Facing the water stress affecting the country, Morocco is intensifying the development of seawater desalination. The objective is clear: to produce 1.7 billion cubic meters of water per year by 2030 in order to secure the supply of drinking water, support agricultural irrigation, and meet growing industrial needs.
According to data reported by L’Economiste, the national program relies on a massive deployment of infrastructure along the coastline, combining large industrial stations and mobile units. This strategy is based on coordination between public and private actors, as well as the integration of modern technologies, particularly in the field of renewable energy.
Today, Morocco has 17 desalination stations already in operation, with an annual production capacity of approximately 350 million cubic meters. In addition to these facilities, several projects are underway or in the preparation phase.
In total, eleven new stations are planned in various regions of the country, including in the Oriental region, Tangier, Rabat, Essaouira, and Guelmim. An additional station is also in the works in the Souss-Massa region, with technical studies currently ongoing.
Meanwhile, extensions are planned for the stations in El Jadida and Safi, as part of a collaboration with the OCP Group, to enhance the supply of drinking water and meet industrial needs.
Several major projects structure this program. The future Casablanca station, expected to become the largest in Africa, is projected to reach a capacity of 300 million cubic meters per year. Nearly half of the construction work is already completed, and an initial production phase of 200 million cubic meters is expected to be operational by the end of the year.
In the south of the country, the Dakhla station shows a progress rate of about 78% and is expected to be commissioned by mid-year. The project also includes a wind farm intended to supply the installation with renewable energy.
These large projects are part of public-private partnerships, a model that allows for sharing investments and risks while mobilizing the technical expertise of the private sector.
Alongside the large infrastructures, Morocco is also deploying mobile desalination stations to enhance access to water in various regions. To date, 124 mobile units have already been installed, producing approximately 771 liters per second from seawater or brackish groundwater.
Further installations are being commissioned, with 77 new units capable of producing an additional 514 liters per second. Ultimately, the program aims for 244 mobile stations, with a total capacity of about 1,563 liters per second.
This extensive plan illustrates Morocco’s strategy to strengthen its water security sustainably in a context marked by the scarcity of natural resources and the growing pressure for water demand. By focusing on desalination, public-private partnerships, and the integration of renewable energy, the Kingdom seeks to build a more resilient water management model in response to climate challenges.