Morocco plans significant generation development

• 12 years ago (2012-03-20)
• Junior Isles

Europe 1061 North America 998 Renewables 752

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Robust growth of electricity demand in Morocco has highlighted the need for significant expansion of generation and transmission capacity in the country.

Frost & Sullivan’s ‘Overview of the Moroccan Electricity Industry’ claims that Morocco has responded by embarking on a very ambitious electricity generation capacity expansion. Installed capacity is to be raised from 6350 MW in 2010 to 14 500 MW by 2020, as electricity consumption is expected to nearly double in the corresponding period.

Electricity market growth is steady at 6-8 per cent, per year over the last ten years and predicted to continue for another ten. Widespread economic development and, more specifically, the successful implementation of rural electrification programme has been the foundation of this growth in demand. GDP growth forecasts are also promising at 5.5 per cent per year.

Investments are to reach an estimated $16.35 billion in new generation infrastructure (2012-2020) and $2.5 billion in network expansion (2011-2015). Renewable energy is planned to account for 18 per cent of power generation by 2012 and 42per cent by 2020.

“[The Moroccan government’s] renewable energy programme aims to build 4000 MW of additional capacity by 2020,” notes research analyst Celine Paton. The hope is for the country to avoid currently expensive coal imports.

“Regional integration with neighbouring countries (Spain and the Maghreb) will also further secure power supply within the country, fulfilling Morocco’s aspiration to become the power crossroads between Africa and Europe,” Paton concludes. “Furthermore, the upcoming law on the restructuring of the sector (separating generation, transmission and distribution activities, and establishing an independent regulatory body), and the progressive sector’s liberalisation, should enhance transparency and promote further private sector participation.”

Morocco to add 8,000 MW of power generation by 2020

The robust growth in electricity demand in Morocco has underlined the need for a significant expansion in future generation and transmission capacity in that country. The Moroccan electricity market has been growing steadily at nearly six to eight per cent a year in the last ten years, following vigorous economic development and the implementation of a very successful rural electrification programme. This trend is expected to continue at about five to seven per cent for the next ten years, following GDP growth forecasts of 5.5 per cent.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Overview of the Moroccan Electricity Industry, finds that the country has embarked on a very ambitious electricity generation capacity-build programme, in order to raise installed capacity from 6,350 MW in 2010 to 14,500 MW by 2020, as electricity consumption is expected to almost double in the corresponding period.

Investments will reach an estimated US$16.35 billion in new generation infrastructure (2012-2020) and US$2.5 billion in network expansion (2011-2015). Renewable energy should account for 18% of power generation by 2012 and 42% by 2020.

“In an attempt to develop all energy resources available in the country, and to reduce its dependence on imported coal, the Moroccan government has decided to launch an ambitious wind