Nigeria’s AKK gas pipeline hits milestone: minister
Nigeria’s Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline has crossed the River Niger, marking a major milestone toward industrialisation, regional energy access, and internal gas distribution, officials said on Tuesday at NOG Energy Week.
(Abuja, Nigeria) — Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo, said at the 24th Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week on Tuesday that the country’s Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline has achieved a significant milestone.
The minister said this makes a major leap to drive industrialisation in northern Nigeria and strengthen internal gas distribution. Yet critics would point to the dirty, polluting properties of natural gas, and the instability of supply that relying on fossil fuels brings.
A report by the Nigerian Natural Resource Governance Institute said recently that Nigeria must urgently address rising methane emissions from its oil and gas sector to meet its climate goals and reduce methane emissions.
The AKK gas pipeline is a 614 km project in Nigeria that started in 2020. It is designed to transport natural gas from Ajaokuta to Kano, passing through Kaduna. It’s part of the Trans Nigeria Gas Pipeline, which aims to boost power supply, support industrial development, and create jobs along its route.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, Bayo Ojulari, also said the AKK pipeline’s northern corridor is now fully connected, positioning the project for completion by 2025. He said one of the biggest challenges the project has faced was the ability to cross the River Niger, which involved some very tough technical challenges.
“The team of NNPC have had to work beautifully with the contractors to bringing specialist capability that was not available. Very difficult commercial rearrangements. But ladies and gentlemen I want to announce to you today that we have crossed the River Niger,” he added.
Ekpo further said the country is progressing on the Nigeria-Equatorial Guinea gas pipeline, a strategic collaboration that will provide access to Equatorial Guinea’s gas processing and export facilities. He said this project exemplifies Nigeria’s commitment to regional energy interconnectivity and the monetisation of stranded gas assets.
“Our pipeline diplomacy is bearing fruits. We are committed to the long-standing West African Gas Pipeline, WAGP, which continues to deliver gas from Nigeria to our West African neighbors. Furthermore, the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline, also known as the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, spanning over the distance of over 5000 kilometers and linking over a dozen of countries within the African sub-region, is advancing steadily.
“This transformative project will enhance regional integration, boost gas accessibility, and ultimately connect to the European market. We are prioritizing innovation across every segment of the gas value chain, from utilizing, monitoring and deploying AI for surveillance to piloting smart gas distribution, piloting CGWG well mass transit system, and promoting carbon capture solutions,” he said.
The Minister further said Nigeria is actively adopting 21st-century technology to build a more efficient gas value chain.
“While we pursue growth, we must also ensure sustainability. The world is transitioning but the pace, structure, and timing of that transition must be context specific. Nigeria’s transition must be just, equitable, and inclusive. It must account for our developmental needs, energy poverty, and economic aspiration.
“That is why gas remains our transitional fuel of choice. It is cleaner than liquid fuels, abundant in Nigeria, and adaptable for power generation, industrial use, and transportation. It enables both decarbonization and development,” he added.
(Writing by Samuel Ajala; editing by Sophie Davies)