Morocco Expands Seawater Desalination to Boost Agricultural Irrigation

In response to an oral question in the House of Representatives on "seawater desalination programs for the agricultural sector", Minister Saddiki presented the actions taken by his department in this field, recalling the construction, on an area of 15,000 hectares, of the first seawater desalination plant in the Souss-Massa-Drâa region in Chtouka, and the supply of drinking water to the city of Agadir at a cost of 4.4 billion dirhams, including 1.585 billion dirhams from the State.

The head of the Department of Agriculture also recalled the ongoing construction in the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region of a seawater desalination plant powered by wind energy, intended to irrigate a new 5,200-hectare perimeter and provide drinking water to the city of Dakhla and its surroundings. At a cost of 2.5 billion dirhams, including 1.53 billion dirhams from the State, this plant will be commissioned in June 2025.

Mohamed Saddiki also announced that his ministry has launched feasibility studies for seawater desalination irrigation projects in certain regions. Specifically, it is planned to build, on an area of 5,000 hectares, an agricultural basin and a desalination plant with a capacity of 47 million cubic meters per year in the Chbika region in the province of Tan-Tan. The cost of the project is estimated at 2.2 billion dirhams.

The minister also announced the creation of new desalination plants in the eastern regions, namely Taroudant, Tiznit, Guelmim, Boujdour, Essaouira/Chichaoua and El Oualidia, on a total area of 100,000 hectares.