Ekperikpe Ekpo, minister of state for petroleum resources (gas), says the Nigerian and Libyan governments are in talks to develop a regional gas pipeline to strengthen energy cooperation between the two countries.
In a social media post on Friday, Ekpo said he met with Khalifa AbduAlsadik, Libya’s minister of oil, on the sidelines of the 2024 Gastech exhibition and conference in Houston, USA.
The minister said they discussed the possibility of “developing a regional gas pipeline from Nigeria to Libya”.
“This strategic meeting aims to strengthen energy cooperation between the two nations,” the minister said.
According to the post, Olalekan Ogunleye, executive vice-president (EVP), gas at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd; Maher Giundi, international business advisor to the group chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPC; and Odiong Ekanem, technical adviser to the minister of state petroleum resources (gas), were the officials on the Nigerian delegation.
He said Libya’s team included Basteet Al Ashab, Khalid Jatbi, and Yousef Al Shatwi.
Nigeria has held similar talks with key partners amid its gas expansion drive.
On June 16, 2023, the NNPC signed four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with five African countries as part of the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline (NMGP) project.
The national oil firm said the deal was sealed with Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Benin, and Guinea.
On January 30, the national oil firm also held talks with a South Korean consortium led by Daewoo Engineering & Construction (Daewoo E&C) on the development of gas in Nigeria.
Here are photos from the engagement:
