Adopted by ECOWAS under its official name, the Atlantic Africa Pipeline, the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline project embodies a Pan-African ambition: connecting 13 Atlantic coastal countries and 3 non-coastal nations to address Africa's energy and industrial challenges.
The Atlantic Africa Pipeline (AAP), the new official designation of the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline, symbolizes a significant step forward in Africa's energy and economic integration. This project, spearheaded by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and part of Morocco’s “Royal Atlantic Initiative”, aims to tackle energy security challenges while promoting sustainable socio-economic development on a regional scale.
On December 16, during the ECOWAS Conference in Abuja, a decisive step was taken toward the realization of the AAP. Member states adopted an intergovernmental agreement defining the legal and technical foundations of this ambitious project. This adoption paves the way for an official signing ceremony, expected before June 2025, confirming the collective commitment of participating countries.
Stretching over more than 5,600 kilometers, the pipeline route will connect 13 coastal countries, including Benin, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal, as well as non-Atlantic nations like Mali and Burkina Faso. This large-scale energy corridor will transport Nigeria’s abundant natural gas to Morocco while supplying the countries along its path, thereby consolidating their energy sovereignty.
The AAP represents more than just infrastructure: it is part of a strategy for energy transformation and industrialization of West African economies. By facilitating access to clean and affordable energy, this project will help reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels while electrifying rural areas that have long been marginalized.
As part of the “Royal Atlantic Initiative”, Morocco advocates an inclusive approach aimed at strengthening cooperation among African countries around shared objectives. This vision reflects a commitment to building energy resilience while stimulating job creation and improving the living conditions of local populations.
Significant Economic and Social Impact
The economic and social impact of the AAP promises to be substantial. This project is expected to attract massive investments, generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the construction, maintenance, and management of energy infrastructure sectors.
Furthermore, it aims to modernize local infrastructure while fostering rural electrification. Increased energy access is anticipated to enhance the industrial competitiveness of the involved economies, reducing production costs and stimulating the creation of local added value.
The financing of the AAP, estimated at several billion dollars, represents a considerable challenge. However, international financial institutions such as the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank have expressed interest. The involvement of the private sector, sovereign wealth funds, and major oil companies will also be crucial to ensuring the project's economic viability.
ECOWAS has already called on development partners and investors to actively participate in this strategic initiative, which will benefit not only the transit countries but the entire African continent.
The Atlantic Africa Pipeline is not limited to a purely energy-driven dimension. It embodies a shared commitment by African nations to unite around a structuring and forward-looking project. By reducing energy disparities and creating shared economic and social opportunities, the AAP aligns with a dynamic of cooperation and integration for a sustainable African future.
