Irish oil and gas exploration firm San Leon Energy has acquired two stakes in southern Morocco from UK-based Petromaroc.

It has bought Petromaroc’s 1.5 per cent net working interest in the offshore Sidi Moussa licence and a 22.5 per cent net working interest in the Tarfaya onshore licence, according to an update published by San Leon Energy on 8 September.

UK-headquartered Genel Energy is the operator of the Sidi Moussa licence and drilling of the SM-1 well on the Nour prospect is currently under way.

The transfers of interest still need to be approved by the Moroccan authorities.