Algeria and Nigeria Reaffirm Strategic Energy Cooperation and Commitment to the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project

Algeria and Nigeria Reaffirm Strategic Energy Cooperation and Commitment to the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project

By Dr. Hana Saada

In a renewed display of African solidarity and shared strategic vision, Algeria and Nigeria have reiterated their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, with a particular focus on regulatory frameworks, training programs, and the development of strategic studies. This commitment was underscored during recent high-level discussions that emphasized the importance of enhancing coordination within regional and international energy platforms.

Both parties welcomed the current level of collaboration, especially within the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). These platforms, they noted, provide a fertile ground for aligning policies, sharing best practices, and advancing joint initiatives.

Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, praised the “new momentum” characterizing Algeria’s relations with its African partners. He emphasized that this dynamic is deeply rooted in Algeria’s national energy policy, which aims to reinforce South-South partnerships and expand the continental footprint of Algeria’s flagship energy companies, Sonatrach and Sonelgaz. This approach, Arkab stated, aligns with Algeria’s broader regional development commitments and its vision for a unified, integrated, and self-reliant Africa.

For his part, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed pride in the long-standing historical ties of cooperation between the two nations. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s determination to deepen coordination and joint action with Algeria, particularly in realizing strategic projects of mutual interest in key sectors. He commended Algeria’s steadfast efforts in promoting African cooperation initiatives and offered strong support for the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, calling it a “real project currently underway.”

The Nigerian minister also revealed that substantial progress has been made on the Nigerian side of the project. He noted that work is actively being carried out to connect the northern regions of Nigeria to the national gas grid as part of the pipeline’s development. This step is crucial for finalizing the Nigerian section of what is seen as one of the continent’s most ambitious and transformative energy infrastructure projects.