Leila Benali: The Energy Bill is High, and Morocco’s Energy Sovereignty is Non-Negotiable
Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, confirmed that Morocco’s energy bill remains extremely high, emphasizing that the bill to convert the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines into a joint-stock company represents an unconventional step to enhance the state’s role in energy sovereignty and promote the mining sector.
During a meeting of the Infrastructure, Energy, Mines, Environment, and Sustainable Development Committee in the House of Representatives, Benali highlighted that Morocco aims to qualify the mining sector and ensure its international competitiveness, citing the experience of transforming the Office Chérifien des Phosphates into a joint-stock company, which enabled it to compete with major global producers.
The minister clarified that the current approach is participatory and includes all stakeholders, drawing inspiration from previous experiences in energy infrastructure, particularly the gas infrastructure, such as the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline, which has been under Moroccan sovereignty since 2021. She stated that this sovereign infrastructure has helped Morocco withstand international pressures, especially during the Ukraine war, ensuring that industries maintained energy supplies and preserved thousands of jobs.
Benali remarked, “When gas was cut off from Morocco, the state, in all its components, stood together to find solutions to ensure that electricity did not stop and industrial activity continued,” asserting that linking the infrastructure to the Moroccan-Nigerian gas pipeline enhances Moroccan sovereignty and protects job opportunities.
The minister emphasized that dependency on neighboring countries for energy must end, and the transformation of the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines into a joint-stock company aligns with this direction. She noted that the ministry received a correspondence from the Budget Directorate affirming the sovereign and strategic nature of the project, reiterating the state’s commitment to protecting its energy sovereignty and preventing any external influence.
Benali concluded by stating that the reform aims to protect consumers, enhance management efficiency, and ensure sustainable development, noting that Morocco today represents a pioneering model in energy and mineral management, strengthening its position on climate matters. She affirmed that this path focuses on bolstering sovereignty rather than privatization or relinquishing the state’s strategic principles.
