TE24 International Desk:
African energy giants Algeria, Nigeria and Niger signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday on a massive gas pipeline project that offers Europe a possible future alternative to Russian supplies. The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) will transport billions of cubic meters of gas.
About 4,128 km (2,565 mi) north of Nigeria in West Africa via Niger to Algeria. From there it can be pumped to Italy via Transmed pipelines under the Mediterranean Sea, or loaded onto liquefied natural gas tankers for export.
On Thursday, Algerian Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab hosted his counterparts from Nigeria and Niger, Timipre Silva and Mahamane Sani, for talks on the project, state news agency APS reported. The contents of the MoU have not been disclosed, but are long-dormant.
Interest in the project has increased in recent months as gas prices have risen following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine When the TSGP was first proposed in 2009, it was estimated to cost $10 billion to build As well as serving European markets, gas can be diverted along pipeline routes or to serve markets elsewhere in the Sahel region.
Algeria, Africa’s biggest natural gas exporter, has already seen demand rise after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, with Western nations scrambling around the world to find supplies to replace oil and gas from Russia. Algiers is looking for more ways to capitalize on higher global energy prices. But the TSGP will face formidable logistical and security challenges, traversing thousands of kilometers of desert where jihadist groups have waged a long insurgency.
Such a pipeline would be extremely vulnerable, not only to attacks by jihadists, but also by local communities if they feel they are being exploited by a project from which they are not benefiting,” said Geoff D. Porter, an energy expert. North Africa Risk Consulting “And then, who’s going to fund it?” Facebook Sharing Button Twitter Sharing Button Messenger Sharing Button WhatsApp Sharing Button Share This Sharing Button.
