51 billion dirhams and 50,000 jobs: Morocco’s incredible bet with Nador West Med

King Mohammed VI chaired a working meeting on Wednesday in Casablanca dedicated to the progress of this strategic project located 130 nautical miles from the Strait of Gibraltar. The Sovereign insisted on the rapid implementation of training programs to ensure the employability of young people and maximize the social impact in the northern provinces. This integrated complex, which combines a state-of-the-art port with a vast industrial zone, complements the momentum initiated by Tanger Med.

Out of the 51 billion dirhams of total investment, more than 13 billion have already been injected into the basic infrastructure. The first container terminal, with a capacity of 3.5 million units, will be operational this year, while a second terminal and infrastructure for bulk solids will follow in 2027. Ultimately, the site will be able to handle significant flows of various goods, consolidating Morocco’s position at the crossroads of trade between Europe, Africa and the Atlantic.

The energy component is a key part of the project with the installation of the country’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, with a capacity of 5 billion cubic meters. This infrastructure, coupled with a hydrocarbon terminal, is intended to secure national supply while supporting the decarbonization of maritime transport. Faithful to the objectives of sustainability, the complex will be powered by locally produced green electricity, wind and solar.

The socio-economic impact is expected to be massive with 14,000 direct jobs planned in the short term, a figure that should reach 50,000 by 2035. The private sector is already showing strong support with 20 billion dirhams of confirmed investments.