The renewable energy project between Morocco and the United Kingdom is gaining momentum with the appointment of a new operational director. Ms. Harrison was an advisor to the British government.
Former UK government advisor Samantha Harrison has been appointed chief operating officer (COO) of Xlinks Limited, a renewable energy company working on a groundbreaking project to connect the UK and Morocco via a transmission system of electricity. In late September, the Advisory Committee on Corporate Appointments (ACOBA) reviewed Ms Harrison’s appointment and concluded there was minimal risk of conflict with her previous government roles.
Ms Harrison previously served as an expert advisor at the Department of Health and Social Care, as well as Acting Permanent Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at 10 Downing Street. The committee noted that she had no previous dealings with Xlinks or the energy sector during her time in government.
As COO, Ms. Harrison will be responsible for strategic human resources, security, culture, technology, digital data and government and stakeholder relations at Xlinks. She confirmed that she would have no direct contact with the government in the course of her duties, and that any such contact would be handled by another employee to avoid possible conflicts of interest.
Xlinks is leading the ambitious Morocco-UK energy project, which aims to supply renewable energy from Morocco to the UK using a 4,000 kilometer undersea cable. The project will generate electricity from solar and wind sources in Morocco, complemented by a large battery storage facility. Once completed, it is expected to provide 8% of Britain’s electricity needs, powering up to seven million homes.
The company has applied to the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to be designated as an Infrastructure Project of National Significance and to obtain a Contract for Difference to support the project. If the contract is approved, its value could be in the billions of dollars, potentially making it the largest power generation asset in the UK’s electricity supply system.
RT/SF/APA
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