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At a Tripoli press conference yesterday, Oil and Gas Minister Mohamed Aoun, revealed that his ministry has presented a study to the Libyan government for the proposed Nigeria gas pipeline to Europe, planned to run through Algeria, to run through Libya instead.
Speaking on the margins of the press conference, Minister Aoun’s Advisor, Ahmed Elghaber, told Libya Herald that the potential Nigeria-Libya gas pipeline would add to the possible African gas supply network.
Libya and Nigeria have discussed the idea at APPO meeting
He explained that, in their mutual interest, as major oil and gas producing countries in Africa, Libya and Nigeria’s Ministers of Oil and Gas compared preliminary notes on the matter in a recent oil ministerial meeting of African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO). Elghaber said they explored possible plans to extend a desert-crossing pipeline from Nigeria to Europe crossing Libya and Niger.
Libyan cabinet authorised study
Consequently, Libya’s Cabinet authorized the Oil and Gas Ministry to conduct a grass-root study of such a potential pipeline in coordination with Nigeria. However, Libya’s political stability is a prime factor in deciding the fate of this optional pipeline, Elghaber stressed.
Gas pipeline would be highly valued by global gas market
On the back of the Ukraine war, any additional gas to European markets in the current gas supply market would be highly appreciated. Hence, if this pipeline is realized, it would be highly valued by the world’s gas supply market, he added.
Two other options to deliver Nigerian gas to Europe
Aoun’s Advisor Elghaber explained that there are two other option to bring Nigerian gas to Europe. The first route is through Algeria, and this is a very likely route as the pipeline proposal is in a very advanced stage.
The other option is through series of Western African countries following the western African coast and reaching Spain through Morocco. This option seems to have passed the feasibility stage and has possibly become a viable project.
