Nearly ten companies are currently active in Morocco’s oil and gas exploration sector, Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Minister Leïla Benali told the House of Representatives, noting the entry — for the first time — of Moroccan investors into the industry.
During question time on the results of exploration activities, Benali said the companies operate under 40 offshore exploration permits, nine onshore permits, and four exploitation concessions. She described Morocco’s legal framework governing hydrocarbon research and exploitation as among the most attractive in the world for investors.
The minister credited efforts to attract foreign investment, combined with natural gas discoveries in the Gharb, Essaouira, and Tendrara regions and offshore Larache, for delivering encouraging results in the sector. Still, she acknowledged that outcomes so far remain below the potential suggested by the incentives in the current legal framework, prompting the ministry to launch a deep reform of the National Hydrocarbons and Mines Office (ONHYM) to strengthen the sector’s development.
In response to a separate question on strengthening national storage capacity for petroleum products, Benali said Morocco has not experienced any disruption to its domestic energy supply despite significant volatility in global energy markets over the past five years. She attributed this resilience to a proactive approach built on continuous monitoring, close coordination among stakeholders, and flexible crisis management.
The kingdom has expanded its petroleum storage capacity by more than 30% between 2021 and 2025, equivalent to over 17 additional days of
national consumption, Benali said. She noted that around 80% of national storage capacity is currently concentrated between Casablanca and the Tangier region, with efforts underway to achieve a more balanced regional distribution of stocks.
