Algeria - Nigeria: The trans-Saharan gas pipeline, a second strategic and competitive project for regional cooperation

In a global context marked by growing energy demand and a rapidly changing energy transition, Algeria and Nigeria are stepping up their collaboration to bring the trans-Saharan gas pipeline project to fruition. This mega-energy project, which aims to transport between 20 and 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas a year, could redefine the geopolitical and economic dynamics of the region, while offering a new supply route for international markets, particularly in Europe.

The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) will link Nigeria, Africa's leading gas producer, to Algeria across the Niger River. With an estimated length of more than 4,000 kilometres, this infrastructure will enable Nigerian gas to be transported to the Mediterranean, offering direct access to European markets, where there is strong demand for clean, reliable energy.

This project, which has been several years in the making, has recently seen a significant acceleration, with intensive technical and political meetings between the three countries involved. The Algerian and Nigerian authorities expressed their shared determination to overcome the logistical, security and financial challenges involved in making this gas pipeline a reality.

However, the trans-Saharan pipeline is not the only project in the running to exploit Nigeria's gas reserves. The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, supported by Morocco and several international partners, represents a serious alternative. The latter, which would extend over 5,600 kilometres along the West African coast, also aims to export gas to Europe via the Atlantic, with an estimated capacity of 30 billion cubic metres per year.

While the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline has already reached an advanced stage in terms of feasibility studies and partnerships with the countries it passes through, the trans-Saharan project is banking on its geographical proximity to Europe and its integration into Algeria's existing infrastructure to set it apart.

The trans-Saharan gas pipeline is much more than just an energy project. It is a strategic lever for strengthening cooperation between the countries of the Sahel and North Africa, while stimulating regional economic development. For Niger, a landlocked country, this project could generate substantial revenue from transit rights, while creating local jobs.

For Algeria, the pipeline would strengthen its position as an energy hub in the Mediterranean, enabling it to diversify its partnerships and consolidate its key role in supplying gas to Europe. For Nigeria, the project would provide a new export route for its gas, reducing its dependence on Asian and American markets.

Despite its potential, the trans-Saharan gas pipeline faces a number of challenges. Security issues in the Sahel region, high construction costs (estimated at several billion dollars) and political uncertainties in some of the countries it passes through could delay its completion. In addition, competition with the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline is adding further pressure to speed up negotiations and investment.

The trans-Saharan gas pipeline embodies the energy and geopolitical ambitions of Algeria and Nigeria, while offering a unique opportunity to strengthen regional integration in Africa. While the two competing projects - Trans-Saharan and Nigeria-Morocco - are progressing at different paces, their completion could transform the African energy landscape and offer new prospects for international markets. It remains to be seen which of these two energy giants will emerge victorious in this strategic race.

To be continued.