HIBAPRESS
The Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Berka, confirmed today in Marrakech that building an integrated model that links water, renewable energy, and food systems is now the focus of the national water strategy to address increasing water stress.
Berka explained, in a speech during a ministerial meeting organized within the framework of the 19th World Water Congress, that the Kingdom has chosen a proactive path based on innovation, long-term planning, and structural transformation of water production. He mentioned that Morocco has embarked on a profound change in its water policies by implementing the guiding plans for the integrated development of water basins by 2050, which accurately map the resources of each water basin, its needs, its weaknesses, and its priority projects. He added that these plans are now enriching the national water program, which constitutes an effective roadmap for all actors. On the other hand, Berka pointed to the strong emergence of a new water engineering that combines desalination, large dams, the reuse of treated wastewater, artificial recharge of groundwater, as well as advanced digitization of networks and sustainable management contracts for groundwater. He said, "Our goal is clear: to transition from a situation of scarcity management to a water-producing country," noting that Morocco currently utilizes 17 desalination plants, in addition to other projects under construction, with the aim of achieving a production capacity of 1.7 billion cubic meters per year by 2030, relying heavily on renewable energy to reduce costs and ensure the sustainability of the service. The minister also addressed a set of innovative initiatives taken at the national level, including the use of floating solar panels to reduce water evaporation in dams, the expansion of the cloud seeding program, in addition to the first experimental units for producing water from atmospheric humidity, directed to schools and remote rural centers. For his part, the Minister of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China, Li Guoying, praised the dynamism launched by Morocco, highlighting the strategic intersections between the two countries in the field of sustainable water management. The Chinese official pointed out that his country also faces increasing pressure related to population and urban growth, which has pushed it to invest in controlling demand, improving network performance, and integrating advanced technologies to enhance water resilience. In this context, he emphasized the importance of sharing skills between countries facing the same challenges, especially in the areas of weather monitoring, basin management, and rationalizing agricultural use. As for the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry in Turkey, Abu Bakr Gizli Ghid, he stressed the importance of adopting policies that combine climate proactivity, solid infrastructure, and joint governance, considering that the succession of periods of floods and droughts in the region requires close cooperation and continuous exchange of experiences. This conference, organized under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI, and in partnership between the Ministry of Equipment and Water and the International Water Resources Association, until December 5th, is an opportunity to explore innovative solutions, strategies, and adaptive approaches to managing water resources in a world experiencing constant changes. The conference's work is expected to culminate in the Marrakech Declaration, which will serve as a collective call bringing together decision-makers, scientists, and practitioners to strengthen the link between science, policy, and action, and to accelerate global mobilization to conserve water.
