Facing a drought that has become structural, Morocco is ramping up the pace of its water projects. In front of Parliament, Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water, detailed the main levers of the national strategy: construction of hillside dams, a multiplication of desalination plants, and interconnection of basins. The goal is to ensure self-sufficiency in drinking water and sustainably secure agricultural needs.
The minister announced the gradual realization of 150 hillside dams aimed at enhancing irrigation and strengthening the resilience of rural areas. He also recalled that the desalination plants installed along the coast — Casablanca, Safi, Agadir, Laâyoune, among others — now play a key role in the water policy.
Before the parliamentarians, Nizar Baraka provided a precise overview: the Casablanca plant will supply El Jadida and its region, while the Safi plant will serve Marrakech, Benguerir, and Youssoufia. Ultimately, he believes the entire desalination system will guarantee national autonomy in drinking water.
A “Water Highway” to Connect the Basins
Another strategic pillar is the interconnection of hydraulic basins, a true backbone of the country’s water sovereignty. Following the commissioning of the “water highway” between Oued Sebou and the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah dam, a second major project is underway: the link between this dam and the Oum Er-Rbia basin.
Work is expected to start in early 2026, financed with support from the United Arab Emirates. This distribution network, which will progressively connect the North and South of the country, aims to pool resources and better distribute water between surplus and deficit regions.
Water at the Heart of the Rural World
The minister also emphasized the need to strengthen access to water in rural areas, often on the front lines of shortages. A program for renovating and modernizing pipelines is planned to improve distribution and reduce losses.
Through this set of projects, Morocco reaffirms its commitment to building national water sovereignty, based on innovation, territorial solidarity, and long-term planning, in line with the climatic challenges of the coming decades.
