Morocco to produce 1.7 billion m3 of desalinated water by 2030- Minister

Morocco is planning to add 13 desalination plants before 2030,adding to existing 17 ones,with the aim to have a production capacity of 1.7 billion m3,water and equipment minister Nizar Baraka said.

Desalination together with dams and waterways are all projects launched by Morocco under a $12 bln program to ensure steady water supply and mitigate the impact of drought on farming.

The desalination plants will be powered by renewable energies to further reduce prices from 4.5 dirhams,down to 4.3 dirhams,benefiting both drinking water and irrigation,Baraka told a conference organized by Medias24.

He said a power link stretching over 1400 kilometers will transmit renewable energy from the southern provinces to power the new desalination plants.

Currently,Morocco has four plants under construction,including Casablanca’s plant scheduled to switch on in 2026,while 9 others are programmed.

Baraka also highlighted the need for inter-region solidarity which is taking shape through the water transfers from water-rich basins to drought-stricken dams.

Thanks to an existing water way between the northwest and a dam supplying Rabat and Casablanca,around 11 million people had steady access to water during the recent drought.

That waterway will be extended to supply Doukala and Tadla where the main dams have halted irrigation to meet the water needs of households in urban centers.

That waterway was among the projects signed by Taqa Morocco- a subsidiary of the UAE’s TAQA- energy company Nareva,water utility ONEE and the Mohammed VI Investment Fund.

Morocco currently has 154 big dams and is stepping up construction of others as it seeks to take advantage of torrential rains,exacerbated by climate change,to store water for dry seasons,Baraka said.