Morocco's Commitment to Renewable Energy and Economic Growth
In a significant address at COP 31 held in Antalya, Turkey, on November 10, 2026, Morocco's Minister of Energy, Mines, and Sustainable Development, Shorafat Afailal, underscored the critical importance of hastening the electrification of the economy through renewable energy sources. She highlighted that this shift is not merely a technical adjustment but a fundamental strategy to enhance the country's energy sovereignty, bolster energy security, and stimulate economic development and industrial competitiveness. Afailal’s remarks were delivered during a high-level meeting that centered around the global commitment to achieve electrification by 2035, a goal that aligns with Morocco's strategic energy initiatives.
The Minister articulated that transitioning to a renewable energy-based electrical system is strategically vital for Morocco, which has historically relied on external sources to meet its energy demands. She emphasized the need for a clear and measurable framework to accompany this global commitment, advocating for ambitious strategies, suitable regulatory mechanisms, and the development of renewable energy infrastructures, including electrical networks and storage systems. Moreover, Afailal called for significant investments, innovation, technology transfer, and regional and international cooperation to facilitate the electrification process.
Morocco's Energy Strategy and Future Goals
During her address, Afailal elaborated on Morocco's energy transition experience, stating that since 2009, the kingdom has been implementing a strategy centered on three key pillars: the development of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and regional energy integration. Currently, Morocco has an installed electrical capacity of approximately 12,364 megawatts, of which 5,780 megawatts—accounting for 46.7% of the national capacity—comes from renewable sources, with plans to increase this share to over 52% by 2030. The National Electricity Development Plan for 2026-2030 aims to invest around 133 billion Moroccan dirhams to add nearly 18,088 megawatts of additional capacity, including over 11,752 megawatts from renewable energy sources.
This ambitious plan includes establishing 2,590 megawatts of electrical storage capacity and increasing annual investments in the electrical grid sevenfold to keep pace with the growing production from renewable sources. The Minister also mentioned that these initiatives will be accompanied by legislative and regulatory reforms to facilitate private investment and encourage self-production of electricity, alongside the establishment of a national system for electricity origin certification to ensure traceability of renewable energy production, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Moroccan products in a carbon-restricted market.
Regarding energy efficiency, the Minister set a target for Morocco to achieve a 20% reduction in energy consumption by 2030, with initiatives spanning the construction, transportation, industry, and public lighting sectors. She noted the preparation of regional energy efficiency plans tailored to each of Morocco's twelve regions. Furthermore, in the realm of clean energy, Morocco aims to solidify its position as a key player in the green hydrogen sector, leveraging its natural resources and strategic geographical position.
Participants in the meeting, organized in partnership with the Turkish presidency of COP 31 and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), collectively acknowledged that electrifying energy-consuming sectors through renewable sources is crucial for expanding the use of clean electricity, enhancing energy efficiency, and contributing to the climate goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. The discussions also focused on the measures countries could adopt to elevate their electrification ambitions, the necessary financial and technological policies and tools to expedite this transition, and how to leverage COP 31 as a platform for mobilizing funding and promoting international cooperation to overcome barriers to achieving set goals.
This event sought specifically to tackle the challenges and opportunities, as well as best practices, that can expedite the transition to utilizing electricity in transportation, construction, and industry sectors. It also aimed to explore mechanisms for strengthening international cooperation and mobilizing the necessary funding to implement this commitment. COP 31, which continues until November 20, 2026, sees participation from world leaders, government ministers, representatives from international organizations, and stakeholders from both public and private sectors, all aimed at enhancing multilateral cooperation and translating climate commitments into actionable measures addressing the impacts of climate change.
As reported by maroc.ma.
