Accelerating the TSGP: Sonatrach engineers are on the ground in Niger to finalise the route.

The Algerian group Sonatrach has sent a technical delegation to Niamey, in Niger, to make concrete progress on the strategic Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) project. This mission, announced on 17 March 2026 in an official statement from Sonatrach, marks a decisive step in the preparations for the operational phase of the pipeline linking Nigeria to Algeria via Niger.

Comprising representatives from Sonatrach and the Algerian Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Mines, the team is responsible for collecting technical data relating to the gas pipeline route within Niger, in close coordination with the local authorities. The work includes reviewing Niger’s legal and regulatory framework, in particular the rules governing the laying of pipelines, the mandatory regulatory studies (Hazard Assessment – HA and Environmental Impact Assessment – EIA), as well as the procedures for obtaining construction permits and authorisations.

The visit’s programme includes technical meetings and discussions with officials from the Nigerien Petroleum Company (SONIDEP), the Nigerien Ministry of Petroleum, and other stakeholders involved in the project. This mission builds on the preliminary findings of the updated feasibility study carried out by the British consultancy Penspen, and aims to prepare for the launch of detailed design studies and construction work.

The TSGP project, which is approximately 4,128 km long and has a projected capacity of 20 to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year, will enable Nigerian gas to be transported to existing Algerian infrastructure for export to Europe (via the Transmed pipeline to Italy and the Medgaz pipeline to Spain) and other international markets. Conceived in the 2000s but held back by security, financial and political challenges, the TSGP saw a significant revival in 2025–2026.

In February 2026, during a visit to Algiers by the Nigerien Head of State, Abdourahamane Tiani, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced that work on the Nigerien section would begin immediately after Ramadan 2026, with Sonatrach leading the pipeline installation on Nigerien soil. This decision reflects a rapid thaw in Algerian-Nigerien relations following a period of tension, and is part of a strengthened commitment to South-South cooperation and the consolidation of strategic African partnerships.

Sonatrach, Africa’s leading gas producer and the continent’s long-standing upstream and downstream operator, is thus strengthening its presence across the continent whilst positioning Algeria as a key energy hub for Europe, against a backdrop of post-Russian diversification and geopolitical tensions affecting traditional supply routes (notably via the Strait of Hormuz).

The operational phase of the TSGP is therefore expected to begin formally at the end of Ramadan 2026, with Sonatrach stepping up its efforts for the implementation stages. If successful, this project could transform the West African energy landscape and consolidate Algeria’s role as a reliable and diversified supplier on international markets. The coming months will be crucial for finalising the regulatory, environmental and financial aspects of the Niger segment.