Morocco Launches Call for Expressions of Interest to Develop National Gas Infrastructure
Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, announced yesterday in Ouarzazate the launch of a call for expressions of interest to develop the national gas infrastructure, during the sixteenth edition of the Energy Conference.
According to a statement issued by the ministry, this announcement is part of a strategic vision aimed at establishing a comprehensive natural gas system in the kingdom. This includes the creation of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at the Port of Nador in the Mediterranean, along with the development of a gas pipeline network to connect the terminal with the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline.
The statement further noted that this network will provide existing and future power plants operated by the National Office for Electricity and Potable Water, as well as industrial zones, extending to the cities of Kenitra and Mohammedia. The long-term vision also includes linking this network to future LNG terminals along the Atlantic coast and integrating it with the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline currently being developed through the Port of Dakhla.
The announcement emphasized that this project is a cornerstone in the development of the natural gas sector, due to its flexibility that supports the integration of renewable energies, especially within projects using open or combined cycles reliant on gas. This also enhances Morocco’s energy sovereignty and contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
This direction aims to establish a sustainable and competitive national economic system, especially in light of the global trend towards implementing tax mechanisms related to carbon neutrality.
The announcement comes as part of implementing a roadmap for sustainable gas infrastructure, which includes the essential stages for creating a comprehensive network capable of accelerating the development of the natural gas market in Morocco.
The ministry indicated that the document related to the call for expressions of interest is available on its official website: www.mem.gov.ma.
