Taqa Morocco, the nation’s premier private electricity producer, has unveiled ambitious plans to develop a massive renewable energy power plant in the south of the kingdom, with a focus on green hydrogen production.
This groundbreaking initiative, representing an investment of 100 billion Moroccan dirhams (approximately $10 billion), is poised to transform the renewable energy landscape in Morocco and the wider region.
The proposed plant, boasting a capacity of 6000 megawatts, will be dedicated to producing green hydrogen and its derivatives. This marks a significant leap forward in Morocco’s renewable energy ambitions.
Taqa Morocco, majority-owned by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) with an 85% stake, currently operates the largest coal-fired thermal power station in Africa and the Middle East, located in the Jorf Lasfar region, central Morocco. This facility consists of six units with a total production capacity of 2056 megawatts.
According to officials from Taqa Morocco and the Ministry of Investment, the new plant is set to be “the largest in Morocco in terms of investment volume and production capacity.” This aligns with Morocco’s strategy to increase the share of renewable energy sources in electricity production to over half by 2030.
In an exclusive interview with “Al Sharq,” a company official, who preferred to remain anonymous as the information is not yet public, revealed that a 70,000-hectare site in the “Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab” region, southern Morocco, has been secured for the project. The official hinted that the project could materialize within 10 to 15 years.
A Ministry of Investment official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, highlighted the region’s recent attraction of several projects in the same field, totaling investments of nearly 220 billion Moroccan dirhams. These include potential projects by companies that acquired land in 2022 and 2023 for future green hydrogen energy ventures.
Listed on the Moroccan stock exchange, Taqa Morocco is betting on attracting financing from both local and international partners for this ambitious project.
The parent company, TAQA of the UAE, renowned for leading various renewable energy projects worldwide, brings invaluable experience to the venture.
The project’s progress significantly hinges on the Moroccan government’s upcoming policy on green hydrogen, as confirmed by a Taqa official. This policy will outline the state’s direction in this promising sector and how it intends to support investments in it.
In November 2022, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI directed the government to prepare “Morocco’s Green Hydrogen Offer” to position the country as a leader in this emerging sector and cater to the growing interest from international investors.
This strategic move by Taqa Morocco signals a major shift towards sustainable energy solutions, positioning Morocco at the forefront of green hydrogen technology in the region.
