Strengthening Morocco's Water Resources Through Desalination
On August 8, 2026, Morocco's official gazette published decree number 2.26.547, which authorizes "OCP Green Water," a subsidiary of the Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP), to establish two new companies dedicated to seawater desalination and its transportation. This strategic initiative aims to bolster the nation's water management capabilities and enhance its industrial water supply.
The decree, effective for a period of one year from the publication date, entrusts its execution to the Minister of Economy and Finance. The underlying rationale, as outlined in the accompanying statement, is to ensure that OCP meets its industrial water needs through the development of innovative resources. The first company will cater to the central region (including Safi, Ben Guerir, Youssoufia, and Marrakech), while the second will focus on the northern region (covering Jorf Lasfar, El Jadida, Casablanca, and Khouribga).
This initiative is part of a broader contractual agreement with the state, designed to support Morocco’s water sovereignty by providing water for industrial use, drinking, and irrigation from the OCP's seawater desalination facilities. The primary objective is to secure industrial water supply for the OCP and ensure that local populations have access to potable water, while also establishing specialized companies with effective governance and financial transparency for the desalination and transportation activities.
Moreover, the project aims to augment the Kingdom's water self-sufficiency by providing a desalination capacity of 195 million cubic meters annually in the central region and 215 million cubic meters in the northern region. According to the statement, this approach is expected to enhance financing efficiency and leverage structured funding mechanisms, paving the way for strategic partnerships with public actors and private investors, ultimately contributing to the creation of an innovative and sustainable national water system. This system will facilitate the production and distribution of desalinated water to urban, industrial, and agricultural beneficiaries through modern infrastructure that incorporates renewable energy.
The decree bears the signature of Aziz Akhannouch, the Prime Minister, and was co-signed by Nadia Fettah, the Minister of Economy and Finance. It is noteworthy that the OCP Board of Directors previously approved this initiative during a meeting held on March 11, 2025, followed by the Board of Directors of OCP Green Water, which also sanctioned the initiative on February 11, 2026.
As reported by hespress.com.
