The 9th edition of the X-Maroc Conference, held on December 17, 2024 in Casablanca under the theme “Morocco’s energy future, challenges and opportunities”, was a great success. Through a rich program and exciting and pragmatic interventions, the Conference, organized by the X-Maroc Group (Moroccan Association of Former Students of the Ecole Polytechnique), kept all its promises.
« We were honored by the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, this conference is part of the High Directions of the Sovereign in favor of the national debate around the energy future of the country. We are proud of the quality of the debates and the renowned experts who contributed to the success of this conference.“, declared Mr. Jamal Eddine M’Hamdi, President of the X-Maroc Group.
The conference was marked by the presence and distinguished speeches of two ministers; Mr. Leila Benali Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development (during the opening session) and Mr. Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade (during the closing session), which demonstrates the importance of the conference and its theme.
Intensification of investments
For her opening speech, Ms. Leila Benali delivered an engaging speech, emphasizing the paradigm shift and the energy revolution underway since 2021. She called for an acceleration in the pace of investments in renewable energies in order to respond to the challenges of Morocco of tomorrow and consolidate the country’s positioning among the five “connector” countries in the world.
« The year 2024 saw an inflection point in the history of renewable energy in Morocco. We are in the process of changing regulations across the board to support change in the sector and encourage an investment shock. The energy transition that Morocco is experiencing must be inclusive, fair, competitive and clean. It must also and above all be social and economic », affirmed the minister to the audience of experts who came in large numbers to exchange and debate around the energy future of Morocco. Nearly 300 guests recognized in the field of energy attended this major event, from the public and private sectors and national and international institutions.
The conference was punctuated by fruitful interventions during three panels on current topics. Speakers at the first panel “Diversifying the energy mix, investments and partnerships” highlighted the importance of diversifying energy sources and the need to strengthen investments through public-private partnerships to accelerate the energy transition. . They also insisted on the crucial role of technological innovation as a driver of this energy revolution.
The second panel brought together representatives from several energy-intensive sectors such as rail, maritime, cement and steel. With the theme “Economic growth and energy transition”, the panel highlighted the need for Moroccan exporters to adapt to new European regulations and decarbonize their activities. The speakers thus demonstrated that the energy transition can constitute a real lever for stimulating economic growth and creating new jobs.
Acceleration of regulatory reforms
For their part, the speakers of the third panel “Evolution of the regulatory context and innovation” emphasized the need to adopt reinforced and coordinated regulations to fight climate change and promote the transition to a decarbonized economy.
The representative of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development also reassured the audience about the acceleration of regulatory reforms with the aim of supporting the investment dynamic in the sector.
Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Commerce, closed the 9th edition of the X-Morocco Conference in style. In his speech, as energizing as it was unifying, the minister launched an appeal to the members of the X-Maroc Group to take action and support this exceptional momentum that Morocco is experiencing. “ We are experiencing an exceptional moment. Climate change is, of course, a challenge, but represents an opportunity for Morocco. Thanks to its abundant renewable energy resources and its visionary strategy, Morocco today finds itself at the heart of the region’s energy security. », Underlined Minister Ryad Mezzour.
The 9th edition of the X-Morocco Conference undoubtedly marked an important step in the national dialogue around the energy transition. The X-Maroc Group reaffirms its commitment to supporting Morocco’s development dynamics and making its contribution, by soon publishing a white paper which will bring together the ideas, recommendations and proposals resulting from the discussions and reflections during this conference.
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