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Morocco World
22-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco to Double Power Capacity by 2030 Ahead of World Cup
Doha – Morocco plans to more than double its power generation capacity by 2030 when it co-hosts the FIFA World Cup. Energy Transition Minister Leila Benali announced the ambitious expansion during a chemical industry forum in Rabat on Wednesday. According to Bloomberg, renewable sources will make up 80% of the increase to 27 gigawatts from the current 12 gigawatts. The expansion will cost MAD 120 billion ($13 billion) through public and private investment. The North African country will host football's top tournament alongside Spain and Portugal. However, Morocco's limited fossil fuel reserves, coupled with mounting water challenges driven by climate change and recurring droughts, make early preparation essential. The largest private investment deal in Morocco's history The government signed agreements this week binding the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) to a consortium of financial titans: the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, TAQA Morocco (the local subsidiary of Abu Dhabi's energy colossus), and Nareva (the energy arm of the royal holding Al Mada). The historic megadeal represents the largest private investment in Morocco's modern history. The partnership includes a 1,400-kilometer high-voltage transmission corridor from Dakhla to Casablanca. Four seawater desalination facilities will be built with a combined annual capacity of 900 million cubic meters. The desalination plants will operate exclusively on renewable energy at a competitive pricing of MAD 4.5 per cubic meter or below. 'For the first time, industry operators have access to unlimited amount of energy at the most competitive prices,' Industry Minister Ryad Mezzour said. The UAE partnership projects will also create over 25,000 jobs, with 10,000 permanent positions after commissioning. The country targets contributing 4% of global green hydrogen production by 2030. Chakib El Alj, head of the main business lobby group CGEM, confirmed this projection. State-controlled OCP SA plans to produce 3 million tons of green ammonia in 2027. This would make it the world's largest producer of carbon-free fertilizer, according to manufacturing executive Ahmed Mahrou. Renewable energy at the forefront More than 2,000 megawatts of renewable energy projects have been authorized under the current government. These projects represent an investment of over MAD 19 billion ($1.9 billion) and have generated over 300 direct jobs plus thousands of indirect positions. The government is accelerating plans to harness the wind and solar energy potential. This includes projects in its southern provinces in the Western Sahara to boost water desalination capacity and attract foreign investment in the green economy. Morocco's energy efficiency approach aims for 20% energy savings by 2030. The strategy considers objectives within the country's sustainable development plan and targets transport, construction, industry, agriculture, and lighting sectors. Additionally, the country aims to generate 52% of its energy from clean renewable sources by 2030. Morocco has launched an initiative rewarding citizens who achieve energy savings, leading to 3% decrease in consumption. The government expects energy efficiency measures to create 100,000 jobs by 2030. Energy savings of 6.58% were recorded in 2020 alone. Morocco will invest MAD 30 billion ($3 billion) in upgrading its national electricity grid by 2030. This investment excludes an important 3-gigawatt power link connecting the southern and central regions. The government is allowing private sector participation in the electricity network when necessary. This marks the first time authorities opened the door to private grid investments. Over 9 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity will be added between 2023 and 2027, with an estimated investment of MAD 90 billion ($9 billion). The government aims to quadruple annual renewable energy investments. Current renewable energy capacity stands at 5.4 gigawatts, supplying nearly 20% of electricity demand. Morocco has invested in renewable energy for fifteen years, which now covers 38% of electricity needs. The Noor Ouarzazate complex produces around 580 megawatts and ranks among the world's largest concentrated solar power plants. These strategic efforts align with King Mohammed VI's directives to accelerate Morocco's energy transition. Read also: Portugal Turns to Morocco Power Link as France Blocks EU Grid Tags: 2030 World Cupleila benalirenewable energy
Morocco World
20-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco, UAE Sign $14 Billion Megadeal: Key Details on the Largest Private Investment in Morocco's History
Doha – The largest private investment in Morocco's modern history has just been inscribed in the country's economic annals. Yesterday, the country sealed an extraordinary $14 billion accord with the United Arab Emirates – an injection of unprecedented scale that promises to permanently alter the country's water and energy equation, while fundamentally reshaping its infrastructure landscape for generations to come. The ceremonial ink still fresh, the agreement binds Morocco's government and the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) with a consortium of financial titans: the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, TAQA Morocco (the local subsidiary of Abu Dhabi's energy colossus), and Nareva (the energy arm of the royal holding Al Mada). At MAD 130 billion ($14 billion), this collaboration transcends mere commercial arrangement – it heralds a profound reengineering of critical national infrastructure by 2030. Central to this ambitious blueprint stands a colossal 1,400-kilometer high-voltage transmission corridor stretching from Western Sahara to Casablanca, complemented by a network of sophisticated seawater desalination facilities. These projects emerge as the culmination of meticulous diplomatic chess moves, coming just five months after King Mohammed VI's private visit to Abu Dhabi and 18 months following his official state visit to the Emirati capital, where the groundwork for this Moroccan-Emirati renaissance was carefully laid. Water security: A thirst for innovation Desert kingdoms understand water's value. The consortium's hydric strategy unfolds with architectural precision: a vast network connecting the Sebou and Oum Rabia river basins, engineered to channel 800 million cubic meters annually across thirsty territories. The first phase of water transfer between the Sebou and Bouregreg basins became operational in August 2023, successfully diverting approximately 350 million cubic meters to the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah dam, critical for supplying drinking water to the Rabat region. Four jewels in this water crown will rise across Morocco's map. In Tanger, a 50-million-cubic-meter annual capacity station will quench the industrial thirst of this burgeoning port hub. Nador's installation, six times more ambitious at 300 million cubic meters, will transform the eastern region's hydric calculus. The agricultural heartland of Souss will benefit from Tiznit's 350-million-cubic-meter facility – the largest of the quartet. Completing this hydraulic network, either Tan-Tan or Guelmim will host a 100-million-cubic-meter operation to serve the arid southern frontier. These cutting-edge desalination facilities, engineered to operate exclusively on renewable energy, will collectively produce 900 million cubic meters annually. Notably, they will maintain competitive pricing at or below MAD 4.50 per cubic meter (excluding tax), aligning with national benchmark rates established for ongoing desalination initiatives – all without requiring public subsidies. The electric heartbeat: Energy sovereignty reimagined The consortium's energy infrastructure vision is anchored by a groundbreaking high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission network spanning 1,400 kilometers between Morocco's southern territories and its central economic hub. This sophisticated 'electricity highway' will connect Dakhla to Casablanca with a 3,000 megawatt capacity, dramatically strengthening energy distribution capabilities while catalyzing economic and industrial development throughout the corridor. This transmission masterpiece will be fed by 1,200 megawatts of fresh renewable capacity, predominantly harvested from the sun-drenched southern provinces. The geographic strategy is to harness the natural abundance of Morocco's desert regions, translate it into clean energy, and deliver it to industrial centers at competitive rates. Complementing these renewable ambitions, the Tahaddart complex will undergo a renaissance. This gas-fired installation will see its capacity quadrupled through new combined-cycle units, elevating total output to 1,500 megawatts. This expansion offers crucial ballast to a grid increasingly danced upon by the variable rhythms of wind energy. The human dividend, capital choreography, and implementation cadence Beyond pipes and pylons lies perhaps the most valuable yield: people. This grand design promises to spawn over 25,000 employment opportunities through construction and operation, with 10,000 permanent positions taking root after commissioning. The consortium envisions not merely infrastructure but ecosystem – a fertile soil where technology transfer blooms and local industrial expertise in desalination and renewable energy flourishes. From this terrain will grow new educational pathways and technical specializations, training the standard-bearers of Morocco's water and energy future. The financial architecture of this mammoth endeavor will be orchestrated by the consortium, drawing capital from domestic and international financial wellsprings. The urgency is palpable; the project's partners have pledged to assemble elite technical minds to ensure methodical implementation through 2030. As with all ventures of this magnitude, regulatory gauntlets must be run, particularly regarding concentration operations. Each project component will be governed by bespoke development agreements between ONEE and the consortium. The first such accord, focusing on Tahaddart's expansion, has already materialized. The architects of the alliance This historic partnership harmonizes complementary strengths. Nareva, Morocco's private electricity champion, brings 3,200 megawatts of installed capacity producing over 15 terawatt-hours annually. As Africa's wind energy pioneer, it operates eleven parks totaling 1,810 megawatts alongside the thermal goliath of Safi (1,386 megawatts). With extensive expertise in electrical transmission infrastructure (exceeding 300 kilometers of high-voltage lines) and advanced water engineering, Nareva currently leads the innovative Amensouss project and is constructing the world's first exclusively renewable-powered desalination facility in Dakhla. TAQA Morocco, publicly traded on the Casablanca Stock Exchange since 2013, delivers 34% of Morocco's national electricity requirements despite representing only 17% of installed capacity. With a strategic focus on desalination, renewable energy development, low-carbon solutions, and infrastructure networks, the company actively advances national energy transition objectives and water security initiatives. Its parent organization, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA), operates as a diversified energy and utilities powerhouse with operations spanning 25 countries worldwide. A diplomatic masterpiece These accords signal the diplomatic renaissance between Morocco and the Emirates after a period of relative ambiguity. They physically manifest the vision sketched during King Mohammed VI's December 2023 meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan – a blueprint for collaboration in strategically vital domains. This official visit established a 'renewed partnership' between the Maghreb and Gulf country with announcements of strengthened collaboration in strategic domains including energy and infrastructure development. The sovereign's subsequent private voyage proved equally fertile, brokering peace between telecommunications titans Maroc Telecom and Inwi, ending a decade-long legal skirmish and birthing a joint venture to develop 5G infrastructure for international events including the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup. For fifteen years, Morocco has methodically invested in renewable energy, which now covers 38% of its electricity needs, with aspirations to reach 52% by 2030. Simultaneously confronting chronic water scarcity, the kingdom has embraced desalination as salvation. This Emirati partnership accelerates both these vital transitions, binding two desert nations in a quest for resource security and sustainable prosperity. Tags: Morocco UAErenewable energyUAE Investmentwater security
Al-Ahram Weekly
20-05-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UAE-Morocco consortium sign $14 bln worth of energy, water deals - Energy
Morocco on Monday signed deals with an Emirati-Moroccan consortium for energy and water infrastructure projects, which according to one of the companies involved were worth more than $14 billion. The country and state-owned National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) signed three agreements with the Mohammed VI Public Investment Fund and energy groups Taqa Morocco, a subsidiary of the Emirati energy giant Taqa, and Nareva, the energy wing of the royal holding company Al Mada. These projects aim to "strengthen both water security and energy independence" in Morocco, the signatories said in a joint statement. The total investment amounts to nearly 130 billion dirhams (approximately $14 billion) by 2030, Taqa Morocco said in a separate statement. The signed agreements include the construction of a 1,400 kilometre (850 mile) high-voltage line transporting green electricity from the disputed territory of Western Sahara to Casablanca, as well as seawater desalination plants. Over the past 15 years, Morocco has invested heavily in renewable energy, which currently provides for 38 percent of its electricity needs and aims to reach 52 percent by 2030. Facing acute water stress, Morocco is relying on desalination to increase its water resources. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
20-05-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UAE-Morocco consortium sign $14 bn worth of energy, water deals - Energy
Morocco on Monday signed deals with an Emirati-Moroccan consortium for energy and water infrastructure projects, which according to one of the companies involved were worth more than $14 billion. The country and state-owned National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) signed three agreements with the Mohammed VI Public Investment Fund and energy groups Taqa Morocco, a subsidiary of the Emirati energy giant Taqa, and Nareva, the energy wing of the royal holding company Al Mada. These projects aim to "strengthen both water security and energy independence" in Morocco, the signatories said in a joint statement. The total investment amounts to nearly 130 billion dirhams (approximately $14 billion) by 2030, Taqa Morocco said in a separate statement. The signed agreements include the construction of a 1,400 kilometre (850 mile) high-voltage line transporting green electricity from the disputed territory of Western Sahara to Casablanca, as well as seawater desalination plants. Over the past 15 years, Morocco has invested heavily in renewable energy, which currently provides for 38 percent of its electricity needs and aims to reach 52 percent by 2030. Facing acute water stress, Morocco is relying on desalination to increase its water resources. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
19-05-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UAE-Morocco consortium sign $14 billion worth of energy, water deals - Energy
Morocco on Monday signed deals with an Emirati-Moroccan consortium for energy and water infrastructure projects, which according to one of the companies involved were worth more than $14 billion. The country and state-owned National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) signed three agreements with the Mohammed VI Public Investment Fund and energy groups Taqa Morocco, a subsidiary of the Emirati energy giant Taqa, and Nareva, the energy wing of the royal holding company Al Mada. These projects aim to "strengthen both water security and energy independence" in Morocco, the signatories said in a joint statement. The total investment amounts to nearly 130 billion dirhams (approximately $14 billion) by 2030, Taqa Morocco said in a separate statement. The signed agreements include the construction of a 1,400 kilometre (850 mile) high-voltage line transporting green electricity from the disputed territory of Western Sahara to Casablanca, as well as seawater desalination plants. Over the past 15 years, Morocco has invested heavily in renewable energy, which currently provides for 38 percent of its electricity needs and aims to reach 52 percent by 2030. Facing acute water stress, Morocco is relying on desalination to increase its water resources. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
