Morocco's oil bill jumps by 64.8 percent

Morocco's oil bill increased by 64.8 percent in 2000 compared to 1999, the Moroccan BMCE bank said in its latest bulletin. The bill stood at 21.4 billion dirhams, nearly $ 1.798 billion in 2000, the source said, imputing the rise to the hike of oil prices in world markets.

Despite the rise in the oil bill, Morocco's oil products consumption fell by 6.5 percent in 2000 over 1999.