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Morocco is planning to strengthen its position in the European energy market with a direct underwater cable to France.
Rabat and Paris are set to explore a new energy partnership through a proposed underwater electricity cable that could connect northern Morocco with southern France. This initiative goes beyond technical aspects, aiming to reshape the energy transit dynamics within Western Europe.
The newspaper The Objective revealed that the proposed initiative, named “Qantara Med,” involves laying a cable starting from the Nador region in northern Morocco to the vicinity of Marseille, facilitating a direct transfer of electricity generated in Morocco, particularly from solar and wind energy projects, to the French grid.
The main challenge of this project lies in bypassing the traditional route through Spain. Instead of integrating Moroccan electricity into the European system via the Iberian Peninsula, the plan suggests establishing a direct connection to France, thereby reducing the technical intermediary role that has existed for decades between the two shores of the Mediterranean.
If this connection materializes, Marseille would become a key reception point for energy coming from the south, enhancing its position as a Mediterranean energy hub and providing Paris with an additional asset in securing supplies amid the shift towards renewable energies.
According to the report, the project reflects a transformation in the philosophy of electrical connectivity between Africa and Europe, which has historically relied on Spain as the natural geographical gateway. However, the limited interconnection capacities between Madrid and Paris through the Pyrenees, along with European discussions regarding Spain’s status as an “energy island,” open the door to new alternatives that redistribute transit roles.
Although “Qantara Med” is still in its early stages, without a timeline or finalized technical details announced, its mere proposal highlights a silent struggle over who holds the keys to energy access in Europe in the coming decades. The equation has become less about production and more about transportation routes and control points in strategic infrastructure.
