ONEE and HSA – Hydropower Sustainability Alliance sign a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening the sustainability of hydroelectric works in Morocco
HIBAPRESS-RABAT-PRESS RELEASE
The National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) and the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA) signed, in Casablanca, a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening the sustainability of hydroelectric works in Morocco, particularly pumped energy transfer stations (STEP).
The Hydropower Sustainability Alliance is an independent, multi-stakeholder standards body, based in Portugal, which oversees the HS (Sustainable Hydropower) certification system and manages the implementation of the HS standard. Its goal is to support hydropower projects in healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, resilient infrastructure and good governance.
Signed by the Director General of ONEE Abderrahim El Hafidi and the Director General of HSA Joao Costa, this partnership aims to implement a program to strengthen Moroccan skills in particular and African skills in general, in the field of sustainability. hydroelectric works, including STEPs, as well as support from ONEE in certifying STEP projects to the hydroelectricity sustainability standard.
This partnership illustrates ONEE’s deep commitment to a more sustainable and resilient energy future aimed at meeting the challenges of the energy transition. By working closely with strategic partners, the Office aspires not only to optimize its own energy practices, but also to positively influence the entire energy sector on a regional and continental scale.
This memorandum of understanding, which includes the carrying out of a climate impact study of hydroelectric sites, will allow the deployment of a program of approximately 14 months from June 2024.
Under the terms of this memorandum of understanding, HSA contributes to the financing of this program through a fund dedicated to the project by the Swiss State Secretariat for the Economy (SECO) in order to support initiatives to promote hydroelectricity sustainable in Morocco, the Maghreb and French-speaking Africa.
For its part, ONEE will provide the local support necessary for the realization of the project through, in particular, the provision of human resources and the necessary logistical support.
