Morocco’s energy ministry has suspended tenders for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Nador West Med and associated pipeline projects, the ministry said on Monday, according to Reuters. The pause affects bids submitted last month, though officials did not provide reasons for the decision.

The project encompassed a pipeline connecting the proposed terminal to an existing network that allows LNG imports through Spanish terminals for two power plants. It also included a section linking the existing pipeline to industrial zones on the Atlantic coast in Mohammedia and Kenitra.

“Due to new parameters and assumptions related to this project… the ministry of energy transition and sustainable development is postponing the receipt of applications and the opening of bids received as of today,” the ministry said in a statement.

The tender had been part of Morocco’s broader strategy to diversify its energy mix, reducing reliance on coal while accelerating the country’s renewable energy targets. The government aims for renewable sources to reach 52 percent of installed electricity capacity by 2030, up from the current 45 percent.

According to ministry estimates cited by Reuters, Morocco’s natural gas consumption, currently around one billion cubic metres, is expected to rise to eight billion cubic metres by 2027.

The tender suspension leaves the timeline for the LNG terminal and pipeline projects uncertain, as the ministry reassesses project assumptions and parameters before proceeding with the bids.