Morocco Expands Oil Import Infrastructure to Strengthen Energy Security
Marsa Maroc will develop a new oil terminal at Jorf Lasfar under a 30-year concession. The facility will add 4. 6 million tons of annual liquid bulk handling capacity by 2029. The project supports Morocco's strategy to secure energy imports while expanding its port infrastructure. Morocco is expanding its oil import. . .
Marsa Maroc will develop a new oil terminal at Jorf Lasfar under a 30-year concession. The facility will add 4. 6 million tons of annual liquid bulk handling capacity by 2029. The project supports Morocco's strategy to secure energy imports while expanding its port infrastructure. Morocco is expanding its oil import infrastructure with a new terminal at the Port of Jorf Lasfar, as the country works to strengthen its energy supply chain and reduce vulnerabilities tied to its heavy reliance on imported hydrocarbons. Marsa Maroc has secured a 30-year concession to develop and operate the new oil berth, known as Berth 8 Bis, following a tender launched by the National Ports Agency (ANP). Under the agreement, the port operator will design, finance, build, equip, and manage the facility, which is expected to begin operations in the first quarter of 2029. The terminal will feature a 71-meter quay with a draft of 16. 5 meters and will add annual liquid bulk handling capacity of 4. 6 million tons. It will strengthen the capabilities of Jorf Lasfar, Morocco's largest commercial port, which already hosts strategic energy storage facilities, installations operated by phosphate giant OCP, and a thermal power plant. The investment forms part of a broader effort to secure Morocco's energy supplies. With only limited domestic oil production, the country still imports nearly 90% of its energy needs. Although offshore exploration campaigns are underway off Agadir, Essaouira, Tarfaya, and Dakhla, they have yet to deliver commercial discoveries capable of reducing that dependence. Until then, the government is focusing on expanding the infrastructure needed to import, store, and handle energy products more efficiently. Jorf Lasfar is one of several major projects supporting that strategy. Once fully operational, the Nador West Med port complex is expected to handle up to 25 million tons of hydrocarbons annually. Both projects are part of Morocco's 2030 port strategy, which aims to increase the country's total port capacity to 390 million tons from 300 million tons in 2025 to accommodate growing trade volumes. Henoc Dossa