Laila Benali: “Energy Transition is a Strategic Choice for Morocco, Not an Imposed Challenge”
In her participation at the Warsaw Security Conference held in the Polish capital last Monday, Laila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, presented an extensive overview of Morocco’s experience and strategic vision regarding the energy transition. The minister addressed the challenges facing the kingdom in this field, the accomplishments achieved, as well as the future vision Morocco aims to realize within a comprehensive strategic framework.
In her speech, the minister emphasized that Morocco does not view the energy transition as a challenge imposed from abroad, as seen in some European countries, but rather as a national strategic choice that has been pursued since 2009 under the guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. She added that the Moroccan strategy in this area relies on the “energy triangle,” which includes diversification, energy efficiency, and renewable energy, a sustainable approach that has yielded tangible results for years.
She also noted that Morocco has surpassed a renewable energy capacity of 45% for installed electricity by 2024 and is on track to achieve a target of 52% before 2030. The minister stressed that the link between energy security and sustainability has now become an inseparable reality, with no conflict between the two in light of global transformations.
Furthermore, the minister addressed the challenges faced by Morocco after the cessation of gas flow through the Morocco-Europe pipeline in 2021, indicating that effective cooperation with Spain played a significant role in restoring gas flow in record time, assisting the kingdom in ensuring its energy security.
Regarding energy interconnection, Benali affirmed that Morocco remains the only African country interconnected with Europe in terms of electricity and gas exchange, a non-negotiable option, serving as a fundamental pillar of shared energy security between the two sides of the Mediterranean.
The minister concluded her remarks by calling for the establishment of a “New Energy Alliance,” similar to the historic European Coal and Steel Community, but this time in the field of clean energy, noting that the sun does not choose where it rises and markets do not choose where they develop.
