HM the King chairs a working session on progress in renewable energy integrated programmes

PERSISMA, Rabat – HM King Mohammed VI presided, on Thursday at the Royal Cabinet in Rabat, over a working session to assess the progress in the integrated programmes of renewable, solar and wind energies.

Morocco is committed to progressively achieve the programmes by 2020 to increase the share of these energies to 42% of the installed power capacity.

A statement from the Royal Cabinet said that these programmes are part of the strategy initiated by King Mohammed VI, which is meant to diversify Morocco’s supply sources of energy products.

The strategy confirms HM the King’s will to optimize the exploitation of Morocco’s natural resources, sustain its economic and social development, preserve its environment and ensure a better future for coming generations.

Launched by HM King Mohammed VI on November 2, 2009 in Ouarzazate, Morocco’s solar plan resulted in the creation of the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN), which aims at achieving five integrated solar complexes.

The first project concerns the complex of Ouarzazate with a capacity of 125 to 160 MW. The final developer of the project will be known before the end of the year and its construction works will begin in mid-2012 to be operational in 2014.

The achievement of the second phase of Ouarzazate complex to bring its power to 500 MW as well as the preparation and qualification of the four other sites will start in the same period. All these plants will enable Morocco to have a power capacity of 2000 MW.

The integrated wind energy programme, run by the National electricity utility (ONE), is composed of two phases of 1,000 MW each. The first phase is already operational with a power of 280 MW. Five other wind parks with a capacity of 720 MW are under development.

To reach 2000 MW, an additional programme was introduced. It provides for achieving five wind parks with a capacity ranging from 100 to 300 MW each.

Solar and wind programmes will be developed with particular attention to the promotion of local industry, establishment of a high level expertise and strengthening of research and development, to enable Morocco to improve technology sectors with high potential for the national economy.

This integrated vision enjoys the support of donors and the international community which considers it a relevant contribution to the problems of climate change and a real opportunity for regional integration, the statement said.

The working session was attended by HM the King’s advisor, Zoulikha Nasri, Minister of Energy, Mining, Water and Environment, Amina Benkhadra, ONE CEO, Ali Fassi Fihri, and MASEN CEO, Mustapha Bakkouri.

Source: MAP