More news on Morocco’s National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Programme (PNAEPI) 2020-2027. The government of the Kingdom of Morocco has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the OCP Group (formerly Office Chérifien des Phosphates) for the production of 75 million m3 of drinking water per year by 2026, using seawater desalination. The agreement was signed on 5 July in the presence of the Moroccan head of government, Aziz Akhannouch.
The desalinated seawater will be supplied to the Régie autonome intercommunale de distribution d’eau, d’électricité et de gestion du réseau d’assainissement liquide des provinces d’El Jadida et de Sidi Bennour (Radeej), and the Régie autonome intercommunale de distribution d’eau et d’électricité de Safi (Radees). The development of this unconventional water resource will also help to alleviate the effects of the drought in El Jadida and Safi. These two provinces are facing water stress.
Four desalination plants to contribute
OCP will produce 10 million m3 for the Radees and 30 million m3 for the Radeej before the end of 2023. Between 2024 and 2025, the volume destined for Radees will reach 15 million m3 per year and 32 million m3 per year for Radeej. From 2026, these volumes will rise to 30 million m3 per year for Radees and 45 million m3 per year for Radeej.
In addition, 35 million m3 of drinking water will be produced per year to supply OCP’s industries, giving a total of 110 million m3 of desalinated water per year. The fertiliser producer and exporter plans to increase its use of water from non-conventional sources to 100% by 2030, compared with 31% at present. Seawater desalination will be carried out by its subsidiary OCP Green Water at four plants, two of which are located on OCP’s industrial site at Jorf Lasfar. The other two plants are located in the province of Safi.
Inès Magoum