Nigeria and Morocco Seek US Funding for Ambitious Atlantic Gas Pipeline Linking West Africa to Europe
Nigeria and Morocco have formally approached the United States government seeking financial support for a colossal infrastructure project that would lay a new natural gas pipeline along the Atlantic coast, running from Nigeria through five West African nations before reaching Morocco and ultimately connecting to European energy networks.
The proposed pipeline — estimated to cost upwards of $25 billion — would be one of the most ambitious energy infrastructure projects ever attempted on the continent. It is designed to unlock gas reserves in the Niger Delta and beyond, giving landlocked Sahelian nations access to export markets while providing a new source of cleaner energy for countries that currently rely heavily on oil and charcoal.
A Long-Discussed Vision Gets Serious
Talks about a trans-West African gas pipeline have been circulating for nearly a decade. The concept gained new momentum after Morocco and Nigeria signed a memorandum of understanding two years ago, but funding remained the central obstacle. The involvement of the United States — potentially through the US International Development Finance Corporation or a structured loan guarantee — marks the most concrete step yet toward realisation.
US officials have confirmed preliminary discussions are underway but caution that no commitment has been made. A full feasibility study, expected to take at least 18 months, will be required before any financing decision.
The project has been warmly received by Western diplomats who see it as a counterweight to Russian influence in the region and a way to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian gas through diversified African supply routes. African advocates, however, note that the pipeline’s primary benefit should be to African consumers first.
Benefits and Concerns Along the Route
Six countries would host segments of the pipeline: Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Morocco. Each would gain access to gas supply for power generation and industrial use — a particularly significant prospect for coastal nations currently dependent on expensive diesel generation.
For Nigeria, the pipeline offers a way to monetise gas reserves that are currently flared — burned off as a waste product in oil fields — at an estimated value of billions of dollars annually. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company estimates that full utilisation of its associated gas reserves could generate revenues comparable to the country’s current crude oil exports.
Environmental groups have raised concerns about the carbon intensity of the project and whether adequate safeguards will be built in. They argue that the capital would be better directed toward renewable energy infrastructure, particularly given West Africa’s exceptional solar and geothermal potential.
European Interest Is Real
European energy companies have been quietly lobbying their governments to support the pipeline, seeing it as a strategic asset in a post-Russian supply landscape. Spain and Portugal in particular have signalled interest in purchasing any gas that reaches Morocco’s northern coast.
Whether the project proceeds will ultimately depend on whether the financing gap can be closed — and on the political commitment of the six governments along the route, several of which have experienced instability in recent years. If it does proceed on the timeline being discussed, construction could begin within the next four years.
