billion.
In July 2022, amidst the energy crisis in Europe, Algeria, Abuja, and Niamey signed a memorandum of understanding to resume work on the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline project. The pipeline will extend from southern Nigeria to northern Algeria, where the gas will then be transported to Europe via the existing gas pipeline network. The planned capacity of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline is 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
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Based on TASS materials