New Telegraph NG
By ByAdeola Yusuf
The Federal Government of Nigeria plans to extend the $1 billion West Africa Gas Pipeline to Morocco.
This was contained in document of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corooration (NNPC).
The pipeline, which currently helps to transport gas from Nigeria to neighbouring West African countries, starts from Itokin in Ogun state, Nigeria and terminates in Ghana.
The document also declared plans by the government to increase energy trade deals with United States. The worth of trade in energy, technology and others between Nigeria and United States currently stands at $35 billion.
The Government, the document showed, also noted that the U.S. is very eager to further share its energy resources and expertise with the Nigeria and other countries in Africa.
“Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, has, during a meeting with the United States Energy Secretary, Rick Perry, already declared plans by Nigeria to extend the $1billion West Africa Gas Pipeline to Morocco,” the document stated.
Baru, it would be recalled, said in a separate statement issued by his Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs division, Ndu Ughamadu, that more integrations are needed among countries within the West African sub-region towards providing lasting solutions to the region’s numerous energy challenges.
“Nigeria as a regional leader has already encouraged regional integration by first putting up the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) to ensure gas is available to West Africa,” Baru was quoted to have told the US Energy Secretary at the 19th CERA Week Conference taking place in Houston, United States.
“We are also doing the Trans Sahara Gas Pipeline (TSGP), even as we are intent on extending the WAGP to Morocco.”
Energy integration across the sub-region, he said, was necessary, as it would drastically reduce unemployment and restiveness as well as improve the economies of the affected countries.
Stating that the intent was to come up with a West African Power Pool, the NNPC helmsman noted that this would put up power plants and other gas-based industries along those areas within the respective countries.
The GMD said Nigeria’s crude oil production had seen tremendous improvement in recent years, due to Federal Government’s laudable efforts in ensuring security in the Niger Delta region.
He said Nigeria and US had been very good partners with about $35billion worth of trade between the two countries.
Earlier in his remarks, the United States Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry, expressed his country’s commitment towards helping Africa achieve energy independence for the benefit of their people.
“For our part we will support progress by engaging economically as well as championing open markets in societies,” he said.
“We endorse the modernization of critical oil and gas infrastructure, which leads to better security and diversification of energy supplies and exports.
