- Morocco targets 30% natural gas in its energy mix by 2030 to cut coal use and boost energy security.
- The government has unveiled an LNG infrastructure plan, including three FSRUS and a national pipeline network.
- Gas demand surges as Morocco becomes Spain’s top gas customer, driven by industry and power sector needs.
Morocco is fast-tracking its shift to natural gas to reduce its dependence on coal. The government aims to increase the share of gas in the national energy mix to 30% by 2030.
At the Energy Conference in Ouarzazate on April 23, 2025, officials invited private companies to join the development of Morocco’s first national gas infrastructure. The plan includes a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Nador West Med. This terminal will host Morocco’s first floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) on the Mediterranean coast.
Authorities plan to install two more FSRUS on the Atlantic coast. One will go to Mohammedia or Jorf Lasfar, and the other will operate in Dakhla. These facilities will handle LNG imports and feed gas into the national network.
The government will also build a gas pipeline system. This network will connect the terminals to domestic gas fields in Tendrara and Anchois. It will link to the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline and the planned African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, which will transport Nigerian gas to Europe through Morocco.
Morocco’s gas demand continues to rise. 2024 the country imported 886 million cubic meters of gas, up from 861 million in 2023. Morocco now ranks as Spain’s largest gas customer, ahead of France. Industrial growth, power grid upgrades, and emissions reduction efforts are driving the increase.
Officials view natural gas as a transition fuel. It emits less carbon than coal and supports energy needs while Morocco waits for green hydrogen to become viable. The government wants to modernise the energy sector without risking supply shortages.
Despite these efforts, coal still dominates electricity generation. Coal-fired plants produce nearly 70% of Morocco’s power. Long-term power purchase agreements (PPAS) tie the country to some of these plants until after 2040.
Morocco faces a tricky balancing act. The country joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance, which urges members to end coal use. However, existing contracts and energy demands complicate the exit.
The government hopes to attract investors through its gas expansion strategy. Officials say the LNG terminals and pipelines will strengthen energy security and cut carbon emissions. They believe this approach will support the shift to a cleaner economy.
Public-private partnerships play a key role in the plan. The government wants private firms to help fund, build, and manage the gas infrastructure. Leaders also aim to position Morocco as a strategic energy link between Africa and Europe.
In the short term, gas will support power generation and industrial use. In the long term, Morocco plans to expand renewable energy and green hydrogen production. For now, officials believe gas offers the most realistic path toward a low-carbon energy future.
With infrastructure plans moving forward and demand rising, Morocco is placing natural gas at the heart of its energy transition.