Morocco Approves 120-km Gas Pipeline Project by UK’s Sound Energy

The Ministry of Energy has approved the first phase of the environmental impact study, Sound Energy said in a statement. The British company intends to build and operate a 120-kilometer, 50-centimeter gas pipeline to connect "the proposed gas treatment plant and compression station (CPF) to the Maghreb Europe pipeline (GME)".

The Tendrara export pipeline will cross the village of Matarka in the province of Figuig in eastern Morocco and Jerada to reach the Maghreb Europe pipeline, it is specified.

"Ongoing discussions with representatives of the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior to obtain rights through a long-term lease contract for a 50 m wide corridor along the entire 120 km length of the gas pipeline are progressing as planned," the company said.

Sound Energy hopes to obtain approval for environmental control at a second meeting with the National Committee of the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Environment on January 28. As for the environmental impact assessment of the gas treatment plant, the company assures that the project "is progressing well".

On October 29, 2019, the Moroccan National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) had signed a memorandum of understanding with Sound Energy for the purchase of 5 billion cubic meters of gas over ten years.