The Moroccan kingdom could become one of the main African gas exporters in the coming years, with its reserves estimated at 39 billion cubic metres

Morocco, a future major gas exporter in Africa

photo_camera PHOTO/ARCHIVO - The country has natural gas reserves estimated at around 4.6 trillion cubic metres, the second largest natural gas reserves in Africa

Morocco is well positioned to become a major gas exporter in Africa. Its current reserves are around 39 billion cubic metres of gas, reveals the US-based NGO Global Energy Monitor. In an interview, Graham Lyon, CEO of UK-based Sound Energy, stated that 'there is a project in Morocco that will supply approximately 100 million cubic metres a year of liquefied natural gas to industrial markets'. Morocco is a leading exporter of natural gas on the African continent. This is because the country has invested heavily in infrastructure to extract and process natural gas. These investments have enabled the Maghreb to increase its natural gas production significantly, allowing it to supply the local market and export to the continent. 

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Global Energy Monitor has published a report on gas production in Africa and explains the monitoring data, which shows that 84% of new reserves are found in the African gas market, with Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, Mauritania, South Africa, Ethiopia and Morocco standing out. These countries could overtake Nigeria, Egypt, Libya and Algeria, which historically have the most proven gas reserves and production. 

The country has estimated natural gas reserves of around 4.6 trillion cubic metres, the second largest volume of natural gas reserves in Africa. In addition, the country has been investing heavily in infrastructure to increase its gas export capacity. This includes the construction of a regasification plant, a gas transport port and a pipeline over 1,000 kilometres long. These investments and infrastructure improvements make Morocco well positioned to become a major gas exporter in Africa.

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The country has announced plans to build a pipeline network of around 1,100 kilometres, named above, to connect major Moroccan cities and allow gas to be exchanged with other nations.

Morocco is in an excellent position to become a major gas exporter in Africa, thus being able to take advantage of its natural resources and at the same time generate additional revenues through gas exports.

The Global Energy Monitor report also notes that countries that have traditionally led the gas market in Africa have lost their leadership. This is largely due to the decentralisation of gas production, which has allowed new entrants to catch up with incumbents.

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The aforementioned countries could accelerate gas development in the short term. The organisation projects that Mozambique, Mauritania, Tanzania, South Africa and Ethiopia will account for more than half of Africa's gas production by 2038. The report concludes that increased gas production in Africa is boosting the growth of the region's economy and providing a more secure and sustainable source of energy for African countries. The Moroccan kingdom is committed to continue investing in its oil and gas resources to become a major gas exporter to Africa. This will contribute to improving the Moroccan economy and provide access to clean and affordable energy to countries on the continent.

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