Marruecos vota un proyecto de 665 millones de dirhams para el suministro de agua potable en zonas rurales

Approved during the last ordinary session of the Regional Council of Tangier - Tetouan - Al Hoceima, this budget of 665 million dirhams aims to implement a series of projects aimed at promoting the supply of drinking water to the centres and douars - the equivalent of "small villages" - of the northern Moroccan region.

This tripartite financing involves, for the most part, the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, whose subsidies amount to 338 million dirhams, the General Directorate of Local Authorities, which will participate with a financial contribution of 116.3 million dirhams, as well as the Regional Council of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, with a budget of 110.8 million dirhams. 

In addition, the National Office of Water and Electricity (ONEE) will participate in the installation of some thirty individual connection centres in several provinces of the region, aimed at supplying drinking water to towns. Specifically, 12 centres will be installed in the province of Fahs-Anjra, 9 centres in the province of Chefchaouen, 3 centres in the province of Ouezzane, 3 centres in the province of Tetouan and 1 centre in the province of Larache, as well as one in the province of Tangier-Asilah. 

This project is part of the National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Programme (PNAEPI) 2020-2027, costing more than 11 million dollars, and aims to facilitate access to drinking water supply in rural areas over the period 2022-2024. Within this framework, 452.5 million dirhams will be allocated to equip 209 douars through ONEE's structuring projects. Another part of the budget, 123 million dirhams, will go towards equipping 217 douars with developed water points. 

The provisions of the partnership involving the three parties - the Ministry, the General Directorate and the Regional Council - also stress that "the purpose of this agreement is to define the modalities of financing and implementation of the 2022-2024 programme relating to drinking water supply projects for the centres and douars of the region". The Moroccan Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development is pursuing its ambition to improve and facilitate access to drinking water in rural areas, in addition to alleviating the problem of irrigation in the most water-stressed regions. 

Supervision of the works will be carried out on an interim basis by the Regional Agency for Project Implementation (AREP), before the regional multi-service distribution companies (SRM) take over.