General Introduction of Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline (TSGP) Project

Timeline

1) First proposed in the 1970s;

2) January 14, 2002, NNPC with Sonatrach Signed Memorandum of Understanding for preparation;

3) June 2005, NNPC and Sonatrach signed a contract with Penspen Limited for a feasibility study;

4) September 2006, Feasibility study was completed;

5) February 20,2009, NNPC and Sonatrach agreed to proceed with the draft Memorandum of Understanding between three governments and the joint venture agreement.

6) July 3, 2009, The intergovernmental agreement signed by energy ministers of Nigeria, Niger and Algeria

7) The pipeline was originally expected to be operational by 2015

8) June 20, 2022, Officially declared to reactivate TSGP

L-R: Algerian Minister of Energy 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.

Route

l The pipeline will start in Warri region in Nigeria and run north through Niger to Hassi R'Mel in Algeria;

l The length of the pipeline would be 4,128 kilometers. 1,037 kilometers in Nigeria, 841 kilometers in Niger, and 2,310 kilometers in Algeria.

Technical Features

The annual capacity of the pipeline would be up to 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas.

It would have a diameter of 48 to 56 inches (1,220 to 1,420 mm)

Investment for the pipeline US$10 billion, and for gas gathering centers around $3 billion

Operator

Initially NNPC and Sonatrach would hold a total 90% of shares, while Niger would hold 10%.

Interested Partner: Russian gas company Gazprom; Indian company GAIL;France's Total S.A.

Italy's Eni SpA and Royal Dutch Shell

Leaders` Comments According to the Algerian energy minister Chakib Khelil "only partners that can bring something to the project, not just money, should be there. 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."