Latest news with #Tangier-Tetouan-AlHoceimaRegionalCouncil
Maroc
15 hours ago
- Business
- Maroc
Tangier-Tarifa: Zero-Emission Electric Maritime Link by 2027
The Spanish maritime company Baleària presented on Tuesday in Tangier a project for an electric, zero-emission maritime link between Tangier and Tarifa, operated by two high-speed electric ferries set to be launched in 2027. The presentation ceremony was attended by Morocco's Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, the Spanish Ambassador to Morocco, Enrique Ojeda, the President of the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras, the President of the Port of Tangier City, the Spanish Secretary-General for Air and Maritime Transport, and the President of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council. This public-private partnership project aims to establish a green maritime corridor between Europe and Africa, enabling a fully electric, CO2-free crossing between the two shores of the Strait. It includes the construction of two twin vessels in Spain and the installation of port infrastructure for electric charging in both Tangier and Tarifa. In a statement to MAP, Minister Kayouh stressed that strengthening the maritime fleet is part of a broader strategy to ensure smooth and sustainable mobility, particularly within the framework of the Marhaba Operation, conducted under the supervision of the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity. He noted that the ministry is supporting the operation by mobilizing around 29 vessels, offering a weekly capacity of 500,000 passengers and 130,000 vehicles across four Moroccan ports and twelve European ports. "The goal is to make as many vessels as possible available to meet rising demand and ensure optimal crossing conditions for Moroccans living abroad," he said. For his part, Baleària's CEO, Georges Bassoul, stated that each vessel will produce 16 MW of electric power via four electric thrusters powered by batteries with a capacity of 11,500 kWh, allowing the entire crossing to be completed using electric propulsion only, with zero emissions. In a detailed presentation of the project's technical aspects, Bassoul emphasized that these will be fully decarbonized crossings, meeting 2050 sustainability goals as early as 2027. MAP: 24 June 2025
Morocco World
07-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Tangier Joins Morocco's Tramway Cities Ahead of 2030 World Cup
Doha – Tangier is set to become Morocco's fourth city with a tramway system, following a MAD 8.4 billion ($840 million) project announced this month. The ambitious plan includes three lines spanning 25-30 kilometers, aimed at addressing FIFA's concerns about transportation infrastructure for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal. The project brings together multiple stakeholders, including the Tangier Municipality, Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, Northern Regions Development Agency, and the Ministry of Transport and Logistics. Alstom Transport Morocco, whose director Thi Mai Tran recently met with city officials, will oversee implementation. Financing will be split between international and domestic sources, with 65% coming from French public funds and the European Investment Bank, while Moroccan public funds will cover the remaining 35%. The undertaking is a continuation of the country's expansion of its tramway network. In September 2024, Casa Transports launched lines T3 and T4, adding 26.5 kilometers and 39 stations to the city's public transport system. The new lines operate from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with trains running every 10 minutes initially, planned to increase to 5-minute intervals. This transportation initiative is also part of broader preparations for the 2030 World Cup. After receiving low scores in FIFA's December 2024 evaluation report – 2.2 out of 5 for accommodation and 2.6 for transportation – Tangier has accelerated its infrastructure development. In January, Mayor Mounir Laymouri announced a MAD 1.124 billion ($112.4 million) investment in public transportation, including a high-quality urban bus transit line. Meanwhile, the city's airport is undergoing a major overhaul. A MAD 3.27 billion ($327 million) expansion project at Ibn Batouta Airport seeks to triple passenger capacity from 2 million to 7 million annually by June 2029. The revamp includes a new terminal, control tower, and aircraft parking areas across 199 hectares. For Tangier's tramway project, preliminary plans indicate one line will connect the offshore zone near the TGV station to Moghogha and Béni Makada. A second line will traverse the city along Boulevard Moulay Ismaïl, serving the Hassani district, sports city, Gzénaya industrial zones, and TFZ, while passing through Béni Makada, Souani, and the university area. The project, which residents have anticipated since 2014, is intended to address urban transport challenges in this growing city of 1.1 million inhabitants, while meeting FIFA's requirements for the 2030 World Cup infrastructure. Tags: 2030 World CupPublic TransportationTangierTramway
