Authorized in 2021 by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the Jerada solar power plant has yet to materialize. This project, crucial for the region, seems indefinitely postponed without official explanation.
The Jerada solar power plant, with a planned capacity of 10 MWc, is being developed by Maroc Photovoltaïque, a subsidiary of MASEN, the renewable energy giant. This project is part of the Noor PV II program, which aims to install over 800 MW of solar capacity across several Moroccan provinces, including Laâyoune, Boujdour, Taroudant, Kelaa Sraghna, Khouribga, El Hajeb, Guercif, Sidi Bennour, and Jerada.
Despite the authorization obtained three years ago, no progress has been reported for this solar power plant in a city that is economically struggling. Six years ago, Jerada experienced a protest movement, after which the government committed to launching several structural projects to revitalize the local economy. However, the investment of nearly 100 million dirhams for the solar power plant remains to be realized.
The solar potential of the Oriental region remains largely untapped. To date, only the Ain Beni Mathar thermosolar power plant, with a capacity of 20 MWc, has been commissioned in 2010. Once completed, the Jerada solar power plant could provide a significant economic boost to this region by creating jobs and reducing the unemployment rate, which is among the highest in the country.
The lack of progress on this project raises questions and concerns among residents and observers, who hope for concrete actions to harness the solar potential of the region and energize the local economy.
With Challenge.ma