Dakhla LNG Terminal

This article is part of the Global Fossil Infrastructure Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.

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Dakhla LNG Terminal is a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Western Sahara.

Location

The terminal is proposed to be located in the Port of Dakhla Atlantique, Western Sahara.

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Project details

• Operator:

• Owner:

• Parent company:

• Location: Port of Dakhla Atlantique, Western Sahara

• Coordinates: 23.6578, -15.9424 (approximate)
• Capacity:

• Trains:
• Status: Proposed

• Type: Import

• Start year: 2030

• Cost:

• Financing:

• FID status: Pre-FID

• Associated infrastructure: Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline

Background

In early 2024, Morocco announced plans to build the country's first floating LNG import terminal to reduce its reliance on imports coming from Spain and to enhance the country's energy security. The Nador West Med Port, currently in construction, was chosen as the site for the FLNG terminal because of its proximity to Spain and because of its easy connection to the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline.

The plan to built the Nador West Med Port LNG terminal was announced along with plans to build two other regasification facilities, to be completed before 2030. This is in line with the Ministry of Energy's prediction that Morocco's demand for fossil gas will surge to 8 bcm by 2027. The proposed facilities include a terminal built along the Atlantic coast, which will be either built in Jorf Lasfar industrial estate or in Mohammedia, and a platform near the port of Dakhla, which is expected to begin operations in 2030.

Port of Dakhla Atlantique and Western Sahara

The port of Dakhla Atlantique, or Dakhla Atlantic Port, is Morocco's largest infrastructure project. The port's construction began in 2012, as part of the National Ports Strategy. The port is located 40 km away from Dakhla, in the disputed territory of Western Sahara. The US$1.2 billion project is expected to be completed by 2028.

The United Nations has recognized Western Sahara as one of the 17 non-self-governing territories since 1963. However, Western Sahara is the only one without a registered administrating power. Since 1956, Morocco has attained control over approximately 80% of the disputed Western Sahara territory, and has thus been building and proposing large-scale infrastructure in the area, including the Dakhla Atlantique Port, and the Dakhla LNG Terminal.