The Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests in Morocco has announced that 98.5% of construction works for the Chtouka desalination plant is completed.

The 400,000 cubic meters/per day capacity desalination plant is scheduled to begin operations by end of March 2022. Abengoa will provide operational and maintenance works for the desaliantion plant for 20 years. The US$480 million plant features five pumping stations, reservoirs, a main pipeline of 18.4 km, and a distribution network of 480 km. The seawater will be supplied through two intakes to the catchment area which will be then pumped through the RO membrane for desalination.

The project will provide irrigation water to 15.000 ha in the Chtouka plain benefiting 1500 farms.