Africa Faces $170 Billion Infrastructure Gap as Major Pipeline Projects Advance
Africa’s infrastructure deficit remains a significant barrier to development, with annual investment needs estimated between $130 billion and $170 billion. This gap underscores the urgent need for innovative financing to support critical energy infrastructure projects that can drive regional integration and economic growth.
The $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, also known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, is now moving toward construction, signaling a major leap for regional energy integration. Stretching 6,000 kilometers across 13 African countries, the pipeline will supply 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually, including to landlocked Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, while connecting Morocco to European markets.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), spanning 1,443 kilometers from Uganda to Tanzania, is now more than 64 percent complete, marking a major milestone for regional energy integration. The pipeline promises to boost trade, create jobs, and attract investment while highlighting Africa’s potential to overcome complex logistical, financial, and regulatory challenges.
Additionally, the Lobito Corridor railway project in Angola is set to commence construction in Q3 2026 as the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation finalizes over $500 million in financing. The corridor will span more than 530 kilometers from Zambia’s Chingola region to Angola’s Benguela railway, facilitating the export of copper and agricultural products.
Source: orientalnewsng.com
