Spain will give €340 million to help build the Casablanca Desalination Plant, Africa’s biggest. The project will supply clean water to nearly 7.5 million people. So far, work is 20% complete. The first phase will be ready by February 2027 and provide 548,000 cubic metres of water daily.
Project factsheet
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Total Spanish funding: €340 million
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Location: Lamharza Essahel, El Jadida province
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Planned capacity: 838,000 cubic metres daily
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First phase delivery: February 2027
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Phase one output: 548,000 cubic metres per day
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Phase two delivery: August 2028
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Operation model: Public-private partnership (30 years)
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Renewable energy used: Yes
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Target population: 7.5 million people
Spain’s Secretary of State for Trade, Amparo López Senovilla, announced the funding at a formal event. Morocco’s Finance Minister, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, also attended. Business leaders from both countries joined them.
Senovilla called the Casablanca Desalination Plant a symbol of strong ties between Spain and Morocco. She said the deal shows trust and solid cooperation.
The project is led by a team of Spanish and Moroccan firms. Acciona from Spain is working with Green of Africa and Afriquia Gaz from Morocco. Once done, the plant will produce over 300 million cubic metres of water each year.
Spain’s support will come in three parts:
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A €250 million loan from the Fund for Business Internationalisation (FIEM)
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A €70 million loan backed by CESCE (Spain’s export credit agency)
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€31 million from FIEX, managed by COFIDES, to support Acciona’s share
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Casablanca desalination project supports Morocco water goals and deepens Spain ties
The plant will run on green energy. It will help Morocco reach its goal of producing 1.7 billion cubic metres of drinking water by 2030. At the moment, only 320 million cubic metres are available.
Minister Fettah Alaoui called the Casablanca Desalination Plant one of the key projects in Morocco’s national water strategy. It stands out for both its size and its green design.
After construction, the plant will be managed under a 30-year deal. This includes three years for building and 27 years for running and maintaining the site.
More than 350 Spanish companies already work in Morocco. They operate in many areas like infrastructure, energy, banking, and car manufacturing. This shows how deep the economic ties go.
Trade between the two nations is strong. In 2024 alone, Spanish exports to Morocco went up by 6%. Spain is Morocco’s top trading partner, with deals worth over €22.5 billion last year.
