Morocco to Shortlist Three Companies for LNG Imports

Morocco is likely to shortlist three companies for its new long-term contracts to import LNG within the next two weeks.

The North African nation is evaluating offers from Royal Dutch Shell as well as French, Spanish and American companies, Abdelkader Amara, Morocco’s energy minister told reporters in Dubai, news agency Reuters reported Tuesday.

The country is looking to import two million tons of LNG every year starting 2020 as part of the first phase of its LNG import plan.

Earlier this year Amara said that Morocco’s natural gas demand will reach 5 bcm by 2025 from current 1 bcm. Building of LNG infrastructure in Morocco will require investment of close to 5 billion, he said. The plan is to spend the money on building an LNG terminal in Jorf Lasfar near the western port city of El Jadida within five years.