Middle East Online
Energy imports accounted for more than a quarter of Morocco’s total imports in 2012
Energy Minister says $4.6 billion will be spent on infrastructure for natural gas project through to year 2021 to meet energy needs.
Morocco announced plans on Tuesday to step up its search for natural gas with a multi-billion-dollar project aimed at improving its energy mix alongside renewables.
Energy Minister Abdelkader Amara said $4.6 billion would be spent on infrastructure for the project through to the year 2021.
With demand rising rapidly, it is a “race against time” to ensure Morocco’s electricity needs are met, said Ali Fassi Fihri, head of the National Office of Electricity and Water.
Morocco’s target is to produce 2,700 megawatts of electricity from liquefied natural gas.
As part of the project, an LNG terminal is to be constructed within five years at Jorf Lasfar near the western port city of El Jadida.
Amara said the government now planned to “offer more alternatives” to the industrial sector after cutting energy subsidies as part of efforts to reduce the deficit.
Morocco is the biggest importer of energy in the Middle East and North Africa.
It launched a vast project for renewable energy through which it aims to generate 42 percent of its needs by 2020.
