Algeria has dispatched a team from its national oil and gas company, Sonatrach, to Niger to supervise the long-postponed Trans-Sahara gas pipeline initiative.
The North African nation, ranked as Africa’s third-largest oil producer, is advancing the 4,100-kilometre Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline, a project aimed at transporting natural gas from Africa to European markets.
According to Algeria’s official news agency, the delegation’s mission is to address technical and operational aspects ahead of the pipeline’s expected launch immediately following Ramadan.
Experts point out that the project faced decades of delays due to funding challenges, security concerns, and cross-border regulatory issues, despite earlier feasibility studies confirming its technical and economic viability.
Estimated at $13 billion, the pipeline is set to deliver around 30 billion cubic meters of gas each year.
Originally proposed in the 1970s, the pipeline will connect Nigeria’s Warri gas fields to Algeria’s Hassi R’Mel, integrating with existing pipelines that currently supply European customers.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune emphasized that Sonatrach will oversee construction, underlining the company’s status as one of the world’s leading gas operators.
Once operational, the 4,100-kilometre pipeline could transport up to 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually, offering Europe an alternative to Russian energy. In 2021, Algeria exported 54 billion cubic meters of gas, mainly to Italy and Spain, and the new pipeline could significantly boost these volumes.
For Nigeria and Niger, the venture represents a strategic chance to connect regional energy infrastructure and secure revenue from gas exports. Analysts suggest it could improve energy security, strengthen economic links between West and North Africa, and enhance the region’s influence in global energy markets.
With technical preparations now underway, the decades-long Trans-Sahara pipeline project is moving closer to reality. Cooperation among Nigeria, Niger, and Algeria could finally realize the vision of a West-to-North Africa gas corridor, transforming regional energy dynamics and creating new opportunities for African gas in international markets.