Nigeria eyes more revenue as NNPC signs gas pipeline agreement with Morocco

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) project will create wealth and improve the standard of living.

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

The NNPC, National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines of Morocco (ONHYM) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) signed the agreement. 

Other agreements were between NNPC, ONHYM and Mauritanian Hydrocarbons Company (SMH) of Mauritania, as well as NNPC, ONHYM and Petrosen of Senegal. 

BREAKING:

Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project Kicks Off…As @nnpclimited, ONHYM, @ecowas_cedeao Sign MoU in Rabat, Morocco.#EnergyforToday #EnergyforTomorrow #NMGP #DecadeofGas #NigeriaMoroccoGasPipelineProject

Details soon… pic.twitter.com/oA9Vyu72OU

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— NNPC Limited (@nnpclimited) September 15, 2022

Kyari described the signing as an important milestone in the NMGP project as it reaffirms the commitment of stakeholders to deliver on the project.

He said concerted efforts by the Nigerian government and the Kingdom of Morocco led to commendable achievements.

The NNPC GMD expressed appreciation to King Mohammed VI of Morocco and President Muhammadu Buhari for entrusting NNPC Limited with the strategic project.

“As you are aware, our countries stand to benefit immeasurably from the execution of the project, which extends beyond the supply of gas to energise the countries along the route,” he said. 

“Some of the benefits include the creation of wealth and improvement in the standard of living, integration of the economies within the region, mitigation against desertification and other benefits that will accrue as a result of a reduction in carbon emission. 

“I am glad to say that NNPC is well positioned to progress the project by leveraging our experience and technical capabilities ranging from gas production, processing, transmission and marketing as well as our vast experience in executing major gas infrastructure projects in Nigeria.

“On our part, NNPC Limited will facilitate the continuous supply of gas and provide other enablers such as the required land for the first compressor station for the pipeline to be deployed in Nigeria, which is among the thirteen stations earmarked along the pipeline route.

“On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, I would like to thank you all as we continue to strengthen our partnership for the benefit of our countries.”

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 project is expected to supply about 3 billion standard cubic feet per day of gas along the West African coast from Nigeria to Morroco, 13 ECOWAS countries and Europe. 

The pipeline will originate from Brass island, Bayelsa and terminate in the north of Morocco, where it will be connected to the existing Maghreb European Pipeline (MEP) that originates from Algeria — via Morocco — to Spain.