Nigeria, together with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Morocco and Mauritania, has reaffirmed its commitment to the Atlantic African Gas Pipeline project, a $26 billion initiative aimed at connecting Nigeria with Morocco and extending to European markets. This collaboration was the focus of the ECOWAS inter-ministerial meeting held in Abuja, where strategies to advance the project were discussed.
The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) aims to transform the region’s economy by improving access to natural gas and promoting energy trade across West Africa. Mele Kyari, CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), highlighted the importance of the decisions taken at the meeting, which will shape the future of the project and benefit local communities.
The NMGP is based on Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserve and is divided into two main components: the West Africa Gas Pipeline extension and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, which will establish connections between at least 13 ECOWAS countries before being extended to Europe.
Laila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, and Sediko Douka, ECOWAS’s Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, expressed optimism about the project’s potential to generate employment and foster sustainable development in the region.
However, participants also recognized challenges, including securing continued financing and managing environmental impacts. Despite these obstacles, progress in engineering and environmental studies shows a commitment to address these challenges in a coordinated and innovative manner, reaffirming Africa as a key player in the global natural gas market.
Mauritania seeks to transform its energy sector to boost mining growth
Mauritania is in the process of modernizing its energy infrastructure to support the growth of its mining sector, which includes ambitious projects in iron ore mining and green hydrogen explorations. Mamadou Amadou Kane, advisor to the Minister of Energy Transformation, highlights that, for the first time, the country will integrate independent power producers (IPPs) to meet the needs of the sector.
The Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM), the state-owned mining giant, is at the center of this transition, starting with a 30 MW thermal power plant in Zouérat. In addition, the Tasiast gold mine is exploring solar options to supplement its energy consumption.
Reliable and sustainable energy is essential for SNIM, which produced more than 13 million tonnes of iron ore in 2022, to grow almost twice by 2030. Mauritania is also well-positioned to develop renewable energy projects thanks to its solar and wind potential, which will indirectly benefit mining operations by freeing up traditional energy resources.
Looking to the future, Mauritania aims to position itself as a green hydrogen hub, with projects such as those of Chariot and TotalEnergies underway, looking to produce hydrogen for export and domestic use. The creation of a reliable energy infrastructure will allow Mauritania to reduce the carbon footprint of its mining operations.
However, the country faces significant challenges, including limitations in infrastructure and power distribution, as well as a desert environment that complicates operations. Despite this, the government has introduced an energy master plan that supports the integration of private companies into the national grid.
Aspiring to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030, Mauritania is implementing programs such as Masdar’s rural electrification, which has benefited more than 39,000 households. In addition, financing agreements are being established with the African Development Bank for key projects, including an electricity interconnection with Mali and the creation of hybrid mini-grids.
With a commitment to reinvest mining revenues in social sectors and critical infrastructure, Mauritania seeks to diversify its economy and promote sustainable growth. With strategic investments and a focus on renewable energy, the country is ready to tap into its natural wealth and build a prosperous future.
Mauritania is taking ambitious steps to position itself as a producer and exporter of sustainable energy, gas and green hydrogen. In an interview, Minister Mohamed Ould Khaled discusses the importance of the BirAllah gas field and the need for a strategic partner for its development. This deposit, discovered in 2015, has significant reserves, but still requires technical studies to optimize a profitable development plan.
Ould Khaled highlights that the government has made important reforms to improve the investment climate in the energy sector, simplifying regulatory processes and offering tax incentives. The intention is to transform Mauritania into a regional energy hub, with a focus on synergy between the gas, electricity and mining sectors.
In addition, Ould Khaled says that the country’s political stability is key to attracting long-term investment, allowing major projects, such as the GTA, to start producing gas in the near future, which should generate substantial revenues and encourage local industrialization.
The minister also stresses that the recent green hydrogen code will be crucial to boost investment in this area, taking advantage of Mauritania’s potential in renewable energy thanks to its abundant sun and wind. Through the production of reliable and low-cost electricity using gas, the country aims to transform its industrial strategy, facilitating the production of green steel and other sustainable industries.
Finally, Ould Khaled envisions a future where Mauritania achieves universal access to sustainable energy by 2030, positioning itself as the region’s next energy hub through significant investments in key infrastructure.
At African Energy Week: Investing in African Energies, ExxonMobil and BP reaffirmed their commitment to oil and gas investment on the continent, seeking new partnerships to capitalize on growing energy demand.
ExxonMobil is leading the Rovuma LNG project in Mozambique, which is expected to produce 18 million tonnes of LNG per year. The company plans to make a final investment decision in early 2026. Frank Kretschmer, general manager of ExxonMobil Mozambique, stressed that the project will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also boost local businesses and create thousands of jobs.
On the other hand, BP is focusing its investments on the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project in Senegal and Mauritania, an innovative offshore LNG development that will produce 2.3 million tonnes per year over the next two decades. The project is moving into the operation phase, with a scheduled start later this year. Dave Campbell, BP’s senior vice president for Mauritania and Senegal, emphasized the importance of harmonizing regulations and focusing on local content, training a new generation of engineers through a training program in collaboration with local technicians.
Both companies underlined Africa’s relevance in the global energy system, both now and in the future, with a focus on sustainable energy solutions and reduced emissions.