Lhe Southern Provinces, once marked by an economy essentially focused on artisanal fishing and agriculture, are today the popular terrain for national and international investors in various fields, but mainly in that of green energy. With a budget increased to more than 80 billion dirhams, the New Development Model for the Southern Provinces has enabled the establishment of modern infrastructure and an attractive environment for those wishing to invest. Today, the Moroccan Sahara region is welcoming more and more innovative projects that aim to maximize its renewable energy potential. This area benefits from ideal geographical conditions for the development of wind and solar energy.
Projects like the Tarfaya wind farm, one of the largest in Africa, illustrate this ambition to develop these resources. Other large-scale solar sites, like those planned in Laâyoune and Boujdour, strengthen the region’s green energy production capacity. This infrastructure will not only meet Morocco’s energy needs, but also contribute to European decarbonization ambitions by exporting clean energy. This ambition was reinforced during the recent state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron who, through the French Development Agency (AFD), made the decision to invest in the Sahara. This resulted in the signing of six declarations of intent with the Moroccan government, representing an amount of more than 900 million euros over the next five years, in a co-investment logic.
Green hydrogen and ammonia
At the same time, large foreign multinationals have also set their sights on this territory favorable to the development of green hydrogen and ammonia, which promises to be a priority in this sustainable transformation. The major “Chbika” project led by TotalEnergies in Guelmim-Oued Noun is proof of this. A first in the country and Africa, it aims to provide 1 GW of onshore solar and wind capacity that will power the production of green hydrogen through the electrolysis of desalinated seawater. The objective is to produce 200,000 tonnes of green ammonia per year in a first phase, mainly for export to Europe.
This investment, which should ultimately reach $11 billion, positions Morocco as a key player in the production of green fuels. The Cherifian Phosphate Office (OCP) is also embarking on this path with large-scale projects in the Laâyoune region. By 2032, OCP aims to produce up to 3.2 million tonnes of green ammonia per year, with infrastructure including a hydrogen electrolyzer plant, a desalination station and solar production facilities. and wind turbine. This initiative is intended to make the country’s phosphate industry more sustainable, while strengthening its international competitiveness.
Dakhla, unexpected potential
The Dakhla region, in addition to its energy potential, focuses on the desalination of seawater to meet drinking water and irrigation needs. The contract awarded to Veolia for the construction of the second largest seawater desalination plant in the world in this region represents a pillar of this strategy. With a planned capacity of 300 million cubic meters of water per year, this infrastructure will meet both domestic and agricultural needs, while relying on clean energy to minimize its environmental footprint. In addition, the ongoing construction of the port of Dakhla Atlantic completes this energy and environmental strategy.
This port, which will become a key logistics center for African and European trade, will facilitate the export of renewable energy produced in the Moroccan Sahara. Its commissioning, scheduled for 2028, will strengthen Morocco’s economic integration with sub-Saharan Africa, while allowing increased distribution of green energy. These massive investments and these pioneering initiatives show that the Moroccan Sahara is not only a developing territory, but a lever for Morocco’s energy future and an essential partner for a greener world.
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