In a strategic move to fortify its electricity network, Europe is turning its gaze towards Africa, with Portugal and Morocco reviving plans for a new cross-border power interconnector. This initiative follows a significant blackout that laid bare the vulnerabilities within the Iberian Peninsula’s energy infrastructure, which occurred last year.
Both nations have committed to jointly petition the European Commission to recognize the proposed electricity link as an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI). Achieving this designation could pave the way for European Union funding and attract private investments essential for the project’s realization.
If the proposal is accepted, it would not only enhance electricity cooperation between Europe and Africa but also bolster energy security across both sides of the Mediterranean. Furthermore, it would solidify Morocco’s role as a crucial partner in Europe’s clean energy landscape. Following discussions in Lisbon, Portugal’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, along with Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, announced their intentions to advance this vital project.
“We have decided to first engage with the European Commission to gauge its interest in categorizing this as an important European project,” Carvalho stated. This undertaking comes in the wake of a widespread blackout that affected Spain and Portugal in April 2025, disrupting vital services and exposing the isolation of the Iberian Peninsula from the broader European electricity grid.
Despite recent expansions in cross-border electricity connections, the Iberian Peninsula's international interconnection capacity remains alarmingly low, accounting for only about 3% of its installed electricity generation capacity—well below the European Union’s target of 15% by 2030. For Portugal, which currently depends on Spain for electricity imports and exports, establishing a direct link with Morocco would not only provide a new source of electricity during supply disruptions but would also enhance the resilience of its power system.
Officials from both countries have outlined a dual approach to pursue the project: they intend to seek support from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility while simultaneously assessing investor interest through a process involving electricity grid operators and utility companies. “We are keen on ensuring that our contributors and consumers are not overburdened,” Carvalho emphasized. Benali echoed this sentiment, highlighting their commitment to ensuring the project enhances energy affordability while fostering long-term cooperation between Europe and Africa.
At this juncture, it remains uncertain whether the proposed interconnector will consist of a new direct subsea cable linking Portugal and Morocco or if it will utilize existing infrastructure through Spain, which is already connected to Morocco via undersea electricity links across the Strait of Gibraltar.
This initiative underscores Morocco’s growing strategic importance in Europe’s energy transition. Notably, Morocco stands out as the only African nation physically connected to Europe’s continental electricity grid through two subsea interconnectors with Spain, boasting a combined transmission capacity of approximately 1,400 megawatts. Over the past decade, Morocco has made substantial investments in renewable energy, including large-scale solar and wind projects, positioning itself as a potential major exporter of clean electricity and green hydrogen to European markets.
Morocco's flagship Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex is among the largest concentrated solar power facilities globally, and the country has ambitious goals to derive more than half of its electricity generation capacity from renewable sources by 2030. Establishing a direct connection with Portugal would further enhance Morocco’s position as a vital conduit for African renewable energy resources into European electricity markets.
The proposed interconnector represents a broader European initiative aimed at bolstering energy resilience following recent disruptions while reducing reliance on singular supply routes. In recent months, Portugal and Spain have made strides in expanding their own cross-border electricity infrastructure, advocating for improved energy connections between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. Integrating another route through Morocco would diversify electricity flows, enhance grid flexibility, and support the incorporation of more renewable energy into Europe’s power framework.
For Morocco, this project would solidify its status as one of Africa’s leading energy exporters and strengthen its economic ties with the European Union, its most significant trading partner. As Europe accelerates its transition to cleaner energy, the prospect of closer electricity integration with North Africa is increasingly regarded not only as an infrastructural endeavor but also as a strategic investment in the continent’s long-term energy security.
As reported by africa.businessinsider.com.
