The Trans Sahara Gas project (TSGP) will further strengthen the production capacities of the countries involved in the project and enhance their capabilities to play a major rôle in the international markets. This was the consensus of the representative of participating countries
L-R: Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines Mohamed Arkab, Minister of State Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva and Nigerien Minister of Petroleum Mohamane Mahamadou, at a meeting of the reactivation of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline project, in Abuja, on Monday
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva, stated at the opening ceremony of talks between Nigeria, Niger Republic, and Algeria on the reactivation of the TSGP project Monday in Abuja that the reactivation and quick completion of the project will not only boost gas production but also boost the economy of all countries involved in the project.
The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline project is a partnership between Nigeria, Niger Republic, and Algeria. The project is expected to serve the European market.
“It is important more than ever before to take our gas to the European market. I have had a lot of visits from European countries asking for alternative gas supply from Africa because, as you know, gas is now a weapon of war between Russia and Ukraine. And so, more than ever before, our gas is needed. Let us not waste time, let us fasttrack this project. For us in Nigeria, we have already started.”
Sylva said that with it’s proven gas reserves of 250mtcf, Nigeria is ready to support the project.
According to Sylva, “If we bring all the gas from Nigeria, Niger Republic and Algeria, we would be a significant supplier of gas in the world.
In his speech, the Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines Mohamed Arkab noted that the TSGP will have a significant and positive impact on the socio-economic development of the countries.
According to him, the TSGP presents itself as a new source of supply for markets whose demand is constantly growing, given the place that natural gas will occupy in the future energy mix.
“Counting on the know-how of our countries in production, transport and marketing fields, it is obvious that the TSGP project provides a lot of advantages”
Among these advantages, he said, in addition to the development that this project will bring to the local populations and to the various transit regions, include a route crossing three (3) countries and being able to interconnect with other countries.
“The consolidation of existing and new pipeline transport infrastructures such as the AKK Natural Gas Pipeline Project” section, over a length of 614 km and the GR-5 which connects the fields of the extreme South-West of Algeria; he said there is the existence of a large part of the funding”
“A strong economic integration of local content, through production, services and logistics companies, proximity to the European market from the Algerian coast;
Cost of the project and gas transportation should be the most advantageous.”
“I would like to remind you that the TSGP project is also part of the efforts that we are making through our commitment to the implementation of the recommendations of the APPO which aims, in particular, to develop the interconnection of African energy networks.”
He said this will contribute to the emergence of an African energy market as well as the pooling of the genius and resources of national hydrocarbon companies, for the development of an independent industry.
“The TSGP project is an example of the desire of our three countries to create
a regional infrastructure of international scope.
As such, I invite all the parties and teams to participate actively in the
realization of this important project, within the required deadlines, to ensure the supply of the markets and ensure better positioning of our countries in the chessboard world of energy transition and sustainable development.”
He said it is worth highlighting the progress the countries involved have achieved so far since the previous meeting held in Niamey.
“The declaration that has been signed by the three parties and the roadmap we agreed on, is indeed a tangible sign of wilingness of all of us to move further on the TSGP project, with the aim of launching the updating of its feasibility study.”
“We do believe that TSGP will have a significant and positive impact on the
socio-economic development of our countries.”
He said that reactivation of the TSP project takes place in a particular geopolitical and energy context, marked by strong demand for gas and oil, on the one hand, and by a stagnant supply due to the drop in Oil and Gas investments, since it started in 2015, on the other hand.
Win almate agenda, aimed at achieving carbon neutrality in the short term, without taking into account at achieving specificities of each continent and each country.
The Algerian Minister stated that the project aimed at decarbonizing the oil and gas industry in short term, and at achieving carbon neutrality in the longer term, and so they remain convinced that a global and efficient energy transition cannot take place without the contribution of hydrocarbons.
“As such, natural gas presents itself as an energy of excellence to ensure this energy transition while ensuring the security of the supply of markets, whose demand is only increasing.”
olusola Bello