RABAT: Morocco’s energy ministry said on Monday it has paused a tender launched last month ​for a gas pipeline project, without giving details on the reasons for the suspension.
The tender sought bids to build a pipeline linking a future gas terminal at the Nador West Med port ‌on the Mediterranean ‌to an existing ‌pipeline ⁠that ​allows ‌Morocco to import LNG through Spanish terminals and supply two power plants.
It also covered a section that would connect the existing pipeline to industrial zones on the Atlantic in ⁠Mohammedia and Kenitra.
“Due to new parameters and assumptions ‌related to this project... the ‍ministry of ‍energy transition and sustainable development is ‍postponing the receipt of applications and the opening of bids received as of today,” the ministry said in a statement.
Morocco ​is looking to expand its use of natural gas to diversify ⁠away from coal as it also accelerates its renewable energy plan, which aims for renewables to account for 52 percent of installed capacity by 2030, up from 45 percent now.
The country’s natural gas demand is expected to rise to 8 billion cubic meters in 2027 from around ‌1 bcm currently, according to ministry estimates.