A consortium led by Spanish contractor Acciona has broken ground on a desalination plant at Lamharza Essahel, about 40 km south of Casablanca in Morocco.

The MAD 6.5 billion (USD 650 million) renewable-powered desalination plant in El Jadida province, near Casablanca, will supply drinking water and irrigation to communities in Casablanca, Settat, Berrechid, Birr El Jadid, and surrounding areas. This public-private partnership project will produce 200 million cubic meters of drinking water annually from 2026, increasing to 300 million cubic meters in later phases. The consortium will operate and maintain the 50-ha reverse osmosis plant under contract with the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water, with the plant running entirely on wind energy. Acciona has signed a power purchase agreement with a Moroccan renewable energy producer.

Additionally, the consortium will construct US$300 million worth of ancillary works, including a storage reservoir and 130 km of supply pipelines, as well as install two 1.85 km-long seawater intake pipes, a 2.5 km discharge outfall, a sludge treatment unit, and a control center. This project is part of a US$14.3 billion initiative launched four years ago to protect Morocco from the impacts of climate change.