Morocco’s industrial ambitions face a critical bottleneck as abundant renewable energy production outpaces the national grid’s transmission capacity,Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour warned Monday at the Industry Meeting Days in Casablanca.
Speaking before industrial leaders at the event’s seventh edition,Mezzour highlighted a paradox threatening Morocco’s competitive advantage: while the kingdom enjoys rare access to “abundant and cheap” renewable energy,transporting this power to industrial sites has become the primary obstacle to growth.
“It’s not energy production constraining industry,it’s the capacity to transport it where factories are located,” Mezzour explained,identifying transformers,cabling,and distribution infrastructure as unable to match industrial project pace. This disconnect could compromise development targets within reach.
The minister dismissed traditional concerns about the “three Fs”—financing,training,and land—declaring them adequately addressed by public policies. “Don’t talk to me about the three Fs anymore. Talk to me about E. Energy,” he stated,calling for massive investment in electrical networks through public-private partnerships involving ONEE and regional electricity companies.
Morocco celebrates producing one million vehicles annually and entering electric battery value chains,yet energy transmission determines future competitiveness. With automotive and aerospace industries projected to triple and quadruple volumes by 2030,inadequate energy distribution could impose physical limits on growth.
The warning comes as Morocco positions itself for accelerated industrial transition,leveraging royal vision,young talent,and competitive green energy. However,without urgent grid modernization,these advantages risk being neutralized by logistical constraints,potentially stalling the kingdom’s industrial ambitions at a crucial juncture.
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