Nigeria begins talk with Libya for construction of regional gas pipeline project 

The Nigeria government has commenced discussion with the north African country, Libya, for a gas pipeline construction project between both country.

This was hinted by the Minister of Petroleum (gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, while meeting with the Libya’s Minister of Oil, Dr. Khalifa AbduAlsadik, on the sidelines of the Gastech Exhibition and Conference 2024 holding in Houston, USA.

Ekpo said the potential gas pipeline would begin from Nigeria to Libya.

According to him, this strategic meeting aims to strengthen energy cooperation between the two nations

Taking to his X handle, Ekpo said:

“Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas),Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, meets with Libya’s Minister of Oil, Dr. Khalifa AbduAlsadik, on the sidelines of the Gastech Exhibition and Conference 2024 holding in Houston, USA, to discuss the possibility of developing a regional gas pipeline from Nigeria to Libya.  

“This strategic meeting aims to strengthen energy cooperation between the two nations. 

“On the Nigerian delegation were  Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, EVP Gas NNPC Ltd, Mr. Maher Giundi, International Business Advisor to the GCEO of NNPCL and Mr. Odiong Ekanem, Technical Adviser  to Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas); while the Libyan team had Dr. Basteet Al Ashab, Mr. Khalid Jatbi and  Mr. Yousef Al Shatwi.”  

Backstory 

The discussion surrounding the construction of a regional pipeline between Nigeria and Libya has been ongoing for some time, as both nations are key oil and gas producers in Africa.

In 2022, the then Libya’s Oil Minister, Mohamed Aoun, proposed that the ongoing $13 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) from Nigeria should pass through Libya instead of Algeria, another resource-rich African country.

The cross-border pipeline is expected to transport gas from Nigeria to other African nations and the European market upon completion.

The pipeline spans 5,600 km and will traverse 13 African countries: Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco.

What you should know 

Nigeria’s transition from oil to gas in the oil and gas sector has been ongoing for decades, driven by the country’s vast gas reserves compared to its crude oil reserves.

According to the latest data from the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NURPC), Nigeria’s crude oil reserves stand at 37 billion barrels, while the country boasts a gas reserve of approximately 202 trillion cubic feet (tcf), with about 139.4 tcf being recoverable.

This shift towards gas was further reinforced by President Tinubu through the signing of new executive orders aimed at boosting the gas industry.

Additionally, President Tinubu inaugurated three gas plants to enhance gas production in the country by at least 25%.

These plants are located in Delta and Imo states, respectively.