The London team of Australian energy firm Worley is set to deliver the onshore part of the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study, including the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Land Acquisition Studies (LAS), on the proposed pipeline from Nigeria to Morocco.
According to a statement from the company, Worley’s teams in Africa and India will equally provide support for the feasibility study.
This comes at a time when Europe is actively searching for gas alternatives after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to western countries’ decision to boycott Russian gas to starve the country of funds to continue prosecuting the war.
Advison, Worley’s consulting arm, will deliver the feasibility study dealing with electrification, the rate at which electricity is introduced, and the region’s self-sufficiency. Worley’s UK and Madrid offices will explore the possibility of using renewable energy to power the project to minimize its carbon footprint, the company says.
“The NMGP is a project that reflects our purpose of delivering a more sustainable world. We look forward to working with ONHYM and NNPC as we journey into a new chapter for West Africa,” Ping Liu, Managing Director of Intecsea BV said in a statement.
He added that the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, not only “looks towards sustainability but also contributes to boosting the regional economy and supports the development of communities.”
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Liu emphasized that such a project is an “incredible opportunity” for regional development.
Once operational, the pipeline will be the world-longest offshore pipeline and the second-longest overall, Worley noted.
Covering more than 7,000 kilometers in distance, the pipeline will link Nigeria with Morocco, traversing territorial waters of 13 countries, 11 of which are located in West Africa.
The pipeline is set to reach Europe as its last destination, the statement indicates.
The NMGP project came to life through a joint initiative between Morocco’s gas and energy authorities, the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONYHM), and its Nigerian counterpart the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
ONYHM and NNPC expect the project to boost local economies by providing access to a green transition energy source. The NMGP will also support industrial development within the 11 African countries and create jobs.
The pipeline is meant to deliver gas from Nigeria, and should also allow countries along the way to export gas to other African countries and Europe, the statement says.
The mega project will require expertise from leading companies in the energy, construction, and engineering sectors.
Intecsea BV, a subsidiary of Worley, will manage the FEED services for the NMGP project.
Morocco and Nigeria had signed an agreement to fund the FEED in December 2021 after the project was approved by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).
Morocco and Nigeria will provide joint funding for the venture. Initial estimates for the FEED study were set at 90.1 million dollars.
Last year, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari expressed his country’s determination to bring to life, “as soon as possible,” the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project.
