By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 16 -- Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. and Algeria's Sonatrach have awarded a contract to a joint venture of Penspen Ltd. of the UK and IPA Energy Consulting Ltd., Edinburgh, to study the feasibility of a Trans-Saharan natural gas pipeline.
The world-class pipeline would deliver gas from Nigeria and Algeria to a terminal on the Mediterranean Sea in Algeria and to consumers along the pipeline route.
In a 9-month project, the contractors will perform market, economic, and financial analyses, determine pipeline infrastructure requirements and project cost estimates, establish gas supply sources, assess policy issues and institutional framework relating to the project, assess environmental issues, and perform a pipeline route survey, project risk analysis, and regional benefit study.
The pipeline is being proposed under the Organization of African Unity's (OAU) New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) initiative. A coalition of Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa designed Nepad to address challenges facing Africa and to establish a strategic framework for African renewal.
