Morocco will issue an expression of interest this week for the first phase of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at the Nador, West Med port, Energy Minister Leila Benali told parliament on Monday. The floating storage and regasification unit will connect to a pipeline currently used to import 0.5 billion cubic metres of gas from Spain and will supply industrial zones in Kenitra and Mohammedia. The project forms part of Morocco's efforts to diversify energy sources away from coal, as it targets raising the share of renewables in installed power capacity to 52 per cent by 2030, up from 45 per cent. Natural gas demand is forecast to rise to 8 bcm by 2027 from 1 bcm currently. Meanwhile, Morocco's state electricity utility ONEE has adopted a 2025–2030 plan to boost installed power capacity by 15 GW, including 13 GW from renewables, with a total investment of 120 billion dirhams ($13 billion). The country's current renewable capacity stands at 5.5 GW. Attribution: Reuters Subediting: M. S. Salama
