TheCable

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) Limited says the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) project is critical for West Africa’s economic growth.

Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO), NNPCL, said this on Saturday in Morocco during the signing ceremony of the project’s memoranda of understanding (MoU).

The NNPC, Petrosen of Senegal and the Mauritanian company of hydrocarbons signed four MoUs, in furtherance of the implementation of the NMGP project.

The signing had in attendance, Amina Benkhadra, director general, National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines of Morocco (ONHYM); Adama Djallo, general manager, Petrosen Holdings of Senegal; and Tourad Abdoul Baghi, director general, SMH of Mauritania. 

In his remarks, Kyari said the project was to help improve the West African economy.

“The integration of West African economies through the NMGP is critical for the region’s economic growth. NNPCL is committed to converting the project into functional value for all transit nations,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Benkhadra said her organisation was committed towards the integration of West African economies through the project, which she said will help cut down greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and meet up with Europe’s gas requirements.

On his part, Djallo thanked the government of Mauritania for hosting the signing ceremony of the execution of the NNPC/ONHYM/Petrosen Tripartite MoU, adding that the Senegalese national oil company (NOC) will work with all partners to make the cooperation successful.

The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) project is an initiative of the federal government and the Kingdom of Morocco, conceived during the visit of King Mohammed VI of Morocco to Nigeria in December 2016.

It is aimed at monetising Nigeria’s natural gas resources, thereby generating additional revenue for the country, diversifying gas export routes and eliminating gas flaring.

Once completed, the proposed $25 billion NMGP project will supply about 3bscfd of gas along the West African Coast from Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Senegal and Mauritania to Morocco. 

Other benefits of the NMGP project include improving the living standards of people, integration of the economies within the sub-region and mitigating desertification through sustainable and reliable gas supply.

Last month, NNPCL signed the first agreement for the project with ONHYM and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).