On June 30, 2025, the Spanish newspaper El País revealed that Spanish imports of Moroccan diesel had reached a record level, amid suspicions of Russian origin. Ten months later, Africa Intelligence provided new information on Monday about a case that continues to raise questions on the other side of the Mediterranean, especially since Morocco is not an oil-producing country.
“In 2025, despite international sanctions, Morocco became the main importer of Russian fuel in North Africa. A discreet Geneva trader has positioned themselves in this market,” said the French media. An “enigmatic Swiss trader” is reportedly at the heart of the oil deliveries from Russia to the kingdom.
The same source mentioned Niels Troost, operating through his company Paramount Energy & Commodities SA based in Geneva. He is said to have taken advantage of the reorganization of global energy flows to make Morocco a strategic hub for fuels from Russia.
Russian oil, sanctioned by the European Union since February 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, is sold for about less than $22 per barrel compared to market prices. The EU decided in October 2025 to further tighten measures targeting the Russian energy sector, including a total stop to Russian LNG imports by the end of 2026.
Spanish media have also reported multiple times on the presence of ships linked to this fleet in or near Moroccan waters in the Mediterranean.
A Missing Topic in Moroccan Political Debate
Bypassing European sanctions does not only involve the use of tankers, but also the involvement of financial institutions. Africa Intelligence mentioned the role of two Moroccan banks that have reportedly been involved in these operations. Since March 2022, the EU has excluded several major Russian banks from the SWIFT financial messaging system to limit Moscow’s ability to finance its war effort.
While international media continue to focus on the oil exchanges between Rabat and Moscow, the topic has disappeared from Moroccan political debate. Opposition parties’ attempt to form a parliamentary investigative committee failed in April 2023 after the withdrawal of the USFP.
On the other hand, the government led by Aziz Akhannouch has downplayed the increase in imports of Russian oil products, citing a limited growth. “In 2020, the share of Russian diesel imports was 9%. It decreased to 5% in 2021 before rising again to 9% in 2022,” said government spokesperson Mustapha Bañtas during a press conference on March 2, 2023.
