Morocco Quadruples Gas Imports from Spain, Filling Energy Gap Left by Algeria

Launched in June last year, Morocco’s imports of gas from Spain via the GME have quadrupled in seven months, reaching 1,512 GWh. Rabat has signed an agreement with Madrid to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) acquired on the international market and transformed in the Spanish regasification plants, in order to fill the energy gap created by the unilateral closure of the GME by Algeria.

The peaks of imports were recorded in the months of August, September and October, EFE reports, specifying that for the first time since 2015, Spain has become an electricity exporter, almost doubling its net electricity production which was 11,777 GWh in 2008. By the end of 2022, Spain had a positive balance (exports minus imports) of 19 billion MWh, according to data from the Spanish electricity system, published by REE.

Over the last seven months of 2022, Morocco has exported less electricity to Spain, i.e. 1,404 GWh compared to 0.5 GWh over the same period the previous year. According to the Moroccan Ministry of Economy and Finance, electricity consumption between July and November 2022 amounted to 11,700 GWh and Spanish electricity exports covered 9.5% of demand, compared to only 2.7% the previous year.

Morocco has benefited in recent years from the drop in international energy prices caused by Covid-19. The National Office of Electricity and Water (ONEE) of Morocco produces 25% of the country’s total energy, of which 85% comes from thermal power plants operated by private companies. The kingdom has been investing in renewable energy since 2010, and nearly 4,000 MW of green energy was produced by the end of 2021, according to ICMEX data.