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Rabat – Morocco’s oil and gas exploration sector is attracting renewed interest, with around 10 companies currently exploring for hydrocarbons across the country, including Moroccan investors for the first time, according to Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali.
Speaking during a parliamentary question session on Monday, Benali said the sector is becoming more active as the country continues efforts to strengthen its energy security and reduce its dependence on imported fuels.
The minister said exploration activities are currently carried out under 53 licenses and permits, including 40 offshore licenses, nine onshore licenses, and four exploitation concessions. These projects are spread across several regions and reflect Morocco’s continued search for commercially viable oil and gas resources.
Highly attractive regulations for investors
Benali described Morocco’s legal framework for hydrocarbon exploration as one of the world’s most attractive for investors. She explained that oil and gas exploration requires large financial investments and carries significant risks, making investor-friendly regulations essential for encouraging companies to explore.
She added that the government’s efforts to attract investors, combined with exploration work carried out in recent years, have led to natural gas discoveries in the Gharb Basin, Essaouira, Tendrara, and offshore Larache. While these discoveries are encouraging, Benali acknowledged that they have not yet reached the scale needed to transform Morocco into a major hydrocarbon producer.
Dual strategy for energy security
Morocco has relied heavily on imported fossil fuels for decades to meet its energy needs. The country is now increasingly pursuing a dual strategy of expanding renewable energy while continuing to explore domestic natural gas resources that could improve energy security and support industrial development.
Natural gas is expected to play an important role during Morocco’s energy transition, particularly as industries seek cleaner alternatives to coal and fuel oil. Several exploration projects, including those in Tendrara and the Gharb Basin, have attracted attention in recent years as the government looks to increase domestic gas production.
Benali also announced that the government has launched a comprehensive reform of the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) to improve the sector’s performance and accelerate exploration projects. She noted that the entry of Moroccan capital into the exploration business could help strengthen future investments and increase local participation in the country’s energy sector.
Beyond exploration, the minister stated that Morocco has maintained stable energy supplies despite global market disruptions over the past five years. She said the country experienced no interruptions in fuel supplies, even during periods of international price volatility.
Morocco increased its petroleum storage capacity by more than 30% between 2021 and 2025, creating reserves equivalent to more than 17 additional days of national fuel consumption, Benali explained.
Around 80% of the country’s storage capacity is currently concentrated around Casablanca and the Tangier region, while authorities continue working to expand storage infrastructure in other parts of the country to improve the resilience of the national supply system.
