Morocco seeks energy security
2008-07-16
Morocco, a country where 96% of energy is imported, has announced a plan to reduce dependence on foreign supplies by encouraging increased efficiency and the use of sustainable alternative energy sources.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 16/07/08
 [Sarah Touahri] Moroccan Energy Minister Amina Benkhadra announced a plan last week to reduce Morocco's dependence on foreign energy sources. The use of nuclear and renewable energies is an important component of the plan. |
Energy security is all the buzz in Morocco, where experts and officials have begun to discuss the thorny issue on a regular basis. Minister of Energy and Mining Amina Benkhadra announced a new plan on Tuesday (July 8th) to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources by cutting waste, increasing efficiency and boosting the use of sustainable energy sources.
The Moroccan government says it has a plan to reduce imports of electricity, oil and gas. Last year almost all of its energy – 96% – came from abroad.
Energy Federation President Moulay Abdellah Alaoui has said that oil imports alone account for more than 30% of total imports into the country.
In a bid to reduce dependency on foreign energy, the government is taking the preliminary steps to create a $1 billion energy development fund from gifts from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates totalling $800m and a contribution of $200m from the Hassan II Foundation.
During a cabinet meeting last Tuesday Minister of Energy and Mining Amina Benkhadra said the new energy strategy aims to safeguard energy supplies by seeking new sources, achieving an optimal energy mix and developing sustainable regional and international integration.
Benkhadra said that in order to rein in demand, energy use for street lighting, buildings, industry and transport will be reviewed and adjusted to consume less energy.
To cut down petrol and diesel use, the government has outlined an action plan of encouraging citizens to improve public transport and replace older cars with newer, more efficient models.
In addition, beginning in January 2009, only two types of fuel will be sold in Morocco: 50ppm diesel and super unleaded petrol. The use of these cleaner fuels should cut atmospheric emissions by 760 tonnes of lead per year and 54,000 tonnes of sulphur per year.
Nuclear energy is a major component of the country's energy security strategy. In the long term, the 2020/2030 strategic programmes are based on the principle of retaining the option of nuclear electricity generation.
The use of renewable energies also figures prominently in the strategy. The productive sectors committee within the Chamber of Representatives has highlighted the importance of promoting solar and wind power and learning from the experience of European countries.
The government has set a target of increasing the use of renewable energies to 20% of the electricity balance and 10% of the national energy balance by 2012.
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BMFA Posted 2008-07-17
This article was truly interesting, but also scary. The government could start with simple and, of course, effective policies. For example: they could reduce the price cap or, if not, distribute free gas lamps, which utilise very little energy. That would be a start, a reminder, a lesson and a permanent way of sensitising households that consume a lot of energy. What do you think???
slim16 Posted 2008-07-18
The author who wrote this seems to be blind. She did not talk about the accords signed with Algeria on hydrocarbons and electricity. She would do better to re-read her work and add what needs to be added!!!
بلمجدوب Posted 2008-07-19
I hope that the Security Council interferes on the issue of oil and fixes its price between 50 and 75 dollars a barrel. Oil has become a staple. No one can live without it. This will affect the poor more than it affects the rich.
ares Posted 2008-07-20
One billion from Arabia, 800 million from Dubai, one billion from Qatar, two billion from Kuwait, two more from Arabia, one billion from France… Frankly, with a debt of 35 billion, one day all of these countries are going to file a lawsuit.
ilias crehan Posted 2008-07-20
Having travelled in Maroc earlier this year after spending time in the Canarias, What was interesting was the abundance of solar harnessing in Canarias and the lack of it in the south of Maroc. Maroc Has an abundance of Sun and access to tidal power. Of course the initial outlay will be expensive, but the rewards would seem to be obviousMaroc spends a large amount of its GDP on public employees, to fulfill dubious functions. It could instead channel some of that into renewable projects. south Maroc has an abundance of sunshine which could be channelled into many small scale projects.In Britain we use solar to power parking meters and road signs!!! Maroc could use it for street lights,water pumping,sewageworks....Many uses, & with investment in batteries,storage or feed to the national grid.After installation the carbon footprint is minimal.It is also consistant with keeping things local and reducing losses through transportation. I wish you luck. ilias
gol Posted 2008-07-21
“You do not catch flies with vinegar.” The only solution is to acquire a nuclear power station with the help of friendly countries such as France, Spain, the United States and so on. To rule means to make predictions! The Moroccan government should have acted before it had its back against the wall, facing the dizzying rise in the price of a barrel of oil.
مناش حسن بوبكري Posted 2008-07-22
Morocco is the country of finance and business is still making a step forward and a step backward in the exploration of energy. This means that over half a century wasn’t enough for the plundering and laissez-aller. Morocco needs donation or begging operations from Saudi Arabia and Emirates as though rich people in the country have no billions in European and Swiss banks!!! The Moroccan people are qualified to go back to the era of candles, lamps, riding donkeys and mules. They are new to this type of energy and transport means. But what will come after all this patience? Will this oppressed people offer you another 50 years of plundering? Will you be satisfied? Then will you notice that the world around you has changed? Morocco has 2500 km of seas (the Mediterranean and Atlantic). It has abundant resources of fish. Fishing is available for private people who accumulate their monies in foreign banks and don’t invest them in their country. It has the best farm ranches. 4,444 ranches left over by the colonizers but were spoilt by Sodia and Sogeca companies during there decades. They would have been enough to cover the needs of Morocco in vegetables instead of importing them. They would have been even enough for the neighbours if they were exploited well. This would have been possible if they weren’t managed by sinful and destructive hands. These ranches seem for the simple observer in its present condition as though the country has just come out of independence and entered colonization including old buildings, dried trees, empty wells and bumpy roads. If Morocco, wise people, has no petrol, it has phosphate. Maybe the phosphate includes uranium. It also has godly gifts, not human acts, which would put it in the same level of developed countries such as the heat of the sun for example, mountains, rivers and water. Or it could be member of the countries called Asian tigers. But it seems that we won’t get out from the circle of cattle to the circle of tigers. Maybe we need a third or fourth generation to arrive on the condition that we use our mind far from chauvinism. We have inherited this sinew from Al Hajjaj Ben Youssef Al Taqfi and let aside this sharp sword aside. Oppression and coercion won’t solve problems. It collects them yes but doesn’t settle them. Solutions require more flexibility and compromise. This is required of is first the price from our brothers secondly.
slim16 Posted 2008-07-25
Energy dependence is a real headache for underdeveloped countries. With rising prices, Morocco is in a very difficult position. With good partnership agreements with Algeria, it could cope somewhat better!!! But, once again, it is necessary that we establish more transparent and a lot more sincere relations. As for considerations on nuclear energy, the whole country would have to be mortgaged for several centuries. It would never escape dependence! This is not what is best for a people who are already being martyred to the expensive cost of living. It is necessary to have sufficient means to follow through with policies for the future. The saying goes: “If you’ve got a penny, then you’re worth a penny.”
BEN Posted 2008-07-25
At least Ms Benkhadra deserves her position. We have learned a lot about the reality of our country’s energy, a subject that was taboo and covered in tall tales. Now it’s time for work! I get the impression that it will be the women of Morocco of such quality who are going to change landscape, and they are going to do so with less demagoguery and with more realism and determination. The doomsayers can keep profiting of their revenue and leave the rest to work at least.
Farid Posted 2008-07-29
In Response to Belmejdoub and Gol: Why didn’t anybody say anything when the price of a barrel of oil was at $10 at the beginning of the 1990s? Now, you have become an expert in petrochemicals and even finance, such that you are asking for the Security Council to intervene in order to fix the price of a basic commodity, which, as if by accident, is none other than oil, and to have all the countries lower their taxes. Are you trying to be naïve or something? For example, France, thanks to its tax revenue, will get 17.5 billion euros. To this sum, add 5 billion collected directly from the regions. A barrel of oil is less expensive than 50 millilitres of “l’Air du Temps” perfume or “Chanel № 5”. Before stepping in an asking for anything, you need to review your papers. As for Gol, building a nuclear power plant is not like building a factory to produce tomato concentrate. You need to first of all train engineers and technicians to work and do maintenance. Has there ever been a time when the Arab countries had the right to speak of nuclear power in the same way? For example, Algeria was wrongfully accused by the West and even its neighbour for being too insistent. So, if the nuclear remedy were so easy, then Algeria would have done this. And, don’t worry: it was not the money we were lacking. Finding and extracting oil costs a lot nowadays, so the price of oils is legitimate. Personally, I think it is even less expensive than it should be. A price between $180 and $200 would be fair. Goodbye
nizar Posted 2008-07-31
Slim; Energy dependence is an annoyance precisely to energy-producing countries; developed countries are not really suffering from the rise in the cost of oil!!! Pfff! What is more, between the three countries of the Maghreb-”Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia-the most developed is also the richest!!! It is one of the most oil- and gas-rich countries in the world.
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