Construction is underway in Sidi Rahal, near Casablanca, on a desalination plant set to become Africa’s largest. The project signals Morocco’s determination to reduce its dependence on unpredictable rainfall and secure water for millions of people.
After seven consecutive years of drought left reservoirs at critical lows, the Moroccan government set an ambitious target: by 2030, 60% of the country’s drinking water should come from the sea, up from just 25% today. A network of new desalination plants and parallel investment in renewable energy are driving the shift, with the aim of protecting urban water supplies and agricultural production. Sector figures attributed to Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment and Water and the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) put the country’s 2026 baseline at about 17 seawater-desalination plants in service, with combined installed capacity of approximately 410 million cubic metres a year. Installed capacity is the volume plants are designed to produce, not a measure of the water they actually deliver over a year.
Strategic Shift in Water Policy
Morocco’s new water strategy is designed to prioritize coastal cities for desalinated water, freeing up more reservoir and groundwater resources for inland communities and farmers. Years of overreliance on underground aquifers and surface reserves have made this transition urgent. Water Minister Nizar Baraka says the country already operates 17 desalination plants, with four more under construction. By the end of the decade, Morocco expects to reach a desalination capacity of 1.7 billion cubic meters per year. Other published programme figures set a target of roughly 1.3 billion cubic metres a year of potable-water desalination by 2030, about 63% of drinking-water needs. They identify eight new plants and three extensions in the planned expansion. The figures refer to different stated programme measures and underline the scale of the planned network.
Recent rains have brought some relief, raising reservoir levels to 46% and officially ending the prolonged drought, Reuters reported in early 2026. Yet the government is pressing ahead with its desalination agenda, treating it as a structural solution rather than a temporary fix. On 19 October 2026, Head of Government Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri presented a programme in Rabat that set a further objective of mobilising 1.8 billion cubic metres of desalinated water by 2031. The target is part of a wider supply strategy, not a claim that this volume is already operational. The government’s plan also calls for faster dam construction and inter-basin transfers, while taking account of the hydrological balance in regions supplying transferred water.
Casablanca’s Mega Plant: Scale and innovation
The centerpiece of this change is the Casablanca desalination plant in the Greater Casablanca area. Once operational, it will deliver 300 million cubic meters of water annually, enough to supply 7.5 million people and support local agriculture. The project is being developed by the Al Baidaa Desalination Company, a consortium involving ACCIONA and Green of Africa, with AfriquiaGaz also among its members. The investment totals 6.5 billion Moroccan dirhams, about 613 million euros.
Of the plant’s output, 250 million cubic meters will be allocated for drinking water, while up to 50 million will support regional farming. The facility will use advanced reverse osmosis technology and will be powered primarily by wind energy from the Bir Anzarane wind farm, helping contain costs and environmental impacts. ACCIONA estimates the plant’s daily capacity will reach 838,000 cubic meters at full operation.
Challenges: Cost and Environmental Impact
Desalination offers a reliable source of water, but it brings impressive challenges. High energy consumption and brine management require careful oversight to avoid harming marine ecosystems. Morocco’s decision to link new plants to renewable energy sources is intended to address the financial and environmental costs of large-scale desalination.
Alongside new plants, Morocco is building major water-transfer pipelines, so-called “water highways,” to move resources from surplus regions to those facing acute shortages. This broader strategy also includes new dams and restrictions on water-intensive crops in arid zones, as part of a wider approach to water security. The planned National Water Plan is intended to coordinate long-term policy across water management and agriculture. It will also align energy policy with environmental protection, while incorporating territorial planning. The programme links water security with faster renewable-energy development, an impressive consideration for electricity-intensive desalination.
Regional Context and Broader Implications
Morocco’s pivot to desalination stands out in North Africa, where water scarcity is a growing concern. The country’s approach combines technological investment with policy reforms, aiming to shield urban life and agriculture from climate volatility. A recent report on agricultural new idea, including the revival of historic tomato varieties in Spain’s Palencia region, noted that the ability to recover of food systems often depends on adapting to environmental pressures.
Morocco’s success will hinge on the long-term viability of its new infrastructure and its ability to balance economic and social priorities while addressing environmental concerns. The Casablanca plant is a bold step, but the country’s water future will depend on how these investments perform in the years ahead. The reported expansion is intended to reduce the exposure of coastal water systems to rainfall variability, reservoir levels and groundwater depletion. Its actual contribution will depend on construction progress and operating output, as well as installed capacity.
