By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Sept. 7 -- Algeria and Nigeria Thursday established a steering committee to supervise the proposed trans-Sahara gas pipeline project between the two nations.
The announcement was made after Algerian and Nigerian energy officials met in Algiers, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' news agency reported.
The 4,000-km line would cost $5-7 billion. It would move Nigerian gas from Abuja fields to the Algerian port of Beni Saf, in the northwestern part of the country. Volumes were not disclosed (OGJ Online, Apr. 26, 2001).
Algerian Energy and Mines Minister Chakib Khelil noted the project is supported by the presidents of the two nations and was endorsed at a meeting of African energy ministers at Algiers in April.
Rilwanu Lukman, Nigerian presidential advisor on petroleum and energy, said the project would enable the sale of Algerian and Nigerian gas on European markets, increasing the production potential from both nations.
The two countries also pledged to support the project with an extension of the trans-Saharan road and construction of an optical fiber line paralleling the pipeline to improve telecommunications.