Casablanca – In response to Morocco’s worsening water scarcity and climate stress, OCP Green Water, a subsidiary of the state-owned phosphate giant OCP Group, has announced a groundbreaking investment of $620 million aimed at significantly expanding the country’s desalination capacity. This bold step marks a major milestone in Morocco’s transition toward sustainable water management, environmental resilience, and industrial autonomy.

Responding to an urgent water crisis

Morocco has experienced several consecutive years of drought, marked by severe declines in rainfall and alarming reductions in natural water reserves. As the impacts of climate change deepen, the strain on the country’s freshwater sources has become critical—not only for households and agriculture but also for the industrial sector, especially in phosphate production.

Recognizing this escalating challenge, OCP Green Water (OGW) is spearheading a strategic initiative to strengthen the nation’s water resilience through large-scale investment in non-conventional water sources, notably seawater desalination and wastewater reuse.

The newly secured $620 million in funding was raised through a structured financial operation led by CDG Capital, the investment arm of Morocco’s Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG), in collaboration with several institutional investors. This funding package will directly support the expansion of desalination infrastructure and accelerate the group’s water sustainability agenda.

A vision for 2030: 630 million cubic meters annually

At the core of OGW’s mission is a clear target: to reach an annual desalinated water production capacity of 630 million cubic meters by 2030. This ambitious volume is designed to fully satisfy OCP Group’s industrial water needs using non-traditional sources. In parallel, surplus water will be distributed to surrounding urban and agricultural zones, providing a vital resource to communities near OCP’s operational hubs.

This water strategy directly aligns with OCP Group’s long-term goals of achieving water independence, ensuring operational continuity, and reducing pressure on Morocco’s freshwater ecosystems. It also supports the country’s broader vision of achieving hydrological sovereignty and bolstering adaptation to climate volatility.

Casablanca and Jorf Lasfar: A flagship in action

The plan is already taking shape with one of its flagship projects. Since March 2025, OGW has begun supplying 60 million cubic meters of desalinated water annually to the southern districts of Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city. The water is sourced from a state-of-the-art desalination plant in Jorf Lasfar, located along the Atlantic coast.

This plant is part of an integrated system that includes a high-efficiency pumping station and a 54.5-kilometer pipeline, built in collaboration with public authorities. The project also incorporates innovative seawater recycling technologies, making it a model of modern, sustainable engineering.

Jorf Lasfar is not just any location—it hosts the world’s largest fertilizer production complex, making the water supply to this site particularly strategic for maintaining global phosphate and fertilizer exports.

Strategic partnerships and financial innovation

According to Ahmed Znibar, CEO of OGW, the newly secured funding represents “a key milestone in the deployment of our sustainable water strategy.” He emphasized the importance of the partnership with CDG and the private investment community in making this vision a reality.

Mehdi Bouriss, CEO of CDG Capital, echoed this sentiment, stating that the operation “fits perfectly with CDG’s strategy to support national partners in mobilizing financing for strategic development projects, particularly those that ensure water security and promote responsible resource management.”

This collaboration illustrates a successful example of leveraging capital markets to finance climate-resilient infrastructure, while promoting environmental responsibility and industrial sustainability.

Beyond desalination: A green investment framework

The desalination push is part of a broader and more comprehensive strategy. OCP Group is currently executing a $13 billion green investment plan (130 billion dirhams) for the 2023–2027 period. This massive initiative includes investments in renewable energy, wastewater treatment, low-emissions production, and other innovations aimed at transforming OCP into a carbon-neutral group by 2040.

By integrating desalination, renewable energy, and advanced wastewater treatment, the group aims to create a closed-loop system that minimizes environmental impact while maximizing resource efficiency.

A blueprint for climate resilience

As Morocco confronts the dual challenge of water scarcity and climate change, OCP Green Water’s $620 million investment in desalination emerges as a beacon of long-term strategic thinking. It exemplifies how industrial giants can act as catalysts for national resilience—by investing not only in their own operational needs but also in shared public infrastructure and environmental stewardship.

This project is not just about water—it’s about securing Morocco’s future, maintaining industrial competitiveness, and positioning the country as a regional leader in sustainable resource management.