Morocco is finalising a feasibility study and financial and institutional structures for a new seawater desalination plant project, reports L’Economiste.
The plant will be located in Casablanca-Settat region, and will supply Casablanca.
Desalination plant projects are also reportedly in the pipeline for Al Hoceima, Chtouka, El Jadida, Essaouira, Laayoune, Safi, Saidia, and Tiznit-Sidi; as well as Abengoa’s up to 450,000 m3/d project in Agadir.
“With increasing demand and insufficient local resources, the only recourse to reduce the deficit in industrial or agriculture drinking water is desalination of seawater,” said secretary of state for water Charafate Afailal.
Morocco is currently implementing its Water Security Law and contractual framework, the water table contract, which sets out the rights, responsibilities and obligations of water users and other stakeholders. The aim is to avoid overexploitation of water resources.
A recent study showed that Morocco will need to desalinate 425 million m3 of water by 2030 to ensure supply.