The Moroccan energy minister says that 13 companies are exploring gas in Morocco.
Rabat – Aziz Rabbah, Morocco’s Minister of Energy, Mines, and Environment, has said that the gas wells recently explored in Tendrara in eastern Morocco will meet 30% of the country’s oil demands.
Rabbah made the remarks about the gas discovery at Tendrara at a weekly parliament session on Monday, December 17.
He noted that there are currently 13 companies exploring gas in Morocco.
The Moroccan official explained that the exploration of the Tendrara gas is only in its initial stages. He added that there will be more exploration in the future.
The minister emphasized the Moroccan government’s efforts to meet the country’s sustainable energy demands, revealing that the government’s investments in the energy sector currently stands at MAD 82 billion.
Several international companies are operating in Morocco, including UK-based Sound Energy. In August 2018, Morocco’s government approved a permit for the British firm to start drilling a fourth well in the region with an eight-year contract, taking effect from October 2019.
On October 29, the Moroccan National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) signed a memorandum of understanding with Sound Energy Limited. The agreement covered the sale of natural gas from the Tendrara concession in Eastern Morocco.
Morocco’s government seeks to emerge as a leader in the energy industry, including renewables, where the country is currently already regional trendsetter.
Morocco also seeks to generate 42% of its electricity from renewable energies by 2020.
