Desalination: Morocco Accelerates Its Water Projects
Morocco is continuing its strategy to diversify its water resources through a broad seawater desalination program, seen as a key lever to meet the growing challenges of water stress.
According to the Ministry of Equipment and Water, the Kingdom already operates 17 desalination plants, with several ongoing and planned projects.
A National Network Already Operational and Expanding
To date, the 17 existing desalination plants provide a cumulative annual capacity of 410 million m³.
These infrastructures cover various regions of the Kingdom, with capacities tailored to the needs of drinking water, irrigation, and industry.
Ongoing Projects to Strengthen Water Supply
Four projects are currently underway, expected to add around 447 million m³ in additional capacity.
Among the major infrastructures in development:
- Casablanca: 300 million m³ for drinking water and irrigation
- Jorf Lasfar (expansion): enhanced capacities for industry and drinking water
- Safi (expansion): combined industrial and drinking water production
- Dakhla: 37 million m³ for irrigation and drinking water
Strategic Stations Distributed Across the Territory
Several existing stations already play an important role:
- Agadir: 100.4 million m³ for drinking water and irrigation
- Laâyoune: 19 million m³ for drinking water
- Al Hoceïma: 6.3 million m³
- Boujdour: 3.9 million m³
- Sidi Ifni: 3.15 million m³
- Tarfaya, Akhfenir, Guerguerat: small units tailored to local needs
An Ambitious Program of 11 Additional Projects
Morocco also plans to implement 11 new projects, including several strategic expansions:
- Souss-Massa: 350 million m³ (largest national plant)
- Rabat: 300 million m³ for drinking water
- Oriental: 300 million m³ mixed
- Tanger: 150 million m³ for drinking water
- Guelmim–Tan-Tan: 96.8 million m³ mixed
- Boujdour and Tarfaya: industrial and irrigation expansions
- Essaouira: 12.8 million m³ for drinking water
Capacity Expected to Exceed 1.7 Billion m³
The scaling up of desalination in Morocco aligns with a long-term vision.
The capacities are expected to evolve as follows:
- 2027: more than 1 billion m³/year
- 2028: 1.6 billion m³/year
- 2030: more than 1.7 billion m³/year
Desalination: A Pillar of Morocco’s Water Security
This strategy reinforces the central role of desalination in the national water policy.
It aims to:
- secure the supply of drinking water
- support irrigated agriculture
- aid industrial activities
- reduce dependency on natural resources
