Morocco has temporarily suspended a gas pipeline tender amid revised project assumptions, as it reassesses infrastructure plans supporting energy transition goals.
Morocco’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development has announced a temporary suspension of a recently launched tender for a strategic natural gas pipeline project, placing the initiative on hold without disclosing specific reasons behind the decision. The announcement was made on Monday through an official ministry statement, indicating that the pause is linked to the emergence of new parameters and revised assumptions associated with the project.
The tender, which had been issued just last month, invited bids for the construction of a gas pipeline designed to play a critical role in Morocco’s evolving energy infrastructure. One of the central components of the project involved building a pipeline that would connect a planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at the Nador West Med port on the Mediterranean coast to an already existing gas pipeline. This existing pipeline currently enables Morocco to import LNG via Spanish regasification terminals and supply natural gas to two domestic power plants.
In addition to linking the future Nador West Med gas terminal with existing infrastructure, the tender also included plans for an extension that would connect the current pipeline network to key industrial zones along Morocco’s Atlantic coastline. Specifically, the proposed route would supply gas to industrial hubs in Mohammedia and Kenitra, two areas with significant industrial activity that could benefit from a more reliable and diversified energy supply. By facilitating access to natural gas for both power generation and industrial use, the project was expected to support Morocco’s broader economic and energy transition goals.
However, according to the ministry’s statement, the process has been postponed due to newly identified factors influencing the project’s scope or feasibility. “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 statement said. The ministry did not clarify whether these new considerations are technical, financial, regulatory, or geopolitical in nature, leaving market participants and potential bidders awaiting further guidance.
The decision to pause the tender comes at a time when Morocco is actively seeking to reshape its energy mix. The country aims to reduce its reliance on coal-fired power generation while accelerating the deployment of renewable energy sources. Morocco has set an ambitious target for renewables to account for 52 percent of its total installed electricity capacity by 2030, compared with around 45 percent currently. Natural gas is viewed as a transitional fuel that can support grid stability and complement intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar during this transition period.
Alongside its renewable ambitions, Morocco anticipates a sharp increase in natural gas consumption over the coming years. According to estimates from the energy ministry, national gas demand is expected to rise significantly, reaching approximately 8 billion cubic meters by 2027. This marks a substantial increase from current consumption levels, which stand at around 1 billion cubic meter. Expanding gas infrastructure, including LNG import capacity and domestic pipeline networks, is therefore considered essential to meeting future demand while maintaining energy security.
While the tender’s suspension introduces uncertainty around the project’s timeline, it does not necessarily signal a cancellation. Instead, it suggests that Moroccan authorities are reassessing project assumptions to ensure alignment with evolving energy strategies, market conditions, and long-term sustainability objectives.
