HIBAPRESS from Khouribga
In Khouribga, where industrial stakes intersect with the challenges of water stress, the wastewater treatment plant overseen by OCP Green Water reveals a profound transformation in the management of this vital resource within the industrial system of the Office Chérifien des Phosphates.
The HIBAPRESS team visited this facility, and from the first step, it was clear that it was not just a technical station, but an integrated system that reflects an actual transition towards a circular water economy, which contributes to environmental protection and production development by rationalizing water use.
This station is part of a network consisting of several main interconnected facilities in the Khouribga-Beni Mellal axis, managed by the company OCP GREEN WATER, which has enabled the complex to valorize urban wastewater and reuse it in mining activities.
Available data indicate that the total capacity of these stations exceeds 10 million cubic meters per year, which is mainly directed towards phosphate washing operations and related industrial uses, a figure that reflects the size of the transformation that these sites are now experiencing, which previously relied heavily on groundwater.
The Khouribga station relies on an advanced water treatment system, which starts by collecting wastewater from the urban network, before subjecting it to a series of precise physical and biological operations, inside aeration basins, where microorganisms break down organic matter, while sedimentation and sterilization stages ensure the production of treated water that meets the required standards for industrial reuse. We have witnessed the accuracy of these operations on the ground, which are controlled through advanced digital systems, and by Moroccan engineers and technicians who oversee the various stages.
The importance of this station is not limited to the volume of treated water only, but is evident in its role within a wider system for the transport and distribution of non-conventional water resources. In Khouribga, these efforts have been linked to major projects, including the pipeline that connects the port of Jorf Lasfar to the mining area, which extends over 200 kilometers, and can transport up to 80 million cubic meters per year of desalinated water to the site. This integration between seawater desalination and wastewater treatment has made the area an advanced model in achieving water independence.
During the visit, the importance of valuing treatment products also emerged, as the resulting sludge is handled in modern ways, including anaerobic digestion, which allows for the production of biogas, which contributes to reducing energy consumption inside the station, and part of the treated water is directed towards irrigating green spaces, in a step that consecrates the environmental dimension of the project and reduces pressure on natural resources.
This dynamic falls within a broader strategic vision for the Office Chérifien des Phosphates, which, thanks to its investments in non-conventional water, has been able to achieve water self-sufficiency before the specified deadlines, relying almost entirely on desalinated and treated water to meet its industrial needs. Water transport projects, whether from desalination plants or treatment plants, have also contributed to ensuring the continuity of production even during periods of drought.
What we witnessed inside the Khouribga station clearly reflects this transformation, from a water treatment facility to a strategic pillar at the heart of the industrial system. Every cubic meter of treated water here is no longer just a by-product, but a resource that is re-injected into the production cycle, achieving a balance between the requirements of industry and the preservation of natural resources.
Between the roar of the pumps and the precision of the equipment, the features of a new Moroccan model in water management are taking shape, its title is innovation, its tool is local efficiency, and its goal is to achieve sustainable water sovereignty in the face of future challenges.
You can find more details about the Khouribga wastewater treatment plant in the following video:
