Strategic Discussions on Rabat's Desalination Plant
The French multinational company Veolia and Morocco's Ministry of the Interior have resumed discussions regarding a crucial strategic project aimed at establishing a desalination plant in Rabat, which is projected to have an annual capacity of 300 million cubic meters of water. This initiative, which has garnered support from the French government, has returned to the forefront of negotiations after a prolonged period of stagnation, as reported by Africa Intelligence.
According to the French media outlet, the plant is expected to produce approximately 822,000 cubic meters of potable water each day, leveraging renewable energy sources. The ongoing negotiations are primarily focused on determining the cost of desalinated water, with both parties striving to agree on a target price of 4.5 dirhams per cubic meter.
After several months of inactivity, dialogues between Rabat and Paris are gradually being rekindled concerning the construction of this facility in Morocco's capital. The negotiations faced delays not due to a unilateral decision but rather because of financial discrepancies and climatic factors that hampered progress.
A memorandum of understanding was previously signed in October 2024 during President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Morocco, marking a significant step towards the construction of the desalination plant.
Project Details and Future Implications
Strategically positioned along the Atlantic coast near Rabat, the project will be developed under a public-private partnership model. Veolia will be responsible for the design, financing, construction, and operation of the plant for a duration of 35 years. With the capacity to produce 822,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily, or 300 million cubic meters annually, this facility is set to cater to the water needs of approximately 9.3 million residents across the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Fès-Meknès regions.
These developments come in the wake of a recent meeting in Rabat involving the High Joint Commission of Morocco and France, co-chaired by French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch. Concurrently, the Moroccan desalination market continues to attract significant interest from major international players, with two Spanish groups, Acciona and Cox, competing to develop a future desalination plant in Tangier, expected to be operational by 2028-2029 and set to produce 150 million cubic meters of water per year.
As reported by yabiladi.com.
