Trans-Saharan gas pipeline approved by feasibility study
The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) has reached a milestone following the approval of its final feasibility report, according to a report by Algerian online outlet Observalgerie that was released on the 13th of June. The updated comprehensive study was conducted by the British energy consultancy firm Penspen. The assessment officially validates the technical and economic viability of the 4,200km continental energy corridor.
The massive mega-project is designed to link Nigeria’s extensive natural gas fields directly to Europe via Niger and Algeria. Following the approval of the report, state-owned energy giant Sonatrach officially launched construction on the Algerian segment of the pipeline. This section will run through Aoulef in the southern province of Adrar before connecting to the national distribution hub at Hassi R’mel in a more northern part of the country.
According to the approved technical specifications, the pipeline is engineered to transport up to 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. This capacity positions the TSGP as one of the largest infrastructure projects on the African continent. The Penspen report details a stable operating model that integrates seamlessly into existing regional supply grids. This minimises initial logistical challenges despite the harsh geographic conditions of the Sahara Desert.
The pipeline route provides a strategic, direct corridor to diversify Europe’s energy imports. Observalgerie underlines that this arrives at a time of heightened global focus on securing reliable transit pathways.
Beyond international export metrics, the Penspen study highlights substantial regional benefits. These include massive local employment opportunities, regional industrial investments, and economic modernisation across the three participating nations.
Algeria’s section was strategically adjusted to use existing local pipeline facilities. By routing the pipeline through Aoulef to Hassi R’mel, Sonatrach avoids building redundant processing stations. Hassi R’mel will serve as the primary link connecting sub-Saharan gas flows directly into the Mediterranean transit pipelines bound for southern Europe.
ObservAlgérie, L’Algérie aujourd’hui, Maghrebi.org.
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