The Kingdom of Morocco and Veolia join forces for the largest seawater desalination project in Africa

During the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco, Veolia and the Kingdom of Morocco signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to establish a strategic partnership for the development of Africa's largest seawater desalination project, and the second largest in the world. This project will address water scarcity in regions particularly impacted by drought.

The desalination plant will be located near Rabat on the Atlantic coast and will be structured as a public-private partnership. Veolia will be responsible for the construction, financing, and operation of the plant for 35 years. With a daily capacity of 822,000 m³ of drinking water, or 300 million m³ per year, it will supply the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Fès-Meknès regions, serving nearly 9.3 million people.

This initiative is part of Morocco’s national energy strategy, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, aiming to strengthen water supply security and address the challenges posed by climate change. Veolia, a global leader in water technologies, will contribute its expertise in desalination to ensure a highly efficient, innovative, and environmentally sustainable facility. Additionally, the plant could be powered by low-carbon electricity, primarily sourced from renewable energy.

Amid the impacts of climate change, which are especially pronounced in the Mediterranean region, this partnership is timely as Morocco grapples with unprecedented water stress. The country is experiencing its worst drought in 40 years, with declining rainfall and historically low reservoir levels. This situation is putting agriculture, drinking water supplies, and the broader economy at significant risk. In this context, seawater desalination emerges as a vital solution to address these pressing challenges, ensuring a reliable source of water for both people and industries in the face of ongoing environmental pressures.

Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, said: "With a long history of partnership, we are thrilled and honoured to write this new page with the Kingdom of Morocco and Moroccan citizens to meet the challenges related to the environment and water. We are fully aware of the urgency of the situation and proud to contribute to this major project, which will strengthen the country's water resilience. We will put the best of our international expertise and our long-standing presence in the region at the service of the Kingdom for a reference project in terms of performance and sustainability."