Morocco Launches the Largest Solar Energy Program Worldwide

HM the King chairs ceremony of presenting Morocco's solar energy project. HM King Mohammed VI, accompanied by Prince Moulay Rachid, chaired, Monday in the southern city of Ouarzazate, the ceremony of presenting Morocco's solar energy project, worth about nine billion dollars.

During the ceremony, which was attended by US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, Moroccan Energy Minister, Amina Benkhadra, stressed that this national, ambitious and realistic project seeks to achieve a 2,000-megawatt capacity by 2020.

This production capacity accounts for 38% of the electric power at the end of 2008 and 14% by 2020, said the Minister who presented the project’s broad lines before HM the King.

Five sites were identified for the project, which is in line with Morocco's energy strategy, namely Ouarzazate, Ain Bni Mathar, Foum Al Oued, Boujdour and Sebkhat Tah.

For his part, the managing director of the National Electricity Utility (ONE), Ali Fassi Fihri, underlined that this large-scale project will ensure an annual production capacity of 4500 GW, that is 18% of the current national production.

The first power station will be operational by 2015, while the project's completion is due in late 2019, he said.

The project will contribute to reducing energy dependency, preserving the environment, curbing greenhouse gas emissions and fighting climate changes.