COUNTRY FOCUS: MOROCCO
1988. In June 2010, Morocco, Tunisia and
Algeria adopted an action plan for 2010
to 2015, underscoring their intention to
create an electricity market in North-West
Africa with the objective of integrating the
European market.
A third link, which became operational in 2010
between Algeria and Morocco, has enabled
the Kingdom to benefit from an additional
interconnection of 400 kilovolts and underlined
Morocco’s resolve to pursue a green energy
agenda with low fossil fuel emissions.
Shortly before then, the Bank approved
a loan of €109.82 million to Morocco’s
National Electricity Agency (ONE) for the
development of the electricity transmission
and distribution network. The goal of the
project, co-financed by the French Agency
for Development, the European Investment
Bank and the World Bank, was to optimise
the quality of services provided to all of
ONE's domestic and industrial customers
and distribution authorities.
In addition, it was to improve and secure the
electricity supply and the reliability of the
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network through increasing the transmission
capacity of the lines. The project will also
facilitate overall completion of the Global
Rural Electrification Programme (PERG).
The rapid growth in demand for electricity in
Morocco and the expansion of the networks
to serve the entire country led to the
saturation of the electricity transmission grid,
causing voltage drops, but this is now a thing
of the past, thanks to the installations.
The reduction in energy losses between
production sites and the distribution network
is an additional benefit that will also help
prevent 180,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions
per year.
The Bank’s financing of this project forms
part of its continuing operations to support
the Moroccan energy sector.
Masen’s expertise in renewable energy
will be combined with the operational
experience of the African Development Bank
to strengthen regional integration, focusing
on the transfer of technology, capacity
building, technical assistance and project
development in renewable energies and
resource mobilisation.
"Morocco is a reference in terms of
renewable energy," said Adesina. "When
I visited the Noor Ouarzazate complex, in
which the Bank has invested considerably, I
was fascinated to learn that it had been built
using Moroccan know-how. It is proof that
Africa can achieve great things and perform
to international standards.
"That is why we have asked Morocco to
support us in the 'Desert to Power' initiative
that we are developing in the Sahel. This
is a strategic partnership that combines
leadership and technical expertise. Together,
we shall scale up efforts to power Africa."
Bakkoury added: "Sharing the experience
that Masen has developed and launching
a drive for the competitive development
of renewable energy across Africa is
commensurate with the goal of making
renewable energy a real lever for inclusive
growth. This partnership with the African
Development Bank will contribute to the
realisation of that ambition.” n
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