Morocco commits $1 billion to oil and gas exploration as it targets energy independence by 2031
Published . Updated .
Morocco will invest $1bn in oil and gas exploration through 2031, with private companies funding 91% of the programme as the country seeks to cut import dependence and unlock domestic reserves.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- USO United States Oil Fund+8.2% 30d
United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR+7.4% 30d
Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- UNG United States Natural Gas Fund-7.2% 30d
United States Natural Gas Fund: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “gas” (natural gas) in this story.
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings+11.0% 11d
ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- CVX Chevron+9.9% 30d
Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- LNG Cheniere Energy+8.9% 30d
Cheniere Energy (natural gas distribution): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “gas” (natural gas) in this story.
- EQT Eqt+4.5% 19d
Eqt (crude petroleum and natural gas): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “gas” (natural gas) in this story.
- COP ConocoPhillips+11.7% 30d
ConocoPhillips (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USO | -3.36% | -2.27% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| XLE | -2.42% | -2.96% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| UNGNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XOM | -3.61% | -3.44% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| CVX | -2.74% | -2.34% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| LNGNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EQTNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| COP | -3.61% | -3.79% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
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Morocco commits $1 billion to oil and gas exploration as it targets energy independence by 2031 Businessfront
Source: Businessfront
United States Oil Fund (USO) compared with energy stocks (XLE) since 27 Oct 2026
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conocophillips (COP) | three days earlier | -3.79% | final price |
| Conocophillips (COP) | five days earlier | -3.61% | final price |
| Chevron (CVX) | three days earlier | -2.34% | final price |
| Chevron (CVX) | five days earlier | -2.74% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | three days earlier | -2.27% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | five days earlier | -3.36% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | three days earlier | -2.96% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | five days earlier | -2.42% | final price |
| ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) | three days earlier | -3.44% | final price |
| ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) | five days earlier | -3.61% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) (jointly held), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Aug 2026. That is 57 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), worth $250,001 - $500,000 on 31 Jul 2026. That is 88 days before publication. Filed 22 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Chevron (CVX) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 34 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Chevron (CVX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 2 Sep 2026. That is 55 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Chevron (CVX), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 26 Aug 2026. That is 62 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Eqt (EQT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 27 Aug 2026. That is 61 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Eqt (EQT), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 17 Aug 2026. That is 71 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Eqt (EQT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 14 Aug 2026. That is 74 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Conocophillips (COP) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 26 Aug 2026. That is 62 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Conocophillips (COP) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Aug 2026. That is 64 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Conocophillips (COP), worth $1,000,001 - $5,000,000 on 21 Aug 2026. That is 67 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around United States Oil Fund (USO)
Companies mentioned with this story
- USO United States Oil Fund
For “Morocco commits $1 billion to oil and gas exploration as it targets energy independence by 2031,” United States Oil Fund (USO) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- XLE Select Sector Spdr Tr
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 27 Oct 2026 story “Morocco commits $1 billion to oil and gas exploration as it targets energy independence by 2031.” Reason on file: Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- UNG United States Natural Gas Fund
For “Morocco commits $1 billion to oil and gas exploration as it targets energy independence by 2031,” United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: United States Natural Gas Fund: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “gas” (natural gas) in this story
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings
In “Morocco commits $1 billion to oil and gas exploration as it targets energy independence by 2031,” ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- LNG Cheniere Energy
In “Morocco commits $1 billion to oil and gas exploration as it targets energy independence by 2031,” Cheniere Energy (LNG) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Cheniere Energy (natural gas distribution): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “gas” (natural gas) in this story
- CVX Chevron
Chevron (CVX) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 27 Oct 2026 story “Morocco commits $1 billion to oil and gas exploration as it targets energy independence by 2031.” Reason on file: Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- EQT Eqt
For “Morocco commits $1 billion to oil and gas exploration as it targets energy independence by 2031,” Eqt (EQT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Eqt (crude petroleum and natural gas): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “gas” (natural gas) in this story
- COP Conocophillips
In “Morocco commits $1 billion to oil and gas exploration as it targets energy independence by 2031,” Conocophillips (COP) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: ConocoPhillips (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
United States Oil Fund (USO) and the energy link
United States Oil Fund (USO) is the company in “Morocco commits $1 billion to oil and gas exploration as it targets energy independence by 2031,” the 27 Oct 2026 Energy story.
What ties United States Oil Fund (USO) to the headline is this: United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) is here too. Its reason reads: Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
The price range for United States Oil Fund (USO), and the dates in the story
UNG traded between 9.52 and 11.43 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 9.59. USO traded between 141.82 and 169.96 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 169.55. XLE traded between 60.95 and 69.72 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 69.32.
The energy score for United States Oil Fund (USO)
46 out of 100
“Morocco commits $1 billion to oil and gas exploration as it targets energy independence by 2031” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies.