Casablanca – Morocco is preparing a major expansion of its petroleum storage infrastructure as it seeks to strengthen the security of its energy supplies, reduce exposure to international market disruptions and respond to rising domestic consumption. The country currently has more than 3.2 million cubic meters of storage capacity for petroleum products, but the government plans to add over 1.7 million cubic meters between 2026 and 2030, with more than 700,000 cubic meters expected to become operational by the end of 2027.

The expansion comes as Morocco remains heavily dependent on imported energy resources. International price fluctuations, geopolitical tensions and disruptions to maritime transport can all affect the cost and reliability of fuel supplies. Increasing storage capacity is therefore becoming an important part of the country’s efforts to manage these risks and maintain continuity of supply to households, businesses, transport operators and electricity producers.

The figures presented by Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Minister Charafat Afilal during discussions on the ministry’s 2027 budget show that Morocco has developed substantial storage infrastructure over the past decade and a half. However, the available capacity differs considerably between petroleum products, with butane gas remaining below the reference level used by the authorities.

The country’s current storage capacity exceeds 3.2 million cubic meters. Approximately 2.4 million cubic meters are dedicated to liquid petroleum products, while around 805,000 cubic meters are allocated to gaseous petroleum products. This infrastructure is largely concentrated around maritime facilities, reflecting the importance of ports in the country’s energy import system. About 90% of liquid petroleum storage capacity and 91% of gaseous petroleum storage capacity are connected to port facilities.

This concentration allows imported fuels to be unloaded and transferred into storage installations before distribution across the domestic market. At the same time, it highlights the importance of maintaining efficient port operations, transport links and distribution networks. Delays affecting maritime arrivals or the handling of imported products can create pressure on supply chains, particularly when international markets are already experiencing uncertainty.

Morocco’s storage infrastructure has expanded significantly since 2009. Capacity for liquid petroleum products increased by approximately 129% over the period, while storage capacity for butane gas grew by around 127%. This expansion reflects successive investments in fuel terminals and storage facilities as domestic demand has increased and the country’s energy requirements have become more diversified.

Nevertheless, storage capacity must be assessed in relation to consumption. The number of days of coverage indicates how long the available storage infrastructure could theoretically support demand at the relevant consumption rate. It does not necessarily mean that the country currently holds the equivalent volume of fuel in its reserves. Actual stock levels depend on the quantities stored at a particular moment, imports, deliveries and consumption.

The available figures show that Morocco’s storage capacity provides coverage of approximately 94 days for premium gasoline, 87 days for fuel oil, 77 days for diesel and 61 days for aviation fuel. Butane gas has a lower coverage level of 58 days, two days below the reference threshold of 60 days.

The situation involving butane is particularly important because the product plays a significant role in household energy consumption. It is widely used for cooking and heating, especially in rural areas and among households that do not have access to natural gas distribution networks. Maintaining reliable supplies is therefore an economic and social concern, in addition to being an energy-security issue.

The difference between butane and other petroleum products also explains why the planned expansion is expected to take account of the specific requirements of each product and region. Increasing total storage capacity alone would not necessarily resolve shortages if additional facilities were concentrated in locations or allocated to products that do not correspond to the main sources of supply pressure.

Domestic consumption figures underline the importance of this planning. Morocco consumed approximately 12.8 million tonnes of petroleum products in 2025, representing an increase of 4% compared with the previous year. Petroleum products accounted for around 51% of the country’s national energy mix, demonstrating their continued importance despite efforts to expand renewable electricity generation and diversify energy sources.

Diesel represented the largest share of petroleum consumption, accounting for approximately 52% of the total, or around 6.66 million tonnes. Its importance reflects its extensive use in road transport, freight operations, agriculture, construction and other economic activities. Because diesel is used across several major sectors, disruptions to its supply can affect production costs, transport prices and the distribution of goods.

Butane gas represented around 21% of petroleum product consumption in 2025, equivalent to approximately 2.69 million tonnes. Its consumption declined by about 3% compared with 2024, but it remained the second-largest product category. Fuel oil accounted for 9% of consumption, aviation fuel for 8%, gasoline for 7% and propane for 3%.

These figures show that Morocco’s storage requirements are shaped by different patterns of demand. Diesel requires substantial storage and distribution capacity because of its widespread use in the economy, while butane requires particular attention because of its role in household consumption and the fact that its current coverage remains below the reference threshold.

The government is therefore planning to increase storage capacity by more than 1.7 million cubic meters by 2030. The first major phase is expected to add over 700,000 cubic meters before the end of 2027. These projects are intended to strengthen the country’s ability to absorb supply shocks, improve the management of imported petroleum products and provide greater flexibility when international deliveries are delayed.

The authorities also want to ensure that investment commitments made by private operators are translated into operational facilities. Petroleum storage and distribution in Morocco involve public institutions and private companies, making coordination between the government, importers, terminal operators and distributors an important element of the expansion programme.

Alongside infrastructure investment, the government is working on a more structured system for monitoring the supply chain. One of the proposed measures involves establishing a dedicated monitoring and alert unit responsible for tracking developments in the petroleum market and identifying potential supply difficulties before they affect consumers.

The mechanism is expected to bring together the relevant administrations and private-sector operators, with clearly defined responsibilities, meeting schedules and warning thresholds. It will also rely on monitoring tools designed to provide regular information on available reserves, import volumes, incoming vessels, port operations and regional distribution conditions.

Such information could help authorities identify emerging imbalances between supply and demand. For example, a delay in the arrival of an imported shipment, a disruption at a port or a sudden increase in consumption in a particular region could require preventive measures. Better coordination between operators and public administrations would allow the authorities to respond before these developments result in shortages or significant pressure on distribution networks.

The government is also preparing an emergency supply plan to deal with situations in which normal import and distribution arrangements are disrupted. The plan is expected to draw on experience from previous crises, including severe weather conditions and international energy-market disruptions. It will establish different scenarios, define the responsibilities of the institutions involved and identify priority measures to maintain supplies.

This approach reflects the growing recognition that energy security depends on more than the volume of storage infrastructure. It also requires reliable information, efficient logistics, diversified supply arrangements and the capacity to coordinate action during periods of uncertainty.

Morocco’s energy strategy is also extending beyond petroleum products to include the development of natural gas infrastructure. The government is preparing a project based around Nador West Med, which is expected to provide the country with facilities for receiving, storing and regasifying liquefied natural gas.

The planned infrastructure includes a dedicated port berth for LNG vessels, offshore mooring facilities and seabed dredging operations. A floating terminal would receive and store liquefied natural gas before converting it back into a gaseous state for distribution. Additional facilities would be developed within the port to connect the terminal to the national gas network.

The project also includes new pipelines designed to connect Nador West Med with the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline. One planned connection would transport gas towards power-generation facilities, while another pipeline would extend the network towards the industrial zones of Kenitra and Mohammedia.

The development of this infrastructure could give Morocco greater flexibility in sourcing natural gas from international markets. It would also provide an additional energy option for electricity production and industrial activities, potentially reducing dependence on certain imported fuels. However, the project’s contribution will depend on the completion of the different infrastructure components, the availability of LNG supplies and the development of an economically viable gas distribution system.

The expansion of petroleum storage and the planned LNG infrastructure address different but complementary aspects of Morocco’s energy requirements. Petroleum products will remain essential to transport, agriculture and household consumption, while natural gas could provide additional flexibility for electricity generation and industrial use.

Renewable energy development remains another central component of the country’s strategy, particularly as Morocco seeks to reduce its exposure to imported fossil fuels. However, the continued importance of petroleum products in the energy mix means that storage, import logistics and distribution capacity will remain necessary during the transition.

The planned investments through 2030 therefore reflect an effort to manage immediate supply requirements while preparing the energy system for gradual diversification. The challenge will be to ensure that new storage facilities are developed in line with actual demand, that regional distribution networks can use the additional capacity efficiently and that the monitoring mechanisms are capable of identifying disruptions early.

For Morocco, strengthening energy security will require a combination of infrastructure investment, better supply-chain management and diversification of energy sources. The planned addition of more than 1.7 million cubic meters of petroleum storage capacity represents a substantial expansion, but its effectiveness will ultimately depend on how quickly projects become operational and how well they address the country’s most exposed supply categories, particularly diesel and butane gas.