Weaknesses in governance, delays in initiatives, lack of synergies between public and private actors, and unmet objectives in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency… These are the main findings reported by the Court of Auditors on the National Energy Strategy 2009-2030 (SEN). Although progress has been made, particularly in opening up to the private sector and partially strengthening regulation, the ambitions for energy transition remain distant. The Court calls for urgent and structural reform to address the identified gaps and respond to the growing challenges of energy security and sustainability.
**Fragmented governance**
The Court of Auditors emphasizes that energy planning has primarily focused on the electricity sector, with the development of equipment plans related to the production and transportation of electrical energy. However, other crucial aspects, such as supply security, energy efficiency, and diversification of energy sources, have been neglected. “A holistic vision of energy planning is essential,” insists the Court.
Moreover, the governance bodies of public establishments and enterprises (EEP) in the energy sector meet irregularly. For example, the board of directors of the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) has only held five meetings between 2010 and 2023, compared to 28 required by law.
The contractualization between the State and the EEP also remains limited. Since the launch of the SEN, only ONEE has signed two program contracts with the State: the first for the period 2008-2011 and the second for 2014-2017.
**Progress and delays in regulation**
Since 2009, the electricity sector has gradually opened up to the private sector thanks to Law No. 13.09 on renewable energies. In 2016, regulation was strengthened by Law No. 48.15, which established the National Electricity Regulatory Authority. However, other sectors, such as gas and petroleum products, also require regulatory bodies to improve their competitiveness.
**Systematic delays**
The share of renewable energies in the electricity mix has increased from 32% in 2009 to 40% at the end of 2023, falling short of the 42% target set for 2020. This delay is attributed to the late completion of certain projects and the limited capacity of the electricity transmission network. Furthermore, the transfer of renewable energy projects from ONEE to MASEN, scheduled for September 2021, had still not been finalized by the end of September 2024.
**Untapped options**
The Court of Auditors also notes that strategic options such as nuclear electricity and biomass remain in their infancy. As for energy efficiency, none of the national strategies developed in 2014 and 2019 have been approved, thus hindering their implementation.
In the hydrocarbons sector, petroleum product reserves remain below the threshold of 60 days, reaching only 32 days for gas, 37 days for gasoline, and 31 days for butane gas in 2023. In terms of diversification, only one new entry point has been created since 2009, at the port of Tangier Med.
Finally, the natural gas sector suffers from a lack of a clear strategy. Despite several initiatives launched since 2011, none have succeeded.
With [L’Opinion](https://www.libe.ma/La-strategie-energetique-sur-la-sellette_a150113.html)