During the state visit of Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, to Morocco, Veolia and the Moroccan government formalized a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to create a strategic partnership.
This collaboration aims to exclusively develop a seawater desalination project that will be the largest in Africa and the second-largest globally, providing drinking water to areas in the Kingdom that are severely affected by drought.
The project, situated near Rabat along the Atlantic coast, will operate as a public-private partnership. Veolia will be responsible for the construction, financing, and operation of the desalination plant for 35 years.
With a daily capacity of 822,000 cubic meters, equating to 300 million cubic meters annually, it will cater to the water needs of nearly 9.3 million residents in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Fès-Meknès regions.
This initiative aligns with Morocco’s national energy strategy, initiated by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, designed to enhance water supply security and tackle climate change challenges.
As a leader in water technology, Veolia will apply its advanced desalination expertise to create a model facility focused on efficiency, innovation, and environmental sustainability. Its operational know-how will optimize plant performance by balancing investment and operational costs, ensuring competitive water pricing throughout the facility’s lifespan. The plant may be powered by low-carbon electricity, primarily sourced from renewables.
In light of climate change, which significantly impacts the Mediterranean region, this partnership is timely as Morocco faces unprecedented water scarcity. The nation is experiencing its most severe drought in four decades, with diminishing rainfall and historically low reservoir levels, jeopardizing agriculture, drinking water availability, and the broader economy. Seawater desalination is thus becoming a vital solution to these pressing issues.
Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, expressed: “With a longstanding partnership, we are excited and honored to embark on this new chapter with the Kingdom of Morocco and its citizens to address environmental and water-related challenges. We recognize the urgency of the situation and are proud to contribute to this significant project, which will enhance the country’s water resilience. We will leverage our international expertise and long-term regional presence to deliver a model project in terms of performance and sustainability.”
Source :Veolia
