Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Gains Urgency Amid Iran War

The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline has moved back into focus after the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) warned that the war against Iran is causing a historic shock to global energy markets. In an editorial published on March 5, 2026, APPO Secretary General Farid Ghezali said the paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting oil and liquefied natural gas flows, pushing prices higher and reshaping energy priorities for producers and importers alike.

Ghezali described the Strait of Hormuz as a vital artery for the global economy, noting that it carries about 20% of the world’s oil, or roughly 17 million barrels per day, as well as around one-third of global LNG trade. According to the editorial, recent disruptions affecting Saudi and Qatari energy facilities have worsened what he called an unprecedented supply crisis.

The APPO editorial said Brent crude was trading at $80 to $82 per barrel, up 13% in 72 hours, while WTI stood near $72 per barrel. It also cited European TTF gas at €45/MWh and JKM Asia at $14.5 per million Btu, arguing that the Gulf conflict is feeding higher volatility across both oil and gas markets.

Ghezali further pointed to a more severe scenario in which a blockade lasting more than a month could push crude prices to between $110 and $150 per barrel. Reuters reported on March 12 that Goldman Sachs had indeed raised its oil forecasts because of a longer disruption in Hormuz, while warning that spot prices could exceed earlier peaks if the shutdown persists.

In that context, APPO argues that Africa could emerge as a major beneficiary of redirected energy demand. The organization said Atlantic producers such as Nigeria, Algeria and Angola are less exposed to the Gulf chokepoint and could capture stronger demand from Europe and Asia as buyers look for more secure supply routes.

That is where the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline becomes strategically important. The project would link Nigerian gas fields to Algeria through Niger and then connect to export routes serving Europe. APPO said the pipeline is expected to transport around 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year and presented 2029 as the target for its first operational phase.

The project is also advancing politically. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced in February that construction of the pipeline would begin immediately after Ramadan 2026, while other reports said roughly 1,800 kilometers remain to be completed out of a total route of a little more than 4,100 kilometers.

For Algeria, the renewed attention around the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline reinforces its ambition to become a central energy hub between Africa and Europe. If the instability in the Gulf continues, the project may no longer be seen as a long-term regional plan alone, but as part of an urgent response to a rapidly changing global energy map.