Abuja 6 Dec (ANA) - An agreement  for the extension of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) from Nigeria to Europe via Morocco has been signed in the Nigerian capital Abuja at a ceremony presided over  by King Mohammed VI of Morocco and his host president Muhammadu Buhari.  Currently, the pipeline connects Nigeria with Benin, Togo and Ghana.  The largest gas pipeline in West Africa, WAGP is operated by Ithmar Capital (formerly Wessal Capital) and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority -  sovereign wealth funds of both countries.  In a statement, the two countries said: "The pipeline will be designed with the participation of all stakeholders in order to accelerate electrification projects throughout the West African region." Morocco and Nigeria want to create a competitive regional electricity market that can be linked to the European energy market and "which will develop industrial clusters integrated in industry, agro-business and fertilizers to attract foreign capital and improve the competitiveness of exports ".  The Nigerian Dangote group and the Moroccan OCP will set up a fertilizer manufacturing plant in Nigeria and a phosphoric acid plant in Jorf Lasfar following a major agreement between the two countries to boost the African agro-industrial sector. Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has formalized his draft agreement with the Moroccan OCP boss Mostafa Terrab for the supply of phosphates, A new fertilizer plant in Nigeria. This platform will not only meet the strong demand of Nigerian domestic market, but also export fertilizer to other parts of Africa. The Dangote fertilizer plant, which is expected to be supplied by OCP's phosphate, is part of a $ 9 billion industrial project that also includes the construction of an oil refinery.(ANA)

FA/ANA/16 December 2016------