Across the vast expanse of the Sahara, a decades-old energy ambition is beginning to move again. After years of stalled plans, diplomatic disputes, and financial uncertainty, the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) has returned to the center of Africa’s energy strategy, with supporters presenting it as a project capable of transforming regional economies and reshaping Europe’s search for new gas supplies.
Construction officially resumed in early June after relations between Algeria and Niger began improving, reviving a project that has been discussed since the 1980s. The first recent construction activities began in Algeria’s Adrar region in April, followed by an official launch ceremony on June 4 in the southern Aoulef area, attended by energy ministers from Nigeria, Niger, and Algeria.
When completed, the pipeline is expected to stretch more than 4,000 kilometers, carrying Nigerian natural gas north through Niger and Algeria before connecting with existing export routes to European markets, particularly Italy and Spain through the Mediterranean.
“This project is not at all new, but it’s ramping up,” said Brahim Oumansour, associate researcher at the Institute for International and Strategic Relations (IRIS). He said Algeria and Niger had chosen to overcome political differences in pursuit of a shared economic objective at a moment when energy security has gained renewed importance.
The project’s history, however, is marked by repeated delays. Plans for a pipeline linking Algeria with European energy markets date back to the 1980s, but progress repeatedly slowed as governments and companies struggled with questions of financing, technical feasibility, and political instability.
Nigeria, Niger, and Algeria formally signed an agreement in 2009 to define the project, with initial expectations that gas deliveries could begin by 2015. Those deadlines passed without construction advancing. The project regained momentum in 2022 after the three countries signed a memorandum of understanding in Algiers, reopening discussions about investment and implementation.
Algerian political scientist Hasni Abidi said the scale of the project created major financial challenges. The three national energy companies involved—Algeria’s Sonatrach, Nigeria’s NNPC, and Niger’s Sonidep—had to develop a workable financing structure, while Niger faced limitations in funding such a large infrastructure project.
Political tensions also affected progress. Relations between Niger and its partners deteriorated after the country’s 2023 military coup, creating uncertainty around regional cooperation. The situation began to shift in February when Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune hosted Niger’s military leader Abdourahmane Tiani in Algiers. During the meeting, both sides emphasized renewed cooperation and described their relationship as one of “brotherhood.”
The pipeline connects two of Africa’s largest natural gas powers. Algeria is currently the continent’s leading gas producer, while Nigeria holds Africa’s largest untapped reserves, estimated at six billion cubic meters—around a quarter of Qatar’s reserves. Together, the two countries account for more than half of Africa’s natural gas production and reserves.
The proposed route begins in Nigeria’s Warri City and ends at Algeria’s Hassi R’Mel gas hub in the northern Sahara. Around 1,000 kilometers would pass through Nigeria, 840 kilometers through Niger, and approximately 2,300 kilometers through Algeria.
However, a significant portion of the pipeline still remains to be built. Around 1,800 kilometers of infrastructure are yet to be completed, including sections in all three countries. Algeria has already restarted work on its section, while Nigeria has announced plans to begin construction on its portion in early 2027.
The economic ambitions behind the project extend beyond energy exports. The pipeline is designed to transport approximately 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to Europe. That volume represents about 11 percent of Europe’s yearly gas imports, which reached 270 billion cubic meters in 2025.
Additional Nigerian gas could also be processed into liquefied natural gas at Algeria’s Arzew and Skikda facilities before being shipped to international markets.
For Algeria, the project offers a way to strengthen its position as a major energy supplier to Europe. Oumansour said cooperation with Nigeria could help Algeria increase export capacity at a time when European countries are seeking alternatives to traditional energy sources.
For Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries, the pipeline represents an opportunity to gain transit revenue and attract infrastructure investment. Officials hope the project could generate employment and expand energy development in a country with limited industrial capacity.
Yet the scale of the project brings significant challenges. The estimated cost has risen substantially since the original proposal. While the project was valued at around $13 billion in 2009, energy experts now estimate construction could require approximately $20 billion due to higher material costs and the difficulties of building through harsh desert environments.
Financing remains unresolved. Although African and international financial institutions could potentially support the project, no final lending agreements have been confirmed.
Security is another major concern. Parts of the planned route cross areas of northern Nigeria and Niger where armed groups and cross-border smuggling networks operate. Protecting thousands of kilometers of pipeline infrastructure across remote territory will remain a major logistical challenge.
The Trans-Saharan project also faces competition from another major African gas initiative: Morocco’s Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline. That proposal aims to connect Nigerian gas supplies to Morocco through a 6,000-kilometer route involving 13 countries before reaching European markets.
The two projects share the same strategic objective—bringing African gas closer to Europe—but follow different paths. Oumansour said Algeria’s project currently holds an advantage because it is further advanced, while Morocco’s plan depends on complex offshore construction and cooperation among a larger group of countries.
Both projects are being developed as Europe seeks greater energy security following its reduced reliance on Russian supplies after the invasion of Ukraine. Concerns over global energy routes, including instability affecting the Strait of Hormuz, have increased European interest in strengthening partnerships with nearby energy producers.
Still, the long-term financial outlook remains uncertain. Abidi warned that energy prices could change significantly over the lifespan of such large infrastructure investments. Although demand for gas is currently strong, future market conditions could affect whether these projects deliver the expected returns.
After more than two decades of delays, the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline has entered another critical phase. Its completion could create a new energy corridor linking Africa’s largest gas reserves with European consumers, but the project’s future will depend on whether its partners can overcome the financial, political, and security challenges that have shaped its journey from the beginning.
