Morocco Builds LNG Terminal Amid Gas Pipeline Uncertainty

In a press release, the ministry says it has noted that the importance of this project and the conditions of the national and regional market have aroused the interest of a significant number of national and international companies. Motivated by this enthusiasm from operators and the capture of new opportunities in an accelerated scheme, and in order to ensure more visibility for the next stages of the realization, it has therefore decided to extend the consultation period by 10 days, starting from October 15, 2021.

During this extension, the bidders will be able to respond to the request for additional information to the offers submitted on June 15, 2021, taking into account the addition of an additional site, in the north of the kingdom, while detailing the planned financing structure and the conditions of the gas supply contract, specifies the same source. The ministry also assures that the companies that have expressed interest are contacted by the administration, in full transparency, in order to refine the offers and present a supply model ensuring security of supply for Morocco.

The implementation of this project comes a few days before the expiration (October 31) of the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline (GME) crossing Morocco and connecting Algeria to Spain. Even if the Algerian president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, assures that his country has not yet decided on its renewal, the Moroccan authorities are anticipating all scenarios concerning the future of the GME.