On Monday, Morocco formalized agreements with a consortium comprising Emirati and Moroccan firms for projects related to energy and water infrastructure, with reported investments exceeding $14 billion.
The Moroccan government, along with the state-operated National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), has inked three separate accords with the Mohammed VI Public Investment Fund and energy corporations Taqa Morocco—part of the Emirati conglomerate Taqa—and Nareva, the energy division of the royal enterprise Al Mada.
These initiatives are designed to enhance Morocco’s water security and bolster its energy autonomy, as highlighted in a collective announcement from the parties involved.
The overall financial commitment is projected to reach nearly 130 billion dirhams (around $14 billion) by the year 2030, as indicated by a statement from Taqa Morocco.
The agreements entail the development of a high-voltage transmission line spanning 1,400 kilometers (approximately 850 miles) that will facilitate the transfer of green energy from the contested Western Sahara region to Casablanca, along with the establishment of seawater desalination facilities.
In recent years, Morocco has made significant investments in renewable energy, which now fulfills 38 percent of the nation’s electricity requirements, with a target of increasing this figure to 52 percent by 2030.
Dancing with significant water scarcity, Morocco is turning to desalination technologies to augment its water supplies.