{"id":85866,"date":"2025-04-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2025\/04\/23\/today-morocco-advances-gas-plans-uae-is-getting-hyperscale-data-center\/"},"modified":"2025-04-23T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T00:00:00","slug":"today-morocco-advances-gas-plans-uae-is-getting-hyperscale-data-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2025\/04\/23\/today-morocco-advances-gas-plans-uae-is-getting-hyperscale-data-center\/","title":{"rendered":"TODAY: Morocco advances gas plans + UAE is getting hyperscale data center"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning, friends. <\/strong>The newscyle has slowed down considerably as we head into the weekend, but we still have a few updates on big projects from Morocco and the UAE to delve into. But first\u2026<\/p>\n

A QUICK PROGRAMMING NOTE- <\/strong>EnterpriseAM Logistics will be taking a publication holiday tomorrow in observance of Sinai Liberation Day. We\u2019ll be back in your inboxes at our regularly scheduled time on Monday, April 28.<\/p>\n

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THE BIG LOGISTICS STORY- <\/strong> US hits again with new duties on solar imports:<\/strong> The US has finalized antidumping and countervailing duties of up to 3,400% on solar cells imported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, according to a Commerce Department statement<\/a> on Monday. The update caps a year-long probe<\/a> that began under the Biden administation into alleged dumping that distorted the US solar market, with a final vote on the duties planned for 2 June. <\/p>\n

On top of other tariffs: <\/strong>The solar duties will be in addition to the separate set of tariffs imposed by Trump. They vary depending on the company and country, however the average effective rate for each country would be 651% for Cambodia (with four firms slapped with rates as high as 3,403%), 34% for Malaysia (reaching 168.9% in some cases), 375% for Thailand (reaching 799.5%), and 395 for Vietnam (reaching 542.6%). China\u2019s Jinko Solar and Trina Solar are among the highly affected firms. <\/p>\n

US\u2019 solar industry to take a major blow: <\/strong>The US imported about USD 12.9 bn in solar equipment last year from the four targeted countries, making up roughly 77% of its total module imports, according to BloombergNEF. While expected to boost US domestic production, the duties also challenge local renewable developers relying on foreign supplies as they could face higher costs and extended supply chain disruptions. <\/p>\n

The story made headlines in the international press:<\/strong> Reuters<\/a> | Bloomberg<\/a> | Wall Street Journal<\/a> | CNBC<\/a> | CNN<\/a> | BBC<\/a> | The Guardian<\/a> | South China Morning Post<\/a> <\/p>\n

WATCH THIS SPACE-<\/p>\n

<\/a>#1- <\/strong>Qatar <\/strong>Airways<\/strong> eyes larger global cargo footprint:<\/strong> Qatar Airways Cargo, British Airways parent company International Airlines Group\u2019s cargo division IAG Cargo, and Malaysia Airlines\u2019 MASkargo are looking to establish a joint business to boost their networks in the air freight industry, according to a statement<\/a>. The new business \u2014 still requiring regulatory approval \u2014 will aim to bring the three player\u2019s experience and assets together to offer new streamlined products, faster transit, and more routing options. The three companies will also work together to develop comprehensive safety and security standards applicable industry-wide. <\/p>\n

Qatar?IAG: <\/strong>Qatar Airways \u2014 already a major global cargo player<\/a> with 28 Boeing 777 freighter jets \u2014 planned on selling EUR 88 mn from its IAG shares<\/a> as part of a share buyback program launched by IAG last November. Qatar Airways acquired a stake in IAG for USD 600 mn back in 2020, increasing its stake to 25.1%, Reuters previously reported. The Qatari firm previously held a 21.4% stake in IAG \u2014 which owns Spanish carriers Iberia and Vueling and Ireland's Aer Lingus. Qatar Airways first invested in IAG in 2015, buying 9.99% of the firm.<\/p>\n

<\/a>#2- Morocco is planning a major logistics sector push, finalizing master plans for 10 <\/strong>logistics <\/strong>zone around the country, <\/strong>Detafour<\/a> reports, citing comments by Transport Minister Abdessamad Qaiouh. No timeline for the proposed projects has been disclosed. The projects will cover several areas in Morocco, including Casablanca-Settat, Fes-Meknes, Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Marrakech-Safi, Dr\u00e2a-Tafilalet, as well as the East and Souss-Massa.<\/p>\n

The projects include: <\/strong><\/p>\n