The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has granted approval to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, in agreement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), for the construction of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, disclosed this yesterday after the weekly meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja.
He said the project, which will traverse 15 West African countries to Morocco and Spain, was still at the front-end and engineering designing (FEED) stage, and the cost would be determined thereafter.
He said: “The Ministry of Petroleum Resources presented three memos to the Council.
In the first memo, the Council approved for the NNPC Ltd to execute a MoU with ECOWAS for the construction of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline.
“This gas pipeline is to take gas to 15 West African countries and Morocco and through Morocco to Spain and Europe.”
The Ministry of Petroleum Resources presented three memos to the Council. In the first memo, the Council approved for the NNPC Ltd to execute a MoU with ECOWAS for the construction of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline.
This decision follows the EU ban of 90% of Russian oil imports by the end of the year as part of sanctions against Moscow for invading Ukraine on Monday.
Sylva had said Nigeria was ready to offer its services as an alternative gas supplier to Europe through the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline.
Additionally, he said the Council also approved N3.8 billion for the construction of a switchgear room and installation of power distribution cables and equipment for the Nigeria Oil and Gas Park in Ogbia, Bayelsa State, which will support local manufacturing of components for the oil and gas industry.
The Minister added that FEC approved various contracts including the construction of an access road and bridges to the Brass Petroleum Product Terminal (BPPT) in Niger Delta for N10.5 billion plus 7.5% value added tax (VAT).
The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline was proposed in a December 2016, agreement between the NNPC and the Moroccan Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Moines (National Board of Hydrocarbons and Mines) (ONHYM).
