Morocco plans USD 4.6 bln investment to boost LNG imports

Morocco’s industrial hub of Jorf Lasfar could get an LNG import terminal, according to the country’s energy minister Abdelkader Amara.

The minister told that there are several projects worth about USD4.6 billion that will be awarded via international tenders. As Reuters reports, Morocco, is aiming to diversify its energy supplies and cut down on oil and coal imports, with plans to add 4 gigawatts of renewable energy.

According to the plan, Morocco would be able to import up to 7 billion cubic meters of gas by 2025. The construction would include an LNG jetty, terminal and pipelines. A regasification unit in Jorf Lasfar port is also in the plans while the state power utility ONEE intends on building four gas-fired power plants of 600 MW.

According to Amara, negotiations of supplies with exporters it the first step that will be taken in early 2015. In case the negotiations do not bring results, Morocco would launch tenders directly in the international markets.

In 2011, Morocco signed a deal with Sonatrach to import 640 mcm of gas from Algeria.

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LNG World News Staff; Image: National Ports Agency