Morocco has a long way to go when it comes to ecology, we agree. But things have been moving for several years now, with more and more people becoming aware of the issue.
The King’s brother, Moulay Rachid, has always been a great enthusiast for the environment. A few years ago, he had a project for a city that would be self-sufficient from an ecological and energy point of view. [Zenata] Thanks to the royal impetus and international cooperation, major projects are getting under way, with the aim of providing more than 40% of Morocco’s energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020.
Stepping up the development of solar energy
Invitations to tender are about to be issued for the construction of several solar power stations. Those at Ouarzazate should total 500 MW, with others planned at Laayoune, Tarfaya, Boujdour and a site near Fez. In all, this programme, which will cost more than 9 billion dollars, should make it possible to build a production of around 2,000 MW by 2020, and supply more than 12% of the energy used in Morocco. King Hassan II developed the dams, and his son is continuing with his major programmes.
In addition, funding and assistance are available for individuals wishing to invest in solar energy
Wind energy not left behind in Morocco
It’s well known that in the land of the Chergui (a hot wind that blows across the desert and often brings sandstorms), there’s wind.
So it was in Tangiers that Morocco opened Africa’s largest wind farm, with 165 turbines at a cost of 250 million euros. Other wind farms are planned, a second in Tangier, followed by Taza, Laayoune, Tétouan, Boujdour…
These major projects have a threefold impact:
- Provide Morocco with renewable energy that is cheaper than oil and suited to its climate.
- Raise Moroccans’ awareness of the use of these energies.
- Promote a sector of activity and jobs, particularly maintenance. In the long term, the spread of solar and wind energy to private customers will require a large number of maintenance technicians, close to the customer and not “on the other side of the Tichka”.
Defining natural areas to be preserved
21 areas have been selected for their biodiversity. Signs on the roads encourage passers-by to appreciate and respect them. But how? There’s also the question of resources, because in a country where speeding is still usually paid for with a small bribe, I can’t see how green rangers could effectively enforce these zones. There would have to be enough of them, and they would have to be as diplomatic as they were firm.
Mission impossible?
Time will tell, but this is without doubt the initiative that makes me doubt the most.
The creation of an organic label in Morocco
The darija does not have a word for “organic”, but rather “beldi”, which means “from the country”, or “local”.
In short, industrial production is contrasted with local production, which is said to be naturally organic.
While this approach is roughly correct, in practice many Beldi farmers use chemicals or feed that is not always very organic to feed their animals.
For example, on small farms, poultry is also fed on waste, fruit peelings, and all it takes is for the fruit to come from the large farms towards Agadir for the organic chain to be completely broken.
A green label is being created in Morocco. It will focus first and foremost on the two flagship products, two Berber products: saffron, which you can buy in our shop and argan oil, whose production cooperatives have multiplied so much that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish it from basic edible oil (especially in the expensive bottles sold in tourist centres).
As the argan tree is not cultivated, the label will essentially guarantee the purity of the oil. For saffron, it will be necessary to ensure that the traditional methods of cultivation, as still practised in Taliouine, are respected.
Des projets variés
The projects presented at Earth Day included
- preserving coastal marine ecosystems by using artificial reefs to improve marine biodiversity (yes, Morocco is a major fishing country)
- combating desertification in several areas of the Kingdom, in particular through reforestation (we’ll talk about this in a third post)
- using gas from certain landfill sites as energy.
- awareness-raising initiatives, which we have already seen on Moroccan television, including waste collection days for Moroccan schoolchildren.
This is a brief overview of Morocco’s major ecological projects. What about the private sector? What about tourism? In the next post, we’ll introduce you to a few ecolodges, and in the next, we’ll look at an initiative with which we’re associated, to promote reforestation and combat desertification.
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