Morocco's Plummeting Gas Imports and Migration Crisis

In recent days, Morocco has witnessed a significant decline in gas imports from Spain, with average daily flows dropping to approximately 21 gigawatt-hours, a stark contrast to the usual levels of between 29 and 31 gigawatt-hours. This drastic decrease has coincided with escalating tensions between Rabat and Madrid, particularly concerning the increasing issue of illegal Moroccan migration towards Southern Spain. The Moroccan government appears to be leveraging this immigration crisis as a strategic pressure point against the administration of Pedro Sánchez, especially following the recent surge of migrants crossing into Ceuta.

Data from specialized energy platforms highlight this troubling trend, revealing that Morocco received around 991 gigawatt-hours of gas in July, compared to 859 gigawatt-hours in June. On a year-over-year basis, gas imports remained relatively stable in July 2026, at approximately 992 gigawatt-hours, despite the supply disruptions experienced in the preceding spring.

Strategic Energy Diversification Efforts

In light of these challenges, the Moroccan government is actively seeking to diversify its sources of liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies, turning to various suppliers including Russia and the United States, in addition to securing contracts with Shell. Furthermore, Morocco is re-gasifying LNG in Spain before channeling it through the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline, which was previously used to transport Algerian gas to Europe. This pipeline has become a critical component of Morocco’s energy supply chain, making Spanish gas flows essential.

Statistics indicate that Spanish gas flows to Morocco accounted for 13.2% of its energy supply during the first seven months of 2026, with total gas imports reaching approximately 4.98 terawatt-hours from January to July, compared to about 5.74 terawatt-hours during the same period last year. The interplay between energy supply and migration issues highlights the complex geopolitical landscape in which Morocco finds itself, necessitating a multi-faceted approach to both energy security and migration management.

As reported by elkhabar.com.