Energy Recovery has bagged contracts worth US $27.5M for desalination projects in Morocco. Rodney Clemente, Senior Vice President of Water Recovery at Energy Recovery revealed the report and said this development is significant as North Africa, particularly Morocco, grapples with a severe water crisis exacerbated by prolonged drought conditions.
With reservoir levels plummeting to a critical 25%, Morocco is intensifying its desalination efforts, aiming to source half of its drinking water from desalination by 2030. Rodney highlighted the significance of these contracts, which include one of the largest desalination projects in North Africa.
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Benefits
The company’s pressure exchangers, which reduce energy consumption by up to 60%, are key to the sustainability of these initiatives. Once operational, the desalination plants are expected to prevent the emission of over 475,000 tons of carbon annually.
The newly contracted desalination plants are expected to produce over a million cubic meters of potable water daily, benefiting more than 600,000 people across the country. Remarkably, over half of this desalinated water will be allocated to agriculture, addressing both drinking and irrigation needs in the region.
In tandem with these efforts, Morocco’s National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) has launched a national project to secure and enhance the water supply for the city of Guercif and surrounding areas. This initiative, part of the National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Program 2020-2027, will cost approximately US $47M and is funded with support from the African Development Bank (AFDB). The project will utilize surface water from the Oued Zobzit river, further bolstering Morocco’s water security amid ongoing environmental challenges.