Morocco’s Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan inaugurated the construction of the Casablanca seawater desalination plant in Lamharza Essahel, El Jadida province.
The facility is poised to become a crucial asset in bolstering and safeguarding the water supply for the entire region, according to Tarik Hammane, Managing Director of the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE).
The plant is set to be one of the largest of its kind globally and the biggest in Africa, boasting an annual production capacity of 300 million cubic meters.
Hammane highlighted the plant’s significance during the project’s launch, underscoring its role in supplying water to Casablanca, Settat, Berrechid, and surrounding areas, including Bir Jdid and Had Soualem.
The construction will proceed in two phases. The first phase, expected to be operational by late 2026, aims for a production capacity of 200 million cubic meters per year. The second phase, scheduled for mid-2028, will increase this capacity to 300 million cubic meters annually, with 50 million cubic meters designated for agricultural use.
This desalination complex, based on the reverse osmosis process, will include an extensive drinking water transport network with three pumping stations, three storage reservoirs and around 130 kilometres of supply pipes. This infrastructure will require public funding estimated at 3 billion Moroccan dirham.
The innovative and modern plant will include two seawater intakes, an outfall, pressure filtration and microfiltration, sludge treatment and a fully automated control centre.
The project is being executed through a public-private partnership, integrating both national and international private entities for financing and development. Hammane emphasized the technical prowess of the plant, noting its incorporation of advanced desalination technologies and its reliance on renewable energy sources for operation.
“All the electricity required for the plant’s operation will come from non-polluting renewable energies,” Hammane stated, affirming the project’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Source :MAP, L’Agence Marocaine de Presse
