Summary:

On 8 April 2026, Sonatrach announced the launch of the operational phase of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) project by the end of April on the Algerian side which will include focused studies on the requirements necessary to complete the pipeline connection through the Algerian desert. The project, spanning 4,128 km, aims to connect gas networks across Algeria, Niger, and Nigeria, with around 60 percent of the pipeline already completed. 

The upcoming “operational phase” will focus on detailed technical studies, infrastructure development, and coordination with Nigerien authorities, including regulatory, environmental, and construction frameworks. The project is expected to enhance regional energy cooperation and support economic development, while reinforcing Algeria’s role as a key gas supplier to Europe. 

Outlook: 

Amid an intense hydrocarbons supply disruption following the war on Iran and rising global prices, Algeria is likely to play a more central regional role, leveraging its infrastructure and export capacity.  

Progress on the TSGP supports this positioning, though it may require intensified diplomatic engagement by Algeria in the short term to secure coordination with regional partners and regain strategic influence in the Sahel. 

This comes amid ongoing rivalry with Morocco, which is simultaneously advancing its own energy and security initiatives, suggesting that regional competition may increasingly extend across multiple economic and geopolitical fronts. 

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