A workshop presenting the state of energy consumption at the regional level was held on Friday in Tangier, as part of the national initiative to develop regional energy efficiency and decarbonization plans.
Jointly organized by the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE), the Regional Council of Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma, the Wilaya of the region, and the Andalusian Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AACID), this workshop brought together all relevant stakeholders at the regional level.
In line with a national dynamic to support territories in their energy and environmental transition, this workshop aims to present and discuss the state of energy consumption at the regional level, as well as the initial orientations of the regional energy efficiency and decarbonization plan currently under development.
The study undertaken allows for a precise diagnosis of energy consumption at the regional level, identifying dominant uses, sectoral trends, major consumers, as well as energy efficiency initiatives already implemented, particularly in the building and public lighting sectors, transport, industry, and agriculture.
It also highlights energy-saving potential and opportunities for improving energy performance, taking into account local specificities and regional priorities.
Speaking on this occasion, the Director of Strategy and Development at AMEE, Radouan Yessouf, emphasized that this workshop, the third held in the Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma region, is part of the development of the regional energy efficiency and decarbonization plan, noting that this meeting was dedicated to presenting the results of the analysis of energy consumption in the region, particularly in the sectors of industry, transport, building, public lighting, and agriculture.
Mr. Yessouf specified that an action plan will be formulated based on a diagnosis of sectoral energy consumption at the regional level, noting that this plan will propose a portfolio of projects to be implemented in the short and medium term, in line with regional development programs and plans.
He also mentioned that the Agency is preparing a national energy efficiency day, which will be dedicated to presenting the regional energy efficiency and decarbonization plans of all regions of the Kingdom, with a view to examining ways to finance and implement the actions and projects included in these plans.
For his part, the Director General of Services of the Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma Regional Council, Rabiah El Khamlichi, stated that the northern region, with its strategic positioning, dynamic economic fabric, and natural potential, is called to play a leading role in the national decarbonization effort and to be at the forefront of energy transformations, noting that the development of the regional energy efficiency and decarbonization plan reflects the Council’s commitment to placing the region on a path of sustainable and resilient development.
In this regard, he pointed out that this plan is fully integrated into the implementation of the 2022-2027 Regional Development Program, focused on energy transition, territorial sustainability, and economic attractiveness, in perfect alignment with the orientations of the New Development Model and the Kingdom’s commitments regarding energy transition and carbon neutrality by 2050.
“In continuation of the efforts made and the initial workshops organized, our ambition is to consolidate the momentum initiated, refine the understanding of territorial energy uses, identify levers for action, and lay the foundations for an operational action plan, adapted to the realities and priorities of our region,” he added, emphasizing that the current stage is an essential foundation for identifying targeted, effective, and realistic measures to improve the energy performance of the territory and significantly reduce its emissions.
“It is our collective responsibility to consolidate this plan, ensure its ownership by all stakeholders in the territory, and engage in its implementation through concrete and measurable projects,” he insisted.
For his part, the Maghreb Coordinator of AACID, Mostafa Louakfaoui Raoui, noted that this workshop is dedicated to presenting the results of the first phase of the regional energy efficiency and decarbonization plan, currently being developed as part of a project funded by the Junta de Andalucía, in partnership with AMEE, emphasizing that the Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma region holds particular importance for the regional government of Andalusia, with which it maintains fruitful partnerships.
According to a presentation made on this occasion regarding the analysis of energy data and the development of the overall and sectoral energy balance, the final energy consumption of the Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma region reached 1,852 kilotons of oil equivalent (ktep) in 2022, noting that projections estimate that energy consumption in the region by sector would rise from 1,994 to 2,748 ktep between 2023 and 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 4.7%.
It is worth noting that the adopted approach is participatory, involving all relevant regional stakeholders throughout the process. This approach aims to ensure a shared understanding of energy and environmental issues at the regional level and to strengthen adherence to the proposed solutions.
It also contributes to optimal management of the resources to be mobilized, directing efforts towards the most effective levers for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
This stage marks an essential milestone in the construction of an integrated regional strategy, aligned with Morocco’s commitments regarding energy efficiency and decarbonization.
It reflects the collective will to place energy transition at the heart of the development priorities of the Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma region.
Source: MAP