President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray,
has called on Member States to collaborate and expedite action toward ensuring
that the African-Atlantic gas project (AAGP) becomes a reality.
Touray made the plea at a joint meeting of the
Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Ministers of Hydrocarbons
and Energy, with Morocco and Mauritania participating, on Friday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the
energy ministers’ meeting was to deliberate on AAGP’s institutional agreements
to facilitate regional access to natural gas and expansion across global
markets
It is a 6,800km gas pipeline network within the ECOWAS
subregion, 5,100 kilometres on offshore from Nigeria to Morocco, passing
through the coastal countries to Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The president , who was represented by the Mr Sediko
Douka, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, said
the project had already reached a critical stage of its implementation.
He said the main objective of the meeting was to
provide an update on the overall progress of the project, and present to them
the latest versions of the community texts.
“We have reached a critical phase in the development
of this project, and it is essential for all parties to urgently collaborative
and ensure that it becomes a reality.
“This project is of vital importance for our region,
as increased access to natural gas will not only boost our electricity
production/generation capacity, but will also drive economic, industrial, and
agricultural growth across the region.
“As a transitional energy source, abundant natural gas
usage in the region will support our countries in contributing to global
climate change efforts, advancing clean and sustainable mobility, and promoting
the use of clean cooking solutions,” he said.
Touray also urged member states to boost renewable
energy, saying it was essential to develop strategies, initiatives, action
plans, and regulatory frameworks to increase its share in the subregion’s
energy mix.
“Currently, the use of renewable energy in our region
is marginal, apart from hydroelectric sources, which themselves are
underutilised, that is, only at 20 per cent.
“For us, the main challenges facing the ECOWAS region
are the shortage of energy production capacity and the need to cover energy
demand, as well as access issues.
“This Forum therefore provides an opportunity to take
measures to strengthen our regional structures in the energy sector, each of
which is experiencing its challenges,” the president said.
Also speaking, Nigeria’s Minister of State for
Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Expo, said that the proposed
African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) when operational will bolster Africa’s
energy security and unlock new markets.
According to him, linking Nigeria’s natural gas
reserves to North Africa and Europe would expand opportunities for economic
growth, job creation, industrialisation, and benefiting communities across the
linkage countries.
He described the AAGP as a crucial step toward
achieving the vision of an integrated hydrocarbon and energy infrastructure
within Africa and a reflection of ECOWAS’ strategic vision for a connected and
economically vibrant pipeline network.
“The draft agreement is therefore an affirmation of
our commitment to enhance trade within ECOWAS and other African countries,
facilitating natural gas access across the region, and expansion in global gas
markets,” he said.
NAN reports that AAGP is the outcome of the merging of
West African Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP) and Nigeria-Morocco Gas
Pipeline Project (NMGP) into a single gas power plant project.
The merger was approved by ECOWAS Heads of State and
Government at their 63rd Ordinary Session of the on July 9, 2023.
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