Spanish Bus Operator Alsa Seeks $40 Million from Casablanca Municipality

The Spanish company has been trying for several years to recover its funds. Without success. It has even requested the intervention of the Spanish embassy in Morocco to obtain satisfaction, but its partners in Casablanca have not followed up on these initiatives aimed at allowing Alsa to recover its 40 million euros, reports the daily Les Inspirations Eco.

The Casablanca municipality acknowledges this debt and "is willing to pay," said Moulay Ahmed Afilal, vice-president of the municipality, assuring that the debt is being cleared with the support of the General Directorate of Local Authorities (DGCT). However, Afilal points out that this debt to Alsa was not incurred by the current administration. "We discovered a very significant deficit when we took office in 2021. The sums owed were not fully paid and there was indeed a huge gap," he explains.

Of the 55 million euros announced by the Spanish media, the amount of the debt would currently be around 40 million euros. "Last year, we paid more than 130 million dirhams on this receivable, but the difficulty is that its outstanding amount increases every month," observes the vice-president of the Casablanca municipality, who also mentions another difficulty: the lack of financial resources to pay off this significant debt while major development projects requiring heavy investments are underway.

Afilal also adds that the pricing policy for public transport does not allow the municipality to replenish its coffers. "Each Casablanca resident contributes to widening this deficit, because in reality, the bus ticket should cost 8 or 9 dirhams. The city has decided to set the fare at 5 dirhams and covers the difference," he details. And he reassures: "Discussions are underway. And the municipality remains very satisfied with its collaboration with the Spanish company and this debt does not in any way call into question the contract."