Morocco to Acquire 7,000 Buses Ahead of 2030 World Cup Co-Hosting

During the inaugural conference of the Green Impact Summit dedicated to sustainable mobility by 2030, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, announced that Morocco is preparing to acquire 7,000 buses in anticipation of the upcoming major sporting events, including the 2030 World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal. In this regard, the Ministry of the Interior has recently launched the first tender for the acquisition of 1,317 buses, including 30 electric buses, the minister said.

The government’s ambition, he said, is to make half of the remaining fleet electric as part of Morocco’s transition to more environmentally friendly transportation. It is therefore a question of working towards a green transition in the field of sustainable mobility. The cost of electric buses is moreover the same as that of thermal engine buses, specified the minister, evoking the potential of Morocco in the electric vehicle sector. He also said that Morocco is ready to manufacture all the components of electric vehicles and that it will be one of the five countries in the world to manufacture electric vehicles from "mine to factory" thanks to the availability of cobalt and phosphate mines, which are mainly used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries.

"Focusing on electric vehicles and relying on the manufacture of chassis, engines and batteries will allow Morocco to triple its exports by 2030, which means doubling the added value and jobs," Mezzour is convinced.

Recently, Morocco presented a detailed plan to prepare for the hosting of major sporting events, including the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2025). The plan includes the renovation of existing stadiums and the construction of a new one, as well as the modernization of airports, particularly the Mohammed V airport in Casablanca. The plan addresses key areas such as human rights, climate action, energy transition, infrastructure, accommodation, football, mobility and security, said Fouzi Lekjaa, Deputy Minister of the Budget and also President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).