Saur Energy
By Ayush Verma
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has in its latest in-depth review of Morocco’s energy policies, highlighted the institutional, legal and fiscal reforms undertaken to promote the sustainable development of the country’s energy sector.
Since the last review in 2014, the agency noted the government’s positive efforts to boost renewable investment, provide access to electricity, and phase out of subsidies for fossil fuel consumption. With the exception of bottled butane, fuel prices are now linked to the international market.
Morocco is pursuing an ambitious energy transition pathway. But reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, in line with the country’s commitments to the Paris Agreement, will require the scaling up of private and public investments. The review provides detailed recommendations to maintain the momentum for reform and increase ambitions for the country’s energy transition. It notes that Morocco has ample opportunities for efficiency improvements and more renewables deployment. For now, the country still relies on oil, gas and coal imports for 90% of its energy needs. In power generation, coal accounts for 54%.
In this context, the report welcomed the government’s renewed focus on energy efficiency, through the National Energy Efficiency Strategy and related action plans. The North African nation has also refurbished its coal-fired power generation fleet with efficiency upgrades to ultra-supercritical technology. Providing adequate funding for energy efficiency programmes, and coordinating them across government agencies, is also critical.
The world’s largest concentrating solar park at Ouarzazate illustrates the country’s ambition and technological capability. To develop the country’s large renewables resources, the government is pursuing power sector reform, creating a national electricity regulatory authority, developing new interconnections with Spain and Portugal, and planning to boost power trading and integrate its electricity market regionally.
“I am very pleased to count Morocco as a member of the IEA Family,” said Faith Birol, IEA Executive Director. “It was the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to join us. Morocco’s success in moving towards universal access and phasing out fossil fuel subsidies is a role model for many countries, making it an ideal partner to host regional training and capacity building programmes that help to improve energy policymaking across Africa.”
