Trans-Saharan gas pipeline

Last updated
Trans-Saharan gas pipeline
Gas pipelines across Mediterranee and Sahara map-en.svg
Location of Trans-Saharan gas pipeline (in red)
Location
Country Nigeria, Niger, Algeria
General directionsouth-north
From Warri, Nigeria
To Hassi R'Mel, Algeria
General information
Typenatural gas
Partners Sonatrach, NNPC, Government of Niger
Commissioned2015 (estimated)
Technical information
Length4,128 km (2,565 mi)
Maximum discharge30 billion cubic meters per year

The Trans-Saharan gas pipeline (TSGP; also known as NIGAL pipeline and Trans-African gas pipeline) is a planned natural gas pipeline from Nigeria to Algeria. It is seen as an opportunity to diversify the European Union's gas supplies. [1]

Contents

History

The idea of the trans-Saharan pipeline was first proposed in the 1970s. [1] On 14 January 2002, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Algerian national oil and gas company Sonatrach signed the Memorandum of Understanding for preparations of the project. [2] In June 2005, NNPC and Sonatrach signed a contract with Penspen Limited for a feasibility study of the project. [3] The feasibility study was completed in September 2006, and it found the pipeline to be technically and economically feasible and reliable. [4]

On the meeting on 20 February 2009, NNPC and Sonatrach agreed to proceed with the draft Memorandum of Understanding between three governments and the joint venture agreement. [5] The intergovernmental agreement on the pipeline was signed by energy ministers of Nigeria, Niger and Algeria on 3 July 2009 in Abuja. [1] [6] [7]

Safety concerns about the operations have been heightened due to a terrorist insurgency in North Africa, culminating in incidents like the In Aménas hostage crisis of 2013. Nigeria, Niger and Algeria are among the least secure areas in the region because of various active terrorist movements that destabilise them. [8]

On 28 July 2022, the Algerian, Nigerian, and Nigerien ministers of energy signed in Algiers a memorandum of understanding for the implementation of the TSGP project, co-signed by Mohamed Arkab, Timipre Sylva, and Mahamane Sani Mahamadou  [ fr ], respectively. [9]

Route

The pipeline is to start in the Warri region in Nigeria and run north through Niger to Hassi R'Mel in Algeria. [10] In Hassi R'Mel the pipeline is to connect to the existing Trans-Mediterranean, Maghreb–Europe, Medgaz and Galsi pipelines. [5] These supply Europe from the gas transmission hubs at El Kala and Beni Saf on Algeria's Mediterranean coast. The length of the pipeline would be 4,128 kilometres (2,565 mi): [1] 1,037 kilometres (644 mi) in Nigeria, 841 kilometres (523 mi) in Niger, and 2,310 kilometres (1,440 mi) in Algeria. [3]

Technical features

The annual capacity of the pipeline would be up to 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas. [1] [5] It would have a diameter of 48 to 56 inches (1,220 to 1,420 mm). [5] [10] The pipeline was originally expected to be operational by 2015. [1] [11] The original investment for the pipeline was expected to be around US$10 billion and for gas gathering centers around $3 billion. [1] [10] [11] [12] [13] As of 2019 the project was still in the prospect phase. [14]

Operator

The pipeline is to be built and operated by the partnership between the NNPC and Sonatrach. The company would include also the Republic of Niger. [3] Initially NNPC and Sonatrach would hold a total 90% of shares, while Niger would hold 10%. [15]

Russian gas company Gazprom has negotiated with Nigeria about its possible participation in the project. [16] [17] Also Indian company GAIL, France's Total S.A., Italy's Eni SpA and Royal Dutch Shell have expressed interest in participating in the project. [1] [13] [18] According to the Algerian energy minister Chakib Khelil "only partners that can bring something to the project, not just money, should be there." [15] Energy ministers of Algeria and Nigeria have said that "if things go well, there will be no need to bring international oil companies into the project" and "if the need for partnership in the project arises, not every partner will be welcome on board on the project." [19]

Opposition to the pipeline

The pipeline is opposed by the Nigerian militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta. A spokesman for the group warned that until issues regarding the exploitation of the Niger Delta and its people have been resolved, "any money put into the project will go down the drain." [20] [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laghouat Province</span> Province of Algeria

Laghouat is one of the fifty-eight provinces (wilaya) of Algeria. It is located in the north central part of Algeria. The province borders Tiaret Province to the north, El Bayadh Province to the west, Ghardaia Province to the south and Djelfa Province to the east. The capital of the province is Laghouat City. The province is famous for palm trees and livestock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonatrach</span> Oil and gas company of Algeria

Sonatrach is the national state-owned oil company of Algeria. Founded in 1963, it is known today to be the largest company in Africa with 154 subsidiaries, and often referred as the first African oil "major". In 2021, Sonatrach was the seventh largest gas company in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hassi R'Mel</span> Place in Laghouat, Algeria

Hassi R'Mel is a town in Algeria located near the 18th largest gas field worldwide. Hassi R'Mel is located in Laghouat Province 60 kilometres (37 mi) northwest of Ghardaïa. It is the capital of Hassi R'Mel District. Hassi R'Mel has an airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eni</span> Italian multinational energy company

Eni S.p.A. is an Italian multinational energy company headquartered in Rome. One of the "supermajor" oil companies in the world, with a market capitalization of €48 billion, as of 31 December 2022. The Italian government owns a 30.33% golden share in the company, 4.37% held through the Ministry of Economy and Finance and 25.96% through the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. The company is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nabucco pipeline</span> Proposed natural gas pipeline from the Turkish-Bulgarian border to Austria

The Nabucco pipeline was a failed natural gas pipeline project from Erzurum, Turkey to Baumgarten an der March, Austria to diversify natural gas suppliers and delivery routes for Europe. The pipeline was to lessen European dependence on Russian energy. The project was backed by several European Union states and the United States and was seen as rival to the Gazprom-Eni South Stream pipeline project. The main supplier was to be Iraq with potential supplies from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Amenas</span> Town and Commune in Illizi, Algeria

In Amenas is a town and commune in eastern Algeria, bordering with Libya. The town is located 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of the border. There is no border crossing in the area. The municipality had 7,385 inhabitants in 2008, up from 5.302 in 1998, with an annual growth rate of 3.4% According to the Algerian novelist Mouloud Mammeri the name is a Tuareg word which means "place of camel drivers."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medgaz</span> Natural gas pipeline from Algeria to Spain

Medgaz is a submarine natural gas pipeline between Algeria and Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GALSI</span>

GALSI was a planned natural gas pipeline from Algeria to Sardinia and further northern Italy, as an extension to the TransMed Pipeline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trans-Mediterranean Pipeline</span>

The Trans-Mediterranean Pipeline is a natural gas pipeline from Algeria via Tunisia to Sicily and thence to mainland Italy. An extension of the TransMed pipeline delivers Algerian gas to Slovenia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline</span> Natural gas pipeline linking Africa and Europe

The Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline is a natural gas pipeline, which links the Hassi R'Mel gas field in Algeria through Morocco with Cordoba in Andalusia, Spain, where it is connected with the Spanish and Portuguese gas grids. Before the operation of the pipeline ceased in October 2021, it used to supply mainly Spain and Portugal, as well as Morocco with natural gas.

The Power of Siberia 2 is a proposed natural gas pipeline to export natural gas from Russia's Western Siberia Altai region to North-Eastern China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hassi R'Mel integrated solar combined cycle power station</span>

The Hassi R'Mel integrated solar combined cycle power station is an integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC) power station near Hassi R'Mel in Algeria. The plant combines a 25 MW parabolic trough concentrating solar power array, covering an area of over 180,000 m2, in conjunction with a 130 MW combined cycle gas turbine plant, so cutting carbon emissions compared to a traditional power station. The output from the solar array is used in the steam turbine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Stream</span> Proposed natural gas pipeline through south-eastern Europe

South Stream is a canceled pipeline project to transport natural gas of the Russian Federation through the Black Sea to Bulgaria and through Serbia, Hungary and Slovenia further to Austria. It was never finished.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Erg Oriental</span> Erg in Algeria and Tunisia

The Grand Erg Oriental is a large erg or "field of sand dunes" in the Sahara Desert. Situated for the most part in Saharan lowlands of northeast Algeria, the Grand Erg Oriental covers an area some 600 km wide by 200 km north to south. The erg's northeastern edge spills over into neighbouring Tunisia.

The Hassi R'Mel Gas Field is the largest gas field in Algeria and one of the largest gas fields in the world. It is located in the vicinity of Hassi R'Mel village, 550 kilometres (340 mi) south of Algiers. The gas field extends 70 kilometres (43 mi) from north to south and 50 kilometres (31 mi) from east to west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oando</span> Nigerian multinational energy company

Oando Plc is a Nigerian multinational energy company operating in the upstream, midstream and downstream.

Events from the year 2010 in Algeria

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Algeria</span>

Energy in Algeria describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Algeria. Primary energy use in 2009 in Algeria was 462 TWh and 13 TWh per million persons. Algeria is an OPEC country.

TurkStream is a natural gas pipeline running from Russia to Turkey. It starts from Russkaya compressor station near Anapa in Russia's Krasnodar Region, crossing the Black Sea to the receiving terminal at Kıyıköy.

The Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Natural Gas Pipeline (AKKP) is a pipeline planned to transport natural gas from Ajaokuta, in Kogi State to Kano, in Kano State, through several states and urban centers, as part of the Trans Nigeria Gas Pipeline. Construction of the AKKP commenced in July 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fabi, Randy (3 July 2009). "Nigeria, Algeria agree to build Sahara gas link". Reuters . Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  2. ↑ "Nigeria and Algeria begin study of $ 6 bn Trans-Saharan gas pipeline". This Day. Alexander's Gas & Oil Connections. 16 May 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  3. 1 2 3 Binniyat, Luka (10 March 2008). "14tcf of gas reserved for Trans-Sahara gas pipeline". Vanguard. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  4. ↑ "Study proves technical, economic feasibility of Trans-Saharan gas pipeline". Magharebia.com. 20 September 2006. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Awhotu, Ese (20 February 2009). "Nigerian, Algerian Officials Discuss Saharan Gas Pipeline". Leadership. Downstream Today. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  6. ↑ Okolo, Paul (3 July 2009). "Nigeria, Algeria, Niger Sign Accord on Gas Pipeline". Bloomberg . Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  7. ↑ "Sahara gas pipeline gets go-ahead". BBC News. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  8. ↑ "A look at North Africa: Algeria's troubles". Investvine. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  9. ↑ Saci, Yasmine (28 July 2022). "TSGP: Algeria, Nigeria and Niger sign Memorandum of Understanding" . www.aps.dz. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 "FACTBOX-Sonatrach and its gas partners". Reuters. 24 September 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  11. 1 2 Awoniyi, Ola (3 July 2009). "Nigeria, Algeria, Niger seal $10 bln gas pipeline deal". AFP . Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  12. ↑ "Trans-Saharan gas pipeline to reach Europe in 2015". Business Intelligence Middle East. 22 February 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  13. 1 2 Fabi, Randy (25 February 2009). "Total, Gazprom eye Sahara gas pipeline venture". Reuters . Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  14. ↑ "Nigeria Gas". www.nnpcgroup.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  15. 1 2 Webb, Simon (30 June 2009). "No deal yet on firms for Sahara gas pipeline-Khelil". Reuters . Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  16. ↑ Tumanjong, Emmanuel (31 March 2008). "Gazprom In Talks To Join Trans-Saharan Pipeline - Official". Downstream Today. Dow Jones Newswires . Retrieved 8 June 2008.
  17. ↑ "Gazprom eyes Saharan pipe plans". Upstream Online . NHST Media Group. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2008.
  18. ↑ "Algeria ambassador urges for Indian embassy". Business Standard. 20 April 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  19. ↑ Muhammad, Hamisu; Umar, Aisha (7 July 2009). "Trans-Saharan Gas Project 'Not For Sale' - Ministers". Downstream Today. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  20. ↑ "Mend claims attack on Shell installation". Radio France Internationale. 5 July 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  21. ↑ Watkins, Eric (7 July 2009). "Nigerian militants threaten proposed Trans-Sahara gas line" . Oil & Gas Journal. PennWell Corporation. 107. Retrieved 8 July 2009.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.