(Ecofin Agency) - Morocco is grappling with heightened water stress exacerbated by rising temperatures attributed to climate change. In response to this alarming situation, King Mohammed VI emphasizes the urgent need for an accelerated medium-term strategy to ensure long-term water security in the country.

The Moroccan government has unveiled an emergency plan to address the water crisis currently gripping the nation, according to an official statement released on Wednesday, January 17.

The plan includes immediate measures such as the optimal mobilization of water resources, the expedited implementation of urgent water supply facilities, and potential measures to restrict irrigation water use. Nizar Baraka, the Minister of Equipment and Water, reveals that from September to mid-January 2024, the country experienced a 70% rainfall deficit compared to the average. Also, dam fill rates stand at 23.2%, below the 31.5% recorded during the same period last year.

In response to these challenges, King Mohammed VI underscores the importance of expediting medium-term projects, including the construction of new dams, interconnection of hydraulic basins, the national program for seawater desalination, and other initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term water security.

Morocco, one of the world's most affected countries by water stress due to the persistent effects of climate change, faces repercussions across various sectors, with agriculture being the largest water consumer in the kingdom. The government plans to provide 700 million cubic meters of water for irrigation in 2024, marking a 30% decrease from the previous year.

The country has also allocated $14 billion to the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI 2020-2027). As part of this initiative, construction has commenced on a new seawater desalination plant in the Dakhla region. Valued at $250 million, the facility is expected to be operational by June 2025, providing potable water to the city of Dakhla and its surroundings.