Morocco and Mauritania are set to sign an important memorandum of understanding this week, aimed at establishing an electricity connection between the two countries. This project should strengthen bilateral relations while contributing to strengthening cooperation in the energy field, particularly renewable energies.
The Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, announced this news on Tuesday, January 21, during her appearance before the Committee on Infrastructure, Energy, Mines, Environment and sustainable development in the House of Representatives. The text of the memorandum, which will be finalized during the visit of the Mauritanian Minister of Energy, scheduled for Thursday, January 23, provides for the establishment of an electrical connection project between Morocco and Mauritania. This aims to strengthen regional energy links and create a reliable electricity sharing infrastructure.
A strategic role for Morocco in electricity production
In this perspective, Morocco is pursuing its ambition to become an energy bridge between Africa and Europe. The Kingdom is actively developing electricity connection projects with several countries, such as Spain, Portugal, France and Germany. Minister Benali, in this sense, highlighted a flagship project, that of the establishment of a third electrical connection with Spain with a capacity of 700 megawatts, in addition to the increase in the capacity of the existing link from 900 MW to 1,550 MW.
In addition, Morocco is progressing in its energy connection projects with Portugal, with a 1,000 megawatt project. The signing of an agreement between the two countries in November 2022 during COP27 strengthened their collaboration in the field of electricity exchange, in particular via electricity from renewable energies.
-Strengthening investments in the national energy sector
To support these regional and international ambitions, Morocco has strengthened its investments in its electricity network. The annual budget allocated to the sector was multiplied by five, going from 1 billion dirhams (around 99 million dollars) to 5 billion dirhams (nearly 498 million dollars), the minister said. In addition, the Kingdom has opened the way for private companies to invest in high-voltage power projects, including a 3 gigawatt line linking southern to central Morocco.
With a view to 2030, Morocco is also planning a global investment of 30 billion dirhams ($2.9 billion) in its national network, with the aim of implementing 2,000 megawatts of renewable energy projects.
It should be noted that the 2023 report of the National Electricity Regulatory Authority, recently presented to the Infrastructure Committee of the House of Representatives, shows an increase in electricity demand of 4%, for reach 43.95 terawatt hours. This demand, underlines ANRE, was 96% satisfied by local production, thus demonstrating the progression of Morocco’s energy self-sufficiency.
