Middle East / Africa
Country profile: Morocco
Location: | Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara |
Climate: | Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior |
Terrain: | northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains |
Size: | 446550 sq. km total (Land area: 446300 sq. km Water area: 250 sq.km) |
Population: | 34,343,219 (July 2008 est.) |
Languages: | Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy |
Government: | constitutional monarchy |
Capital city: | Rabat |
Legal system: | based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law systems; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
Currency: | Moroccan dirham (MAD) |
Licensing: |
Country profile
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956.
The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which first met in 1997. Improvements in human rights have occurred and there is a largely free press. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.
Energy production and consumption
Oil | Gas | |
Production: | 3,746 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 47 million cu m (2005 est.) |
Consumption: | 176,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 47 million cu m (2005 est.) |
Exports: | 21,890 bbl/day (2005 est.) | |
Imports: | 186,100 bbl/day (2005 est.) | |
Reserves: | 100 million bbl/day (2005 est.) | 1 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
Major fields: |
Morocco - recent news
04 Jan 21 |
Morocco: Sound Energy enters into letter of exclusivity for Tendrara Phase 1 Development Sound Energy has provided an update in relation to the Company's proposed micro liquefied natural gas ('mLNG') phase 1 development project for the TE-5 Horst (the 'Phase 1 Development') at the Tendrara Production Concession, onshore Morocco. |
14 Dec 20 |
Morocco: Chariot Oil & Gas agrees key terms on new licence offshore Morocco Chariot Oil & Gas has negotiated the key terms of a new licence, Rissana Offshore in Morocco, which will completely surround the offshore boundaries of Chariot’s existing Lixus Offshore Licence, which contains the Anchois gas discovery. The formal award of the licence is anticipated to occur in 2021. |
28 Oct 20 |
Morocco: Chariot Oil & Gas receives EOI for the provision of development debt finance for the Anchois gas discovery offshore Morocco Chariot Oil & Gas has received a non-binding Expression of Interest Letter ('EOI') from Africa Finance Corporation for the provision of development debt finance for the Anchois gas discovery, located within the Lixus Offshore Licence, Morocco, and an EOI for the provision of Reserves Base Lending for the development of the discovery with a Multinational Investment Bank. |
21 Oct 20 |
Morocco: Europa Oil & Gas granted one year extension to Inezgane Licence, offshore Morocco Europa Oil & Gas has announced that the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (‘ONHYM’), the Moroccan regulatory body, has granted the Company a one year extension to the initial phase of the Inezgane Exploration Permit to November 2022. |
13 Oct 20 |
Morocco: Sound Energy announces Sidi Moktar Permits update Sound Energy, the Moroccan focused upstream gas company, has reported a 24 month extension to the initial period of the Sidi Moktar Permits, onshore Morocco. |
Morocco - more news
Other countries in this region
- Algeria,
- Angola,
- Bahrain,
- Benin,
- Botswana,
- Burundi,
- Cameroon,
- Central Africa Republic,
- Chad,
- Comoros,
- Congo (Brazzaville),
- Congo (Democratic Rep.),
- Cote d'Ivoire,
- Djibouti,
- Egypt,
- Equatorial Guinea,
- Eritrea,
- Ethiopia,
- Gabon,
- Gambia,
- Ghana,
- Guinea (Republic),
- Guinea Bissau,
- Iran,
- Iraq,
- Israel,
- Jordan,
- Kenya,
- Kuwait,
- Lebanon,
- Liberia,
- Libya,
- Madagascar,
- Malawi,
- Mali,
- Mauritania,
- Mauritius,
- Mozambique,
- Namibia,
- Niger,
- Nigeria,
- Oman,
- Palestine,
- Qatar,
- Rwanda,
- Sao Tome,
- Saudi Arabia,
- Senegal,
- Seychelles,
- Sierra Leone,
- Somalia,
- Somaliland,
- South Africa,
- South Sudan,
- Sudan,
- Syria,
- Tanzania,
- Togo,
- Tunisia,
- Uganda,
- United Arab Emirates,
- Western Sahara,
- Yemen,
- Zambia,
- Zimbabwe