Morocco hopes to build dams ahead of schedule in response to drought- official

With a filling rate that has been reduced to 28% in August, Morocco’s water ministry cut short the delivery time of 14 key dams under construction to eight months instead of 3 years, Abdelaziz Zerouali, director of research and planning at the ministry said.

Morocco has currently 5 billion cubic meters of water stored in its 154 dams and consumes 1.4 billion cubic meters annually, he told le360.

While major cuts have affected dams serving irrigation purposes, urgent action is required to ensure steady supply of drinking water. Hence the need to speed up construction of new dams, he said.

Some 14 billion dollars have been allocated to the water plan over 2020-2027, which also includes investment in desalination, such as Casablanca’s plant which will be the largest in Africa operating on renewable energy.

Morocco is also investing in waterways connecting water rich northern basins with water-stressed ones.

In the Throne Day speech last month, King Mohammed VI highlighted the need to speed up desalination and waterways projects following six years of consecutive droughts.

Desalination plants would help Morocco cover more than half of its drinking needs by 2030 and supply 1.7 billion cubic meters of fresh water annually, said the King.

“This will also make it possible to irrigate vast farming areas, thereby helping to enhance the country’s food security,” he said.