Spain Commits €340 Million to Casablanca Desalination Plant
The funding agreement was formalized on Wednesday during an official ceremony attended by Spain's Secretary of State for Trade, Amparo López Senovilla, and Morocco's Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah Alaoui.
The event also gathered Tarik Hamane, Director General of Morocco's National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), Spain's Ambassador to Rabat, Enrique Ojeda Vila, along with several representatives from the bilateral business community.
'This project not only responds to a vital need, but also symbolizes the excellence of economic relations between Spain and Morocco, based on trust and business cooperation,' stated López Senovilla during the ceremony.
The massive project, led by a consortium including Spanish firm Acciona alongside Moroccan companies Green of Africa and Afriquia Gaz, will have a production capacity of 838,000 cubic meters per day, equivalent to 300 million cubic meters annually.
This facility aims to provide sustainable water access to approximately 7.5 million people in the Casablanca region.
The Spanish financial support comprises three main instruments. First, a €250 million loan from the Fund for Business Internationalization (FIEM) will cover the design, construction, and operation of the infrastructure.
Second, an 80% coverage guarantee through the Spanish Export Credit Insurance Company (CESCE) backs a €70 million secondary financing component provided by Société Générale.
Third, €31 million from the Foreign Investment Fund (FIEX), managed by COFIDES, will support Acciona's equity participation in the project.
During the ceremony, Secretary López Senovilla stated that the project combines resource management, innovation, and energy transition, noting that the facility will be powered by renewable energy sources.
Minister Fettah Alaoui described the plant as 'one of the most emblematic achievements of the national sustainable water management strategy,' which aims to mobilize 1.7 billion cubic meters of drinking water by 2030 through approximately twenty similar installations, compared to 320 million cubic meters currently available.
The desalination plant is being constructed in the Lamharza Essahel commune in El Jadida province. The project has currently reached 20% completion, with the first phase scheduled for delivery in February 2027, providing 548,000 cubic meters daily.
A second phase, planned for August 2028, will increase the total capacity to over 800,000 cubic meters per day.
The project will operate under a 30-year public-private partnership model, including three years for construction and 27 years for operation and maintenance. The facility will incorporate cutting-edge desalination technology and sustainable energy systems.
This infrastructure project demonstrates the strong economic relationship between Morocco and Spain. Currently, Spain stands as Morocco's primary trading partner, with bilateral exchanges exceeding €22.5 billion and a trade surplus of over €3 billion in Spain's favor.
More than 350 Spanish companies operate in Morocco across various sectors including infrastructure, energy, banking, and automotive industries, contributing to job creation and economic growth in both countries.
In 2024, Spanish exports to Morocco increased by approximately 6%, showing the strategic importance of the Moroccan market for Spain's economy.
Read also: Spain Intends to Replicate Morocco's Successful Drought-Fighting Strategies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
2 hours ago
- Morocco World
Morocco, Kenya Plan Parliamentary Friendship Group to Boost Bilateral Ties
Rabat — Morocco and Kenya appear to be keen on fostering their bilateral relations through the creation of a potential parliamentary friendship group. Morocco's Ambassador to Kenya and South Sudan, Abderrazzak Laassel, met with Kenyan Senate Speaker Amason Kingi Jeffah in Nairobi yesterday to discuss strengthening parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. The officials agreed to create a Morocco-Kenya parliamentary friendship group that will foster regular dialogue and cooperation between both countries' legislative institutions. The group is set to work to build stronger bilateral relations through consistent communication between Moroccan and Kenyan parliamentarians. The joint entity also aims to focus on more than just parliamentary diplomacy, but also promoting mutual understanding and supporting the countries' shared interests in trade, education, and development sectors. Both sides consider the cooperation as part of a long-term vision to make the Morocco-Kenya partnership a model for South-South cooperation, particularly in African integration and sustainable development. The meeting also provided the ground for discussing the expansion of cooperation in several other areas, particularly collaboration in trade, investment, infrastructure, and agriculture. Read also: Kenya-Morocco Relations Strengthen Following Nairobi's Newfound Sahara Position The initiative reflects both countries' commitment to strengthening multisector cooperation in economic, commercial, cultural, and security fields. Relations between the two countries have been flourishing following Kenya's official endorsement of Morocco's Autonomy Plan as 'the only sustainable approach' to resolve the Western Sahara dispute. There had been tangible signs of this major shift in the aftermath of the election that saw Kenyan's current president ascend to power. Still, comments by Kenyan Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi during his visit to Morocco in May officially cemented this shift. That visit marked a turning point in bilateral relations between Rabat and Nairobi, with both countries pledging their commitment to deepening bilateral strategic partnership. Morocco and Kenya's parliamentary cooperation represents a concrete step toward closer ties between the two African countries. According to official statements from both sides and observer assessments, potential benefits of this expanding Nairobi-Rabat alliance is set to extend beyond political dialogue to practical cooperation in key development sectors. Tags: morocco kenyaparliamentrelations between Morocco and Kenya
Morocco World
2 hours ago
- Morocco World
Bank Al-Maghrib Issues Silver Coin to Mark King Mohammed VI's 62nd Birthday
Rabat – Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), Morocco's central bank, has announced the release of a new commemorative silver coin to celebrate the 62nd birthday of King Mohammed VI. The coin, with a face value of MAD 250, was issued on the occasion of this national event. The front side of the coin shows the portrait of King Mohammed VI, along with inscriptions in Arabic and Tifinagh (Amazigh alphabet) that read 'Mohammed VI' and 'Kingdom of Morocco.' It also bears the year 2025 and the corresponding Hijri year 1447. On the reverse side, the coin displays the country's Coat of Arms, an artistic design inspired by Moroccan zellige patterns, and two olive branches. It also features the number '62,' the face value written both in Arabic numerals and words, and the inscriptions: '62 birthday of H.M King Mohammed VI' in French and its Arabic version. Every year, the birthday of King Mohammed VI, celebrated on August 21, also coincides with Youth Day in Morocco. This dual celebration carries a strong symbolic meaning, linking the King's personal anniversary with the recognition of young people as the backbone of the nation's future. The tradition of observing Youth Day alongside the monarch's birthday began during the reign of the late King Hassan II and has continued under King Mohammed VI. It shows the important role of Moroccan youth in driving development, innovation, and social progress. On this occasion, activities across the country often focus on themes of education, employment, sports, and culture. The day is also an opportunity for the King to reaffirm his commitment to youth empowerment, sometimes announcing programs or initiatives aimed at improving training and job opportunities for young Moroccans. Tags: king mohammed vi birthdayYouth Day
Morocco World
7 hours ago
- Morocco World
Morocco's Youth: Unlocking the Energy of a Nation
Every August 21, Morocco celebrate Youth Day — a celebration that is more than symbolic. It raises a question at the heart of the nation's future: what are we doing with the immense energy and creativity of our young people? The numbers are striking. 11.8 million Moroccans between 15 and 34 — nearly one-third of the population (HCP, 2023) — represent a demographic goldmine. Multilingual, connected, and entrepreneurial, Moroccan youth mirror a country eager to claim its place on the global stage. From agricultural cooperatives that blend tradition with innovation, to tech start-ups expanding into Africa and Europe, to environmental and artistic movements reshaping culture and awareness — the signs of promise are everywhere. Yet, the other side of the story is sobering. Youth unemployment hovers at 36.7% among 15–24-year-olds, and 61.2% among university graduates (HCP, 2024). More than 334,000 students drop out of school annually (Ministry of Education, 2021–2022). These figures are not destiny, but they expose the limits of current policies and the urgency of rethinking them. Morocco has launched programs such as Intelaka and Forsa to support young entrepreneurs, alongside incubators and public initiatives. But their reach remains narrow. ANAPEC, the national employment agency, engages just 10% of unemployed youth (OECD). Fragmentation, bureaucracy, and a weak link between training and job markets continue to hamper progress. What is needed is not another initiative but a coherent ecosystem where young people can thrive. That means: An education revolution aligned with tomorrow's skills; Vocational training treated as a first-choice path, not a fallback; Real access to funding for young entrepreneurs; Spaces for creativity, innovation, and civic engagement; Bold decentralization, turning every region into a hub of opportunity. The government's 'Youth Pass' is a start. But imagine a Youth Pass 2.0 — a genuine passport to the future, combining training, entrepreneurship, civic involvement, digital access, and even mental health support. Morocco's youth are not only its future; they are already shaping its present. In communities, startups, and associations, they are solving problems and creating value every day. To call them 'human capital' is not enough. They must become a national priority — with government, business, and civil society working together to build real bridges between learning and employment, and to trust young people with responsibility and leadership. The future of Morocco is being written today — in the hands of its radiant youth. Tags: Moroccan YouthYouth Day 2025Youth EmploymentYouth Pass 2.0
