Energy transition: Big projects, big money
Despite its length, Leila Benali’s presentation of the sector budget to the House of Councillors’ Productive Sectors Commission on Thursday November 23 was enlightening in more ways than one. In addition to achievements and projects for the current year, the Minister for Energy Transition and Sustainable Development discussed projects and initiatives to implement the strategic vision and create investment opportunities.
To this end, she plans to update the multi-year plan for green electricity equipment, and schedule the construction of additional capacity of up to 9,281 megawatts (MW) over the 2023-2027 period. This requires the mobilization of a budget of 85.6 billion Dirhams (USD 8.5 billion ). It mainly relies on accelerating the implementation of renewable energy projects to the tune of 7,183 megawatts, i.e. 77% of the electrical equipment plan. This will require the construction of almost 1.4 Gigawatts (GW) per year, instead of 0.6 GW during the 2009-2022 period. The plan also includes encouraging the use of natural gas. This is to be achieved by programming the construction of 2.1 GW, i.e. 22% of the plan’s capacity. In addition, storage will be encouraged through the construction of energy conversion stations using pumping and battery storage systems.
The Minister also wants to step up investment in the power grid to ensure optimum integration of energies and guaranteed electricity supply to the various regions. The idea is to draw up a draft master plan for the reinforcement and development of the national electricity transmission network over the 2023-2027 period. The overall cost of this operation is estimated at 23.4 billion Dirhams (USD 2.34 billion). The aim is to support the plan to equip and supply Morocco’s various regions with electricity, and to strengthen regional integration. However, it will have to await adoption by ONEE’s (National Electricity and Drinking Water Office) Board of Directors.
The supply of renewable energies to industrial zones is also on the agenda. The Minister’s idea is to prepare a program to supply them with competitive energy from renewable sources. The goal is to achieve a real industrial take-off and support international challenges, particularly after the application of the carbon tax by the European Union from this year. For example, two projects have been authorized with a capacity of 150 MW to supply industrial customers in the Kénitra area. Projects are currently being studied to supply other industrial zones across the country.
Mohamed CHAOUI
