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Morocco plans to meet 60% of its drinking water needs through seawater desalination by 2030, up from 25% currently, as the North African country accelerates renewable energy‑powered desalination projects to counter a seven‑year drought, Water Minister Nizar Baraka said.
The government aims to produce 1.7 billion cubic metres of desalinated water annually by the end of the decade. The largest planned facility, requiring an investment of around 10 billion dirhams ($1 billion), will be built near Tiznit, 615 kilometres south of Rabat, with a capacity of 350 million cubic metres to supply cities and farmlands. Studies are under way for the project ahead of a tender process expected by mid‑2026.
New desalination plants are also planned in Nador, Tangier, and Rabat, the latter to be developed in partnership with France’s Veolia (VIE.PA). Another project is under way in Tantan, where the government is also considering a port for green hydrogen and ammonia exports. Morocco currently operates 17 desalination plants with a combined annual output of 345 million cubic metres. Four additional facilities under construction will add 540 million cubic metres of capacity by 2027, including a major site in Casablanca. All new facilities are to run on renewable energy.
To preserve water resources, authorities are deploying floating solar panels on reservoirs to reduce evaporation losses, which account for around 30% of surface water. A pilot system has been installed on a Tangier dam, with further trials planned across southern and mountainous regions.
The expansion effort underscores Morocco’s twin focus on improving water security and integrating renewables into essential infrastructure as it manages drought‑related pressures on agriculture, urban supply, and long‑term resource planning.
