The proposed high-voltage undersea cable could reshape energy links across the western Mediterranean. The French Ministry of Economy outlined the plan in July 2026. It calls for a dual submarine link with a total capacity of 2x1GW, connecting the two countries’ power grids beneath the sea. Several independent reports say the project is part of a broader French push for energy cooperation with Morocco, aimed at strengthening ties across the Mediterranean.
Morocco tried to establish a similar connection with the United Kingdom, but that project fell apart in 2024 after the UK government refused to guarantee the deal. The Morocco-UK Power Link would have run 3,800 kilometers and required £21.9 billion in investment. It failed to secure financing after the UK declined to back it with a contract for difference. The France-Morocco project is smaller and seen as more realistic. Both sides are studying possible routes, but there is no final investment decision or set budget yet, information from several industry sources.
Morocco is looking to France, the only other European country where a direct link makes sense. French officials are considering landing points for the cable in the industrial-port area of Fos-sur-Mer, at Feuillane and Minéraliers. Another option is Néoules in Var. No final choice has been made, and the project remains at an early stage, with no confirmed financing or regulatory approval. The French Ministry of Economy says three 400 kV substations are under consideration for the French side: Feuillane, Minéraliers and Néoules.
Morocco is the only African country with two operational undersea electricity links to Europe; both submarine cables run beneath the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain. The proposed link would strengthen Morocco’s role as a regional energy hub and give France direct access to North African power as both countries pursue energy-transition goals. Independent analysts say the France-Morocco link is much smaller than the failed UK project, making it a more practical option.
The plan relies on high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology, which can move large amounts of electricity over long distances with low losses. The UK project used the same approach, but the France-Morocco link is shorter and would cost less. Sector reports describe HVDC as the best choice for these kinds of intercontinental connections because it is efficient and reliable.
Morocco has not named its preferred landing site. Some sources cite the Nador West Med port-industrial hub as a possible starting point in alternative routing scenarios. This reflects Morocco’s broader strategy to expand its export and maritime infrastructure, alongside new digital and energy links with Europe. The focus is on making the project efficient and fitting it into existing infrastructure. The cable is also part of Morocco’s push to become an energy exporter and a digital hub. Other projects, such as the Medusa subsea cable, show how Morocco is building its strategic position.
Energy cooperation between Europe and North Africa is not new, but the size and ambition of this project signal a change in approach. Recent coverage of cross-border projects has shown how complex regional ties shape migration and trade, as well as energy. Independent European energy analysts say the current plan fits into a wider structure of Franco-Moroccan energy work set out in the French government’s 2026 cooperation agenda.
The project could bring benefits to both sides of the Mediterranean. Morocco would gain a new export route and a way to use its growing renewable energy sector. France would get a direct link to North African energy and a backup to its existing European connections.
The project is still in the planning phase, with governments and industry watching closely. The collapse of the Morocco-UK Power Link showed how these projects can fail without political and financial support. The smaller scale and shared interests of France and Morocco make success more likely. If built, the undersea cable would advance Euro-African energy cooperation through practical goals.
