Latest news with #NationalOfficeofHydrocarbonsandMines
Ya Biladi
16-07-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco's ONHYM to take part in U.S.-Africa Energy Forum
The National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) will present Morocco's growing energy and mining ambitions to U.S. investors at the U.S.-Africa Energy Forum (USAEF) 2025 in Houston. Nawfal Drari, ONHYM's Director of Project Finance, will speak at the Forum, which will take place from August 6 to 7, 2025, in Texas. Drari will join global stakeholders in Houston to discuss financing, infrastructure, and cross-border cooperation, underscoring Morocco's expanding role as an energy and mining hub. His participation follows the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding for the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline with Nigeria's NNPC and Togo's SOTOCO, marking a key step in regional energy integration. The 5,600-kilometer pipeline is set to connect 13 West African countries and supply gas to Europe via Morocco. Morocco is also advancing structural reforms, including the transformation of ONHYM into a joint-stock company to improve governance, transparency, and its appeal to foreign investors. The country is actively promoting opportunities in critical minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, as well as green hydrogen, with more than 520 GW of renewable energy potential identified.
Morocco World
12-07-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline Project Advances as Officials Meet in Rabat
Rabat — The Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project seems to be making significant progress, with Rabat hosting this week several high-level meetings to discuss the project. The project, which will stretch across 13 African countries, gained momentum during technical and steering committee meetings held on July 10-11 in Rabat. The gatherings brought together top executives from national oil companies across West Africa to review the project's progress. Officials from Morocco's National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) organized the meetings, which also included representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO). Project reaches key milestones The ambitious pipeline has already cleared several important hurdles. Engineers completed detailed design studies in 2024, and teams finished environmental and social impact assessments for the northern section. Similar studies for the southern segment, running from Nigeria to Senegal, are now underway. The pipeline will carry 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually when complete. Developers plan to build it in phases, with a holding company overseeing financing and construction. Three separate project companies will handle different segments of the route. In December 2024, West African leaders approved the Intergovernmental Agreement during the 66th CEDEAO Summit, spelling out each country's rights and responsibilities for the project. New partnership agreement signed During the Rabat meetings, officials signed a new memorandum of understanding between three key players, namely Nigeria's National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Morocco's ONHYM, and Togo's National Gas Company (SOTOGAZ). The agreement marks Togo's official entry into the project and completes the series of partnerships with all countries along the pipeline route. Connecting Africa to Europe The pipeline will start in Nigeria and run along the Atlantic coast through Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, and Mauritania before reaching Morocco. From there, it will connect to the existing Maghreb-Europe Pipeline and European gas networks. The project will also supply gas to three landlocked countries, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. Royal vision for African integration King Mohammed VI and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched this strategic initiative together. The Moroccan monarch said he sees the pipeline as a way to boost African development, improve living conditions across the region, and strengthen economic ties between African nations. Officials believe the project will give Africa greater economic, political, and strategic influence while serving as a major driver of regional integration. The pipeline aligns with Morocco's broader Atlantic Initiative, which aims to increase cooperation between Atlantic-facing African countries. The project promises significant economic and social benefits for all 13 countries along its route, potentially transforming energy access and economic opportunities across West Africa. Tags: gas pipelineGas Pipeline ProjectMorocco Nigeria
Morocco World
26-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Launches Ambitious Public Sector Reform with ONHYM Restructuring
The Moroccan government has approved the transformation of the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) into a joint-stock company. This marks the first concrete step in a broader public sector reform agenda. Draft law No. 56.24, adopted by the Government Council today, sets ONHYM on a new path aimed at strengthening strategic efficiency, improving institutional performance, and optimizing national resources. This decision falls in line with Morocco's broader vision which strives to achieve deep reform and address long-standing structural issues in public institutions. Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition described the transformation as a strategic shift, placing ONHYM at the center of Morocco's economic and institutional renewal. According to the minister, this reform did not emerge in isolation. It was shaped through collaboration among the Head of Government's Office, ONHYM, her ministry, and the National Agency for the Strategic Management of State Holdings and Monitoring of Public Enterprises' Performance (ANGSPE). The law draws directly from Framework Law No. 50.21 and Law No. 82.20, and seeks to introduce a new governance model for ONHYM. It also opens the door to stronger performance, diversified funding sources, and more effective use of national assets. Benali further noted that this change would boost economic and territorial value and allow the agency to contribute more significantly to Morocco's development goals. Created in 2003 through the merger of two specialized institutions, ONHYM has built a solid base of geoscientific data and technical expertise. It has played a key role in identifying numerous mineral deposits, and now stands to gain more autonomy and financial agility under the new structure. The minister pointed to recent reforms within the energy and mining sectors, including updates to legal frameworks, the withdrawal of inactive permits, increased investment in natural gas, and a push toward digitization and better public service. She said that transforming ONHYM is a natural continuation of these efforts. Under the new model, ONHYM will be allowed to form subsidiaries and take part in the capital of other companies. The state will retain majority voting rights, and employee rights will be preserved. ONHYM will also continue, on a transitional basis, to operate in gas transport and storage. Benali described this shift as a crucial mechanism for repositioning ONHYM within the national economy and linking it more effectively to global value chains. She said the reform supports Morocco's pursuit of energy sovereignty and industrial transformation and aligns with a larger national strategy to improve the performance of over 50 public institutions. This new reform represents a new phase in public investment, national development, and the responsible management of Morocco's strategic assets. As the North African country advances toward energy sovereignty and deeper integration into global value chains, this reform sets a precedent for future public sector transformations. Tags: Moroccomorocco infrastructureMorocco miningONHYM
Morocco World
23-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Karim Zidane Represents King at US-Africa Business Summit in Angola
Marrakech – Karim Zidane, Morocco's Investment Minister, is representing King Mohammed VI at the 17th US-Africa Business Summit that opened Monday in Luanda, Angola. Zidane heads a significant delegation of public and private sector leaders, including officials from the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM), and the National Railway Office (ONCF). The delegation also includes representatives from the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), MEDZ, MARSA Maroc, and Moroccan banks. The summit has drawn more than 1,500 participants, including African heads of state, ministers, economic and political decision-makers, and private sector representatives. The gathering serves as a major platform for economic dialogue and building sustainable strategic partnerships between the United States and the continent's emerging powerhouses. Morocco's participation aligns with King Mohammed VI's directives to strengthen the North African country's economic partnerships with African countries and international partners. The delegation aims to showcase reforms undertaken by Rabat to enhance its economic attractiveness, particularly the implementation of the new Investment Charter. The Moroccan representatives will promote opportunities in strategic sectors including renewable energy, automotive manufacturing, aeronautics, agro-industry, and green technologies. Morocco offers investors incentives that can reach up to 30% of the total investment amount through direct subsidies based on project characteristics, geographical location, and sector. The country also provides tax exemptions for new companies or those established in specific zones. With more than 40% of its energy mix coming from renewable sources, Morocco has built major solar and wind projects, including the Noor project in Ouarzazate. The automotive sector has become the country's leading export sector, with a complete ecosystem that includes two manufacturers (Renault and Stellantis) and more than 250 major international suppliers. Morocco holds a unique strategic advantage as one of only nine countries worldwide with free trade agreements with both the United States and the European Union, offering investors preferential access to two of the largest global markets. The North African country's foreign direct investment (FDI) rose by 55% in 2024, reaching $1.64 billion compared to $1.05 billion in 2023. The free trade agreement with the United States, in effect since 2006, has significantly boosted bilateral trade, which increased sixfold from $1.3 billion in 2006 to $7.2 billion in 2023. In 2024, US goods exports to Morocco reached $5.3 billion, representing a 37.3% rise from the previous year, while US imports from Morocco totaled $1.9 billion, with a 12.3% increase from 2023, making the Maghreb country one of America's main trading partners in Africa. Tags: Karim ZidaneMorocco and AfricaMorocco and the US
Ya Biladi
23-06-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Karim Zidane represents King Mohammed VI at the U.S.-Africa Business Summit
The Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Investment, Convergence, and the Evaluation of Public Policies, Karim Zidane, is representing King Mohammed VI at the 17th U.S.-Africa Business Summit, which opened on Monday in Luanda, Angola. Zidane is leading a Moroccan delegation that includes senior officials and leaders from both the public and private sectors, such as the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM), the National Railways Office (ONCF), the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), along with MEDZ, MARSA Maroc, and representatives from Moroccan banks. Morocco's participation aims to showcase the country's ongoing economic reforms, particularly the implementation of its new Investment Charter, which seeks to boost the kingdom's attractiveness in key sectors such as renewable energy, automotive, aerospace, agro-industry, and green technologies. In this spirit of partnership, Morocco is positioning itself as a key player in global value chains, drawing on its strong economic ties and sustainable partnership with the United States, reinforced by the Free Trade Agreement in place since 2006. With over 1,500 participants—including heads of state, ministers, business leaders, and policymakers—the Summit serves as a major platform for economic dialogue and the development of lasting strategic partnerships between the United States and African nations.
