Sierra Leone signs historic intergovernmental agreement for African Atlantic Gas Pipeline

Sierra Leone has formally become a signatory to a landmark regional energy project following the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project at the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, in Lungi, under the chairmanship of His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio.

The agreement “advances one of Africa’s most ambitious energy infrastructure projects,” said the organisers. The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline will run 6,900 kilometres along the Atlantic coast in offshore and onshore sections. The pipeline, which is designed to link Nigeria’s gas fields with Morocco, will run through thirteen coastal countries, including Sierra Leone, and will feed natural gas to ECOWAS member states and Mauritania, with the option of onward access to European markets.

The project would be among the longest pipelines in the world if constructed, with a capacity of up to 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year, and valued at an estimated $25 billion. The signing ceremony in Lungi is a key institutional milestone in the development of the project and provides new impetus for regional cooperation on energy infrastructure.

“This is a watershed moment for Africa’s use of its coastal resources,” President Bio said after the signing. For generations, the Atlantic has been taking Africa’s wealth from our shores. With this agreement, we are turning the tide. He said the pipeline would deliver energy, opportunity and prosperity to communities up and down the coast, from West African soil to West African homes and industries. “By hosting the conclusion of the intergovernmental agreement, Sierra Leone has shown the increasing role it is playing in regional affairs.

The Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL), which reports to the President’s Office, has played a major role in the country’s participation in the project. Sierra Leone’s formal involvement started in 2022, when PDSL signed a Memorandum of Understanding, signifying the country’s intention to join. The Directorate has since represented Sierra Leone in a variety of ministerial and technical meetings, engaged in negotiations on legal and institutional arrangements, coordinated national technical inputs and worked to ensure that the Intergovernmental Agreement reflected the country’s priorities.

Eng. Foday B.L. Mansaray, Director General of the Petroleum Directorate hailed the signing as a testament to Sierra Leone’s commitment to regional cooperation and its increasing stature as a reliable partner in Africa’s energy sector. “This Agreement is so much more than the building of a gas pipeline. This is all about regional integration, shared prosperity and energy security. “It is also about creating new opportunities for industrialisation, employment and long-term economic growth across West Africa,” he said. The Lungi ceremony represents the legal framework to guide implementation of years of technical cooperation.

Supporters of the pipeline say it will bring Sierra Leone multiple strategic benefits. Affordable access to natural gas can support gas-to-power projects and increase reliable electricity generation, which would support industrial growth and the development of manufacturing zones. Other potential benefits cited by government officials include reduced dependence on imported refined fuels, new jobs and skills development during construction and operations, and possible transit-related revenues. The project is described as a complement to the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2024-2030 of Sierra Leone that prioritises energy diversification, increased access to power and accelerated industrialisation.

The Intergovernmental Agreement marks the next step in the institutional development of the project. A high authority, made up of ministerial representatives of the member countries, is expected to be created by the participating states to direct the programme. The construction, financing and execution will be handled by a separate project company. The implementation will take into account the technical, financial, legal and regulatory requirements of the participating states.

Eng. Mansaray also cited Sierra Leone’s wider upstream momentum with renewed investor confidence, recent modern seismic data acquisition and reprocessing effort, strengthened petroleum legislation and increased international engagement as factors keeping the country positioned as a promising frontier for African exploration. He said the active participation of Sierra Leone is a result of the leadership of President Bio and it is reflective of the broader goal of strengthening regional partnerships whilst advancing national development goals.

The signing in Lungi is a major step but the agreement is just the start of a long and complex implementation process. Before construction can begin, financial arrangements, environmental and social impact assessments, detailed route planning, procurement, regulatory alignment and stakeholder engagement must be finalised. When the participating states go from agreement to implementation, the high authority and the project company will be among the first institutional priorities.
The Petroleum Directorate said Sierra Leone will be fully involved in the implementation process to ensure that the country is strategically placed to benefit from potential national and regional benefits. The Directorate also expressed its gratitude to the President’s Office, the ECOWAS Commission and the many national and regional stakeholders who worked together to bring the Intergovernmental Agreement to fruition.
As the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline transitions from diplomatic accord to tangible planning, proponents claim it has the capacity to revolutionise West African energy supply dynamics and bolster a wider agenda of regional integration and industrial development. The scale and ambition of the pipeline, and the financial, technical and political challenges it faces, mean that its realisation will depend on long-term cooperation among participating states and the mobilisation of substantial capital and expertise.