On the sidelines of the 3rd ECOWAS Mines and Petroleum Exhibition Forum (ECOMOF 2022), which takes place from February 16 to 18 in Niamey, the ministers in charge of petroleum resources from Nigeria, Niger and Algeria signed a tripartite declaration called the “Niamey Declaration”, for the relaunch of the ambitious and old “Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline” Project (TSGP).
With a length of 4128 kilometers, this gas pipeline will leave from Warri in Nigeria and end in Hassi R’Mel in Algeria via Niger. It should enable Europe to diversify its sources of natural gas supply and the three producing countries to reap substantial benefits both in terms of income and job creation.
The ” Niamey Declaration ” for the relaunch of this old and strategic project with promising potential was signed on Wednesday, February 15, 2022, at the end of a tripartite meeting that brought together the Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energies of Niger, Mr. Mahamane Sani Mahamadou, the Minister of Petroleum Resources of Nigeria, Mr. Timipre Sylva, and the Minister of Energy and Mines of Algeria, Mr. Mohamed Arkab on the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project ( TSGP).
This meeting, which was held at the initiative of Niger, focused on relaunching this important project. It led to the decision to set up a Task Force which will meet regularly in order to work in this direction and above all to accelerate the implementation of the commitments made by each of the stakeholders.
During his speech at this meeting, the Minister of Niger praised the excellent relations that Niger maintains with its two neighboring countries, which moreover facilitated the many bilateral discussions that were held upstream to lead to this decision to reactivate and complete this project which is so important for the three countries. He assured the other partners of his personal commitment as well as the firm will of the Nigerien authorities to do everything possible to contribute to its success.
The Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources of Nigeria, Mr. Timipre Sylva, went in the direction while highlighting the importance of this strategic project for African integration, especially in the current global context. “Today, with the increasingly pronounced abandonment of investors with the fossil resources that we have considered until now to be the main pillars of our economies, one of the ways in which we can come together to combat the consequences of this type of divestment from our sector, is for us, African countries, to unite and collaborate on projects capable of reducing the heavy burdens that weigh on each country taken individually”, announced the representative of Nigeria, guest of honor at ECOMOF 2022. He expressed his country’s commitment to contribute to the relaunch of the project, noting that Nigeria is already planning to launch the construction of the largest part of the trans-Saharan gas pipeline which is on its territory and which is 614 km long, which should reduce the cost of the project. “As of today, we are making a commitment to build our part of the gas pipeline which goes to Kano, on the border with Niger, and thus allow the gas pipeline to continue on Niger and reach Algeria. I am delighted to see that my brothers from other countries are also so committed to this project,” rejoiced Minister Timipre Sylva.
For the Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr. Mohamed Arkab, “the success of this project will result in growth gains and therefore, the development of the three countries, the development of the regions where the gas pipeline will cross” He, therefore, considered that it is a very important project that the three countries have every interest in bringing to a successful conclusion. ” Algeria attaches to the gas pipeline project the importance it deserves and which will allow it to be carried out in the time allowed because what is currently happening on the gas market and on-demand, is a new demonstration of the acuity of the project”, explained Minister Arkab. “We are going together to set up a plan, a roadmap and a very detailed schedule, to go until the outcome and the success of this project and we are committed before you, we Algeria, to make available all means to make this project a success”, added the Algerian Minister for whom the holding of the Niamey meeting is proof of the excellence of the partnership and cooperation between African countries, he added, ” it’s a project that we will carry out together until its completion”.
