The Moroccan National Hydrocarbon Office (ONHYM) and the British energy group Chariot Energy announced an agreement aimed at enabling the transportation of natural gas along the Maghreb Corridor using a route that links gas produced offshore Morocco to European markets. Historically, this route carried Gaz de Morocco (GME) gas from Algeria toward Spain via Moroccan territory, a flow that was halted when Algeria suspended the line. This latest accord positions the Anchois gas project as a potential supplier to buyers connected to the GME pipeline, aligning with Morocco’s strategic role as a gas transit hub while energy markets remain highly dynamic. The arrangement was presented as a practical step to channel gas produced by the Anchois field, located off Morocco’s Atlantic coast, toward multiple potential customers through the GME trunkline, subject to the customary regulatory and commercial approvals that govern cross-border energy movements.
Pierre Raillard, who serves as Chariot’s director for Morocco, framed the agreement as a meaningful milestone for the project. He emphasized that Anchois represents a highly strategic asset given ongoing volatility in the international energy market, a factor that continues to influence buyers and suppliers across Europe. The accompanying note stated that the proximity and capacity of the GME pipeline place the project in a favorable position to move gas to market quickly, ergänzt by a practical understanding that quick delivery can help stabilize pricing and supply commitments for several prospective buyers.
Chariot disclosed that the Anchois field, initially announced in January, lies within the Anchois-2 area. This area follows the earlier development of Anchois-1, where gas production has already begun. The field is situated off the Atlantic coast, approximately 38 kilometers from the town of Larache and about 87 kilometers north of Kenitra, north of Rabat. In the initial interpretations, operators indicated significant gas accumulations within both the evaluation and exploration targets of the well, with a total estimated net gas payout exceeding 100 meters compared with the original 55 meters observed in Anchois-1, signaling a meaningful expansion potential for the resource. The public record noted that these findings support the case for continued appraisal and development activity in this offshore area, with the broader objective of supplying gas to European markets should commercial terms and regulatory clearances align.
The arrangement with the Moroccan state-owned company opens a pathway for Anchois gas to enter the GME system, a pipeline that originates in Algeria and extends toward Tangier in northern Morocco. From Tangier, gas has historically crossed the Strait into Spain, connecting North African supply with Iberian demand. The broader objective remains to facilitate a reliable supply channel through regulatory harmonization and commercial arrangements that benefit both Moroccan transit interests and European buyers seeking secure gas supply lines in a market characterized by price swings and evolving energy policy.
Algeria’s decision in late 2021 not to extend the GME contract created a rupture in bilateral relations with Rabat and prompted a reassessment of how regional gas infrastructure would function moving forward. Since then, GME has operated primarily in a reverse-flow mode from Spain to Morocco, delivering regasified gas to facilities in both countries. In the current terms, the pipeline’s historical directionality is complemented by new supply opportunities that could reestablish Morocco’s role as a conduit for Algerian gas while expanding the portfolio of gas sources accessible to Iberian and European consumers. This evolving dynamic occurs amid a broader European energy security context that seeks diversified and reliable gas supply routes, with Morocco positioned as a potential corridor for cross-border gas flows and regional energy collaboration, providedThat commercial terms, political considerations, and technical arrangements align across parties involved. (Source: official announcements by ONHYM and Chariot; industry observers and public records corroborate the evolving role of the GME corridor)