Veolia and Morocco's Collaborative Efforts on Water Desalination
The French multinational corporation Veolia, in collaboration with Morocco’s Interior Ministry, has resumed discussions regarding the construction of a significant desalination plant in Rabat. This plant is set to have an impressive annual water production capacity of 300 million cubic meters. After a prolonged hiatus that lasted several months, these negotiations have been revitalized, as recently reported by Africa Intelligence, highlighting the importance of this project not only for local infrastructure but also for the broader context of water resource management in the region.
The desalination plant is designed to produce 822,000 cubic meters of drinking water each day, utilizing renewable energy sources. Currently, the focal point of the ongoing negotiations concerns the pricing of the desalinated water, with both parties aiming to finalize a target price of 4.5 dirhams per cubic meter. This pivotal project underscores the growing dialogue between Rabat and Paris, as they work together to overcome previous financial disagreements and environmental considerations that had temporarily stalled progress.
A memorandum of understanding regarding this project was signed in October 2024 during President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to Morocco, marking a key milestone in the partnership between the two nations. Situated along the picturesque Atlantic coast near Rabat, this initiative will be executed through a public-private partnership model, with Veolia taking on the responsibility for the design, financing, construction, and operational management of the facility over a projected period of 35 years.
With its capacity to serve the water needs of approximately 9.3 million residents across the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Fez-Meknes regions, the desalination plant represents a critical step towards ensuring sustainable water supply amidst increasing demand. This development comes shortly after a meeting of the Morocco-France High Joint Commission, co-chaired by French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Morocco’s Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch.
Additionally, Morocco’s desalination market continues to attract significant interest from leading global firms. Notably, two Spanish companies, Acciona and Cox, are currently vying for the opportunity to construct a new desalination plant in Tangier, which is expected to become operational by 2028-2029, further solidifying Morocco's commitment to enhancing its water management strategies.
As reported by en.yabiladi.com.
