On Thursday, July 16, 2026, the Moroccan Coalition for Climate and Sustainable Development, in partnership with the International Energy Fund (PIE), organized the first regional meeting on offshore wind energy in the Marrakech-Safi region. This important event is part of Morocco's ongoing commitment to energy transition and aims to enhance public dialogue on renewable energies.
The meeting was marked by significant organizational success, quality of participation, rich discussions, and substantial outcomes. It serves as the inaugural regional gathering held by the coalition on this topic, with plans for subsequent workshops in various coastal cities and a national workshop addressing related issues.
During the opening remarks, Abdel Aziz Jenati, the president of the Moroccan Coalition for Climate and Sustainable Development, emphasized that this meeting is a continuation of the coalition's program aimed at supporting national initiatives linked to energy transition. He highlighted the significance of this gathering as the first regional meeting following the national event in Tangier and a series of training sessions for various stakeholders. The objective of this meeting is to enhance scientific and technical knowledge in this promising field, mobilize diverse participants, and facilitate responsible discussions about investment opportunities and challenges in developing offshore wind energy. This aligns with the coalition's principles of participatory dialogue, openness, scientific advocacy, and contributing to the formulation of sustainable public policies, in line with its vision and strategy to support Morocco's energy transition and sustainable development.
Khadija Bouharashi, the vice president of the Marrakech municipal council, also addressed the audience, highlighting the growing awareness among local stakeholders about the importance of investing in energy transition projects as a strategic option for achieving sustainable territorial development and enhancing the attractiveness of areas for green investments. She urged for the integration of energy transition programs and projects into local development documents and plans, which is essential to align with Morocco's national commitments to combat climate change and achieve sustainable development goals.
Hana El Ghafari, a representative from the Ikigou Consulting Office, stressed the importance of scientific and technical studies in supporting offshore wind energy projects. She pointed out that the success of this strategic initiative requires a scientific and participatory approach that considers technical, environmental, economic, and social dimensions, ensuring the development of sustainable projects that meet international standards and align with national aspirations for energy transition.
The meeting saw substantial participation from representatives of various governmental sectors, elected councils, experts, and researchers from different faculties under Cadi Ayyad University, as well as representatives from the General Confederation of Enterprises of Morocco in the Marrakech-Safi region, alongside civil society actors. The program featured a comprehensive scientific and technical presentation on offshore wind energy, showcasing key developments in this sector globally and the opportunities it presents as one of the key avenues for diversifying Morocco's energy mix and enhancing energy sovereignty. It also highlighted the natural and strategic potentials that position Morocco as a leading country in offshore wind energy production, given its abundant natural resources, infrastructure, and pioneering experience in renewable energies.
Furthermore, the circumstances behind the selection of Essaouira city to host the first national offshore wind energy project were clarified. Following this, a discussion was opened, reiterating the importance of adopting a participatory approach to ensure the success of offshore wind energy projects while considering environmental, social, and economic dimensions, achieving a balance between development needs and natural resource protection.
In conclusion, participants in the meeting reached several important recommendations, including the necessity of leveraging national political will to diversify energy sources by adopting offshore wind energy, establishing specialized university pathways, and vocational training programs related to this field. They also called on elected councils to integrate energy transition considerations into planning documents and local development programs.
As reported by nichanealane.ma.
