Casablanca – Morocco has taken another step in advancing its upstream energy strategy by awarding 10 new offshore oil and natural gas exploration licenses covering deep Atlantic waters off the country’s western coastline. The licenses form part of the Gharb Deep Offshore project, a long-term exploration initiative designed to assess the hydrocarbon potential of Morocco’s Atlantic basin while encouraging greater participation from international energy companies.

The new exploration permits, published through a series of ministerial decisions in the Official Gazette, establish the legal framework for exploration activities across approximately 17,000 square kilometers of deep offshore acreage near the Kenitra region. The licenses have been granted to a partnership between Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) and Murphy Morocco Oil Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the U.S.-based Murphy Oil Corporation.

According to the published decisions, the permits are valid for an initial period of three years, effective from April 3, 2026. During this period, the partners are expected to carry out a structured exploration program that will evaluate the geological potential of one of Morocco’s largest offshore frontier areas.

The package consists of 10 consecutive ministerial decisions, numbered 997.26 through 1006.26, each granting exploration rights within offshore blocks collectively designated as the Gharb Deep Offshore area. Together, the decisions authorize the partnership to undertake geological studies, seismic analysis, exploration activities, and resource evaluation in accordance with Morocco’s petroleum legislation.

The offshore blocks lie within Morocco’s Atlantic deep-water basin, an area that has attracted increasing interest from the energy industry because of its geological characteristics. Preliminary scientific assessments and existing seismic surveys suggest that the basin contains favorable geological structures that could host commercially recoverable accumulations of natural gas and hydrocarbons, although the resource potential has yet to be confirmed through drilling.

The first phase of the exploration program will focus on advanced geophysical work rather than drilling. Under the approved work plan, the operator will begin by reprocessing and interpreting three-dimensional (3D) seismic data using modern digital imaging technologies to obtain a more detailed understanding of subsurface geological formations. The objective is to identify potential drilling targets while reducing geological uncertainty before committing to more capital-intensive exploration wells.

Only after the completion of these technical studies, and subject to satisfactory results, will the project move to exploratory drilling during subsequent phases of the license period.

The licensing agreements also establish minimum technical and financial commitments for the operating partnership. The company is required to invest in seismic surveys, geological interpretation, exploration studies, and, where appropriate, drilling activities according to a predefined timetable. Progress from one exploration phase to the next will depend on the successful completion of the contractual work obligations assigned to the previous stage.

The latest approvals build upon an earlier agreement reached between the Moroccan authorities and the project partners. Earlier in 2026, the government approved amendments and the principal petroleum agreement governing the partnership, creating the contractual foundation for the exploration program now entering its operational phase.

Beyond defining exploration rights, the ministerial decisions establish detailed governance and oversight mechanisms intended to ensure that exploration activities are conducted in accordance with Moroccan law and international industry practices.

Environmental protection is one of the central requirements of the licensing framework. Before any offshore field activities begin, the operator must complete comprehensive environmental impact assessments evaluating the potential effects of exploration on marine ecosystems. The company must also comply with Moroccan environmental regulations as well as internationally recognized standards governing offshore industrial operations and marine risk management.

The regulatory framework further requires the operating partnership to submit regular technical, geological, operational, and financial reports to Morocco’s Hydrocarbons Directorate within the Ministry responsible for energy, in addition to ONHYM. These reports will allow regulators to monitor exploration progress, evaluate compliance with contractual obligations, and review the technical results generated during the program.

The licenses also specify the geographic coordinates, surface area, and water depths associated with each offshore block, providing a clearly defined operational framework for exploration activities throughout the project.

The latest licensing round reflects Morocco’s continued effort to strengthen its upstream energy sector despite the country’s limited domestic hydrocarbon production. Morocco remains heavily dependent on imported oil and natural gas to satisfy most of its energy demand, making the identification of domestic resources an important long-term objective of national energy policy.

In recent years, the country has pursued a dual strategy that combines rapid investment in renewable energy with continued exploration for conventional hydrocarbons. While Morocco has become one of Africa’s leading investors in solar and wind power, authorities have also continued supporting offshore and onshore exploration programs aimed at improving knowledge of the country’s petroleum geology and attracting international exploration companies.

Deep-water offshore exploration represents one of the most technically demanding segments of the oil and gas industry, requiring significant financial investment, advanced seismic imaging technologies, and specialized drilling equipment. Exploration projects typically require several years of geological studies and drilling before companies can determine whether commercially viable reserves exist.

For this reason, the issuance of exploration licenses does not imply the discovery or future production of oil or natural gas. Instead, the licenses authorize the collection and analysis of geological and geophysical data that may eventually determine whether the offshore basin contains economically recoverable hydrocarbon resources.

If exploration activities produce positive results, additional appraisal work and further regulatory approvals would be required before any commercial development could proceed.

The Gharb Deep Offshore project therefore represents another stage in Morocco’s broader effort to expand geological exploration, encourage foreign investment in the upstream energy industry, and improve understanding of the country’s offshore hydrocarbon potential while maintaining regulatory oversight, environmental safeguards, and internationally recognized operating standards.