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The 2024–2025 report by the Court of Auditors highlights a rise in the cost of desalinated water produced under public-private partnership (PPP) contracts. It notes that desalination costs vary from one project to another, depending on several technical factors, such as plant capacity, water quality, and energy costs, as well as contractual considerations, including the public partner’s financial contribution, tax changes, inflation, and other variables.
Regarding the Agadir desalination plant, the report explains that, under the reference financial model, the cost per cubic meter stands at 8.86 dirhams for potable water and 5 dirhams for subsidized irrigation water. However, the reference cost of potable water rose to 10.29 dirhams in 2024, representing a 16% increase compared to the initial estimate. This rise is attributed to the absence of tax exemptions and additional costs linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As for the Casablanca plant, the reference PPP financial model sets the cost per cubic meter at 4.48 dirhams. While considered competitive, the report notes that this figure remains subject to change due to risks related to price volatility and inflation.
The Gap Between Production Costs and Selling Prices
The report also draws attention to a structural operating deficit caused by the high cost of seawater desalination compared to the selling prices applied. While production costs range from 4.88 to 23.55 dirhams per cubic meter, depending on the plant, selling prices for potable water at the production level range between 1.65 and 4.88 dirhams per cubic meter.
In Agadir, state support provided through the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) covers the gap between the cost of purchasing desalinated water from the private partner and its resale price to the independent multi-service agency. This support amounted to approximately 684 million dirhams between 2022 and 2024, with the total operational deficit expected to reach nearly nine billion dirhams over the full 27-year duration of the delegated management contract.
For the desalination plants in Safi and El Jadida, operated by the OCP Group and completed under the emergency plan, the total operational deficit stood at around 1.02 dirhams per cubic meter. To maintain financial balance, OCP will provide the necessary financial support to the subsidiary responsible for implementing and managing non-conventional water resource projects.
Meanwhile, for the desalination plants managed by ONEE in Al Hoceima, Akhfennir, Boujdour, and Laayoune, production and distribution costs significantly exceeded the tariffs applied. In Laayoune, the cost per cubic meter reached approximately 23.41 dirhams in 2023, compared to an average collected tariff of 5.06 dirhams.
In Al Hoceima, production and distribution costs stood at about 16.66 dirhams per cubic meter, while the average collected tariff was 6.24 dirhams.
According to the Court of Auditors, this disparity between production costs and applied pricing across the four cities resulted in a total operational deficit of approximately 212 million dirhams in 2023.
