Morocco Relies on Anchois Offshore Field to Meet Gas Needs

Morocco is counting on the offshore Anchois gas field in the Atlantic to meet its natural gas needs in the near future.

Britain's Chariot Energy Group, which holds 3 natural gas exploration licenses in Morocco, said it expects the field off the kingdom's northern coast, within a few years, to be able to cover domestic natural gas demand, estimated at about 1 billion cubic metres per year, with the final investment decision in the Anshua field nearing, according to Adonis Borulis, the British company's chief executive in an interview with East Economy.

Morocco currently produces about 100 million cubic metres per year from small fields, and imports the rest of its domestic consumption needs from the international market. The kingdom was largely dependent on its neighbour Algeria for gas, until it permanently severed ties between them in 2021, preventing the renewal of the supply contract.

Chariot has 3 natural gas exploration licenses in Morocco and is currently focussing on discovery development activities in the Anchois field under the Lexus offshore license that could produce 105 million cubic feet per day, or the equivalent of one billion cubic metres per year, Borolis said on the sidelines of his participation in the third edition of the World Power-to-X Summit in Marrakech, Morocco.

Morocco is looking to increase its production of natural gas in the coming years, as several international companies intensify exploration activities to provide the necessary production for power plants and industrial facilities, which may reduce the import cost that exacerbates the trade balance deficit.

Adonis said that Chariot is close to making the final investment decision on the Anshua field, to start construction and reach production after two years. “If we make the final decision to invest next year, production will be in 2026, and it will be dedicated to electricity production, and that will require hundreds of millions of dollars of investments to be injected with a number of partners,” he added.

Chariot has onshore gas exploration activities in the onshore area of Lukos, but needs to do some 2D and 3D surveys. If the results are promising, the company will start drilling operations at the beginning of next year, with production starting quickly after 12 months, considering that onshore areas do not need the large investments that marine operations need, according to Adonis.

Production capacity in this area is expected to be between 10 million and 15 million cubic feet per day of gas (equivalent to 100 to 150 cubic metres per year), a production that will be allocated exclusively for the industry, according to the company’s CEO’s assurances.