• Sound Energy delays Morocco Tendrara gas production to Q3 2026
• Delay due to micro-LNG facility equipment delivery setbacks
• Project backed by Afriquia Gaz 10-year LNG purchase agreement

Sound Energy has pushed back the start of commercial production at its Tendrara gas project in Morocco to the third quarter of 2026, the London-listed operator said in a statement this week.

The project had previously been expected to come onstream in the second quarter of 2026.

The company attributed the delay to setbacks in completing the micro-LNG facility. Sound Energy said it was awaiting delivery of certain equipment from Italfluid Geoenergy, adding that full commissioning would follow once the components are delivered and installed.

The delay comes even as Sound Energy reported technical progress at Tendrara in late January, including the successful integration of wells TE-6 and TE-7 into the gas gathering system.

Ahead of first gas sales, Sound Energy said it had raised about $2.2 million through a combination of a short-term loan and an equity raise. Chief Executive Majid Shafiq said the financing “ensures the company has the necessary resources” while it awaits the start of gas sales.

Those sales are underpinned by an agreement with Moroccan distributor Afriquia Gaz, which calls for the purchase of 100 million standard cubic meters of liquefied natural gas per year over a 10-year period from the start of production at Tendrara.

The Tendrara concession is operated by Sound Energy, which holds a 20% interest. Its partners are the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines with 25% and Mana Energy Limited with 55%, a company majority-controlled by Attijariwafa Bank.

Abdel-Latif Boureima