Nigeria advances gas pipeline talks in London, to supply European markets

Nigeria has moved forward with discussions on a proposed cross-border gas pipeline aimed at supplying natural gas to European markets, following high-level engagements in London.

Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), met with industry stakeholders to review plans for upstream gas development and pipeline infrastructure that would transport Nigerian gas across multiple countries into Europe. The project is designed to move gas from southern Nigeria through Chad and Libya, before connecting subsea to Sicily in Italy.

The proposed pipeline is expected to carry up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas annually. It forms part of a broader plan to expand Nigeria’s gas value chain, increase exports, and attract foreign investment into the sector.

According to a statement by Temitope Onifade, a member of the consortium supporting the initiative, the project could attract investment exceeding $20 billion. This includes funding for both upstream gas production and midstream pipeline infrastructure. The final investment value will depend on technical assessments, regulatory approvals, and financing agreements.

The London discussions took place during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom. Speaking at the meeting, Ekpo described the engagement as timely.

“Nigeria is set for investors to take advantage of its natural gas. The Petroleum Industry Act and the Executive orders by President for the petroleum sector has set a conducive environment to attract investments to the sector. We must be intentional in the utilisation of our resources, so long as we have these reserves, we must take advantage of them and better the lives of those in the region,” he said.

Ekpo added that with the right financial support, the project could move forward without major obstacles.

Olalekan Ogunleye, Executive Vice President for Gas, Power and New Energies at NNPC Ltd., said the national oil company is aligning its strategy with government priorities to increase gas production and infrastructure development.

“The NNPCL, as the leading energy company in Africa, has launched its Gas Master Plan geared to deliver and exceed the President’s gas development targets and galvanise investments across the value chain,” he said.

“NNPC’s strategy is firmly aligned with the Federal Government’s agenda, and we are focused on creating investable opportunities, removing bottlenecks, and partnering with credible investors. Simply put, NNPCL is ready for business.”

Roger Tamraz, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Netoil Inc., said the project is both commercially viable and strategically important.

“The proposed Pipeline will create significant long-term revenue and benefits for future generations of Nigerians, while strengthening energy security for Europe,” he said.

“On a macro level, Europe’s Achilles heel is energy. The only sustainable long-term solution is in Africa and the Middle East, where the gas reserves exist and where the infrastructure needs to be built. Buyers are ready to commit to 20-year contracts. The technology is proven and financing solutions are available. What remains is the securing of rights-of-way – and we are building.”

Alain Bolo, Chief Executive Officer of Unicorn and a member of the consortium, said the project could also reduce gas flaring while increasing supply to global markets.

“We have the financial capacity to support the upstream development of gas, reducing the flaring of gas and delivering gas to the pipeline. What is good for Nigeria in the gas sector today can be a significant part of the solution for Europe,” he said.

He added that shifting global LNG flows towards Asia creates an opening for Nigeria to supply Europe.

Prince Henry Erimodafe, Project Director at Netoil Inc., said the pipeline could support economic activity across Nigeria and transit countries.

“This is a strategic win-win. For Nigeria and the transit countries, it can unlock major investment, job creation, and long-term value from resources that are currently underutilised. For Europe, it establishes a new, reliable corridor of supply that supports energy security and industrial competitiveness for decades,” he said.

Richard Beresford, Chairman of McCarthy Denning, welcomed the progress and noted the involvement of UK-based firms.

The project remains at an early stage and will proceed through technical, regulatory, and financing processes before final agreements are reached.