UPDATE 1-Nigeria, Algeria agree to build Sahara gas link

By Randy Fabi ABUJA, July 3 (Reuters) - Nigeria, Algeria and Niger on Friday signed an agreement to build a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline across the Sahara that could send up to 30 billion cubic metres a year of supplies to Europe. 'We have the expertise and I don't think there is a problem with finance in this project. I don't think there is a problem with a market. The market is there,' Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil said at a ceremony in Nigeria's capital Abuja. The project, with capital costs estimated at $10 billion for the pipeline and $3 billion for gathering centres, would send West African gas via a 4,128 km (2,580 mile) pipeline from Nigeria via Niger and Algeria. The European Union has said the Trans-Sahara project could help diversify its energy sources but the project had been stuck on the drawing... [read full story]                    

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