Trans-Sahara/Europe P/L.

Sonatrach and NNPC have launched campaigns to win financial backing for a 15 bn Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) to pump 30 BCM/y of Nigerian gas to Europe via Niger and Algeria. Construction of the 4,300-km pipeline would begin by 2016/17. In September 2006, UK consultant Penspen presented a feasibility study on this (see background in gmt7NigrGasExpAug15-05).

Visiting Abuja in September 2008, European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said the EU was keen on this project and will help finance the TSGP, adding: "the Nigerian government is very clearly leading towards a pipeline. That means we should be more engaged in the trans-Saharan gas pipeline".

Total and Gazprom are interested in participating in this project. Total E&P Managing Director in Nigeria Guy Maurice on Feb. 25, 2009, told a petroleum conference in Abuja: "Total believes this is a long-term strategic diversification for Nigeria, which is quite interesting. I take this opportunity to mention publicly that Total is ready to become involved in this project".

The EU which relies on Russia for about 40% of its gas and a third of its oil, has said the project could help diversify its energy sources.

Gazprom Nigeria Managing Director Vladimir Ilyanin on Feb. 25 said his company was ready to work with Total on this, adding: "Gas projects in the Trans-Sahara Pipeline (TSP) give us an opportunity to show-case our experience. We've worked with Total on many other projects so I don't see any reason why we would not be able to work with them on this one".

The Russian firm RusCorp in early August 2009 signed an agreement with Nigeria's Petroleum Ministry to improve security on NNPC's 5,100 km of oil and natural gas pipelines. These have been frequently attacked by local rebel groups.

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