Concerns Over Fuel Export Management in Morocco
The Moroccan Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development has stated that it lacks any recorded data regarding the export of a rare 30,000-ton gasoline shipment from Morocco to Russia. The ministry emphasized that such data might be available through customs and the currency office. It is important to note that the responsibilities assigned to the Directorate of Fuels include collecting statistical data and managing databases related to petroleum products in general. Furthermore, these responsibilities encompass contributing to the preparation and execution of cooperation agreements and resolutions in the fuel sector, as well as regulating the national oil sector. However, the information provided by the ministry to Hespress indicates that the sector in question is unaware of any such shipment leaving the kingdom, despite acknowledging that such an occurrence is not impossible. The absence of data regarding this matter in the ministry's documents raises concerns.
Hespress inquired with the official source about the possibility of transporting the shipment without coordination with the directorate, which is responsible for ensuring regular supply operations of petroleum products to the national market. The ministry's response maintained a cautious tone, suggesting that the information could be found with customs authorities and distributing companies. A union source specializing in the national energy sector expressed astonishment at the lack of vital data of this nature within the ministry's technical offices, noting that managing strategic reserve stocks is among the responsibilities of this ministry. The correct response should be a clear affirmation or denial rather than deferring the issue to other institutions.
This source mentioned that the news of the export of this shipment comes at a time of rising local prices and a pressing need for sufficient reserves. In light of international supply chain disruptions, exporting from Morocco necessitates prior coordination with the responsible ministry. Furthermore, it has been reported that Russia imported a shipment of AI-92 grade gasoline transported by sea from Morocco, which amounted to approximately 30,000 tons. If the ministry is unaware of this shipment and has not denied it, this situation warrants further investigation.
International news agency Reuters reported that Moscow has implemented a series of measures to support its local fuel market, following repeated drone attacks on oil refineries in Ukraine that have led to shortages and price increases. These measures include importing gasoline by rail from Belarus and Kazakhstan, as well as a ban on fuel exports, along with the aforementioned import of gasoline from Morocco. According to two energy sector sources who spoke to Reuters, a Panama-flagged tanker loaded the shipment at the Moroccan port of Tangier in mid-July and subsequently discharged it at the port of Murmansk in the Arctic region of Russia. The Russian company Lukoil was responsible for supplying the shipment.
As reported by hespress.com.
