The Nigerian government has initiated discussions with Libya for the construction of a gas pipeline project between the two countries.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Petroleum (gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, during a meeting with the Libya’s Minister of Oil, Dr. Khalifa AbduAlsadik, on the sidelines of the Gastech Exhibition and Conference 2024 holding in Houston, USA, according to Nairametrics.
Ekpo stated that the proposed gas pipeline would extend from Nigeria to Libya.
According to him, this strategic meeting aims to enhance energy cooperation between the two nations.
Ekpo said “Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas),Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, meets with Libya’s Minister of Oil, Dr. Khalifa AbduAlsadik, on the sidelines of the Gastech Exhibition and Conference 2024 holding in Houston, USA, to discuss the possibility of developing a regional gas pipeline from Nigeria to Libya.
“This strategic meeting aims to strengthen energy cooperation between the two nations.
“On the Nigerian delegation were Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, EVP Gas NNPC Ltd, Mr. Maher Giundi, International Business Advisor to the GCEO of NNPCL and Mr. Odiong Ekanem, Technical Adviser to Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas); while the Libyan team had Dr. Basteet Al Ashab, Mr. Khalid Jatbi and Mr. Yousef Al Shatwi.”
Discussions about constructing a regional pipeline between Nigeria and Libya have been ongoing, as both nations are significant oil and gas producers in Africa.
In 2022, Libya’s then-Oil Minister, Mohamed Aoun, suggested that the ongoing $13 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) should route through Libya instead of Algeria.
The cross-border pipeline is intended to transport gas from Nigeria to other African nations and the European market upon completion.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s transition from oil to gas in the oil and gas sector has been underway for decades, fueled by the country’s abundant gas reserves in comparison to its crude oil reserves.
According to the latest data from the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, Nigeria’s crude oil reserves are estimated at 37 billion barrels, while the country has approximately 202 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas reserves, with about 139.4 tcf deemed recoverable.
President Tinubu has further reinforced this shift toward gas by signing new executive orders to enhance the gas industry.
