Anchoring Pipeline
Technology
in Africa
Research, engineering development, policy collaboration, and internationally aligned pipeline training to secure the continent's energy future.
The Institutional Foundation for African Energy
The African Pipeline Resource Network (APRN) is the premier continental think-tank and capacity building network dedicated to the engineering, policy, and operational excellence of Africa’s midstream infrastructure.
Pieter-Bas Nederveen
Advisory Committee Member, Senior Energy Advisor
Lucy Okeke
Founder
Joseph Agwuh
Head, Technology and Innovation
Why Africa Needs APRN Now
Africa is entering its most consequential energy decade. Billions in infrastructure capital are flowing — yet the continent risks repeating the colonial-era pattern of building assets without building the people to own, operate, and govern them.
APRN exists to close that gap permanently: through world-class engineering certification, policy frameworks grounded in African realities, and a living intelligence network that keeps practitioners, regulators, and investors aligned.
Pipeline investment projected across Africa by 2030
Of senior pipeline engineering roles currently filled by non-African talent
Continental infrastructure projects stalled due to local skills deficit
AU member states with no domestically certified pipeline standards body
Our Core Pillars
Pipeline Research
Advanced studies on material science, flow dynamics, and corrosion prevention tailored to African environments.
Engineering Training
Internationally aligned certification programs building local capacity in design, construction, and maintenance.
African Pipeline Database
The continent's most comprehensive GIS mapping and technical repository of existing and planned infrastructure.
Policy & Regulation
Advising governments and regulatory bodies on harmonized cross-border pipeline frameworks and tariffs.
Continental Collaboration
Facilitating joint ventures and knowledge transfer between African NOCs and international operators.
Africa's Pipeline Infrastructure: 2026 Outlook
Africa's pipeline infrastructure sector enters 2026 at a pivotal moment. With 12,400 km under construction, $42.5 billion in tracked capital investment across six major corridors, and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline progressing toward bankable feasibility with growing US interest, the continent's energy infrastructure landscape is rapidly evolving. This report maps key projects, including the 6,900 km NMGP, the 1,443 km EACOP, and the 614 km AKK, while examining investment trends, geopolitical drivers, and the engineering workforce gap at the heart of APRN's mission.
Beyond Steel: The Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline as a Tool for African Integration
Often viewed as an energy project, the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline may ultimately be a regional integration project. By linking economies through shared infrastructure, it could accelerate trade, industrialization, and cooperation across Africa's Atlantic corridor while improving long-term energy security.
Africa's Pipeline Training & Research Landscape: A Competitive Analysis
This working paper profiles every significant organisation operating in the African pipeline training, research, and advocacy space — from PLAN, COREN, SPE Nigeria, and NGA domestically, to PTC Berlin, EITEP, and the African Energy Chamber internationally. The conclusion is unmistakable: no organisation simultaneously delivers pipeline-specific research, internationally benchmarked training, professional advocacy, and pan-African reach under a single mandate. That structural vacuum is APRN's opportunity.
Africa's Pipeline Engineering Skills Gap: A Continental Analysis
Africa's pipeline infrastructure investment is accelerating. The engineering workforce is not. This report examines the structural drivers, continental scope, and institutional pathways to resolving the most consequential human capital gap in African energy development.
West Africa Gas Policy Framework: A Decade Review
This policy brief reviews ten years of operational and regulatory performance under the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) Treaty, evaluates ECOWAS energy integration mechanisms, and draws concrete lessons for the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline governance framework. Key findings: average utilisation of 61% over 2010-2025; Ghana off-take shortfalls accounting for 72% of the utilisation gap; and the structural absence of an independent regional pipeline regulator, that which is the single most important governance lesson for NMGP design.
Development Roadmap 2026–2030
Phase I Expansion
Launch of the centralized continental database and opening of two new regional training hubs.
Policy Harmonization
Implementation of unified cross-border tariff structures and safety standards across ECOWAS and SADC.
Full Integration
APRN positioned as the leading certification partner for major continental midstream projects across all AU member states.