Rabat – The production of electrical energy at the national level reached 42.38 terawatt-hours at the end of 2023, representing an increase of 2.3% compared to 2022, stated the president of the National Electricity Regulatory Authority (ANRE), Zouhair Chorfi, on Wednesday in Rabat.
The quantitative development of the electricity sector experienced remarkable growth during 2023, Mr. Chorfi emphasized during the presentation of the Authority’s annual report for 2023 before the Commission on Infrastructure, Energy, Mines, and Environment in the House of Representatives.
He explained that this growth was mainly due to the increased use of renewable energy sources, noting that the total installed capacity reached 11.42 gigawatts by the end of 2023, an increase of 363 megawatts compared to 2022.
Regarding the demand for electrical energy, it recorded a 4% increase compared to 2022, amounting to 43.95 terawatt-hours, the president of ANRE reported, specifying that 96% of this demand was met by local production, which “reflects the sector’s ability to meet local market needs and to increasingly rely on national energy sources.”
As for electricity production from renewable sources, Mr. Chorfi indicated that it reached approximately 9,189 gigawatt-hours in 2023, equivalent to 21.7% of the total national electricity production, noting that this figure represents a significant increase of 22.7% compared to 2022.
Returning to the indicators related to renewable electrical energy, primarily composed of wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, he revealed that wind energy leads with an installed capacity of 2,017 megawatts in 2023, an increase of about 30% compared to 2022.
Moreover, Mr. Chorfi noted that the Authority’s Council set the tariff for the use of the national electricity network for transport at 6.39 cents per kilowatt-hour and the system service tariff at 6.35 cents per kilowatt-hour, specifying that these two tariffs will be in effect from March 1, 2024, until the end of February 2027.
This pricing, he added, comes after “a thorough study of the data provided by the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), taking into account the strategic objectives of the energy policy defined by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, particularly regarding the increase in the share of renewable energies in the national energy mix.”
In this context, Mr. Chorfi stated that “ANRE has been preparing for a year to determine the pricing for the use of national medium-voltage distribution networks, as well as the pricing for surplus electricity produced from renewable sources.”
He clarified that “ANRE is tirelessly working, in consultation with all stakeholders, to set these two tariffs in the coming weeks, in order to enhance the attractiveness of the distribution network market for investments in the renewable energy sector.”
Mr. Chorfi also emphasized that the Authority had contributed to the development of the Code of Good Conduct for the national electricity transport network manager, noting that “the application of this Code will provide investors in the sector with a clear vision of the governance of the manager and will guarantee all network users protection against the risks of discriminatory practices related to access to the national transport network and electrical interconnections.”
Furthermore, he affirmed that “ANRE is fully mobilized to fulfill its regulatory functions in all areas of energy that will be entrusted to it under the legislative reform initiated by His Majesty the King.”
“ANRE is fully prepared to actively contribute to this reform, drawing inspiration from the best international practices, while considering the specificities of the national energy sector,” he continued.
In this regard, Mr. Chorfi highlighted the major objectives of the national energy strategy, initiated in accordance with the Royal High Directions, which have allowed Morocco to “chart an exemplary path towards a gradual and rational energy transition, based on renewable energies as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels, while leveraging its exceptional resources in solar and wind energy.”
The Kingdom is now a pioneering global model in clean energy and sustainable development, concluded the president of ANRE, explaining that this orientation aims to “ensure energy independence and honor the Kingdom’s international commitments in combating the causes of climate change, as well as to reduce or eliminate the carbon footprint of the Moroccan economy.”