Morocco’s efforts to add 1.7 billion m³ a year to its water supply by 2030 through desalination are gathering momentum.
Morocco World News reports that two projects are already under construction, with the 37 million m³ Dakha plant already 70% complete. The desalination projects are intended to secure water supply for urban coastal regions, thus freeing up water supply for agriculture.
The Minister of Agriculture, Ahmed El Bouari, told parliament recently a second plant under construction near Casablanca will produce 300 million m³ annually, of which 50 million m³ will be dedicated to irrigation.
Other planned desalination projects include a 300 million m³ facility in the Oriental region, with 160 million m³ allocated to agriculture; a 150 million m³ facility in Tangier; a 300 million m³ facility in Rabat; and facilities in Oum Er-Rbia and Tensift, each producing 300 million m³ for irrigation.
The biggest plant, in Souss-Massa in the south of Morocco, will be able to produce 350 million m³ annually, of which 250 million m³ will support agriculture.