By Bassey Udo
Project is strategic Nigeria’s plan to create wealth, reduce carbon emission in Africa, says Kyari
Nigeria made a bold statement about commitment to the global energy transition agenda, as the national oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited ON Thursday led its partners to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the execution of the multi-billion dollar Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project.
The agreement signing ceremony held in Morocco was between the representatives of the NNPC, ONHYM and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), 2021 on the one hand, and NNPC, ONHYM and SMH, and as well as NNPC, ONHYM and PETROSEN, on the other.
ONHYM is the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines of Morocco.
During the occasion, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, described the gas pipeline project as part of Nigeria’s strategic plan to mobilise its natural resources to create wealth improve the standard of living of countries within the African region.
Kyari said the project would also help in the mitigation of the desertification crisis and ensure the realization of other benefits that would accrue as a result of the reduction in carbon emissions.
Deescribing the MoU signing as a very important milestone in the Nigeria Morocco Gas Pipeline project, Kyari it reaffirms the commitment of stakeholders to deliver on the project.
The NNPC, he said, was well positioned to progress with the execution of the project by leveraging on its vast experience and technical capabilities ranging from gas production, processing, transmission and marketing as well as its experience in executing major gas infrastructure projects in Nigeria.
From inception of the project to this stage, Kyari said concerted efforts have been made by the Nigerian government and Morocco which led to the achievements recorded so far.
He expressed appreciation to King Mohammed VI of Morocco and President Muhammadu Buhari for entrusting the NNPC Ltd with this 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 energize the countries along the trans-saharan route.
“Some of the benefits include creation of wealth and improvement in standard of living, integration of the economies within the region, mitigation against desertification and other benefits that will accrue as a result of reduction in carbon emissions,” Kyari said.
He said the NNPC Limited, on its part, would 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 13 stations earmarked along the pipeline route.
The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) Project, which is an initiative of the Nigerian government and the Kingdom of Morocco, was conceived during the visit of King Mohammed VI of Morocco to Nigeria in December 2016.
The Project is aimed monetizing Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources, to generate additional revenue for the country, ensure the diversification of Nigeria’s gas export routes, and eliminate gas flaring as part of the country’s commitment to the global energy transition agenda.
Also, the project would assist in supplying gas to Morocco, 13 members of ECOWAS and Europe, ensure the integration of the economies of the Sub-Regional,
improve the living standards of people within the Sub-Region.
,
It would also help create wealth and ensure poverty alleviation, assist in the fight against the desertification through sustainable and reliable gas supply as well as provide avenue for other countries along the pipeline route to develop and export their gas resources.
The 48 inch pipeline will cover a distance of over 5,300 Kilometres (Offshore from Brass Island in Nigeria to Dakhla in Morocco).
Another 56 inch pipeline would run though over 1,700 Km (onshore from Dakhla in Morocco to the Maghreb European Pipeline (MEP), with a total length of about over 7,000 Km and about thirteen (Compressor Stations.
The pipeline would be connected to the existing network originating from Algeria (via Morocco) to Spain.
Its one of Africa’s strategic pipeline system to convey Nigeria’s gas resources for supply to the European market, to help solve the energy crisis as a result the current Russian war in Ukraine.
