During her address at a parliamentary session, Zineb El Adaoui, President of the Court of Auditors, emphasized that Morocco faces pressing challenges in energy efficiency and resource management. She highlighted that accelerating the pace of renewable energy projects is essential for achieving the nation’s ambitious energy goals.
El Adaoui explained that several private sector projects, submitted under the framework of Law No. 13.09 on renewable energy, have not been approved yet due to the limited capacity of the electricity transmission grid, which negatively impacts the country’s ability to meet renewable energy production targets.
She further stated that while Morocco’s national energy strategy prioritizes energy efficiency, there is still a lack of a clear national strategy dedicated to this sector. The measures implemented so far have not achieved the desired impact, with energy savings reaching only 5.8%, far below the target of 20% by 2030. This delay, she pointed out, is due to various factors, including limited financial resources, delays in the issuance of implementing regulations related to Law No. 47.09, and the absence of an incentivizing framework to promote energy efficiency across various sectors.
Regarding the petroleum sector, El Adaoui noted that the national reserves of petroleum products remain below the required level, with diesel, gasoline, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stocks in 2023 covering only 32, 37, and 31 days, respectively, while the target is 60 days. She also drew attention to the limited diversification of entry points for imported petroleum products, with only one additional entry point added at the Tangier Med port since the launch of the national energy strategy in 2009.
Concerning natural gas, El Adaoui explained that initiatives related to its development, launched in 2011, have not yet been completed, which affects efforts to gradually phase out coal in electricity production. She called for the development of an official strategy and a suitable legal framework to stimulate a competitive natural gas market, ensuring investment attraction and coordination among all concerned parties.
In conclusion, El Adaoui stressed the urgency of taking immediate and effective measures to overcome these challenges, contributing to the desired energy transition and enhancing sustainable development in Morocco.
source : fesnews media