Parliament debate. Mrs. Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development said that Morocco has produced in 2020 about 98 million cubic meter of natural gas, which remains a weak quantity.
The Minister pointed out during a public hearing weekly session at the House of Representatives last Monday that national production of natural gas will rise to 110 million cubic meter over the current year.
According to the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, national production of this vital source of energy remains weak in comparison with national consumption which exceeds about 1 billion cubic meter.
The government official has disclosed that Moroccan sedimentary basins are still unexplored since the density rate of wells in every 10 thousands square Km is four wells, in comparison with the world average that reaches one thousand wells in every 10 thousand square Km.
About the outcome of oil, petrol and gas exploration, the Minister contends that many world companies are working right now on an overall surface of 283 thousand cubic meters covered by different licenses, among them 9 exploitation licenses and 53 exploration licenses, including 26 off-shore and 3 exploration licenses.
Over two decades, from 2000 to 2020, exploration works have been achieved on hydrocarbon material in different sedimentary basins in Morocco, with a budget envelope of about MAD 27 billion.
Among the most important achievements in the exploration outcome is the discovery of natural gas with modest amounts in many wells in the Gharb continental area, and the production of natural gas in Essaouira to provide the Phosphate Group and the discovery of gas in Tendrara area.
Minister Benali pointed out that a number of well drillingshave been accomplished in the Atlantic Ocean one of them has showed promising results by the presence of gas in the coastal area of Tangier- Larache – Assilah and was considered as the first discovery of its kind in this area which is regarded as the extension of the same sedimentary layer discovered in the Gharb continental basin.
The Minister mentioned at the House of Representatives that Morocco is betting on wells in the Atlantic Ocean to attain its energy sovereignty through the speeding up of the energy transition pace, and implementing the goals of sustainable development. The Minister acknowledged in this context that the outcome of energy achievements has not entirely reached the level of the country expectations; the fact which requires more efforts and common action to be done.
According to data presented by Minister Benali, energy bill has recorded a decrease by 34% in 2020, thanks to the regression of gas and fuel imports value, and due to the reduction of the average price and imported quantity in the context of Covid-19 crisis impacts on economy.
Morocco has succeeded, according to the same data presented by the Minister, in reducing energy foreign dependence by moving from 94% in 2017 to 90% in 2020.
Regarding the exploitation of renewed energy sources, Minister Benali disclosed that Morocco is exploiting right now 50 projects of renewed energies with a production capacity of about 3950 MW, representing 37% of the overall power capacity and contributing to meet 20% of the need and demand of power energy.
Right now, there are 61 projects to exploit renewed energies in progress with an overall capacity of 4037 MW with a budget envelope of MAD 52 billion. It is expected that this will contribute to increase the renewed energies share in the energy mix to above 52 % before 2025.
At the level of energy efficiency to improve sustainable transition, the Minister said that Morocco has right now 60 stations for e-cars charging and 100 other stations will created by 2022.
The Minister said that her department is working right now with the Ministry of Interior on a project about public electrification to reduce consumption of power energy by about 40% at least by 2030.