The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly joined the international coalition backing Africa’s largest gas infrastructure project, the $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, following a wave of interest from the United States.
Morocco’s Minister of Energy, Leila Benali, recently confirmed the UAE’s involvement, adding that the project has also secured support from major global institutions, including the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the OPEC Fund, and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
First announced in December 2016 during King Mohammed VI’s visit to Nigeria, the 5,660-kilometre pipeline will link Nigeria’s vast gas reserves to Morocco, running across 13 West African nations and eventually supplying European markets.
Once completed, it will stand as the world’s longest offshore gas pipeline, dramatically boosting energy security for both coastal countries and the Alliance of Sahel States (ESA).
Morocco is positioning itself as a rising regional leader not only in hydrocarbons but also in renewable energy, prioritising local technology development and industrial supply chains to spur job creation.
The Nigeria-Morocco pipeline fits squarely into this broader vision, serving both as an energy security project and a strategic economic driver.
International momentum behind the pipeline has grown steadily this year.
Earlier, China’s Jingye Group, a leading steel producer, confirmed its strategic support, with its UK subsidiary, Jingye British Steel, planning to supply the high-grade steel essential for construction.
Meanwhile, Middle Eastern investors, led by Gulf nations, have sharply expanded their presence across African energy markets.
Business Insider Africa recently reported that Gulf countries have collectively shown interest in or sealed deals worth at least $6 billion in African energy assets in just the past few weeks, reflecting a wider ambition to deepen partnerships on the continent.
According to the African Export-Import Bank, bilateral trade between Africa and the UAE alone surged by 38% over the last two years, reaching $86 billion by the close of 2023, underscoring the UAE’s growing role in Africa’s economic landscape.
