Algeria, Niger and Nigeria are taking a new step in the path of accelerating the completion of the “transit gas pipeline project” by signing an agreement that includes a contract for updating the project’s feasibility study and other arrangements.
Energy ministers in the three countries expressed their commitment to contribute to the development of this integrated project quickly, as it is a useful project for the peoples of their countries.
The three African countries are counting greatly on this project, which gives the African continent a pivotal position in the global energy market.
What is the transit tube line for the desert?
The transit tube line is a huge and strategic project aimed at transporting natural gas from Nigeria to Europe via Niger and Algeria.
According to the financial estimates prepared for its launch in 2009, the project cost is 10 billion dollars, at a time when its new cost has not been announced.
The transit tube line aims to transfer between 20 billion and 30 billion cubic meters annually of gas from Nigeria.
What is the geographical extension of the transient tube of the desert?
The transit gas tube extends for the desert along 4128 km, of which 1037 km inside the Nigerian lands, 841 km in Niger and 2310 km in Algeria, where the gas fields will be linked to Nigeria (starting from Wari in the Niger River) to the Algerian border to the Algerian network, including the marketing of Nigerian gas, especially in European markets Through the pipeline of the Medgaz and Transid pipelines.
Energy expert, Ahmed Tarrat, confirms that in both geographical and economic aspects, this project embodies a gathering of several African countries that possess rich resources in the production of fossil energy, which contributes to achieving a kind of regional balance, and enhances cooperation between these countries.
(The Algerian Ministry of Energy)
What are the project revenues?
Tarrat confirmed to Al -Jazeera Net, that this project is promising due to the great benefits that the three countries concerned will earn. On the one hand, Nigeria will be able to export gas to Europe, and on the other hand, Algeria and Niger will benefit from this pipeline through their lands, allowing them to impose transit fees and benefit from maintenance, monitoring and follow -up operations, in addition to providing job opportunities for various cadres in this field. Then, the image is completed between the three countries.
He pointed to the economic returns that will be primarily on Nigeria, as the project is an effective way to transport gas from there to Europe, to reflect positively on Algeria and Niger, which contributes to a qualitative shift in this important regional axis.
Al -Shammari also contributes to strengthening relations with the countries consuming, led by European countries. From this experience, similar models can be applied in other projects.
The expert considered that this project falls in the context of the developmental thought adopted by the African Union “Nepad”, which focuses on sustainable development on the continent, in order to allow the exploitation of the natural resources of the continent in the best ways, away from the remains of the colonial influence that still, to this day, affects some Countries.
What are the main stations in the history of the transit tube project for the desert?
- Algeria, Niger and Nigeria signed the first official agreement between them to complete the project in 2009, at a cost of 10 billion dollars.
- In July 2022, a memorandum of understanding signed a memorandum of understanding that revived the transit tube project.
The economist, Ahmed Al -Haidousi, indicates that the last meeting was held between the three energy ministers in Algeria this week and crowned the signing of agreements and is the fourth after previous meetings in Algeria, Nigeria and Niger.
Al -Haidousi talked to Al -Jazeera Net, about the signing of the feasibility study agreement or the updity of the feasibility study, as preliminary studies have been in a long period of time since its preparation.
He said that preliminary studies confirm that there is no alternative project that can compete with this project because we are “talking about a distance of 4000 km, which is relatively less. In addition to the presence of an infrastructure in Algeria ready.”
When will the project start?
It was not announced an official date for the launch of the project or the date of completion of its completion, despite the confirmation of the energy ministers of the three countries their efforts to accelerate the completion process.
In this regard, Al -Haidousi considered that the major positive point is to sign the “non -disclosure” agreement in order to preserve the confidentiality of its details, including sharing costs, ratios and other important details, which means entering the project in a serious stage, to protect it from any attempts to disturb or obstruct.
What are the most prominent challenges?
Ahmed Al -Haidousi believes that the challenges facing any project are the speed of achievement and competitive cost, indicating in this context that the latter cannot be an obstacle to the completion of the project.
He said that part of this pipeline is actually present in Algeria and Nigeria, which means a discount at some costs of the cost estimated at 12 billion dollars. It remains a distance of about 900 to 950 km only inside Niger, which costs about 3 to 4 billion dollars, and this is what you only need to complete its tube.
He pointed to the possibility of European countries to engage in financing the project in light of the scarcity of the supply of gas, which makes them need to search for special alternatives after geopolitical changes.
The economist said it is logical that the best alternative is the gas coming from the southern Mediterranean, because Algeria is a reliable partner, and this is an important positive point.
He noted that the project is competitive and can be the concern of banks, along the lines of the African Development Bank, which expressed its willingness to finance it in 2023.
