Butane gas: A «collective psychosis» is spreading among households

The «collective psychosis» has also affected households, who have reportedly started to build up a stockpile by buying 1 to 2 extra bottles of butane gas to, they say, protect themselves against a shortage that is also expected on this fuel in the coming days and weeks.
According to Professor Amin Bennouna, « consumers do not need to build up butane gas reserves…for the time being, for several reasons .» The first is that Morocco’s main supplier of butane gas is the United States, which, even though directly involved in the war against Iran, is located far from the Persian Gulf. They supply us with more than 77% of the butane gas we need. According to experts, the war would have to create an exceptional situation in the United States for them to halt their gas exports. Spain, our northern neighbor, supplies us with approximately 15%. Together, these two countries cover more than 92% of the Kingdom’s needs, which amount to 3.4 million tons of butane gas equivalent per year. Another reason supporting the easing of tensions regarding butane gas, one of the most consumed energy products in Morocco, is the organized sector, which has maintained a 40-day security reserve for the past two years. Since May 2024, the main butane gas distributors, grouped within the Moroccan Storage Company (Somas), have invested in a fourth storage facility to strengthen the Kingdom’s energy security. Since then, Morocco has substantially reduced its dependence on immediate imports and ensured lasting energy stability. With larger reserves, the country has also been better able to manage fluctuations in the global market and periods of high butane gas demand.

Aziz Diouf