The United Arab Emirates has agreed to help finance the estimated $25 billion project to build a natural gas pipeline stretching from Nigeria to Europe via Morocco.

Leila Benali, the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, informed the Moroccan parliament last week that the UAE would contribute to the ambitious project's funding alongside other financing partners, including the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the OPEC Fund.   

Morocco has completed all preliminary feasibility and engineering studies for the pipeline, Benali said in comments reported by Moroccan media over the weekend.   

The planned pipeline spans nearly 5,660 kilometers (about 3,517 miles), starting from the southern Moroccan city of Dakhla, connecting with the Nigerian gas network and extending northward to link with markets in Europe. 

The route is expected to traverse 15 African countries.   

Benali also confirmed that China's Jingye Steel Group has been awarded a contract to supply the pipes for the project.   

Last month, Morocco and Nigeria agreed to create a joint venture to oversee the management of the planned intercontinental pipeline, a significant step forward for the long-discussed energy infrastructure project.