RABAT, June 10 – Morocco’s National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) has signed a letter of intent with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for a €250 million financing programme aimed at modernising the country’s drinking water infrastructure.
The agreement, valued at around MAD 2.8 billion ($280 million), will be rolled out in two phases. It also includes investment grants and technical assistance to support ONEE’s efforts to improve and upgrade its water systems.
The deal was signed during the EBRD Annual Meetings held in Riga, Latvia, by ONEE Director General Tarik Hamane, EBRD Vice President Matteo Patrone and Said Jabrani, Director General of the National Guarantee and Financing Company (SNGFE).
According to a joint statement, the programme will support ONEE’s 2025 to 2030 investment plan, which focuses on improving the performance of existing drinking water production facilities. It will also introduce stronger energy efficiency standards and help modernise critical infrastructure.
ONEE said the funding will allow it to adopt a more flexible approach to managing water production systems, helping the country strengthen the resilience of its infrastructure in the face of climate related challenges and growing operational pressures.
The financing will be guaranteed by SNGFE under its programme for public institutions and state owned companies. The agreement also represents another step in the growing cooperation between Tamwilcom and the EBRD in funding public sector projects across Morocco.
The partnership between ONEE and the EBRD dates back to 2014. Since then, the EBRD has mobilised around €119 million for Morocco’s drinking water sector, including an earlier €65 million project aimed at improving operational performance. According to the statement, that project is now nearing completion and has delivered positive results.
Both organisations said the latest agreement reinforces their shared commitment to strengthening Morocco’s water security and building infrastructure that is better equipped to withstand the effects of climate change.
