Casablanca – Morocco is accelerating a major structural shift in its water policy by expanding seawater desalination as a central pillar of long-term water security, amid growing pressure on natural resources linked to climate change, prolonged drought cycles, and rising demand from agriculture, urban development, and population growth.

According to multiple recent official briefings and sectoral platforms affiliated with the Ministry of Equipment and Water, the country is planning the construction of 13 new seawater desalination plants by 2030. These facilities will be added to existing infrastructure as part of a broader national program aimed at diversifying water supply sources and reducing dependence on rainfall, which has become increasingly unpredictable in recent years.

The planned expansion is expected to significantly increase national desalination capacity, reaching approximately 1.7 billion cubic meters of water per year once all projects are operational. This volume is intended to strengthen supply stability across multiple regions, particularly those facing chronic water stress, and to ensure more balanced distribution of water resources between coastal and inland areas.

Officials and sectoral sources describe this strategy as part of a wider transformation of Morocco’s water management model, moving from a traditional reliance on dams and rainfall to a more diversified system that includes desalination, wastewater reuse, groundwater management, and inter-basin transfer projects. Within this framework, desalination is increasingly positioned not as a supplementary solution, but as a structural component of national water security policy.

A key dimension of this strategy is the development of an integrated industrial ecosystem dedicated to desalination technologies. A framework partnership agreement was signed in Rabat in 2025 to support the creation of a national value chain covering the design, construction, and operation of desalination plants. This initiative is aligned with long-term policy orientations aimed at strengthening water sovereignty and reducing external dependency in critical infrastructure sectors.

The industrial component of the program seeks to promote local manufacturing of equipment and components used in desalination plants, including membranes, pumps, pipes, and control systems. It also aims to encourage the participation of Moroccan engineering firms and technology providers in large-scale water projects, thereby increasing domestic value creation and reducing import reliance.

Currently, local integration in desalination-related projects is estimated at between 30% and 35%. Authorities aim to raise this share to around 70% in the coming years through coordinated action involving public institutions, private operators, and industrial stakeholders. This target reflects an ambition to develop a competitive national industry capable of meeting both domestic demand and, eventually, export opportunities in regional and international markets.

The strategy also places strong emphasis on innovation, research, and human capital development. Investment in applied research and technology transfer is seen as essential for adapting desalination technologies to local conditions, particularly in terms of energy efficiency and cost reduction. Training programs for engineers, technicians, and specialized workers are also expected to play a key role in building a skilled workforce capable of supporting the sector’s expansion.

Energy consumption remains one of the main challenges associated with desalination, and Morocco’s approach includes efforts to integrate renewable energy sources into future plants wherever possible. This is intended to reduce operational costs and align desalination development with broader national commitments to energy transition and sustainability.

Beyond infrastructure development, the program is also expected to have broader socio-economic impacts. The expansion of desalination capacity is likely to generate investment opportunities in engineering, construction, maintenance, and industrial manufacturing. It is also expected to create qualified employment in technical and scientific fields, contributing to the development of specialized industrial clusters.

At the same time, the initiative reflects a response to increasingly severe water stress conditions. Morocco has experienced successive years of below-average rainfall, leading to reduced dam reserves and pressure on groundwater resources. Climate variability has intensified uncertainty in water availability, making long-term planning and diversification of supply sources more urgent.

In this context, desalination is increasingly viewed as a strategic tool for climate adaptation. By providing a stable and controlled source of potable water independent of rainfall, desalination plants can help secure drinking water supply for urban centers, support agricultural production in certain coastal areas, and reduce vulnerability to drought cycles.

The national desalination program represents a significant shift in Morocco’s water governance model. It combines infrastructure expansion with industrial policy, technological development, and sustainability objectives. As the 2030 horizon approaches, the success of this strategy will depend on the effective coordination of investments, the ability to develop a strong local industrial base, and the integration of energy-efficient and cost-effective technologies capable of ensuring long-term viability.