At the MD Sahara Forum in Dakhla, Leïla Benali presented a major direction for Moroccan energy policy: transforming the Atlantic Sahara into a strategic connection point between West Africa and Europe. This vision is supported by a set of gas and electricity infrastructures that the Kingdom is preparing to deploy or enhance.
One of the pillars of this strategy is Morocco’s sovereign gas infrastructure. It includes the gas import terminal planned for Nador West Med, as well as gas pipelines intended to connect the North — notably Tangier, Kenitra, and Mohammedia — to the country’s industrial and electrical zones. This architecture will interconnect with the Africa-Atlantic pipeline, formerly known as Nigeria-Morocco, which the minister describes as an instrument for economic and social rapprochement between North and West Africa, well beyond its role in transportation.
Leïla Benali also highlighted the significance of electrical interconnection between Morocco and Mauritania. This link helps secure supply, facilitates electricity exchanges, and gradually organizes a structured regional market along the Atlantic axis. At the same time, Morocco continues to strengthen its connections with Spain, Portugal, and France, while planning North-South high-voltage lines, which further increase its transit capacity and role as an energy interface between the two continents.
The OTC (Origination, Transit, Certification) project, which is set to be officially announced soon, is also part of the frameworks being promoted. It aims to ensure that energy molecules, including those from renewable sources, circulate within a controlled, certified framework that respects sustainability principles.
The Southern provinces are playing an increasingly important role in this dynamic. They already host more than 1.5 GW of installed renewable power, stemming from investments exceeding 20 billion dirhams, and an equivalent capacity is expected to be added by 2030.
Through this combination of interconnections, gas projects, and investments in renewables, the minister envisions a Morocco that solidifies its position as an energy transit point between Africa and Europe, driven by connectivity and a sustainability-focused approach.