The construction site of the future desalination plant in Casablanca has reached a crucial milestone with the finalization of its financial setup. The Al Baidaa Desalination Company (ADEC), responsible for the project, announced the closure of financing amounting to 5.2 billion dirhams, structured as project finance, a model favored for large-scale infrastructures.
**An Internationally Dimensioned Financial Setup**
The financing brings together leading partners. The core of the arrangement relies on a contribution of over 3.2 billion dirhams (320 million euros) from the Spanish Fund for the Internationalization of Companies (FIEM) and Société Générale France, the latter benefiting from a guarantee from the Spanish agency CESCE (Crédito y Caución for exports). The remainder is provided by a trio of Moroccan banks composed of Attijariwafa Bank, Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP), and Bank of Africa, totaling 1.8 billion dirhams.
This mobilization of mixed financing, both public and private, local and foreign, reflects the economic strength of the project and the confidence of institutions in its long-term viability.
**A Mega-Station with African Ambitions**
With a planned capacity of 300 million cubic meters per year, the Casablanca station will become the largest in Africa and one of the most significant globally. It will annually provide 250 million m³ of drinking water to over 7.5 million people in the regions of Casablanca, Settat, and Berrechid. The remaining 50 million m³ will be dedicated to irrigation, particularly in the agricultural area of Sidi Rahhal, providing a concrete response to the challenges of water stress in the country.
**A Green and Resilient Infrastructure**
The plant will be powered by green energy thanks to a 360 MW wind farm under construction in Bir Anzarane (Dakhla-Oued Eddahab), developed by Green of Africa Dakhla. This reliance on renewable energies aligns with Morocco’s energy transition strategy and aims to ensure sustainable operation while reducing long-term costs.
**A Structuring Hispano-Moroccan Partnership**
The consortium responsible for the design, construction, and operation includes the Spanish company Acciona Agua and Green of Africa, a Moroccan joint venture founded by Akwa Group and O Capital Group. Located on a 50-hectare site 40 km south of Casablanca, the station will be commissioned in two phases: at the end of 2026 for the first phase (200 million m³/year), and then in 2028 for the expansion to 300 million.
Construction, which began on April 1, 2024, with the shareholders’ own funds from ADEC, is progressing according to the planned schedule. The project is designed for operation over 30 years within a public-private partnership with the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), ensuring both technical performance and sustainable governance.
