Morocco Water Desalination Market Size and Forecast 2025–2033
Rising Water Scarcity, Renewable Energy Integration, and Government Investments Propel Market Growth
Morocco Water Desalination Market Summary
The Morocco Water Desalination Market is expected to grow significantly, reaching US$ 850 million by 2033, up from US$ 400 million in 2024, registering a strong CAGR of 8.74% from 2025 to 2033. This growth is driven by chronic water scarcity, prolonged droughts, rapid urbanization, population growth, and increasing agricultural and industrial water demand.
Morocco has emerged as one of Africa’s most proactive nations in adopting desalination as a long-term water security solution. With climate change intensifying pressure on conventional freshwater sources such as rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater, desalination is no longer a supplementary option but a strategic national priority. Government-backed investments, public–private partnerships (PPPs), technological innovation, and renewable energy integration are collectively transforming Morocco’s desalination landscape.
Morocco Water Desalination Market Overview
Morocco’s desalination industry is rapidly evolving into a cornerstone of the country’s national water strategy. Recurring droughts, declining rainfall, and overexploitation of groundwater have significantly strained traditional water sources. As a result, desalination has gained prominence as a reliable, climate-resilient alternative for municipal, agricultural, and industrial water supply.
Major coastal cities such as Casablanca, Agadir, Safi, Laâyoune, and Nador are witnessing large-scale desalination infrastructure development. These plants are designed to serve millions of residents while also supporting irrigation and industrial activities. The Agadir seawater desalination plant, one of the largest in Africa, stands as a flagship example of Morocco’s commitment to modern water infrastructure and technological excellence.
Reverse osmosis (RO) has emerged as the dominant desalination technology in the country due to its energy efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, Morocco’s leadership in solar and wind energy deployment allows desalination facilities to operate with reduced carbon footprints and lower long-term operational costs.
Public–private partnerships play a critical role in accelerating project execution, attracting foreign expertise, and easing the fiscal burden on public authorities. While challenges such as high capital costs and energy intensity persist, Morocco’s long-term vision, regulatory support, and sustainability focus place it at the forefront of desalination development in Africa.
National Water Strategy and Policy Support
In response to escalating water stress, Morocco launched the National Programme for Potable Water Supply and Irrigation 2020–2027 (PNAEPI) under the broader National Water Plan (PNE 2020–2050). The program aims to diversify water sources, improve water security, and mitigate climate change impacts through infrastructure expansion and innovation.
In May 2023, the Moroccan government increased PNAEPI’s budget to approximately US$ 14.3 billion, reinforcing its commitment to desalination, dam construction, wastewater reuse, and water transfer projects. Desalination has become a key pillar of this strategy, particularly for coastal and drought-prone regions.
Growth Drivers of the Morocco Water Desalination Market
Strong Government Initiatives and Infrastructure Investment
Government-led investments remain the primary driver of Morocco’s desalination market growth. One of the most significant projects is the Casablanca–Settat seawater desalination plant, which is expected to become the largest desalination facility in Africa.
Located near El Jadida, the project is designed to supply potable water to approximately 7.5 million people across Greater Casablanca, Settat, Berrechid, and Bir Jdid. When fully operational, it will produce up to 300 million cubic meters of water annually.
The project is being developed in two phases:
Phase I (by end of 2026): 548,000 cubic meters per day
Phase II (by mid-2028): Capacity expansion to 822,000 cubic meters per day, including irrigation supply
Developed under a public–private partnership model, the project reflects Morocco’s emphasis on private sector participation, operational efficiency, and sustainable financing. Importantly, the facility will operate entirely on renewable energy, reinforcing the country’s environmental commitments.
Technological Advancements in Desalination
Technological progress has significantly improved the economic viability and efficiency of desalination in Morocco. Reverse osmosis technology has benefited from advances in membrane materials, energy recovery systems, automation, and pre-treatment processes, resulting in lower energy consumption and extended plant lifespans.
Modern desalination plants now feature smart monitoring systems, improved salt rejection rates, and reduced maintenance requirements. These innovations enable Morocco to scale up desalination capacity while maintaining affordability and environmental compliance. New projects increasingly adopt modular designs, allowing flexible expansion in response to future demand.
Integration of Renewable Energy
Morocco’s desalination market is uniquely strengthened by the country’s leadership in renewable energy development, particularly solar and wind power. Energy costs represent a significant portion of desalination operating expenses, making renewable integration a strategic advantage.
Facilities such as the Agadir desalination plant, which uses renewable energy sources, demonstrate how clean energy can support large-scale water production while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This synergy enhances energy security, lowers long-term costs, and aligns desalination projects with Morocco’s climate goals.
Challenges in the Morocco Water Desalination Market
High Capital and Operating Costs
Despite technological progress, desalination remains a capital-intensive process. The construction of large-scale plants requires substantial upfront investment in infrastructure, equipment, and grid connectivity. Additionally, operational costs related to energy consumption, membrane replacement, and skilled labor remain significant.
Although renewable energy helps mitigate long-term expenses, financing remains a challenge, particularly for projects serving rural or low-income regions.
Environmental and Brine Disposal Concerns
Desalination produces concentrated brine, which can negatively impact marine ecosystems if not managed properly. Ensuring environmentally responsible brine disposal and minimizing ecological damage remain key concerns for regulators and project developers.
Morocco continues to strengthen environmental standards and adopt advanced brine management solutions, but balancing expansion with environmental protection remains an ongoing challenge.
Regional Analysis of the Morocco Water Desalination Market
East Morocco Water Desalination Market
Eastern Morocco is witnessing rapid expansion of desalination infrastructure due to severe water stress and agricultural demand. The Nador desalination plant, operational since February 2025, has an annual capacity of 250 million cubic meters, supporting both urban consumption and irrigation.
Additionally, agreements with international partners, including Chinese firms, are accelerating capacity growth. Eastern Morocco plays a crucial role in Morocco’s goal of achieving approximately 1.5 billion cubic meters of desalination capacity annually by 2030.
West Morocco Water Desalination Market
Western Morocco represents the largest share of desalination investments, driven by population density and industrial activity. The Casablanca desalination project is the centerpiece of regional development, while the Safi desalination plant, with a daily capacity of 86,400 cubic meters, further strengthens supply resilience.
Renewable energy integration and large-scale municipal focus make Western Morocco a strategic hub for desalination growth.
Morocco Water Desalination Market Segmentation
By Technology
Reverse Osmosis
Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) Distillation
Multi-Effect Distillation (MED)
Others
By Application
Municipal
Industrial
Others
By Water Source
Seawater
Brackish Water
River Water
Others
By Region
East
West
North
South
Company Analysis
The Morocco Water Desalination Market features a mix of global technology leaders and engineering specialists. Key companies are analyzed from four viewpoints: Overview, Key Persons, Recent Developments, and Revenue Performance.
Major Players Include:
International Development Enterprises (iDE)
DowDuPont
Doosan Group
Ovivo
Aquatech
Veolia
Guangzhou KangYang Seawater Desalination Equipment Co.
These companies play critical roles in technology supply, plant construction, operations, and long-term maintenance across Morocco’s desalination ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
Morocco’s water desalination market is entering a transformational growth phase, driven by urgent water security needs, strong government backing, renewable energy integration, and technological advancement. As climate pressures intensify, desalination is evolving from a supplemental solution into a core component of national resilience strategy.
With ambitious capacity expansion targets, increasing private sector participation, and a sustainability-first approach, Morocco is positioning itself as a regional leader in desalination across Africa and the Middle East. Despite challenges related to cost and environmental management, the long-term outlook remains highly positive, making desalination a cornerstone of Morocco’s future water infrastructure.
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