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Advocating for the Morocco-UK Energy Link Amid Industrial Uncertainties

Tuesday 13 May 2025 - 13:02

By: Zahouani Ilham

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In London, Leïla Benali and Andrew Forrest advocate for the electric link between Morocco and the UK amidst industrial uncertainties. While the UK government is still considering its political endorsement for the Xlinks project, which aims to connect Morocco's vast solar fields to the British grid via an underwater cable, Australian businessman Andrew Forrest has been holding high-level meetings in London. It remains unclear whether he will support this project or prepare a competing initiative, creating strategic ambiguity regarding the final configuration of the energy corridor between Rabat and London.

Forrest, the chairman of Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), recently discussed an electrical corridor project in London with British Energy Minister Ed Miliband, aimed at connecting Morocco’s extensive solar fields to the UK’s energy network. He reportedly worked alongside Leïla Benali, Morocco’s Minister for Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, according to British media.

This colossal project, based on an underwater cable over 4,000 kilometers long, seeks to transmit electricity generated in the Sahara to southern England. Fortescue, traditionally focused on mining, has shifted under Forrest’s leadership toward clean technologies, aiming to break global dependence on fossil fuels.

Meanwhile, the UK government has confirmed the national importance of the Xlinks project, led by Dave Lewis, the former CEO of Tesco. This initiative aims to transport Moroccan solar and wind power to seven million UK homes by 2030, with government approval speeding up the process by bypassing local authorities.

However, Xlinks faces significant hurdles: securing additional funding, long-term tariff agreements, and gaining approval to pass through French and Spanish territorial waters. The project’s estimated cost stands between £20 and £22 billion (approximately 254 to 279 billion MAD).

Against this backdrop, Forrest’s position remains unclear. While he is involved in a partnership with Morocco's OCP for green hydrogen and decarbonized ammonia production, Forrest has not yet clarified whether he intends to support the Xlinks project or propose a separate infrastructure. Some analysts predict that another competing corridor may be unveiled in the coming months, under the banner of clean industry.

Benali, a steadfast advocate for the Moroccan proposal, attended the Energy Security Summit in London in late April. In front of a European audience of policymakers and industry leaders, she emphasized the need for profound changes in global infrastructure, calling for a global restructuring of energy circuits based on complementarity between producing and consuming nations.

Forrest, recognized internationally for his philanthropic efforts and his ambition to transform FMG into a leader in decarbonized energy, was recently ranked among the top 100 most influential people by Time Magazine. He, along with his wife Nicola, runs the Minderoo Foundation and leads the investment fund Tattarang Capital. Despite their public separation in July 2023, the couple reaffirmed that their personal changes would not affect the governance of their business and charitable ventures. FMG remains committed to its strategic goal: to become the global leader in low-carbon metals and energy