Morocco Opted for Energy Transition to Ensure Supply (Minister)
Rabat – Morocco has opted for energy transition in order to secure the supply in the best conditions in terms of cost and quality, while ensuring consistency between supply and demand, said minister of Energy, Mining and Sustainable Development, Aziz Rabbah.
“Morocco faces many challenges. Its dependence on imports of fossil fuels is close to 93.3%. The energy bill increased to 54 billion dirhams in 2016 and we expect a significant rise during this year due to higher oil prices,” underlined Rabbah in an interview published on Tuesday by Moroccan French-speaking daily “l’Economiste.”
The country, which is called upon to make up for the deficit in terms of oil products’ storage capacity, currently estimated at 32 days besides the 15 days limited to operational stocks versus 60 days stipulated by law, has a considerable potential in wind energy, estimated at 25.000 MW onshore and 250.000 MW offshore, in addition to the estimated solar potential of 20.000 MW, said Rabbah.
The minister added that the strengths of the Moroccan energy model reside in “the politic will at the highest level of the State” and its energy strategy, based on clear and realistic objectives, attractive projects and adequate legislative and regulatory reforms.
