Casablanca waste-to-energy megaproject estimated at €1.3 billion

Sunday 09 August 2026 - 10:45

By: Sahili Aya

Casablanca waste-to-energy megaproject estimated at €1.3 billion

Morocco is preparing to take a major step toward transforming household waste into energy with a large-scale project in Casablanca estimated to require an investment of around €1.3 billion, according to Portuguese energy and circular-economy publication Jornal PT Green.

The facility, described as one of the largest projects of its kind in Africa, is expected to establish a new model for integrated waste treatment and energy recovery in the Kingdom.

A major facility near the Mediona landfill

The project will be developed near the Mediona landfill and is expected to process approximately 1.5 million tonnes of household waste every year.

According to the information reported by Jornal PT Green, the installation could generate close to 1 terawatt-hour of electricity annually, turning a significant portion of the region’s waste stream into an energy resource.

The project would be the first of its kind in Morocco to combine large-scale integrated waste treatment with energy recovery, marking a significant shift away from a waste-management model heavily reliant on landfill disposal.

Targeting an 80% waste recovery rate

The initiative is designed to reshape household waste management across Greater Casablanca, an urban area with more than 4.2 million inhabitants.

One of its main objectives is to increase the proportion of waste recovered to nearly 80%, while reducing the volume sent to landfill. Beyond its environmental dimension, the project is expected to contribute to Morocco’s broader efforts to diversify its energy sources and accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable economy.

The combination of waste reduction, material recovery and electricity generation places the project at the intersection of the circular economy and the country’s energy strategy.

Thousands of jobs during construction

The investment is also expected to have a significant economic impact during the construction phase.

Construction is projected to last around three and a half years and could involve approximately 1,240 workers. A further 300 jobs are expected to be generated through associated infrastructure.

Once operational, the facility is expected to support around 140 permanent skilled positions, creating a long-term employment component beyond the initial construction phase.

Moroccan, Swiss and Japanese partnership

The project brings together three major industrial and investment groups: Moroccan company Nareva, Swiss waste-to-energy specialist Kanadevia Inova and Japanese conglomerate Itochu.

According to Kanadevia Inova, the partners have signed a concession agreement with the Casablanca municipality. Electricity-sale agreements have also been concluded with the Casablanca-Settat Regional Multiservice Company and Morocco’s National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE).

The partnership reflects the international dimension of a project that could become a reference point for large-scale waste recovery and energy production in Morocco.

Casablanca at the centre of Morocco’s circular-economy ambitions

With its substantial processing capacity and projected electricity output, the facility could significantly alter how Casablanca and the surrounding region manage household waste.

Beyond the €1.3 billion investment, the project represents a broader effort to reduce dependence on landfill, recover value from waste and produce electricity from a resource that has traditionally been treated primarily as an environmental challenge.

If delivered according to the announced objectives, the Casablanca facility could establish a new benchmark for waste-to-energy infrastructure in Morocco and strengthen the country’s position in Africa’s emerging circular-economy sector.