Officials from Algeria, Nigeria, and Niger have signed fresh agreements to accelerate the long-awaited Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP), the Algerian press agency APS reported on Tuesday.
First announced in 2009, the TSGP is designed to transport billions of cubic meters of natural gas over a 4,128-kilometer (2,565-mile) route from Nigeria through Niger to Algeria.
From there, the gas could be pumped into the Mediterranean via the Transmed pipeline to Italy or exported globally as liquefied natural gas (LNG).
At a ministerial meeting in Algiers, representatives from the three nations signed contracts covering an updated feasibility study and non-disclosure agreements between their respective state energy firms.
Algerian Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab emphasized that the feasibility update would outline the necessary resources to accelerate the project efficiently and cost-effectively.
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While no revised cost estimate was provided, the pipeline was initially projected to require a $10 billion investment.
The push to fast-track the TSGP comes amid a global surge in gas demand, intensified by supply chain disruptions and soaring energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
With these new agreements, Algeria, Nigeria, and Niger aim to strengthen energy security and position themselves as key players in the global gas market.