On Wednesday, January 15, Zineb El Adaoui, President of the Court of Auditors, spoke before the two Chambers of Parliament to highlight the imperative of a more coherent planning of the energy sector. Presenting the conclusions of the Court of Auditors’ report for the period 2023-2024, she emphasized the need for an integrated and diversified approach to strengthen the national energy strategy (SEN) 2009-2030.
While Morocco has made notable progress, ranking fourth in Africa and third in the Arab world for installed electricity production capacity from renewable energies, areas for improvement remain. Current planning is still too focused on electricity, neglecting key aspects such as supply security, energy efficiency, and diversification of energy sources, she specified.
El Adaoui also pointed out the low use of program contracts between the state and public institutions in the sector, a crucial lever for better governance. Since the launch of the strategy in 2009, only two contracts have been concluded with ONEE, respectively for the periods 2008-2011 and 2014-2017, a pace insufficient given the country’s ambitions.
To achieve the target of 52% renewable energies in the energy mix by 2030, the pace of project implementation must be accelerated. The lack of sufficient electrical transport capacity particularly hinders the authorization of certain projects led by the private sector, she explained.
Energy efficiency, although listed as a national priority, also struggles to materialize. The energy savings rate barely reaches 5.8%, far from the 20% expected by 2030. A lack of funding, delays in the implementation of law 47.09, and the absence of a suitable incentive framework hinder progress in this area.
As for the hydrocarbons sector, it faces significant challenges, particularly in reserve stock management. These remain below the regulatory threshold of 60 days, with observed storage levels in 2023 varying between 31 and 37 days for major petroleum products. Furthermore, the diversification of entry points remains limited, with the port of Tanger Med being the only significant addition since 2009.
In conclusion, El Adaoui stressed the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the energy strategy, taking into account local specificities and sustainable development imperatives, while strengthening coordination among the various stakeholders in the sector.