Gas shipments from Spain to Morocco have surged in recent months, as the two countries seek to strengthen their energy ties at a time where reliance on Algeria is far from guaranteed.
The increase in gas shipments comes after Spain reversed the flow of the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline, which had been transporting gas from Algeria to Spain.
The pipeline was closed by Algeria last year in response to Spain’s decision to support Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Moroccan Sahara.
Since then, Spain has exported more than 6,460 GWh of gas to Morocco, making it the fourth-largest destination for gas shipments from Spanish facilities. The surge in gas shipments has been driven by Morocco’s need to secure alternative energy supplies amid the ongoing war in Ukraine
Gas shipments to Morocco have increased significantly in recent months. In June, July, and September of last year, the volumes were very low (60 GWh, 172 GWh, and 123 GWh, respectively).
Only in October, November, December, January, and February, the volumes increased to 328 GWh, 553 GWh, 527 GWh, 536 GWh, and 680 GWh, respectively.
In the past four months, the volumes have surged even further, reaching 820 GWh, 834 GWh, 868 GWh, and 840 GWh, respectively. This represents more than 85% of the maximum export capacity of the Tarifa gas pipeline, which is 960 GWh per month. In May, the utilization rate even exceeded 90%.
Spain has said that the gas shipments to Morocco are not Algerian gas, but rather gas that has been purchased by Morocco from other suppliers.
However, Algeria has accused Spain of reselling Algerian gas to Morocco, and has threatened to cut off all gas exports to Spain, thus complicating the energy landscape in the region.
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