British energy company Sound Energy has secured an extension of its exploration permits in eastern Morocco, giving the firm until September 7, 2028, to advance its activities in the Anoual region. The new timeline, approved by Morocco’s Ministries of Energy Transition and Economy, covers a vast area of 8,873 square kilometers.
The Anoual permit is operated by Mana Energy, which holds a 47.5% stake. Sound Energy retains a 27.5% non-operating interest, while Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines owns the remaining 25%. As part of the permit extension, the partners have committed to drilling a new exploration well—designated M5—targeting the Triassic formation. The operation will be led by Mana Energy, with Sound Energy contributing up to $2.6 million toward the drilling.
In parallel, Sound Energy is reporting solid progress at its Tendrara gas project. Production has now started at wells TE-6 and TE-7, forming part of the commissioning phase of the TE-5 Horst development, which began in December in collaboration with Mana Energy.
The company has completed testing on the full gas gathering system, including wellheads, pipelines, valves, heat exchangers, and flaring systems. This milestone marks the finalization of surface infrastructure, which Sound Energy views as a key step in moving the project forward.
Tendrara is also set to power its operations with nine natural gas-fueled generators, specifically designed to run on-site gas. These engines are expected to be commissioned in the coming weeks, allowing the project to phase out diesel use entirely. The switch is projected to reduce both operational costs and Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions.
Meanwhile, the company continues to evaluate options for bridge financing to support the project through to first gas production. More details on this front are expected soon.
On Monday morning, Sound Energy’s shares rose 3.7% on the London Stock Exchange, reaching 0.98 penny. CEO Majid Shafiq welcomed the latest developments, emphasizing that the activation of the wells and collection system signals strong momentum in Phase I. He also praised the technical team’s performance and described the Anoual permit extension as a strategic opportunity to deepen exploration in a promising yet underexplored area.
