Is Trans-Sahara pipeline in trouble before it launches?

September 3, 2010 - (petroleumafrica.com) - According to some news agencies, the recent invitation issued to India to join the trans-Sahara pipeline project by Algeria signals that the project is in trouble. “The prospect of a quick start to the pipeline has dimmed even further since the beginning of the year with the departure of two of its strongest champions over the past decade, Algerian Oil Minister Chakib Khelil and Nigerian Energy Minister Rilwanu Lukman,” Paris-based Africa Intelligence reported.

Algeria’s ambassador to India, Echarif Mohammed-Hacene, announced the invitation to participate offered to India last month saying, “We need more foreign partners outside Europe for this project.” The recent statements go against previous statements that had Algeria saying that the three countries involved in the project did not need outside help to bring it to fruition.

Not long after the trans-Sahara pipeline was conceived Algeria and Nigeria were subjected to a cacophony of offers from foreign operators wanting in on the project. Companies like France’s Total, Russia’s state-owned Gazprom, and Gas Natural of Spain, to name a few, have all expressed interest to help build the pipeline, although no solid deals have materialized from the offers.

http://www.petroleumafrica.com/en/newsarticle.php?NewsID=10243

Filed under: Algeria, Europe, India, Nigeria, Oil, Pipeline

Posted on 03/09/10