Oil, gas exploration indicators in Morocco, promising'

Rabat - Indicators of oil and gas exploration in several Moroccan regions are "promising" and may result in the discovery of "reasonable" deposits, Minister of energy, mines, water and the environment, Abdelkader Amara said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a question session at the Lower House, the Minister said that international companies are showing interest in Morocco's sedimentary basin which stretches over an area of 900,000 square kilometres across the Kingdom, of which 400,000 square kilometres is currently under exploration.

The Minister noted that the information dessiminated by national media regarding oil prospection is " not always true" and is often related to technical information provided by some oil companies operating in Morocco.

The hydrocarbons exploration period requires a long period of 10 to 15 years, he said.