The Nigerian government has initiated discussions with Libya regarding the construction of a regional gas pipeline between the two countries. Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, revealed this development during a meeting with Libya’s Minister of Oil, Dr. Khalifa AbduAlsadik, at the ongoing Gastech Exhibition and Conference 2024 in Houston, USA.
Ekpo stated that the proposed gas pipeline would run from Nigeria to Libya, aiming to strengthen energy cooperation between the two nations.
Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Ekpo wrote:
“Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, met with Libya’s Minister of Oil, Dr. Khalifa AbduAlsadik, on the sidelines of the Gastech Exhibition and Conference 2024 in Houston, USA, to discuss the possibility of developing a regional gas pipeline from Nigeria to Libya. This strategic meeting aims to enhance energy cooperation between the two nations.”
Representing the Nigerian delegation were Olalekan Ogunleye, EVP of Gas at NNPC Ltd.; Maher Giundi, International Business Advisor to the GCEO of NNPC; and Odiong Ekanem, Technical Adviser to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas). The Libyan delegation included Dr. Basteet Al Ashab, Khalid Jatbi, and Yousef Al Shatwi.
Discussions regarding the construction of a regional pipeline between Nigeria and Libya have been ongoing for some time. Both nations are significant oil and gas producers in Africa. In 2022, Libya’s then Minister of Oil, Mohamed Aoun, proposed that the ongoing $13 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) should pass through Libya instead of Algeria, another resource-rich African country.
The cross-border pipeline is expected to transport gas from Nigeria to other African nations and the European market upon completion. The pipeline, spanning 5,600 kilometers, will traverse 13 African countries: Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco.
Nigeria has been transitioning from oil to gas in the energy sector for decades, given its vast gas reserves compared to crude oil. This shift was further emphasized by President Bola Tinubu through the signing of executive orders aimed at boosting the gas industry. President Tinubu also inaugurated three gas plants to enhance production by at least 25%, with these plants located in Delta and Imo states.
On June 16, 2023, NNPC signed four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with five African countries as part of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) project. The agreements were with Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Benin, and Guinea.
Earlier this year, on January 30, NNPC also held discussions with a South Korean consortium led by Daewoo Engineering & Construction (Daewoo E&C) about the development of gas resources in Nigeria.