In Casablanca, Prince Moulay El Hassan inaugurates Africa's largest desalination plant
A strategic project to support sovereignty
The construction of this plant is taking place against a backdrop of rainfall deficit and increased pressure on Morocco's conventional water resources. This is why King Mohammed V launched the National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Program in 2020, with a total budget of 143 billion dirhams (14.3 billion euros). The aim is twofold: to meet the growing demand for water, and to strengthen Morocco's water and energy sovereignty by reducing its dependence on rainfall. At present, Morocco meets its water needs mainly through dams, the reuse of treated wastewater and integrated water resource management projects.
To complement these measures, Morocco has opted to launch a number of seawater desalination projects.
Combining technology and Moroccan expertise
This gigantic project will be carried out in two phases on a 50-hectare site.
The first phase, scheduled to be operational by the end of 2026, will supply 548,000 m³ of treated water per day (200 million m³ per year). The second phase, scheduled for mid-2028, will increase total capacity to 822,000 m³ per day, or 300 million m³ per year, 50 million of which will be used for agricultural irrigation.
At the cutting edge of technology, the plant will use reverse osmosis desalination, a filtration process in which salt water is passed through a semi-permeable membrane under high pressure. The membrane retains salts and impurities, enabling the production of drinking water.
This process is particularly effective for removing contaminants and producing drinking water from saltwater sources.
Nothing is left to chance, not even the transport of drinking water from one point to another. To achieve this, the project will include three pumping stations, three storage reservoirs, and a distribution network of almost 130 kilometers of pipes. The total cost of this transport system is estimated at 3 billion dirhams,
to be financed by public funds.
Equally noteworthy is the fact that the station's power supply will be based on 100% renewable energies. Thanks to the integration of wind and solar power self-generation solutions, the plant's operating costs and carbon footprint will be reduced.
A boost for the economy and agriculture
In Morocco, agriculture is a vital pillar of the economy, contributing around 14% of national GDP and employing almost 40% of the working population. In 2022, the agricultural sector generated around 115 billion dirhams, demonstrating its crucial role in the country's economic and social stability. The country's main crops include cereals, olives, citrus fruits and vegetables, with significant exports to Europe. To be able to continue developing its agri-food industry, Morocco must therefore meet its high water requirements. It is in this context that the new Casablanca desalination plant, in addition to meeting the drinking water needs of urban areas, will play a crucial role in agricultural development.
By supplying 50 million m³ of desalinated water dedicated to irrigation, the water supply for crops, even in times of drought, will be secured.
The construction of the Casablanca desalination plant marks a crucial step forward in the management of water resources in Morocco.
The project represents a major leap forward for Morocco, and offers a development model for other MENA countries facing similar challenges, such as Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Sources :
https://www.yabiladi.com/articles/details/150656/casablanca-moulay-hassan-lance-construction.html
https://labass.net/82530-sar-le-prince-heritier-moulay-el-hassan-lance-la-construction-de-la-station-de-dessalement-de-casablanca-la-plus-grande-dafrique.html
https://www.afrik.com/le-maroc-lance-a-casablanca-la-construction-de-la-plus-grande-station-de-dessalement-d-afrique
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