Morocco will double its green energy production in the Sahara ahead of the World Cup in 2030
Morocco plans to double its electricity production from green energy in the southern provinces by 2027 in response to growing demand and in the run-up to the 2030 World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
To this end, Bloomberg reports based on a source in the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Aziz Akhannouch's government will spend 21 billion dirhams (2.1 billion dollars) on new wind and solar capacity totalling 1.4 gigawatts.
The decision to reinforce these infrastructures in the Sahara comes after several countries, including France, Spain and the United States, recognised Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces, a region that is experiencing increased investment in various sectors, including energy and agriculture.
In the Sahara, green electricity production capacity currently stands at around 1.3 gigawatts, or almost a quarter of Morocco's total renewable energy capacity. The government also plans to build a 3 gigawatt cable connecting the region's renewable energy plants to the centre of the country.
Because of its great potential, Rabat wants to make the Sahara a hub for renewable energy. To this end, the Moroccan authorities are trying to attract foreign investment to the region. In this regard, France has already expressed its willingness to participate in the financing of a 3 gigawatt electricity cable linking the Moroccan city of Casablanca to the Western Saharan city of Dakhla.
Another country looking with great interest at the Western Sahara region is China. Several companies from the Asian giant have announced major projects in the area, such as the company HUAYOU, the leading manufacturer of electric battery components, which is studying an investment project valued at 200 billion dirhams ($20 billion) over a period of seven years.
Also last year, the Chinese-European group Gotion High-Tech, which specialises in electric mobility, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Moroccan government under the presidency of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch to set up a battery factory for electric vehicles.
