Morocco-France electrical interconnection project makes strides

The Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, recently led a virtual meeting to discuss the progress of technical and economic studies related to the Morocco-France electrical interconnection project. This initiative is part of a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing bilateral energy cooperation under the theme "Connecting energy transitions between Morocco and France."

The ministry's statement highlighted that this meeting marked a significant milestone in bilateral coordination and emphasized the importance of data exchange mechanisms essential for the realization of this ambitious project. The interconnection is expected to be a strategic lever for achieving energy security and reinforcing the integration of the electrical systems of both countries.

Participants stressed the need for close cooperation and ongoing coordination among the involved entities to strengthen the foundations of the strategic partnership. They advocated for a smooth and transparent exchange of technical data and information to accelerate the project's implementation.

This meeting was convened as part of the activation of the strategic partnership agreement on energy cooperation between Morocco and France, signed on October 28, 2024, in the presence of King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The multidimensional strategic partnership aims to advance cooperation in various energy sectors, including energy policy and planning, certification and regulation, renewable energies, electrical systems, low-carbon hydrogen production, energy storage, critical metals, and molecule transport. This initiative seeks to enhance both countries' positions as strategic players in the energy transition at regional and global levels.

The meeting included several key officials from both sides, including Gerard Mistralih, the special envoy of President Macron, Xavier Piechaczyk, CEO of the French Electricity Transmission Network (RTE), as well as representatives from the French Embassy in Rabat, the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), and the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN).