The Kingdom has set a controlled path for phasing out coal, dependent on sustainable financial and technological support, to accelerate its green transformation by 2040.
Morocco confirms its intention to end electricity production from coal by 2040. However, this early phase-out is conditional on solid international support. This direction, outlined in the new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 2035), reflects a renewed climate ambition aligned with the principles of the Paris Agreement.
According to the official document, the Kingdom “is committed to phasing out coal by 2040,” provided that it receives the necessary financial and technical support to close its thermal power plants sooner. If not, Rabat plans a gradual reduction in coal use during the 2040s.
The Minister of Energy Transition, Leila Benali, noted that Morocco “has stopped planning new coal plants,” a decision made in 2023 when the country joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance, an international coalition for phasing out coal.
In 2023, coal still accounted for 29.2% of the national energy supply and 62% of electricity production, according to the International Energy Agency. While this represents a significant yet declining share, the government aims to offset it through the massive deployment of renewable energies.
Morocco targets over 15 gigawatts of installed green capacity by 2030, tripling its capacity within ten years through solar, wind, and upgrades to the electrical grid. The new NDC also aims for a 53% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, with nearly one-third of this relying on international financing.
With an estimated need of $96 billion to finance this transition, the Kingdom sees international cooperation as a crucial lever to harmonize sustainability, competitiveness, and energy sovereignty.
