TSGP pipeline: A viable, sustainable and profitable project

The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP), which should link Nigeria to Europe via Algeria, is a viable, sustainable and profitable project economically and financially, Finance Minister Laaziz Faid said on Thursday. 
"It is an economically viable, sustainable, and profitable project. The sources of its financing can only be mainly banking, and we do not exclude that the AfDB participates in it", he answered the question of APS to know if the most important African financial institution would contribute to the financing of this mega project.
Mr. Faid considered that the recent statement of the AfDB President on this subject constituted a "manifestation of the Bank's intention to finance" the project.
"There is no reason, moreover, not to support a viable and profitable project," he argued.
The Minister, who was speaking at a press briefing on the sidelines of his participation in the 58th Annual Meetings of the AfDB, which are being held from May 22 to 26 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, added that studies will be , subsequently, carried out to "examine this mega project in all its dimensions and choose the appropriate mode of financing".
On Monday, on the sidelines of a press conference held the day before the official opening of the Assemblies, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Akinwumi Adesina, declared to APS that this gas pipeline "is very important, it is an investment that we support and that the African Union supports".
In addition to the TSGP, Mr. Faid mentioned other major viable and strategic structuring projects for regional integration linking Algeria to Africa, and which require significant funding.
He cited, in this regard, the project for the construction of the road linking Tindouf to Zouerate in Mauritania and the maritime line serving the two countries, the trans-Saharan road Algiers-Lagos, the project for the trans-Saharan fiber optic backbone, which will be carried out in parallel with the trans-Saharan road, over 4,500 km in length, as well as the railway line linking Algiers to Tamanrasset.
In addition, Mr. Faid returned to the rich and busy program of his participation in the 58th Annual Meetings of the AfDB.
"I came at the head of a large delegation to participate in the ADB Meetings, knowing that Algeria was among the pioneer countries and the first contributors to this Bank, created in 1964".
For two days, the Minister will have to attend several meetings which will review the accounts of the AfDB and the renewal of the members of certain governance committees, in addition to bilateral meetings.