Sound Energy, the Moroccan focused upstream gas company, has entered into a binding gas sale and purchase agreement (the 'GSA') in respect of the Phase 2 development of the Tendrara Production Concession with Morocco's state-owned power Company ONEE (Office National de l'Electricite et de l'Eau potable) for the sale of natural gas from the Tendrara Concession in Eastern Morocco over a 10 year period.

Map source: Sound Energy

The Company has entered into the GSA, which is in addition to the conditional Phase 1 micro liquified natural gas TE-5 Horst development related gas sales agreement entered into by the Company with Afriquia Gaz and announced by the Company on 29 July 2021, alongside its state-owned Tendrara Production Concession partner ONHYM (Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines and together with the Group the 'Tendrara JV Partners').

Under the GSA, the Tendrara JV Partners have conditionally committed to producing, processing and delivering gas from the Tendrara Production Concession, in accordance with required ONEE gas specifications, to the Gas Maghreb-Europe pipeline connecting Algeria to Spain and crossing Morocco (the 'GME Pipeline'), for an annual contractual volume up to  350 million cubic meters of natural gas per year for a period of 10 years, with an annual take or pay volume of 300 million cubic meters.

The GSA includes a fixed unitary price for the annual volume of 0.3 bcm per annum (approx. 29.0 MMscf/d or a minimum amount of energy of approx. 10.5 million MMbtu per annum to be delivered at the point of sale), which will result in annual gross revenues attributable to the Tendrara concession (100%) as envisaged in the original binding memorandum of understanding between the parties announced by the Company on 30 October 2019.

Graham Lyon, Sound Energy's Executive Chairman, commented:
"The agreement of the GSA is an important and long-awaited step which will allow the Company to progress development planning for the proposed TE-5 Horst Phase 2 development. It also underpins the ongoing discussions with potential and identified funding partners. These potential partners have expressed strong interest in participation in the proposed regional infrastructure and asset development via vendor financing, equity participation and alternate lending solutions, in order to build the long-term domestic infrastructure and gas supply in and for Morocco. Satisfying the conditions precedent within a tight 90-day timetable is challenging, however all parties have expressed support to conclude with financiers.

"We are delighted with this confirmation that the UK-Morocco, ONHYM and Sound Energy partnership is working well, and such a business partnership can enhance, with the strong support of our shareholders and our local partners, the expected 5.7% economic growth of the Kingdom of Morocco despite the COVID-19 pandemic."

KeyFacts Energy: Sound Energy Morocco country profile