Veolia and Morocco resume talks on Rabat desalination plant

The French conglomerate Veolia and Morocco’s Interior Ministry have rekindled discussions over the strategic Rabat desalination plant, with an impressive annual capacity of 300 million m³. This ambitious project, supported by the Élysée, has returned to the negotiation table after experiencing several months of inactivity, as reported on Thursday by Africa Intelligence.

The French publication indicates the plant aims to produce 822,000 m³ of potable water daily, utilizing renewable energy. Current talks are primarily centered around the cost of desalinated water, with both parties striving to settle on a target price of 4.5 dirhams per m³.

«Rabat and Paris are gradually reopening dialogue on constructing this plant in the Moroccan capital after months of pause. The discussions were never halted due to a unilateral decision, but were delayed by financial disagreements and climate considerations», the outlet noted.

A memorandum of understanding was inked in October 2024 during President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Morocco, outlining the plan for the desalination plant.

Situated along the Atlantic coast near Rabat, the project will be executed as a public-private partnership. Veolia will oversee the design, financing, construction, and operation of the plant over a span of 35 years.

With a daily capacity of 822,000 m³, translating to 300 million m³ annually, the facility will cater to the water requirements of approximately 9.3 million residents across the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Fez-Meknes regions, as stated by Veolia in a statement.

This development unfolds just a week after a meeting in Rabat of the Morocco-France High Joint Commission, jointly led by French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Morocco’s Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch.

Meanwhile, Morocco’s desalination market continues to entice major global players. Two Spanish firms, Acciona and Cox, are competing to construct the upcoming Tangier desalination plant, anticipated to be operational around 2028-2029. This facility is expected to produce 150 million m³ of water annually.