Petrostar Maroc has completed its first ship refuelling operation at Nador West Med as Morocco prepares to open its new Mediterranean mega port later this year. The company supplied fuel to ZHEN HUA 24, a heavy lift ship delivering giant container cranes for the West Med Container Terminal, the port’s main container hub.
The operation is one of the final steps before the port begins commercial operations, which are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.
Petrostar Maroc founder and CEO Yassine El Omari said the operation was an important moment for the company. He noted that Petrostar Maroc has taken part in several major port projects across Morocco.
He said the company also carried out a refuelling operation at Casablanca Cruise Port one day after King Mohammed VI officially opened the facility.
Petrostar Maroc was founded in Agadir in 2012. The company provides marine fuel, fuel services for businesses, fuel distribution and lubricants.
The ZHEN HUA 24 is a 244 metre heavy lift ship operated by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC), the world’s biggest maker of port cranes and cargo handling equipment.
The ship delivered giant Ship to Shore (STS) cranes that will load and unload some of the world’s largest container ships. These Super Post Panamax cranes can serve vessels carrying more than 24,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
The East Terminal will eventually have 15 STS cranes and 45 electric rubber tyred gantry cranes (eRTGs), helping ships spend less time in port.
Marsa Maroc and Terminal Investment Limited (TIL), the port operating company owned by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), jointly operate the West Med Container Terminal. MSC is currently the world’s largest container shipping company.
Marsa Maroc owns 50% plus one share of the terminal company, while TIL owns 50% minus one share.
The Eastern Container Terminal has a 1,520 metre quay and an 18 metre water depth. The terminal will be able to handle up to 3.4 million TEUs each year. Total capacity across Nador West Med will start at 5 million containers annually and could eventually reach 12 million.
Nador West Med sits on Betoya Bay, less than 250 miles from the Strait of Gibraltar. Morocco is building the port to complement Tanger Med and strengthen its position as a major shipping hub.
The port includes a 4.3-kilometre main breakwater and a 1.2-kilometre secondary breakwater. Specialised terminals will handle up to 25 million tonnes of liquid bulk cargo, including fuel, and 7 million tonnes of solid bulk cargo each year.
The project also includes a 700-hectare industrial free zone for manufacturers, logistics firms and exporters.
More than 20 billion dirhams in private investment has already been committed to the industrial zone. Chinese companies have started building factories that will produce wind turbine parts, vehicle tyres and industrial alloys.
Road projects are also moving forward. Morocco is expanding regional highways and building the Guercif to Nador motorway to improve links with Fez, Meknes and other export routes.
The port will also include Morocco’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. The facility will have an annual capacity of 5 billion cubic metres and is expected to support industry and future green hydrogen projects.
West Med Container Terminal has secured €196.7 million, or about 2.1 billion dirhams, in long-term financing from Attijariwafa Bank, Banque Centrale Populaire and Bank of Africa. The 15-year loan will fund most of the €253 million needed to complete the first phase of the terminal.
Petrostar Maroc has recently expanded its marine fuel business. The company earlier completed its first ship-to-ship refuelling operation in Agadir using its Moroccan-flagged tanker MT PS Oufella. The latest operation at Nador West Med adds another milestone as Morocco’s newest port prepares to welcome commercial shipping.
