Morocco's Pursuit of Financial Backing for AAGP
Morocco is amplifying its efforts to secure financing for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), a significant infrastructure project that aims to connect gas reserves across West Africa. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Morocco's ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, highlighted that recent disruptions in energy supply in the Middle East—stemming from the ongoing conflict with Iran—have strengthened the case for this pipeline project. Consequently, Rabat is engaging in discussions with the U.S. Export-Import Bank (US-Exim Bank) and the World Bank to attract financial support for this ambitious endeavor, which is projected to cost around $26 billion.
A spokesperson from the US-Exim Bank confirmed to Bloomberg that preliminary exploratory talks regarding the project are underway. However, the World Bank declined to comment further on the discussions. The lack of detailed updates on the negotiations leaves uncertainties surrounding the financial commitments necessary for the project.
On July 19, 2026, the pipeline project received a significant political endorsement when the heads of state from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) signed an intergovernmental agreement officially supporting the initiative. This agreement is expected to strengthen Morocco's position in securing the required investment for the pipeline.
Project Details and Challenges Ahead
The AAGP, which is set to span approximately 6,800 kilometers, aims to link gas fields in Nigeria, Senegal, and Mauritania along the West African Atlantic coast. It will eventually connect to the existing Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline leading to Spain. According to the Moroccan energy company ONHYM, which is developing the project in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), the pipeline is designed to transport around 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. About half of this capacity is earmarked for the Moroccan market, while the remaining 15 billion cubic meters are intended for European markets.
Current plans anticipate that construction will commence in 2028, contingent upon securing financial commitments. Initial gas deliveries could begin as early as 2031, but the timeline remains uncertain. Despite the political progress made, financing continues to pose the most significant challenge to the project's realization. Experts also point to the organizational and technical complexities of a project involving multiple nations.
Anne-Sophie Corbeau, a research scientist at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, noted ongoing operational and supply disruptions affecting the West African Gas Pipeline, which runs between Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana. She also questioned the necessity of extending the pipeline to Europe, given that the European Union is gradually reducing its dependence on fossil fuels. Many European nations, in light of recent energy crises, are striving to diversify their gas supplies. The timeline for international financial commitments remains uncertain, and these will significantly influence whether the planned construction start date in 2028 can be met.
As reported by maghreb-post.de.
