Republic of Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced this week the launching of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) which will transfer gas from Nigeria to the Mediterranean via Niger and Algeria. Construction will begin immediately after the month of Ramadan and will greatly augment Africa’s energy infrastructure.
Tebboune’s statement was made jointly with the President of the Republic of Niger, Head of State, General Abdourahamane Tiani, after their talks. The President said, “We have agreed to launch the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline project via the territory of Niger immediately after the month of Ramadan,” noting that “Sonatrach [an Algerian firm] will take the lead and begin laying the pipeline that will pass through Niger.”
The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP/ NIGAL) will go from 4,128 km from Warri, Nigeria, across Niger, ending up at Hassi R’Mel, the large gas field in Algeria. It will have a capacity of : 30 billion cubic meters per year, and cost an estimated $13 billion.While ownership will be 90 percent held by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with Algeria’s Sonatrach, Niger’s SONIDEP will hold a 10% share. Niger will benefit through transit fees and access to gas.
The announcement marks a significant improvement of relations among the three countries. Algeria has in the past been accused by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, for supporting separatists who have been carrying out terror attacks against the AES.
Now in his statement, the Algerian President emphasized that both Algeria and Niger are “in the same trench,” in the fight against terrorism: “We will cooperate by exerting our utmost efforts and relying on all the capabilities and expertise available to Algeria” adding that “Niger’s security is Algeria’s security.”
Nigeria had been leading the charge against the AES states through the regional grouping, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which had imposed sanctions against the AES states for removing their elected leaders. However, Nigeria has been moving ahead on the pipeline, and in December, 2025 announced the important milestone of having completed the welding of an important section of the TSGP within its borders.
Other infrastructure projects are proceeding in Africa. Algeria and China have just completed the Sahara desert railway in southwestern Algeria, a 950-km, $2.7-billion project designed to transport 50 million tons of iron ore annually from the Gara Djebilet iron ore mine to the Mediterranean coast. Algeria has held out the prospect of continuing this line into the Sahel states.
