The global giant in plant nutrition solutions and phosphate fertilizers is accelerating its seawater desalination projects to meet its growing industrial needs and supply drinking water to several cities.
Major international donors continue to place their trust in the OCP group in the development of water resources, which is at the heart of its “Water Program”, which is part of its $13 billion Green Investment Plan covering the period from 2023 to 2027.
After co-financing its solar projects, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a subsidiary of the World Bank, decided on September 13, 2024, to grant a loan of 100 million euros to the OCP group to finance a project aimed at addressing water shortages in Morocco and food insecurity in Africa. This involves a 219-kilometer pipeline and a pumping station to transport desalinated water from the existing desalination plants in Jorf Lasfar to the Group’s production sites in Khouribga.
Once completed, this pipeline will have a total annual capacity of 80 million cubic meters. It will provide OCP Group with a sustainable and reliable source of water in addition to releasing water for farmers, businesses and consumers in and around the city of Khouribga.
Another donor, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), has approved a loan of 2.2 billion dirhams (around €200 million) for the construction of two seawater desalination plants to cover the expansion needs of the Jorf Lasfar and Safi fertilizer plants and to provide drinking water to the cities of El Jadida and Safi. In addition, communities in the Oum Er Rbia basin will benefit from the fresh water previously allocated to OCP.
Green investment
The global plant nutrition and phosphate fertilizer giant is making a deeper commitment to sustainability to reduce pressure on available resources, especially after six consecutive years of drought in the country. As part of its $13 billion 2023-2027 green investment strategy, the Group aims to achieve a production capacity of 560 million cubic meters per year of desalinated water and 60 million cubic meters per year of treated wastewater.
This project has ensured the gradual supply of water to Safi since August 2023, and the full satisfaction of its needs from February 2024. By 2026, the volume of desalinated water at Safi should supply the entire Marrakech-Safi region with drinking water.
The Jorf Lasfar seawater desalination plant ensures the supply of drinking water needs for the city of El Jadida and surrounding areas. It aims to reach the milestone of producing 300 million cubic meters of drinking water by 2026. That’s not all. The southern area of Casablanca will also be supplied with desalinated drinking water. The supply of the economic capital will begin towards the end of this September, at a rate of 60 million cubic meters per year.
