OCP connects atlantic to Khouribga with 203‑km desalinated water pipeline

Tuesday 15 July 2025 - 10:56

The OCP Group officially inaugurated on July 14 the Jorf Lasfar–Khouribga (J2K) pipeline, a major infrastructure project that transports desalinated seawater over 203 km from the Atlantic coast to central Morocco. The initiative, led by OCP Green Water, now supplies the world’s largest phosphate mine at Khouribga and, in a second phase, will secure drinking water for the city.

“The sea water of our country has reached the centre of the Kingdom,” celebrated Hanane Mourchid, OCP’s director of sustainable development and innovation. The pipeline was built in just 24 months since mid-2023, reflecting both the urgency of rising water stress and OCP’s execution capacity.

With an annual capacity of 80 million m³, the J2K pipeline links the Jorf Lasfar desalination plant—powered by cogeneration—to Khouribga. It features a pumping station, a 25,000 m³ storage reservoir, eight pressure-monitoring stations, leak-detection systems, and cathodic protection. For the first time in Morocco, hydraulic pigging tests were used to enhance security and performance.

This infrastructure secures water autonomy for the phosphate complex and, later, will support municipal supply. A collaboration between UM6P and INNOVX is investigating the use of non-conventional desalinated water for irrigating high-value crops.

Constructed by SGTM/STAM at a cost of MAD 5 billion—part of a broader MAD 40 billion water investment programme—financing came from both national and international actors, including IFC, KfW, AFD, OCP, and CDG. IFC contributed MAD 1 billion alone. The work generated 1 million man-days—an average of 1,300 jobs daily—with 86 percent local labour, while creating around 100 permanent jobs.

Adopting a circular water model, the project integrates desalination, treatment, and wastewater reuse to alleviate pressure on natural resources. Desalinated water now serves industrial sites and communities, fostering shared value.

OCP targets a production cost of MAD 5/m³ of desalinated water—on par with Middle Eastern benchmarks—though current costs remain about 20 percent higher. Continuous optimisation of energy processes, engineering innovation, and cost management aim to reduce expenses significantly. Future plants of 150 million m³ capacity are expected to be even more cost-effective.

The J2K pipeline marks the first stage in OCP’s broader water network plan. In 2026, the Safi–Gantour (S2G) pipeline will connect Safi’s upcoming desalination plant with industrial zones at Mzinda, Benguerir and Louta, and will supply drinking water to the Benguerir area. Parallel pipelines will link Marrakech and Youssoufia to Safi, currently under construction by SRM Marrakech‑Safi.