NNPC indicators gasoline pipeline settlement with Morocco

The Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm (NNPC) Restricted on Thursday signed agreements on the gasoline pipeline venture with the Nationwide Workplace of Hydrocarbons and Mines of Morocco and the ECOWAS Fee.

NNPCL in an announcement mentioned the 2 international locations and ECOWAS executed the Memorandum of Understanding settlement on the venture in a ceremony held at Resort Sofitel within the Moroccan Capital.

It mentioned it’s a vital step in fulfilling the federal authorities’s drive towards harnessing Nigeria’s plentiful gasoline sources.

The Nigeria-Morocco Fuel Pipeline was proposed in a December 2016 settlement between the NNPC and the Moroccan Workplace Nationwide des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (Nationwide Board of Hydrocarbons and Mines).

The Federal Govt Council in June authorised the NNPC to enter into an settlement with ECOWAS for the development of the pipeline.

The federal government says the gasoline pipeline, designed to be 7,000km lengthy, will cut back gasoline flaring in Nigeria and encourage the diversification of vitality sources within the nation whereas chopping down poverty by means of the creation of extra job alternatives.

It’s going to additional encourage utilisation of gasoline within the sub-region for cooking, and discourage desertification.

The pipeline will originate from Brass Island (Nigeria) and terminate at North of Morocco, the place will probably be related to the prevailing Maghreb European Pipeline (MEP) that originates from Algeria (through Morocco), all the best way to Spain.

As soon as accomplished, the venture will provide about three billion normal cubic toes of gasoline per day (3bscfd) alongside the West African Coast from Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’ Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Senegal and Mauritania to Morocco.

Talking on the signing ceremony, the Group Chief Govt Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, described the event as an important milestone within the Nigeria-Morocco gasoline pipeline venture during which all the important thing stakeholders within the venture have come collectively to reaffirm their dedication to delivering on the venture.

Mr Kyari mentioned the venture can even create wealth, and enhance the usual of residing of individuals in international locations within the African area.

“Among the advantages embrace the creation of wealth and enchancment in the usual of residing, integration of the economies inside the area, mitigation in opposition to desertification and different advantages that may accrue on account of discount in carbon emission,” he mentioned.

He famous that the NNPC will facilitate the continual provide of gasoline and supply different enablers such because the required land for the primary compressor station for the pipeline to be deployed in Nigeria which is among the many 13 stations earmarked alongside the pipeline route.

“NNPC is well-positioned to progress the venture by leveraging its expertise and technical capabilities starting from gasoline manufacturing, processing, transmission and advertising and marketing in addition to its huge expertise in executing main gasoline infrastructure tasks in Nigeria,” Mr Kyari mentioned.

He mentioned the federal government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Morocco stand to learn immeasurably from the execution of the venture which extends past the availability of gasoline to energise the international locations alongside the route.

“Signing the settlement on behalf of Nigeria was the Group Chief Govt Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mallam Mele Kyari; whereas Dr Amina Benkhadra, Director Basic of Morocco’s Nationwide Workplace for Hydrocarbons & Mines (ONHYM) signed on behalf of her nation. Mr Sediko Douka, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Vitality and Digitalization signed on behalf of the sub-regional organisation,” it mentioned.