The recent fundraising of 6 billion dirhams (MMDH) by OCP Green Water (OGW), structured and placed by CDG Capital, aims to strengthen national water resilience, said Ahmed Znibar, the general director of this subsidiary of the OCP group dedicated to the production of unconventional water, on Tuesday in Meknès.
Speaking during a panel held under the theme “Desalination of seawater: an essential lever to strengthen the resilience of irrigated agriculture,” on the sidelines of the 17th International Agricultural Show in Morocco (SIAM), Mr. Znibar emphasized that this fundraising gives a decisive boost to the development of infrastructure, highlighting an ambitious program aimed at achieving an annual production of 600 million m³ of desalinated water within four years.
He continued: “This technical and logistical challenge addresses the urgency of securing water supply for agriculture and industry.”
For her part, the director of the Development division at CDG Capital, Meryem Laraichi, detailed the economic model of desalination projects, based on public-private partnerships with a massive reliance on debt (70% to 80%).
“The securing of purchase contracts at guaranteed price and volume reduces commercial risks,” she explained, adding that mature technologies and recognized operators reassure investors.
Ms. Laraichi also indicated that the local financial market, which helps avoid exchange rate risks, plays a key role in mobilizing long-term savings, noting that securitization allows for diversifying funding sources, while low rates enhance the attractiveness of these strategic projects.
For his part, the director of the Regional Office for Agricultural Development of Souss Massa (ORMVASM), Nouredine Kessa, illustrated the water challenges through a desalination project in Souss-Massa, with a capacity of 80 million m³/year.
“This project is vital for intensive agriculture, particularly greenhouse crops,” he said, recalling that the subscription reached 18,000 irrigated hectares.
Mr. Kessa recommended rigorous governance and a robust regulatory framework to reconcile economic development and sustainability. “This success demonstrates how solid financial structuring can address climate challenges while boosting the local economy.”
Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, SIAM 2025, which features the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from 70 countries, is initiated under the theme “Agriculture and the rural world: water at the heart of sustainable development.”
A true crossroads of agricultural policies, this show serves as a key moment to promote exchanges, consolidate international partnerships, and highlight concrete responses to the challenges facing the agricultural sector.
