Morocco Continues to Strengthen Focus on Renewable Energy for Sustainable Growth
Rabat — For decades, Morocco has been expressing commitment to continue boosting efforts to strengthen its renewable energy assets as the central pillar of its sustainable development strategy.
The country's focus on renewables aims not only to reduce Morocco's dependence on imports but also position the country as a regional leader in Africa's green energy transition.
On Wednesday, a government council chaired by King Mohammed VI appointed Zouahir Chorfi as head of the National Electricity Regulatory Authority.
Chorfi's career started with his duties as a financial inspector at the General Inspectorate of Finance, before being appointed as head of the financial incentives services.
He also served as the head of the Monetary Studies and Banking Regulation Services.
Chorfi was also the Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance in 2017, and has been a board member for the Board of Bank Al Maghrib.
During the council, the King instructed the government to review the regulatory institution and transform it into the National Energy Regulatory Authority instead.
The goal is to expand its scope to cover all sectors of the energy field. This includes natural gas, and new energies such as hydrogen and its derivatives. The body would also oversee their production, storage, transport, and distribution.
A source told Morocco World News (MWN) that the move aims to 'align with the maturity level the energy sector has reached in our country and comply with the best international practices in the field,' adding that these reforms would transform Morocco as a crucial player and model in the energy transition.
Several reports document the advanced phases Morocco's energy sector has reached in recent years.
According to the Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI), Morocco is a leader in the field — particularly in Africa.
'Morocco is forecast to bring more than 1 GW of renewables capacity online every year between 2023 and 2027, while the $20 billion Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project interconnector is on track for commissioning during 2030,' the RECAI said in its report.
Morocco has been integrated in key projects as part of its commitment to continue boosting its global sustainable development goals.
One of the major initiatives, as noted by the RECAI, is the Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project, which will be a new electricity generation facility powered by solar and wind energy companies with a battery storage facility.
The Moroccan facility will be connected to the UK via 4,000 kilometer subsea cables.
The project's objective is to generate 11.5GW of zero carbon electricity from the sun and wind to deliver 3.6GW of reliable energy for an average of 19 hours a day.
'This is enough to provide affordable, clean power to the equivalent of over 7 million British homes and once complete, the project will be capable of supplying 8 percent of Great Britain's electricity needs,' Xlinks said in a statement.
Morocco's goal is to be able to produce 52% of its energy through clean renewable sources by 2030.
Many reports and experts believe this goal is achievable as the country continues to host ground-breaking projects contributing to its renewable assets.
Morocco is home to the Noor Ouarzazate Complex, which produces a capacity of 510 MW.
'The entire complex is planned to produce up to 582 MW, with an estimated project cost of around $2.5 billion,' according to Ouarzazate.city.
In 2019, CNN reported the project produces enough electricity to power a city the size of Prague, or twice the size of Marrakech.
Morocco's potential is also attracting foreign investors, as the country is seen as the only energy and commercial corridor connecting Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic basin.
As of this year, an impressive 45% of Morocco's electricity is derived from renewable sources. The North African country is also on track to exceed its initial 2030 forecasts, revising its renewable energy target to 56% by 2027.
The goal is supported by several projects and initiatives. These initiatives allowed for the country to reach a renewable capacity of 4,600 MW by the end of 2023, with an additional 3,000 MW to be expected by 2030.
King Mohammed VI has frequently stated the importance of renewable energies and their contribution to the country's energy development.
Notably, the monarch has recalled the OCP Group's Green Investment Program as a vital part of the country's renewable energy development plan.
'I invite the government to speed up the implementation of this project, to make sure the requirements of quality are observed, to leverage our country's significant potential in this regard, and to meet the expectations of leading global investors in this promising field,' the monarch said in July of 2023.
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