Spain Invests Heavily in Moroccan Water Infrastructure
On May 20, 2026, the Spanish government officially announced a substantial financial commitment of approximately 340 million euros for the construction of a massive desalination plant in Casablanca, Morocco. This initiative, presented at an institutional ceremony attended by the Secretary of State for Trade, Amparo López Senovilla, is a significant endeavor awarded to a consortium led by the Spanish company Acciona. The financial backing for this project comes from three primary public support instruments: a 250 million euro loan from the Fund for the Internationalization of Business (FIEM), a credit insurance from CESCE that covers up to 80% of a 70 million euro segment, and a 31 million euro loan from the Fund for Investments Abroad (FIEX) managed by COFIDES. The planned facility is set to become Africa's largest desalination plant, with a capacity to produce 300 million cubic meters of water annually. It is part of a broader bilateral cooperation strategy aimed at strengthening institutional and economic ties while addressing the challenges posed by climate stress.
Domestic Water Management Under Scrutiny
However, this governmental enthusiasm for investing abroad sharply contrasts with the austerity measures being implemented within Spain. The central government is currently advocating for structural cuts to the vital Tajo-Segura water transfer system, which plays a crucial role in supplying water to the southeastern regions of Spain. This paradox has not gone unnoticed by the national agricultural sector, which is increasingly vocal about the implications of such policies. While the Ministry of Economy allocates significant public funds to enhance Morocco's water infrastructure—despite the country already developing its own extensive water networks—the provinces of Alicante, Murcia, and Almería are grappling with extreme water scarcity. Recent data released by the Ministry for Ecological Transition reveals a stark picture: reservoirs in Alicante are at 50.79% capacity, those in Murcia at 35.14%, and alarming figures show Almería's reservoirs plummeting to a mere 12.05%.
This dire situation has been exacerbated by the government's recent decisions to alter the operational rules governing the Tajo-Segura transfer system, including an increase in ecological flow requirements that effectively halved the amount of water that could be transferred to the southeastern regions. For local farmers, this move is not merely a technical adjustment but a direct threat to the survival of the Spanish agri-food sector. Miguel Barrachina, the Minister of Agriculture, Water, Livestock, and Fisheries of the Valencian Community, has vocally criticized this
As reported by eldebate.com.
