Morocco’s robust dam strategy fortifies water sovereignty

Under the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has strategically established its dam policy as a cornerstone of national water sovereignty, cultivating an extensive and valuable water heritage, as affirmed by Nizar Baraka, the Minister of Equipment and Water, during Wednesday’s MAP Town Hall event in Rabat.

By the close of 2026, Morocco anticipates possessing 156 large dams, boasting a collective capacity of 20.8 billion cubic meters, with an additional 14 major structures currently under construction. This impressive infrastructure, born from the King’s proactive vision, has fostered high-level national expertise across hydraulic engineering, technical studies, civil engineering, and the comprehensive management of water infrastructure, Minister Baraka elaborated at the second edition of the MAP Town Hall, which focused on “The Royal Water Vision: Foundation of Hydric Sovereignty and Territorial Equity.”

These vital water assets are instrumental in building water resilience across all regions and for the entire population, while simultaneously ensuring the efficient and judicious management of water demand for the foreseeable future. The Minister highlighted that eight significant dams have been completed between 2021 and 2026 alone.

Thanks to the rainfall recorded this year and the extensive hydraulic infrastructure developed nationwide under the Sovereign’s enlightened guidance, Morocco currently enjoys an average of at least two years of secure potable water and irrigation water supply across its entire territory.

Complementing this robust framework, the policy for small dams further enhances the nation’s water resilience. Minister Baraka revealed that his department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, has initiated a program to construct 155 small dams by the end of 2028. This initiative aims to guarantee water access for rural communities, crucially secure groundwater recharge, and establish strategic reserves for future generations.

In alignment with the Royal Vision, Morocco’s comprehensive water strategy – encompassing dam policy, hydraulic basin governance, desalination, wastewater reuse, and climate change adaptation – forms a diverse water mix designed to ensure the nation’s long-term water security.

Regarding non-conventional water sources, Morocco projects that by 2030, seawater desalination will meet 60% of its potable water requirements, the Minister further detailed.

Moreover, through various inter-basin interconnections and the development of “water highways,” Morocco is progressively forging a genuine national water solidarity. This vital resource is becoming a powerful driver of territorial justice, ensuring water security for major urban centers, as well as connected rural towns and localities.

Mohammed Benahmed, an international expert in territorial development, underscored that Morocco manages one of the African continent’s most substantial water heritages. This necessitates long-term strategic oversight, including continuous performance evaluation of assets, multi-year budgetary planning for maintenance, and effective dam governance.

Benahmed emphasized that preserving such an extensive water heritage demands the mobilization of stable financial resources, tailored to accommodate long investment cycles.

In this context, he proposed innovative financing models, such as green bonds, concessional climate financing, blended instruments combining grants, subsidized loans, and guarantees, as well as Public-Private Partnerships.

Adding to the discussion, Mohamed Amrani, a senior policy officer for the North Africa region at the FAO, stressed that water sovereignty hinges on interregional arbitration rooted in principles of equity, sustainability, productivity, and solidarity.

He further clarified that sound water resource governance also involves striking a balance to secure supply without incurring excessively high costs or creating undue dependency.

The “MAP Town Hall,” a reimagined version of the traditional MAP Forum, serves as a platform for in-depth dialogue and constructive exchanges among decision-makers, experts, and development stakeholders, fostering an informed and productive public debate.

The second iteration of this new event saw the participation of numerous officials from both public and private institutions, alongside media representatives.