Page 11 - DMEA Week 08 2022
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DMEA PIPELINES DMEA
Declaration of Niamey revives
Trans-Saharan pipeline
AFRICA A deal between the governments of Algeria, from Nigeria to western Ghana via Benin and
Niger and Nigeria is seen breathing new life into Togo. This was ultimately dropped for the signif-
plans to build an ambitious gas pipeline that will icantly more direct land route.
link sub-Saharan Africa with European con- Speaking during the event, the African
sumer markets. Energy Chamber’s executive chairman NJ Ayuk
The so-called ‘Declaration of Niamey’ was said that the pipeline would “improve energy
signed in the Nigerien capital on February 16 security, create good-paying jobs and expand
during a forum held by the Economic Commu- much needed economic growth,” noting key
nities of West African States (ECOWAS) dedi- milestones and the signing of agreements could
cated to the mining and petroleum industries. be anticipated by October 2022.
The deal, signed by the energy ministers of The dignitaries singled out Niger as the main
the three countries, sets out plans to the devel- beneficiary of the development. The West Afri-
opment of the 4,128-km pipeline Trans-Sahara can country is working to establish itself as a
Gas Pipeline (TSGP), which will carry up to regional hub for hydrocarbons, petrochemicals
30bn cubic metres per year of gas from Warri and associated products.
in Nigeria’s Delta State across Niger and on to In May 2021, the Beninese government and
Algeria’s Hassi R’Mel gas hub, from which it will West African Oil Pipeline Benin Co. (Wapco
be fed into existing infrastructure that runs to Benin) formally launched the construction of
southern Europe. the Niger-Benin Export Pipeline (NBEP).
The price of the project has been estimated Engineering work for the 1,980-km oil pipe-
at $13bn, much of which is expected to be spent line was carried out by firms linked to backer
in Niger. China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), with
Timipre Sylva, Nigeria’s Minister of State for the Chinese company and partner Wapco Benin
Petroleum Resources, said during the signing kicking off the initial construction phase in late
ceremony: “This project will be transformational 2019. The conduit will run 1,295 km through
for all the countries involved, and we in Nigeria Niger and 685 km through Beninese territory,
are committed wholly to making it a success. It linking Agadem to the port of Seme.
will bring jobs and much needed revenue from It will have a throughput capacity of around
gas monetisation.” 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) and commercial
The pipeline project has been discussed since operations were anticipated early this year but a
the 1970s, with several routes suggested amid revised timeline now suggests sometime in 2023.
concerns about security risks. CNPC’s China Petroleum Technology &
In 2019, a proposal was submitted for an Development Co. subsidiary is handling pro-
unlikely 5,660-km offshore pipeline running curement for the project and 13,000 pipeline
through 12 countries to be built in phases over segments were shipped from the port of Tianjin
25 years as an extension of the existing 678-km to Benin in January 2020, with these arriving in
West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) – which runs Cotonou a month later.
Week 08 24•February•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P11
