Morocco’s Office National de l’Electricite (One) has issued an invitation for expressions of interest in an oil shale-fired independent power project (IPP).

The scheme will be the first power plant to use oil shale feedstock in the region.

It will be located in Tarfaya, in the southwest of the country, and will have capacity of 100MW.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 30 September.

The successful bidder will develop, finance, construct, commission, operate and maintain the IPP. The project company will also mine for oil shale.

One will buy the the electricity produced by the IPP under a 30-year power-purchase agreement.

In June, the US’ San Leon Energy; Island Oil and Gas, and Longreach Oil and Gas Ventures, both Irish; signed a memorandum of understanding with state-owned energy company Office National de des Hydrocarbures et des Mines for the exploration of Tarfaya oil shale.