Renewable Energy: Morocco Opens Training Institute in Ouarzazate
The infrastructure project concerns linking the electricity network of central Morocco with the network in Western Sahara.
Morocco’s Minister of Energy, Aziz Rabbah, and the Director-General of the National Electricity Office (ONEE), Abderrahim El Hafidi, gave the update on the project’s progress on Friday, February 26, during a visit to Dakhla.
The visit aimed to inspect the progress of the major infrastructure project, which falls within Morocco’s sustainable development program in the southern provinces.
The project has an overall budget of MAD 2.4 billion ($268.4 million), including MAD 1.5 billion ($167.8 million) provided by ONEE, MAD 536 million ($59.9 million) by local authorities, and MAD 350 million ($39.1 million) by private operators.
The first phase of the project was completed in 2018. It included 200 kilometers of electric lines with a capacity of 400 kilovolts (kV) between Laayoune and Boujdour, 45 kilometers of electric lines with a 225 kV capacity between Boujdour and Afteisat, and a medium-voltage electricity station in Afteisat.
The second phase, meanwhile, includes 254 kilometers of 400 kV electric lines between Afteisat and Dakhla, two electricity stations in peninsular city, one 49-kilometer-long regular electric line, and one underground electric line of similar length.
The projects included in the second phase are in their final testing phase and will soon be operational.
The major infrastructure project seeks to improve electric connectivity in Morocco’s southern provinces. It also aims to allow the local population to benefit from the energy generated by the wind farms and solar power plants built in the region.
In addition to this project, ONEE is considering connecting the national electricity network with Guerguerat, 360 kilometers further to the south of Dakhla. The electricity office has already launched feasibility studies about the potential project.
The second phase, meanwhile, includes 254 kilometers of 400 kV electric lines between Afteisat and Dakhla, two electricity stations in peninsular city, one 49-kilometer-long regular electric line, and one underground electric line of similar length.
The projects included in the second phase are in their final testing phase and will soon be operational.
The major infrastructure project seeks to improve electric connectivity in Morocco’s southern provinces. It also aims to allow the local population to benefit from the energy generated by the wind farms and solar power plants built in the region.
In addition to this project, ONEE is considering connecting the national electricity network with Guerguerat, 360 kilometers further to the south of Dakhla. The electricity office has already launched feasibility studies about the potential project.
The institute is part of a partnership agreement between a number of ministerial sectors. The partnership was signed in 2011 with the aim of keeping pace with the national energy policy.
The institute is the third of its kind at the national level after the two institutes in Oujda and Tangier.
The institute is currently hosting 156 trainees in renewable energies and energy efficiency. It has a number of facilities to allow trainees access professions related to renewable energy.
The institute started operating in the 2020-2021 training session.
Morocco equipped the institute to provide all resources to allow trainees receive professional training in the field.
The financial cost of the project was estimated at MAD 139.5 million, with a capacity of 400 seats annually for trainees.
Amzazi said the institute works to provide the needs of manpower and qualified competencies in the renewable energy sector and in fields related to energy efficiency.
The new renewable energy institute was established in partnership between the Federation of Mechanical, Metallurgic, Electrical and Electronic Industries; the National Federation of Electricity, Electronics and Renewable Energies; and the Agency for the Development for Renewable Energies.
Morocco’s National Electric Office and the Moroccan Solar Energy Agency also contributed to the establishment of the facilities.
The selection of Ouarzazate to host Morocco’s third renewable energy institute is strategic due to the region’s potentials in renewable energies and related fields.
The city hosts the Noor Ouarzazate solar power plant, one of the landmark projects in the sector in Morocco.
The plant supplies two million Maraccans with electricity. The solar plant also prevents the emission of nearly one million tonnes of greenhouse gas per year.
The Ouarzazate complex covers over 3,000 hectares and has a capacity of 580 megawatts spread over four plants. The Noor project falls within the framework of Morocco’s ambition to position itself a world leader in efficient and clean energy.
Morocco recently announced its ambition of sourcing 52% of its energy from renewable energies by 2030.
Source: moroccoworldnews
