France ready to finance a 3 GW power cable between Casablanca and Dakhla

In a move seen as further recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara, France has expressed its willingness to participate in financing a critical infrastructure project in the region. French Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Friday that France is «ready to participate in financing» a 3-gigawatt power cable linking Casablanca to Dakhla, according to Reuters.

«This project», Le Maire said at the Morocco-French business forum in Rabat, «would significantly boost development efforts in the Sahara».

This announcement follows earlier comments by French Minister for Foreign Trade, Franck Riester, who indicated Proparco, a subsidiary of the French Development Agency (AFD), could contribute to financing the high-voltage line.

Le Maire also highlighted France's broader commitment to cooperating with Morocco in developing renewable and nuclear energy sources. The French development agency AFD is reportedly ready to grant a loan of 350 million euros (around 3.8 billion dirhams) to support Moroccan phosphate giant OCP's decarbonization efforts in the Sahara.

As part of its 130 billion dirham investment program presented to King Mohammed VI in December 2022, OCP plans major projects in the Sahara. The Tarfaya-Boucraa-Laâyoune axis will see the development of green ammonia production, a hydrogen electrolyser plant, a green ammonia production complex with a capacity of 1 million tons, a 60 million m3 seawater desalination plant, as well as a photovoltaic solar farm (1.2 GW) and a wind farm (2.6 GW).