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|
|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)|
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
|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.)|
Morocco - recent news
|21 Sep 23
||Sound Energy announces its half-year report for the six months ended 30 June 2023
Sound Energy, the transition energy company, has announced its unaudited half-year report for the six months ended 30 June 2023.
|13 Sep 23
||Morocco: SDX Energy announces Gas Prepayment Agreement in Morocco
SDX Energy has entered into a non-binding HoT with DMA, its largest offtaker, to prepay for SDX's gas deliveries in Morocco. The initial terms of the agreement envisage draw down of c. $2 million by the end of September 2023. The funds are planned to be used towards the drilling costs of the KSR-21 well.
|04 Sep 23
||Morocco: SDX Energy spuds Ksiri-21 well in Sebou Central of the Gharb Basin, Morocco
SDX Energy has commenced drilling the Ksiri-21 ('KSR-21') well in Sebou Central of the Gharb Basin, Morocco. The vertical development well is targeting a well-defined prospect within the main Hoot formation, which is the main producing sand in the area.
|30 Aug 23
||Predator Oil & Gas announces operations update
Predator Oil & Gas, the Jersey based Oil and Gas Company with near-term gas operations focussed on Morocco, has announced an operations update.The proposed rigless testing programme for the MOU-1 well in the Guercif permit onshore Morocco is on track and scheduled to be executed and completed in September.
|02 Aug 23
||Morocco: Chariot provides update on green hydrogen pilot projects in Morocco
Chariot Green Hydrogen, a subsidiary of Chariot, the Africa-focused transitional energy group, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and Oort Energy, have signed further Partnership Agreements to extend their collaboration, as previously announced in November 2022, to test the production of green hydrogen in Morocco.
Morocco - more news
Other countries in this region
- Central Africa Republic,
- Congo (Brazzaville),
- Congo (Democratic Rep.),
- Cote d'Ivoire,
- Equatorial Guinea,
- Guinea (Republic),
- Guinea Bissau,
- Sao Tome,
- Saudi Arabia,
- Sierra Leone,
- South Africa,
- South Sudan,
- United Arab Emirates,
- Western Sahara,