Significant Progress in Water Infrastructure Development
Morocco has significantly intensified the completion of its key water infrastructure projects, with the aim of finalizing them by 2025. According to the Ministry of Equipment and Water, the construction of at least 14 large dams has been accelerated, resulting in project timelines being shortened by six months to three years, depending on the specific initiative. These efforts are part of a comprehensive strategy designed to increase the country's overall storage capacity to approximately 20.8 billion cubic meters by the end of 2025.
One prominent example of this expedited approach is the Tamri Dam, located north of Agadir. With an investment of 2.7 billion dirhams, the project is reportedly nearing 90% completion, approximately 33 months ahead of the original schedule. Once operational, the dam is expected to provide around 63 million cubic meters of water annually for drinking purposes, agriculture, and flood protection. Similarly, the projects at Aït Ziat and Sidi Abbou have achieved a remarkable completion rate of 99%. In addition to securing water supply, these dams play a crucial role in energy generation, as Morocco is increasingly relying on hydropower alongside coal, wind, and solar energy. However, despite the availability of the infrastructure, it is essential to ensure that these dams are filled. This winter, the country has experienced an exceptional amount of rainfall, but it remains to be seen whether this will be sufficient to counteract years of deficits and droughts.
Diversifying Water Resources and Enhancing Resilience
In addition to traditional dam infrastructure, Rabat is actively promoting the diversification of water resources. By the end of 2025, the national capacity for seawater desalination is projected to exceed 350 million cubic meters. A flagship project is the wind-powered desalination plant in Casablanca, which aims for an annual capacity of 300 million cubic meters. Moreover, technological innovations such as floating solar panels on the Tanger-Med Dam are expected to reduce evaporation while simultaneously providing clean energy for pumping operations.
To limit the overexploitation of aquifers, the government has implemented specific usage contracts for regions like Al Haouz and Fès-Meknès. Concurrently, the Ministry is investing in flood protection: between 2021 and 2025, 33 projects aimed at securing rural and urban centers have been completed. Currently, 15 additional initiatives are underway, backed by a budget of approximately 685 million dirhams, further enhancing the hydrological resilience of the nation.
As reported by maghreb-post.de.
