Morocco is set to begin the tendering process for its first liquefied natural gas terminal near the eastern Mediterranean city of Nador within days, Energy Minister Leila Benali announced Monday. “This week, we will be launching a call for the expression of interest to develop the first phase of the natural gas terminal in Nador,” Benali told parliament. The infrastructure, expected to be a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), will connect to existing pipelines importing gas from Spanish terminals and extend to industrial zones near Kenitra and Mohammedia. Morocco aims to diversify away from coal while pursuing ambitious renewable energy targets, with plans to reach 52% renewable capacity before 2030, up from the current 45%. The country’s natural gas demand is projected to surge from 1 bcm currently to 8 bcm by 2027, while Morocco’s electricity utility has adopted a 2025-2030 plan to add 15 gigawatts of capacity, including 13 GW from renewable sources, requiring $13 billion in investments.
Source: Reuters
