Page 8 - AfrElec Week 37 2022
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AfrElec INVESTMENT AfrElec
Saudi ACWA Power
announces plans to
expand into Morocco
MOROCCO SAUDI renewable energy and power generator costs low.
group ACWA Power announced plans to expand Morocco suffers from low rainfall, rising tem-
in the Moroccan market over the coming few peratures, and droughts that pose water supply
years as part of a wider strategy to enter African challenges.
markets, including South Africa, the group’s CEP In 2018, the Moroccan government launched
Paddy Padmanathan told daily Arab News on the MAD 4.48bn ($417mn) Chtouka Aitbaha
Wednesday, September 14. water desalination plant in Agadir under a pub-
The increasing need to guarantee water secu- lic-private partnership. The plant started opera-
rity in the MENA region to meet the needs of tions last March. The country’s National Office
a growing population is pushing governments of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE)
in the region to implement water desalination announced plans to construct seawater desali-
projects, Padmanathan said, noting that global nation plants in Casablanca, Safi, and Jorf Lasfar.
demand for water will grow by 30% by 2030. The government says that the new desali-
ACWA Power has operations in the UAE, nation facilities will advance its plans to make
Bahrain, and Oman and has a portfolio of devel- Morocco one of the leading producers of green
oping seawater desalination facilities. Now the hydrogen, a carbon-free energy source produced
group wants to share its experience in water- from water.
stressed Morocco while keeping desalination
P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 37 15•September•2022
