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King Mohammed VI Commands Urgent Action on Water Crisis

Tuesday 30 July 2024 - 10:50

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Innovative measures to combat water scarcity are at the forefront of national priorities, following directives from the King.

In a poignant address marking his 25th year on the throne, King Mohammed VI spotlighted the critical issue of water scarcity, urging immediate and inventive responses to prevent a looming crisis.

"The challenges facing our country require us to redouble our efforts and vigilance," the King stated. "One of these major challenges is the issue of water, which is becoming increasingly complex due to drought, climate change, and rising demand."

Morocco, with its storied history of water management, now finds itself at a crossroads. Six consecutive years of drought have drastically reduced water reserves and groundwater levels, particularly in rural regions.

"This situation can also be attributed to delays in the completion of certain water policy projects," the King acknowledged, directing the government and local authorities to expedite and innovate measures to stave off water shortages.

King Mohammed VI pointed to Morocco's plummeting water availability, which has declined from 2,000 cubic meters per capita in 1960 to less than 600 cubic meters today. This alarming trend signifies a state of water stress, necessitating an overhaul of the nation's water management strategies to ensure sustainability.

At the COP15 conference on desertification and drought in Abidjan in 2022, the King underscored the tangible impacts of climate change on Morocco. "Climate change is not a theoretical subject or an object of rhetorical debate," he asserted, highlighting the increasing frequency and severity of droughts.

In his recent speech, the King emphasized the importance of the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation 2020-2027, which has mitigated some water challenges. He called for continuous updates to national water policy to guarantee all citizens' access to drinking water and meet at least 80% of irrigation needs.

The agricultural sector, which consumes 87% of Morocco's water resources, poses a significant challenge. Despite water-intensive practices and inefficient irrigation methods, the sector's economic output remains low.

The King called for the swift implementation of major water transfer projects between hydraulic basins and the construction of seawater desalination plants. "In line with our proactive and ambitious Strategic Vision, we call for accelerated implementation of major water transfer projects," he announced.

These projects, including connecting various basins and harnessing previously lost water, aim to balance national water distribution. The King also stressed the urgency of constructing seawater desalination plants, targeting the mobilization of over 1.7 billion cubic meters annually by 2030.

Highlighting the Casablanca desalination plant, the largest in Africa and the second largest globally powered entirely by clean energy, the King emphasized the need for renewable energy projects to support desalination efforts. He called for developing a national water desalination industry, specialized training programs, and the creation of national companies for desalination plant construction and maintenance.

"No negligence, no delay, no mismanagement will be tolerated in an issue as crucial as water," the King declared, underscoring the urgency of addressing water scarcity for Morocco's future.