Morocco is planning a significant increase in its use of desalinated seawater as the country continues to struggle with prolonged drought and shrinking freshwater reserves. By 2030, authorities aim to meet about 60% of national drinking water needs through desalination, compared to the current level of around 25%, according to Water Minister Nizar Baraka.
The strategy comes after seven consecutive years of drought, which have lowered water levels in major dams, reduced rainfall, and depleted underground aquifers. These conditions have threatened not only household water supplies but also Morocco’s agricultural sector, which is a key source of employment and a major contributor to food exports to Europe and other regions.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Water Congress in Marrakech, Baraka said the country plans to produce 1.7 billion cubic metres of desalinated water each year by 2030. This output will come from a combination of new plants currently under construction and additional facilities that will be put out to tender starting next year.
One of the largest and most important projects is a new desalination plant planned near the city of Tiznit, about 615 kilometres south of the capital, Rabat. With an estimated investment of 10 billion dirhams (around $1 billion), the plant is expected to have a capacity of 350 million cubic metres annually. It will serve both major urban areas in the region and the surrounding farmlands, which are part of Morocco’s main agricultural hub.
Studies for the Tiznit project are currently underway, and the government expects to launch the tender process by mid-next year. In addition, new desalination plants are planned for the northern coastal cities of Nador and Tangier, as well as in Rabat, in partnership with the French company Veolia. Another facility is being considered in Tantan, where the government is also exploring the possibility of building a port for the export of green hydrogen and ammonia, as part of its wider renewable energy strategy.
At present, Morocco operates 17 desalination plants that together produce about 345 million cubic metres of water per year. Four more facilities are under construction, with a combined annual capacity of around 540 million cubic metres. These are expected to be completed by 2027 and will include a major new plant in Casablanca, the country’s largest and most densely populated city.
Baraka confirmed that all new desalination plants will be powered entirely by renewable energy, mainly from solar and wind sources. This is in line with Morocco’s broader push to reduce carbon emissions and limit the environmental impact of water treatment.
In addition to desalination, the government is testing other methods to conserve existing water supplies. Floating solar panels have already been installed on a dam near Tangier to reduce evaporation, which the minister said accounts for nearly 30% of surface water loss in the country. Plans are in place to extend this experiment to dams in southern and mountainous regions if the initial results remain positive.
With climate change expected to bring more frequent heatwaves and irregular rainfall, Moroccan authorities say such measures are essential to protect water security, support agriculture, and ensure long-term economic stability.
Source:Africa Publicity
