Morocco Expands Mining Exploration with 47 New Projects in 2020

Among the work carried out in 2020, 34 concerned the work of the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM), including 11 for precious metals, 9 for base metals, 7 for industrial rocks and minerals, 4 for mining knowledge and 3 special projects concerning geothermal energy and hydrogen, specifies a press release published by the department, at the end of the 17th session of the board of directors of the office.

The board of directors accepted the 2019 special accounts, the consolidated accounts for 2018 and 2019, as well as the 2021 budget project, and took note of the 2021-2023 three-year plan, during this meeting chaired by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development, Aziz Rabbah, in the presence of Amira Benkhadra, Director General of ONHYM.

Furthermore, in 2020, the hydrocarbon partnership activity was crowned by the signing of 2 reconnaissance contracts, 7 amendments to oil agreements, 2 memoranda of understanding and 1 amendment to the memorandum of understanding. In addition, the hydrocarbon partnership portfolio has improved with the signing of a reconnaissance contract with the company Conocophillips, seen as a major player in the international oil industry.

Regarding the scientific cooperation plan, ONHYM has signed three amendments to memoranda of understanding on cooperation with the North Africa Research Group of the University of Manchester, with the University of Bristol and with the Offshore Energy Research Association of Nova Scotia, the same source said.