Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan inaugurated the construction of the Casablanca seawater desalination plant on Monday in Lamharza Essahel Commune, El Jadida Province.

Set to be the largest of its kind in Africa, the plant will ultimately have an annual production capacity of 300 million cubic meters, benefiting an estimated 7.5 million inhabitants.

This project aligns with the strategic focus on water issues championed by King Mohammed VI, particularly in response to significant rainfall deficits and pressure on conventional water resources in various regions of the Kingdom.

It forms part of the "Improving Water Supply" axis of the National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Program 2020-2027, initiated by the King at a total cost of 143 billion dirhams.

The new plant, aimed at meeting the rising water demand in Greater Casablanca and surrounding cities including Settat, Berrechid, and Bir Jdid, will be constructed in two phases on a 50-hectare site.

The project involves a total investment of 6.5 billion dirhams, funded through a public-private partnership.

In its first phase, the plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2026, with a capacity of 548,000 cubic meters of treated water per day (200 million cubic meters annually).

The second phase, planned for mid-2028, will expand capacity to 822,000 cubic meters per day, adding an extra 100 million cubic meters annually, with 50 million cubic meters allocated for agricultural use.

This significant undertaking includes the construction of a reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant and a comprehensive water transport system, featuring three pumping stations, three storage tanks, and nearly 130 kilometres of supply pipes.

The transport system alone will require an investment of 3 billion dirhams from public funds.

The state-of-the-art Casablanca desalination plant will feature two 1,850-meter-long seawater intake pipes, a 2,500-meter-long discharge outfall, reverse osmosis facilities, pressure and microfilters, a sludge treatment unit, a control and management centre, and additional pumping stations, along with a storage reservoir for the drinking water produced.

With an estimated drinking water production cost of 4.48 DH/m3, the plant will be powered entirely by renewable energy and its operations will be fully automated, marking a significant step forward in sustainable water management for the region.