فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Rabat – Media reports have revealed a notable shift in the United States’ stance towards the ambitious gas pipeline project linking Nigeria and Morocco, passing through West African nations, with Washington expressing strong interest in funding the massive undertaking. Or Noir Africa newspaper quoted Nigerian Finance Minister Wale Edun as confirming the robust support from the United States for this strategic initiative, describing it as a “crucial step” for energy security on both African and European levels.
The Nigerian Minister emphasized that this monumental project would bring about a qualitative transformation in the regional and international energy landscape, stating, “This is a major step forward for energy security on both continents, as the pipeline will benefit approximately 34 million people living along the African Atlantic coast, and it will also represent a vital alternative energy source for the European continent.”
Edun pointed out that the confirmation of this strong US support followed a series of high-level meetings between the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and senior officials at the US State Department. During these meetings, Washington expressed its readiness to inject billions of dollars into this strategic project, a move observers see as bolstering the United States’ influence in a vital region and supporting efforts to diversify traditional energy supply sources.
This significant development comes just days after the United Arab Emirates announced its contribution to the project’s financing with $25 million, a step described by experts as putting the project on a practical and executive track towards completion.
The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline extends for approximately 5,660 kilometers, with an estimated total cost of around $25 billion. The pipeline is planned to traverse thirteen African countries: Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and1 finally Morocco. The ambitious project aims to directly connect the rich natural gas resources of Africa with European markets, which will contribute to diversifying supply sources and strengthening regional economic integration.
The specialized energy newspaper highlighted that the anticipated US support would significantly accelerate the pace of implementation of this strategic project, which would positively impact the strengthening of economic ties between the participating countries, stimulate sustainable development efforts at the regional level, and create thousands of new job opportunities and support local economies along the pipeline’s route.
In conclusion, the newspaper noted that the financial and logistical aspects of the project are still under study and development, but this strong commitment from the United States represents a pivotal and important milestone in the path of Atlantic cooperation and major energy projects in the African continent, and could serve as a model for other ambitious infrastructure initiatives across the continent.
