The first Liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal with a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) in Morocco is set to be constructed at Mohammedia Port.
The port was selected out of a list that included Nador, Kénitra, Jorf Lasfar, and the Tangier Ports. The North African country’s National Ports Agency (Agence Nationale des Ports, ANP) has since published a public tender for the study of station C of the port for the implementation of the project.
The study in question according to ANP must be delivered within seven months from the day of commencement, and it includes data analysis, plant, safety, maneuverability, mooring, blueprints, and so on.
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The deadline for file withdrawal and submission of envelopes is the 25th day of January this year.
Alternatives to Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline
The project for the construction of the first LNG terminal with FSRU in Morocco is reportedly one of the alternatives to the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline (GME) through which Algeria supplied natural gas to Morocco and Spain.
Following a year of worsening relations between Algiers and Rabat before the pipeline deal expired on October 31, Algeria announced that it would supply Spain through a different pipeline and would no longer send gas to Morocco.
The latter received 1 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas from Algeria, which was used to meet approximately 10% of the kingdom’s natural gas demand.
Expectations for the First LNG terminal with FSRU in Morocco
Upon completion, this infrastructure is expected to allow Morocco to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) by sea, and regasify it for distribution to industrial customers.
The gas could also be distributed to power plants managed by Office National De L’electricite Et De L’eau Potable (National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water, ONEE).