During the XIIIth high-level meeting between Morocco and Spain, held on December 4, 2025, the Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leïla Benali, emphasized the strategic importance of energy relations between the two shores of the Strait. Speaking before the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations in Madrid, she stated that Rabat collaborates with “friendly and neighboring partners aware of shared regional responsibility” and that the two governments have been consulting regularly since 2021, both formally and informally, to enhance electrical connectivity.
The minister reminded attendees that the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline, which was shut down in 2021 after several months of inactivity, has been reactivated in the opposite direction, allowing Morocco to establish, for the first time, a bidirectional trade in electricity and gas with Spain. This reciprocal flow is part of a national strategy aimed at ensuring low-cost, low-carbon energy while supporting growth exceeding the usual annual rate of 3%. The share of renewables in national energy production, which was 42% in 2023, now stands at 45% and is expected to reach 52% by 2027.
The Morocco-Spain power grid relies on two underwater electrical lines with a total capacity of 1,400 MW, operating bidirectionally, with a third connection project underway to strengthen connectivity. During the major blackout in Spain on April 28, 2025, Morocco mobilized 38% of its national capacity to support the peninsula. This collaboration also opens the door to future exchanges on strategic metals and minerals.
The minister highlighted the growing global demand for critical materials such as lithium and cobalt, essential for electric technologies and clean vehicles. She stressed the importance of opening the African mining sector and consolidating trade corridors connecting Africa to Europe. Morocco serves as a key access point, being the only direct link between the two Mediterranean shores.
Finally, Leïla Benali referenced the Marrakech Declaration, an ESG framework aimed at ensuring sustainability and accountability for African mining projects, and reaffirmed Morocco’s ongoing commitment to green energy since 1991, while integrating technological advancements in storage, batteries, and electrical networks.