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Marrakech – Morocco’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development launched two major international tenders on December 5 to develop the country’s first liquefied natural gas infrastructure phase.
The ministry announced competitive bidding processes for a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at Nador West Med port and the construction of a national gas pipeline network. The combined investment totals MAD 9.542 billion ($954.2 million).
The first tender seeks operators to charter a floating LNG terminal at Nador West Med port. The selected operator will provide the vessel and install technical equipment on the jetty before transferring assets to the port authority. This LNG import station, connected to the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline, requires an investment of MAD 2.73 billion ($273 million).
The second tender covers the design, construction, financing, and operation of new gas pipelines. The network will initially connect Nador West Med port to the Maghreb-Europe pipeline, then extend to industrial zones in Kenitra and Mohammedia.
More than 80 operators have expressed interest in this first phase, confirming international appeal for the project. The main pipeline section from the Maghreb-Europe line to Mohammedia costs MAD 6.387 billion ($638.7 million). An additional secondary network serving Kenitra and Mohammedia industrial areas requires MAD 425 million ($42.5 million).
The ministry developed this project under the public-private partnership law 86-12. The procedure includes candidate prequalification for a restricted international tender, scheduled for launch before the first quarter of 2026. This represents the third stage of the process following a completed expression of interest concluded in July 2025.
Nador West Med port will accommodate Q-Flex methane carriers with a maximum capacity of 215,000 cubic meters. The facility will ensure nominal regasification of 5.1 billion cubic meters annually, expandable to 7.5 billion cubic meters during peak periods.
Morocco plans to start operations in 2027 to meet growing demand. National gas consumption will increase from the current 1.2 billion cubic meters to approximately 8 billion cubic meters by 2027. This surge results from converting existing power plants to gas and increasing their capacity, industrial growth, and a gradual reduction of coal and fuel oil usage.
By 2030, demand could reach 12 billion cubic meters annually. This projection justifies opening a second import terminal on the Atlantic coast at Mohammedia or Jorf Lasfar. An additional platform near Dakhla port is also planned to support southern Morocco’s development.
Corridor forms Morocco’s future gas backbone
The ministry completed a feasibility study for this first infrastructure phase within the 2025-2030 gas roadmap framework. Candidate selection will consider technical and financial strength, transparency, and social and environmental responsibility beyond meeting deadlines to ensure project viability and sustainable benefits.
The FSRU operator may handle installation of topside equipment, including loading arms and connection facilities, before transferring them to a public entity prior to commissioning. Candidate applications for the FSRU tender are due by January 30, 2026, with bid opening scheduled for February 2, 2026.
This Nador-Maghreb Europe-Mohammedia corridor represents the first step toward a national gas transport network. The backbone will ensure secure supply to industrial centers, support thermal power plant conversion to gas, and guarantee logistical continuity between maritime terminals, existing infrastructure, and major industrial consumers.
The project also marks a major advancement in Morocco’s energy transition and the development of a national gas market. Nador will become the country’s first LNG entry point, aligning supply with growing demand as the North African country progressively substitutes natural gas for more polluting energy sources.
Meeting the 2027 timeline is essential to align supply with increasing demand, according to Morocco’s strategic orientation. A shortlist of candidates will be finalized before the end of the first quarter of 2026, opening the way for a restricted tender process.
