Akwa Group

Akwa Group S.A. (former name: Groupe Afriquia) is a Moroccan conglomerate company headquartered in Casablanca. The company is primarily engaged in the oil and gas industry, but operates also in the telecommunication, tourism, hotels and real estate sectors. Its service stations operate under the Afriquia brand.
History.
In 1932 the founder of Afriquia, Ahmed Ouldhadj Akhannouch opens a stall in Casablanca where he sells oil per liter. Endowed with an innate sense of business, his business rapidly flourished.
The company was established in 1959 as Afriquia SMDC ("Société Marocaine de Distribution de Carburants") which is now a subsidiary of Akwa Group S.A. The other major subsidiary, Maghreb Oxygène, was established in 1974. The corporate structure was reorganized in 1990s by creation of the holding company "Groupe Afriquia". Its subsidiaries "Afriquia Gaz" and "Maghreb Oxygène" were publicly listed in 1999. "Groupe Afriquia" changed its name to Akwa Group in March 2002.
Operations.
Petrol and automotive services.
Akwa's subsidiary Afriquia SMDC is a Morocco's leading filling station operator with over 400 AfriquiaGaz stations. Afrilub (Afriquia Lubrifiants Maroc) is a manufacturer of motor oil. Petrolog and Petrosud import and sale of petroleum product. Petrosud operates also a large oil depot at Port d'Agadir. SEJ ("Société d'Entreposage de Jorf Lasfar") provides downstream petroleum "entrepôt" services, including gasoil and heating oil storage.
Auto Speedy provides automobile repair shop franchises. "Rezoroute" operates Mini-Brahim convenience stores and Oasis Cafe highway restaurants and provides Rapid'Auto franchises.
Liquid petroleum gas.
"Afriquia Gaz" is a Morocco's leading liquid petroleum gas distributor. It owns brands Afriquia Gaz, Tissir Gaz, Ultra Gaz, Camping Gaz and Métagaz.
Industrial and medical gases.
"Maghreb Oxygène" is a provider of industrial and medical gases. It operates three facilities in Berrechid, Had Soualem and Jorf Al Asfar. The company manufactures and distributes medical liquid oxygen, industrial liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen, acetylene, etc.
Telecommunication.
Akwa has two subsidiaries providing telecommunication services. Afrinetworks, including Eho & Aloha, is affiliated with Méditel. Bell Networks is affiliated with Nortel Networks and EADS Télécom.
Tourism, hotels, catering and real estate.
Akwa participate in the Accor group with hotels Ibis and Ibis Budget. Akwa owns a catering company "Oasis Café" and a real estate company "Akwa Immobilier".