Oil & Gas

NIGERIA: The Nigerian government has initiated discussions with Libya regarding the construction of a gas pipeline that would connect the two nations. This was revealed by Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, during a meeting with Libya’s Minister of Oil, Dr. Khalifa AbduAlsadik, at the Gastech Exhibition and Conference 2024 in Houston, USA. The proposed pipeline aims to facilitate energy cooperation and strengthen ties between the two key oil and gas producers in Africa.

During the meeting, Ekpo highlighted the strategic importance of the pipeline project, which would transport gas from Nigeria to Libya. The Nigerian delegation included senior officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and other key advisors, while the Libyan team also featured prominent representatives. The discussions are part of ongoing efforts to enhance regional energy collaboration and explore mutual benefits in the gas sector.

This initiative follows a prior proposal made in 2022 by Libya’s then-Oil Minister, Mohamed Aoun, suggesting that the $13 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) should pass through Libya rather than Algeria. The proposed pipeline, spanning 5,600 kilometers, is designed to transport gas from Nigeria to several other African nations and eventually to European markets, thus expanding Nigeria's gas export capabilities.

Nigeria is strategically transitioning from oil to gas, given its abundant gas reserves, which total approximately 202 trillion cubic feet (tcf), compared to 37 billion barrels of crude oil reserves. This shift has been underscored by recent executive orders signed by President Tinubu, aimed at boosting the gas industry, alongside the inauguration of three new gas plants intended to increase production capacity significantly.