- Morocco continues to advance its national and international commitments to sustainable, low-cost energy production and consumption.
- Morocco also plans to develop gas transport and storage infrastructure, including progress on the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic gas pipeline and a Micro-LNG project tied to the Tendrara gas field in the Oriental region.
Morocco continues to advance its national and international commitments to sustainable, low-cost energy production and consumption. This push aligns with a new wave of major renewable energy projects outlined in the 2026 public investment framework, which also emphasises their regional distribution across the kingdom.
An analysis of official documents attached to the 2026 draft finance bill and the government’s three-year public investment plan shows that most projects are centred on strengthening the national power grid, ensuring energy security, and increasing the share of renewables in Morocco’s energy mix.
The energy and renewables sector represents a cornerstone of Morocco’s strategy to reinforce its energy sovereignty. Projects are spread across the country’s 12 regions, with particular emphasis on the southern provinces, given their vast solar and wind potential. Notably, the first green hydrogen projects approved under Morocco’s national hydrogen initiative are set to break ground in the Sahara region.
Morocco’s investment drive for 2026 and the following years will focus on boosting production capacity and reducing pressure on the national grid. The southern regions are expected to emerge as major solar power hubs, building on flagship initiatives such as the Noor Midelt I, II, and III projects in Drâa-Tafilalet and the Noor Atlas and Noor Multi-Site programs in Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra.
These projects, led by the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), aim to deliver a qualitative leap in clean electricity generation. Additional ventures like “Nassim Al Chamal” in Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima and “Taza II” in Fez-Meknes are also planned to ensure a balanced national distribution of energy infrastructure.
Energy production projects are being paired with investments in transport and supply infrastructure. One key initiative is the connection of Dakhla to the national electricity grid, which seeks to secure energy supply in the far south and reduce dependence on diesel plants.
Morocco also plans to develop gas transport and storage infrastructure, including progress on the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic gas pipeline and a Micro-LNG project tied to the Tendrara gas field in the Oriental region. The goal, according to the official documents, is to improve industrial competitiveness and guarantee supply amid global energy transitions.
The reinforcement of 400-kilovolt power lines in Guelmim-Oued Noun will further support the growing electricity demand and the transmission of renewable energy from desert regions to urban centres.
Renewable energy expert Mohamed Bouhamidi described the energy investment map as a “mechanism to consolidate Morocco’s regional leadership in energy transition,” highlighting synergies between major water desalination projects and electrical infrastructure, such as the upcoming water supply line for the Oriental region.
He emphasised that the growing alignment between public and private investments, especially with the rollout of self-generation regulations, will create jobs and strengthen the role of the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) as a key producer. “At this pace, Morocco could become an energy exporter in the future,” Bouhamidi said.
Morocco’s favourable geography also gives it an edge, he added, “Vast deserts for solar energy, strong northern winds, and consistent solar radiation year-round.”
Bouhamidi noted that many factories are now installing their own solar power stations to cut carbon emissions and reduce dependence on the national grid. This “flexible self-consumption model,” he explained, allows industries to prioritise the use of self-generated energy and inject surplus power into the grid when possible.
However, Abderrahim Ksiri, national coordinator of the Moroccan Coalition for Climate and Sustainable Development, argued that Morocco’s transition remains slow. “Despite progress, fossil-based projects, especially gas, still dominate, while renewables’ contribution to the national mix remains limited,” he told Hespress AR.
He called for the official adoption and publication of Morocco’s Low-Carbon Strategy 2050, which has received international praise but has yet to be formally approved or opened for public and technical debate.
Ksiri stressed that while Morocco has vast renewable potential, “it remains underutilised,” leading to slower progress compared to other Arab and African nations that allow households to produce their own energy with financial incentives and grid compensation for excess supply.
He urged authorities to implement existing laws, issue necessary decrees, and empower citizens and small businesses to produce their own energy, particularly in oases, mountains, and coastal areas, where local renewable projects could create jobs and strengthen territorial equity.
“The kingdom has the right framework and vision,” Ksiri said, “but accelerating the execution of renewable projects will be key to achieving energy sovereignty and sustainable development.”