Morocco receives 93 EOIs for gas-to-power project

Morocco has received expression of interest (EOI) from 93 companies from 20 countries for a US$4.6 billion gas to power project at Jorf Lasfar.

The EOI was launched in December 2015 and closed on 25 March. According to sources, companies such as Shell, Engie, Qatari Taqa, Edf or Gazprom, have already expressed interest in the project. The next steep of the tender process will be the launch of a call for pre-qualification bids.

The project was launched in December 2014 and it will be located 118 km from Casablanca, a port city and commercial hub in western Morocco. 

Jorf Lasfar gas to power project, which is part of the country's plan to diversify its energy mix with the gas, comprises the following:

• Marine jetty at Jorf Lasfar.
• Liquefied natural gas (LNG) importing terminal, including storage.
• High-pressure gas pipeline that will connect LNG terminal to the existing Maghreb Europe high-pressure gas pipeline.
• 2,400 MW combined-cycle power plants.

Whit a target of 52 % of the total capacity supported by solar and wind energy by 2030, Morocco covers the bulk of its growing energy needs through imports, principally of crude petroleum, which is then refined domestically. The country is the biggest energy importer in North Africa.

Today we have also published that Alfanar, ACWA and Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) are the top bidders to construct operate and maintain 3 solar facilities totaling 170 MW in Noor Ouarzazate, Noor Laayoune and Noor Boujdour.