Morocco-Royal Activity: Communiqué of the Royal Cabinet

“His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God help him, presided, today at the Royal Palace in Rabat, a working session devoted to the issue of Water.

This meeting is part of the continuous monitoring and high solicitude granted by His Majesty the King, may God help him, to this strategic question, particularly in the current context marked by a notable deficit in terms of precipitation and very strong pressure on water resources across the regions of the Kingdom.

At the start of this work session, the Minister of Equipment and Water, M. Nizar Baraka, gave a presentation on the water situation, which brings out, for the period from September to mid-January 2024, a rainfall deficit of 70% compared to the average, as well as a filling rate of the dams 23,2% against 31,5% at the same time last year.

Thanks to the actions already undertaken following the High Royal Directions, particularly within the framework of the National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Program 2020-2027, several provinces and regions have been adequately supplied with drinking water in recent years. It's the case, in particular, the completion of the interconnection of the Sebou and Bouregreg basins and the commissioning of the Agadir and Safi/Jorf Lasfar desalination stations.

The minister then presented before His Majesty the King the emergency action plan developed by the competent departments in order to deal with the current situation and ensure the supply of drinking water., especially in cities, centers and localities with deficits or likely to be so.

This emergency action plan presented before the Sovereign, and declined at the level of the different hydraulic systems of the Kingdom, provides for a variety of measures including, short term, optimal mobilization of resources at the dam level, existing drilling and desalination plants, the construction of urgent water conveyance and supply equipment, and where the situation requires possible measures to restrict irrigation water or distribution flows.

in parallel, and in accordance with the High Royal Guidance, scheduled projects with a medium-term impact will be accelerated, especially running dams, the interconnection between the Sebou basins, Bouregreg and Oum Rabia, the national program of seawater desalination stations, the purified wastewater reuse program, the water saving program at the level of the drinking water supply and distribution and irrigation networks.

His Majesty the King, may God help him, urged the departments and organizations concerned to redouble their vigilance and efforts to meet the challenge of water security and ensure the supply of drinking water to all localities in the Kingdom.

In this regard, the Sovereign invited the government to establish transparent and regular communication with citizens on developments in the water situation and on the plan for emergency measures that will be implemented, while raising awareness among the general public about saving water and the fight against all forms of waste or irresponsible use of this vital material..

Took part in this working session, Advisor to HM the King, M. Fouad Ali El Himma, the minister of the Interior, M. Abdelouafi Laftit, the Minister of Water and Equipment, M. Nizar Baraka, the Minister of Agriculture, of maritime fishing, Rural Development and Water and Forests, M. Mohamed Sadiki, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Economy and Finance, budget officer, M. Fouzi Lekjaa, and the Director General of the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water, M. Abderrahim El Hafidi.