Morocco’s King Outlines New Water Security Strategy Amid Growing Demand

In his speech addressed to the Nation on Monday on the occasion of the Throne Feast, King Mohammed VI insisted on the continuous updating of the levers of the national water policy and the definition of a strategic objective, whatever the circumstances, to meet the growing water needs and constraints. This strategic objective consists of both guaranteeing drinking water to all citizens and covering at least 80% of irrigation needs throughout the national territory, specified the sovereign, adding that it is "essential to complete the dam construction program, giving priority to the projects planned in the regions with significant rainfall".

King Mohammed VI also relies on the acceleration of the realization of the major water transfer projects between the hydraulic basins, by ensuring the connection between the Oued Laou-Larache and Loukous basin and that of Oued Oum Er-Rbia, through the Oued Sebou and Bouregreg basins, but also on the acceleration of the realization of seawater desalination plants, according to the program set for this purpose to ensure the annual mobilization of more than 1.7 billion cubic meters. "By 2030, Morocco will thus be able to cover more than half of its drinking water needs from these stations, irrigate large agricultural areas and thus strengthen its food security," he is convinced.

The sovereign is also committed to the realization of the electricity interconnection project which aims to transport renewable energy, from the southern provinces, to the Center and the North, a project which aims to supply the desalination stations with clean energy. He therefore called for the development of a national desalination industry, the creation of training programs for specialized engineers and technicians, the encouragement of the formation of national companies specialized in the construction and maintenance of desalination plants. He also gave his guidelines for the adoption of a "more ambitious program for the treatment and reuse of water".