Morocco launches 'biggest national solar-thermal energy project'

22 January 2010

Morocco has launched a solar-thermal energy project it claims will be able to produce 2,000MW by 2020 - 38 per cent of its power needs.

North Africa's only non-oil producing nation also anticipates being able to decrease its oil imports by 12 per cent, the Science and Development Network reported.

Researcher at the Centre for the Development of Renewable Energy Fatiha Bouhired was quoted by the publication as expressing concern for the long-term financing of this project.

Currently, funding is coming from the government, the National Office of Electricity and the Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development.

A national tender will be held at the end of the month for foreign partners and several big players such as Japan, the United Arab Emirates and the United States are said to be interested.

Energy minister Amina Benkhadra told Reuters recently that the first tender would be for the Ourzazate power and the rest would follow.

Category: Energy