Veolia to build Africa’s largest desalination plant in Morrocco

French-based Veolia will build Africa's largest desalination plant in Morocco. Located on the Atlantic coast near Rabat, the plant will supply drinking water to more than nine million people.

Moroccan National Energy Strategy

The plant forms part of the Moroccan national energy strategy, launched by King Mohammed VI, which aims to strengthen water supply security and to face the challenges of climate.

The deal also builds towards the nation's National Water Plan, agreed in 2020, which set out an investment plan to restore water availability in the country. In 2023, King Mohammed VI allocated an additional budget in support of the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation 2020-2027 (a subset of the National Water Plan), which included plans for three new desalination plants.

A Longstanding Partnership

The agreement with Veolia was signed during a state visit by French president, Emmanuel Macron, and strengthens the company's ties with the country. The project will be structured as a public-private partnership, between Veolia and Morocco, involving the construction, financing and operation for 35 years of the seawater desalination plant.

Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, told media: "With a long history of partnership, we are thrilled and honoured to write this new page with the Kingdom of Morocco and Moroccan citizens to meet the challenges related to the environment and water. We are fully aware of the urgency of the situation and proud to contribute to this major project, which will strengthen the country's water resilience."

Brachlianoff added: "We will put the best of our international expertise and our long-standing presence in the region at the service of the Kingdom for a reference project in terms of performance and sustainability."

Large-scale Desalination to Bring Water to Drought Affected Areas

The completed plant will have a capacity 822,000 m3 of drinking water per day, or 300 million m3 per year, it will ensure the supply of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Fès-Meknès regions to meet the water needs of nearly 9.3 million inhabitants.

Morocco is currently facing unprecedented water stress and is experiencing its worst drought for 40 years. This has left reservoirs at historically low levels, threatening agriculture, drinking water supplies and, more broadly, the country's economy.

Seawater desalination is seen as an essential solution as part of the country's energy strategy.

Renewable and Low-carbon Energy to Keep Prices Down

Veolia will explore the use of low-carbon electricity from renewable sources to lower operating costs and to try and ensure competitive water prices over the entire life cycle of the facility.

Brachlianoff added: "We will put the best of our international expertise and our long-standing presence in the region at the service of the Kingdom for a reference project in terms of performance and sustainability."