Morocco Begins Exporting Electricity to Spain Amid Energy Transition

Since last December, four Spanish thermal power plants have suspended their production, the government of Pedro Sanchez having indeed launched an energy transition program. This suspension coincides with the start of production of the Safi thermal power plant. And so, Morocco and Spain have exchanged their roles: Exporter of electrical energy has become importer, and vice versa. Note that nine other thermal power plants are in the process of ceasing or slowing down production to have completely stopped all production by 2025. According to El Periodico de Energia: "Morocco has connected its Safi plant just after Spain decided to disconnect its facilities."

This decision to source from Morocco, according to the Spanish specialized media, is motivated by the economic aspect: "The price of Moroccan energy is competitive as it does not adhere to the European emissions trading system."

However, voices are being raised against this decision, mainly in the regions affected by the closures and slowdowns of the activities of the Spanish thermal power plants. But... not only. For example, for ABC, a newspaper close to the right: "Spain renounces to extract its coal and consume it for environmental reasons but buys the energy generated by this fuel, which is also polluting, in a power plant located 600 km south of the peninsula."

In any case, these decisions are official and decided, and Morocco has fully become an energy exporter to Spain.