São Paulo – Morocco, an Arab nation in North Africa, is progressing with a series of activities aimed at becoming a global leader in renewable energy. The theme was the target of an article published by French paper La Tribune, according to Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP), the Moroccan news agency.
Ever since the country signed the executive contention of the United Nations on climate change, in 1995, and the Kyoto Protocol, in 2000, the government of Morocco has been adopting measures in favour of the environment. Around one year ago, however, points out the French paper, the process was accelerated.
The Moroccan environmental project takes into consideration a horizon of ten years and covers several sectors, like water conservation and recovery of residues. In the case of residues, the objective is for 90% of the waste produced in the country to be recycled in ten years. The current percentage is 70%.
The French newspaper says that the country has even greater ambitions for production of renewable energies, but recalls that 97% of the Moroccan energy is currently imported, mainly oil.
“With the elevation of quality of life and economic development, energy needs are going to present a threefold increase by 2030. There is urgency for expansion of the country’s energy capacity," said Mustapha Bakkoury, the president of the Moroccan Solar Energy Agency (Masen), to La Tribune.
According to him, renewable energy, like solar and wind energy, should represent 42% of the energy capacity of the country in 2020. Production should reach 2,000 megawatts in each of the areas.
The country is installing its first hydroelectric power plants and has been developing projects in the wind area, where the installed capacity totals 300 megawatts, with another 700 megawatts in installation. In November 2009, Morocco also announced a great solar energy project.
“Morocco plays a central part in terms of energy in the region and may be a centre for energy connection between Europe and Africa," stated the Energy, Mines, Water and Environment minister of Morocco, Amina Benkhadra.
Brazil
The Moroccan strategy also involves Brazil. Both governments have negotiated an agreement in the energy area. The Moroccans are interested in the production of fuel ethanol, broadly used in vehicles in Brazil.
The theme was discussed for the first time during a trip that the foreign minister of Brazil, Celso Amorim, took to the African country in 2008. As informed by ANBA at the time, the theme was discussed with minister Amina.
On the other lane, Brazil is interested in the Moroccan production of fertilizers, as the country imports great volumes of these inputs for Agriculture.
*Translated by Mark Ament
