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Morocco’s dream of being energy producer takes one step closer

May 18, 2018 at 12:01 pm

It seems that Morocco’s dream of becoming an energy-producing country has taken a step closer to becoming reality after two international companies announced the discovery of several natural gas fields in the North African kingdom’s territorial waters.

Last month, Britain’s SDX Energy announced a new natural gas field at a depth of 1,158 metres to the north of Morocco. A few days earlier, another British company, Sound Energy, announced huge gas discoveries in the Tandarra area covering more than 14,500 square kilometres. The Moroccan National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines, however, has not issued any official statement about the two announcements.

Indeed, such announcements by foreign companies, said government spokesman Mustapha Al-Khoufi, do not represent the state’s position. “Official matters related to gas exploration are announced by the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines,” he pointed out.

According to economic analysts, if Morocco succeeds in becoming an energy producing country, it will reduce the budget deficit, not least because it currently imports nearly 90 per cent of its energy needs.

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