The General Secretary of the Democratic Confederation of Oil and Gas, Hussein Al-Yamani, has voiced strong criticism of the government’s focus on the energy transition to renewable sources while neglecting the pressing need to secure Morocco’s oil supply. Al-Yamani emphasized that oil still contributes over 50% to the national energy mix, a significant portion compared to the mere 13% contributed by renewable energy sources. He called for the revival of the “SAMIR” company, which was once a vital player in securing the country’s oil needs but has since fallen into disrepair, leading to an annual fuel import bill of nearly 16 billion dirhams.
During a presentation on the 2025 budget, the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development highlighted that fossil fuels accounted for over 87% of Morocco’s energy supply in the previous year, with oil products making up 51%. In contrast, despite the government’s emphasis on renewable energy, the share of wind, solar, and hydroelectric power combined only reached 10.3% in 2022, a modest increase from 5% in 2009. This discrepancy raises concerns about the country’s progress in reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and ensuring energy security.
Al-Yamani pointed out that Morocco is gradually decreasing its dependence on fossil fuels at a rate of just half a percentage point per year. At this rate, he warned, it would take 200 years to achieve complete independence from coal and oil. The critical role of oil in the national energy mix cannot be overlooked, and Al-Yamani urged the government to prioritize finding effective solutions for securing oil supplies. He also questioned the feasibility of relying solely on renewables to meet Morocco’s growing energy demand, calling on the government to implement its renewable energy strategy immediately to shield citizens from the soaring energy prices.
07/11/2024
