Morocco seeks energy autonomy

03/07/2009

The Moroccan ministry of energy wants to increase energy consumption efficiency in the country. Several measures are being implemented.

By Siham Ali for Magharebia in Rabat – 03/07/09

[Abdelhak Senna/AFP/Getty Images] Moroccan Energy Minister Amina Benkhadra wants the country to lower its consumption.

The Moroccan government wants to reduce its reliance on energy from other countries. After the launch of a strategy dedicated to the sector in 2008, followed by the first energy board meetings last March, an energy efficiency agreement was signed on June 23rd, binding the public and private sectors to better energy consumption.

This undertaking is part of the process of realising the need to face constraints and meet challenges where energy autonomy is concerned, said Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi.

According to official figures from the ministry of energy, mining, water and environment, the country imports around 97% of its energy needs, representing a bill of 70 billion dirhams every year.

The agreement includes a series of moves to be implemented on a daily basis in professional circles, leading to more rational energy consumption for lighting, heating, and air conditioning. Specific action will be taken to raise awareness among economic operators, most notably with the production of practical guides on energy efficiency and the organisation of seminars on the topic of energy control.

"The agreement is an undertaking to guarantee the country's energy security," explained Energy Minister Amina Benkhadra. "The partnership between the public and private sectors is needed to hold in check the country's energy dependency. The subsidising of oil products, which increased from 3.4 billion dirhams in 2003 to 23 billion dirhams in 2008 is a heavy burden on the State budget, and makes a considerable dent in the wealth we are creating as a nation."

The president of the energy federation, Moulay Abdellah Alaoui, agrees. The energy bill is placing a huge burden on Morocco's financial and economic balance, he added.

The government wants to mobilise the private sector to rationalise consumption and increase the national product, said economist Mohamed Jebbouri. "So first of all we need to develop energy in all its forms, particularly nuclear, because rationalising consumption on its own cannot bring the results we want," he noted.

Benkhadra said the government is committed to implementing the recommendations from the energy board, namely the diversification of sources of energy in Morocco, the mobilisation of the country's renewable resources, stepping up the search for hydrocarbon deposits, guaranteeing the security of supplies, etc.

The private sector has committed itself to the energy strategy. Morocco's professional banking group has agreed to finance the construction of new electricity generating stations.

According to the ministry of energy, 3.5 million low-energy light bulbs had been distributed by the end of May 2009 out of a planned 22.7 million units. Additionally, 1,068 mega watt emergency power stations are undergoing final approval testing before coming into service by the end of December 2009 and a GMT+1 time zone has been introduced to reduce energy consumption, among other measures taken since 2008.

A public awareness campaign was launched on June 23rd to improve the use of energy and encourage the public to consume it more wisely. It is aimed at the general public, economic operators, and administrative bodies. The message is also being sent out in schools to make children aware of the importance of energy conservation.