The project of the transatlantic gas pipeline carried by Morocco, aimed at competing with the trans -Saharan launched by Algeria, has just undergone an important setback. Initially scheduled for the second quarter of 2025, the final investment decision was postponed to the beginning of 2026. This delay, revealed by the New platformis symptomatic of the many difficulties that the project faces.
The transatlantic gas pipeline, supposed to connect Nigeria to Morocco via several countries in West and North Africa, was to represent a direct competitor to the Algerian Trans -Saharan project. The latter, already under construction, connects Algeria to Niger and Nigeria. However, the feasibility assessment of the Moroccan project seems far from conclusive. Cost estimates have already climbed, from 25 billion to $ 30 billion. This budget overcoming is added to another complication: the project is much more expensive than its rival, the Trans -Saharan, which, although Ambitieux, seems to have a certain advantage in terms of costs.
Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline: several not finalized studies
The delay in the investment decision is mainly due to the absence of finalization of several technical studies, in particular those concerning the most complex and sensitive routes of the project. In addition, another major obstacle lies in the lack of firm commitments on the part of European buyers, which are essential for the financial viability of the project. Investors, who will have to inject billions of dollars, remain cautious in the face of a project whose feasibility is far from guaranteed.
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Morocco, which had bet on the tense geopolitical situation between Algeria and Niger to restore momentum to its project, seems to face a harder than expected reality. The passage of the gas pipeline by thirteen countries with different regulations and requirements makes the project particularly complex to carry out. There New platform Even underlines that this is one of the most difficult configurations to manage for an energy project in Africa.
A step ahead of the Algerian TSGP
On the other hand, the Trans -Saharan gas pipeline (TSGP) project, although faced with similar challenges, advances concretely. It has already in place funding, agreements with partner countries, and relative stability in the field. This makes the Algerian project more attractive to investors, who prefer to invest in an infrastructure already underway rather than in an initiative whose promises are still far from materializing.
Ultimately, although the Moroccan pipeline project is the subject of a strong media campaign, the reality of its funding and its implementation seems much less brilliant. Far from the fiery speeches, the project will have to face many challenges before seeing the light of day. And for investors, the question remains: investing in a dream or a reality? The answer could well take shape in 2026, provided that the situation is not more complicated.
