Casablanca – Morocco’s national electricity production saw an increase of 1.6% by the end of the first seven months of 2024, after near stagnation in the same period last year, when it only rose by 0.2%. This growth was primarily attributed to the strong performance of renewable energy production, according to the latest report from the Directorate of Studies and Financial Forecasts (DEPF), part of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The September report highlighted that renewable energy production, regulated by Law 13-09, surged by 42.8% over the same period. This significant increase underscores the country’s ongoing efforts to prioritize renewable energy sources as part of its broader strategy to transition toward a sustainable energy future.

However, private electricity production and the output of the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) saw declines of 0.7% and 3.3%, respectively, during the same period. This decrease in conventional electricity production reflects a gradual shift in the sector toward more environmentally friendly energy sources.

On the international front, Morocco’s electricity imports skyrocketed by 43.7% by the end of July 2024, following a similar rise of 43% a year earlier. In contrast, the volume of electricity exports continued its downward trend, falling by 23.5% after a steeper decline of 34.8% the previous year. The declining export numbers reflect shifting dynamics in the country’s energy sector, where a growing share of domestically produced electricity is being utilized to meet internal demand.

The volume of net energy, which refers to the total energy generated and available for consumption, remained stable, recording a 3.2% increase, nearly matching the 3% growth observed the previous year.

Morocco’s electricity consumption rose by 5.2% by the end of July 2024. This increase was largely driven by a 9.1% growth in the sale of “very high, high, and medium voltage” energy, reflecting rising demand from industrial sectors and large-scale consumers. Despite this growth, overall electricity consumption remained at a similar level compared to the same period in 2023, with only a slight decrease of 0.2%, pointing to a stable demand from the general population.

This latest data highlights Morocco’s steady progress in its energy sector, marked by a significant shift toward renewable energy, rising consumption, and growing reliance on electricity imports to meet domestic needs.