Spain’s Electricity Exports to Morocco Surge Amid Diplomatic Tensions with Algeria

Spain has increased its electricity sales to Morocco to record levels amid the crisis between the Algerian government and the government of Pedro Sanchez, which opened after Spain’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara.

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These exports have gradually increased since 2020 to reach a monthly peak of 100,000 MWh in May, according to official figures compiled by Red Eléctrica (REE), creating a negative balance (difference between imports and exports) of nearly 38,000 MWh for Spain, compared to a positive balance of 58,200 MWh in May 2021.

To read: Morocco Emerges as Key Renewable Energy Partner for European Union

The increase in demand due to the recent heatwave is one of the factors behind the rebound in electricity imports from Morocco, say several industry sources to La Información. For this month of June, Spain should have a historic negative balance of more than 171,500 MWh in its exchanges with Morocco, according to Red Eléctrica’s forecasts.