Officials from Algeria, Nigeria, and Niger have signed new agreements to expedite the long-awaited Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP), a massive infrastructure project that aims to transport natural gas from Nigeria to Europe.
The deal, signed during a ministerial meeting in Algiers, focuses on updating the feasibility study and securing necessary financial and logistical frameworks to accelerate the project’s development.
Initially announced in 2009, the pipeline is designed to span 4,128 kilometers (2,565 miles) from Nigeria, passing through Niger and ending in Algeria.
From there, the gas could be transported via the undersea Transmed pipeline to Italy or exported as liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The project has gained renewed urgency due to surging global energy demand and price volatility following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Algerian Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab emphasized that the feasibility update would determine the financial and technical requirements needed to implement the project efficiently and competitively. However, no revised cost estimate was provided, with initial projections pegging it at $10 billion.
With Europe increasingly seeking alternatives to Russian gas, the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline could become a critical energy link, strengthening Africa’s role in the global energy market while boosting economic cooperation between the participating nations.
