Three West-African countries: Algeria, Nigeria, and Niger signed agreements Tuesday aimed at accelerating the development of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) project.

The agreements, signed during the 4th ministerial meeting of the TSGP steering committee, include a contract to update the project’s feasibility study, a compensation agreement, and a non-disclosure agreement among the energy companies of the three nations.

Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ekperikpe Ekpo, Algerian Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab, and Nigerien Petroleum Minister Sahabi Oumarou signed the feasibility study contract.

Sonatrach CEO Rachid Hachichi, Executive Vice President Olalekan Ogunleye of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC LTD), and General Director Ali Seibou of Nigerien Oil Company SONIDEP signed the non-disclosure agreement and compensation agreement.

Arkab described the agreement as a "notable progress" during the signing ceremony, highlighting how it showed their "collective commitment to achieving the objectives of the TSGP and bringing it to fruition." 

He said the revised feasibility assessment will make clear how to "accelerate the realization of this important project within a reasonable timeframe and at competitive costs."

The TSGP aims to establish a pipeline transporting natural gas from Nigeria, through Niger, to Algeria, facilitating exports to European and other international markets.