Electricity: Morocco’s Imports from Spain Surge by 45.7%

Morocco’s Electricity Imports from Spain Surge in September 2026

Morocco’s electricity imports from Spain saw a significant increase in September 2026. According to data from Spain’s grid operator, Red Eléctrica, the kingdom received 508.44 gigawatt-hours (GWh), compared to 348.93 GWh the previous year, marking a robust rise of 45.7%. This development comes amid a growing demand for electricity in Morocco, although national production has been experiencing more moderate growth.

In its monthly electricity bulletin published on October 19, Red Eléctrica noted that the exchanges between the two countries underscore the increasing significance of electrical interconnection in supplying the Moroccan market.

Morocco Amplifies Electricity Purchases from Spain

In September, the flow of electricity from Morocco to Spain, in contrast, saw a sharp decline. Deliveries from Morocco fell from 9.32 GWh in September 2025 to under 1 GWh a year later.

As a result, the net balance of exchanges stood at 507.44 GWh in favor of Morocco, up from 339.61 GWh in September 2025, reflecting an annual increase of 167.84 GWh. Compared to August 2026, when the balance was 502.12 GWh, the growth remains confined to approximately 1.1%.

In the first nine months of 2026, Morocco’s net electricity imports from Spain reached 3,611.19 GWh, rising from 2,683.33 GWh during the same period in 2025. This represents a 34.6% increase, equating to an additional 927.86 GWh.

These figures highlight the growing importance of cross-border exchanges in maintaining the electrical balance of the kingdom.

Spain: The Second Largest Destination for Moroccan Electricity Exports

Morocco also holds a significant position among the destinations for electricity exported from Spain. In September, the kingdom absorbed 19.2% of the 2,642.45 GWh exported by Spain across all its borders.

This places Morocco as the second-largest destination for Spanish electricity, following Portugal, which received 1,676.80 GWh, ahead of France with 432.14 GWh, and Andorra with 25.07 GWh.

This position aligns with a broader trend. According to Red Eléctrica’s annual report presented on March 11, 2026, Spain ended 2025 with an export surplus of 12,794 GWh. The Spanish peninsula’s electrical system had recorded a monthly export balance since November 2021, marking several consecutive years of surplus.

Growing Electricity Demand in Morocco

The rise in imports is happening within the context of increasing electricity demand in Morocco. According to the September 2026 economic report from the Directorate of Studies and Financial Forecasts (DEPF), under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the volume of electrical imports for the kingdom grew by 31.7% during the first seven months of 2026, following a 23.1% increase in the previous year.

At the same time, Moroccan electricity exports declined by 44.2% during this period.

Electricity consumption rose by 9.4% by the end of July 2026, while net energy used increased by 5.4%. National production, however, only advanced by 2.5%.

The performance of different production sources remains varied. Production by the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) decreased by 2.6%, while renewable installations under Law 13-09 recorded a 19.8% increase. Private production, on the other hand, grew by 1.1%.

Electricity imports had surged by 63.5% in the first quarter of 2026 before slowing to 34.6% for the entire first half, according to previous DEPF updates.

These developments illustrate the challenges the Moroccan electrical system faces in keeping pace with rising demand while developing national production capacities.

Seven Undersea Cables Connect Morocco and Spain

Electricity exchanges between the two countries rely on an underwater interconnection that crosses the Strait of Gibraltar. This connects the Tarifa station on the Spanish side to the Fardioua station in northern Morocco.

The infrastructure is jointly owned by Red Eléctrica and ONEE and consists of two 400-kilovolt lines, which were commissioned in 1997 and 2006, respectively. It comprises seven undersea cables: three for each line and one reserve cable common to both circuits.

In its commercial capacity forecast for October, Red Eléctrica reports a capacity of 900 megawatts (MW) from Spain to Morocco and 600 MW from Morocco to Spain. The technical capacity is noted as 700 MW per line.

This interconnection is a strategic component of energy exchanges between the two shores, allowing for two-way electricity transfers based on the needs of the interconnected systems.

A Third Electrical Link is on the Horizon

Strengthening exchanges between Morocco and Spain also involves plans for a third interconnection. In February 2019, during King Felipe VI’s state visit to Morocco, Rabat and Madrid signed a memorandum of understanding assigning Red Eléctrica and ONEE to study this new link.

Its commissioning was anticipated before 2026. The studies by the Spanish operator outlined a 400-kilovolt alternating current structure with a technical capacity of 700 MW.

Once this connection is added to the existing facilities, the overall commercial capacity could reach 1,500 MW, accounting for an approximate 600 MW margin for operational security between the two electrical systems.

This investment was estimated at around 150 million euros, or approximately 1.65 billion dirhams, to be equally divided between both countries. Red Eléctrica also projected nearly 140 million euros in additional revenue for the Spanish electrical system, primarily from transport tolls and congestion rents.

Renewables at the Heart of Strategic Challenges

Beyond the increase in electricity exchanges, the proposed third link holds potential significance for the integration of renewable energies. According to Red Eléctrica, this infrastructure could facilitate the integration of renewable energy produced in Morocco, especially solar photovoltaic energy, into the European electrical system.

For Morocco, the challenge lies in reconciling the rising demand, the development of new national capacities, and the utilization of regional interconnections. The ramping up of renewable energies could support this strategy, provided that transportation infrastructures and balancing capacities keep pace with investment efforts.

Thus, the upward trend in imports from Spain reflects the growing role of this interconnection in Moroccan-Spanish energy exchanges. It also highlights the need to bolster national production and electrical infrastructure to sustainably meet Morocco’s needs.