On July 7, the Marrakech-Safi Regional Council approved a partnership agreement with the Casablanca-Settat and Marrakech-Safi regions concerning the establishment and operation of pipelines for transporting desalinated water from seawater desalination plants in Casablanca and Safi.
This agreement is part of a broader protocol between the state, the two regions, the Casablanca multi-services regional company, its counterpart in the Marrakech-Safi region, and Bank of Africa, with a financial allocation exceeding 6 billion dirhams shared between the two regions.
The council also unanimously approved partnership agreements focused on land regularization and the management of drinking water supply projects in several municipalities within the Marrakech region and the provinces of Kelaa des Sraghna, Youssoufia, Safi, Rhamna, and Essaouira.
The Safi plant, launched by OCP Green Water (a subsidiary of the OCP Group), is aligned with royal directives promoting non-traditional water sources. Construction began in the second half of 2022, with gradual operation starting in August 2023, aiming to produce 10 million cubic meters and expand capacity to 15 million cubic meters annually by 2024-2025.
By February 2024, the plant is expected to fully cover Safi’s drinking water needs (approximately 15 million cubic meters annually) from a total capacity of 40 million cubic meters annually, catering to both local and industrial consumption.
The plant operates with two capacities: one for drinking water and the other for industrial use, employing reverse osmosis and/or renewable energy technologies, with an estimated cost of 2.8 billion dirhams.
By 2026, the plant aims to reach a production target of 30 million cubic meters annually for drinking water and 20 million cubic meters for industrial use, while expanding supply to the Marrakech-Safi region.
Regarding the upcoming seawater desalination plant in Tangier, a representative from the National Office of Water and Electricity’s Water Sector announced it is expected to be operational by 2028.
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