Morocco now a major gas buyer from Spain, two years after opening the tap

In the past two years, following the Spanish government’s reactivation of the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline to supply Morocco after Algeria’s unilateral closure, the North African kingdom has emerged as Spain’s second-largest gas purchaser, second only to France.

This year, shipments to Morocco have constituted 16.5% of Spain’s gas reexports, a notable surge from 12.5% last year and approximately 5% in the latter half of 2022 when the flow commenced, said the same source.

It also mentioned that gas deliveries to Morocco have nearly reached the Maghreb-Europe pipeline’s maximum capacity, with several months surpassing 90% of its 960 gigawatt hours (GWh) per month limit.

According to combined data from Cores and Enagás, nearly the full capacity was utilized last August, with 958 GWh sent to Morocco.

In January 2024, as mentioned in the same source, Morocco was ranked as the top destination for Spanish gas, accounting for 28% of monthly exports.

It also highlighted that Spain does not sell gas directly to Morocco. Instead, it receives gas purchased by Morocco from various suppliers at its regasification plants and routes it through the Tarifa pipeline.

All gas reexported to Morocco from Spain is certified and monitored to exclude Algerian gas, as per Algerian government requirements, underscored the Iberian media

It explained that the move towards Morocco intensified Spain’s diplomatic clash with Algeria, which was triggered by Pedro Sánchez’s shift to Western Sahara in favor of Morocco.

Algeria responded by cutting commercial ties with Spain, exempting gas sales, and threatening to cancel gas contracts if Spanish firms redirected supplies to Morocco.

The same source added that Spain insists on stringent measures to prevent any rerouting of Algerian gas to Morocco, implementing a dedicated plan for oversight.