Militants threaten to sabotage trans-sahara gas pipe project

MilitantS in the Niger Delta have threatened to sabotage a plan to pipe Nigerian gas to Europe across the Sahara desert, a scheme that has attracted European Union and Russian energy majors.


The project estimated at $10 billion for the pipeline and $3 billion for gathering centres would send up to 30 billion cubic metres a year of gas to Europe via a 4,128- kilometre pipeline from Nigeria via Niger and Algeria.


Russian gas monopoly, Gazprom and Anglo-Dutch energy giant, Royal Dutch Shell, are among the international firms to have expressed interest in participating in the project.


The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which has shut down more than a fifth of Nigerian oil output since launching attacks on the industry three years ago, warned that the planned project would be a target.


“Those talking to the wrong people in Abuja about investing in the Trans-Sahara gas pipe project will be investing unwisely as we are determined to sabotage the project from inception,” the group said in an e-mailed statement.


nigerian tribune