Morocco Water Desalination Market Size and Forecast (2025–2033)

According to Renub Research Morocco Water Desalination Market is projected to reach US$ 850 million by 2033, rising from US$ 400 million in 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.74% during 2025–2033. Key market growth drivers include intensifying water scarcity, large-scale government investment programs, the rapid integration of renewable energy, advancing desalination technologies, and rising demand for sustainable, drought-resilient water supplies for expanding urban and agricultural regions.

Market Overview

Morocco is entering a transformative period in water resource management as its desalination sector becomes central to national strategies for addressing chronic water shortages. Recurring droughts, diminishing aquifers, and accelerating water demand—particularly in coastal and urban areas—are compelling the government to scale up desalination capacity. As a result, desalination has shifted from a supplementary supply option to a core component of Morocco’s long-term water security framework.

Major urban centers such as Casablanca, Agadir, Safi, Nador, and Dakhla have become focal points for new desalination facilities designed to support both municipal and agricultural needs. These plants are not only providing immediate relief to communities facing water deficits but are also being positioned as scalable infrastructure to support future population and industrial growth.

A defining feature of Morocco’s desalination strategy is the integration of renewable energy, especially solar and wind, to power energy-intensive desalination operations. This reflects the country's broader sustainability ambitions under its climate strategy. By reducing operating costs and environmental impact, Morocco aims to make desalination both economically viable and ecologically responsible.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) remains the dominant technological choice due to its energy efficiency and maturity in global markets. The country is also adopting new membrane technologies, advanced filtration systems, and automation solutions to increase plant efficiency and expand output. Flagship projects—such as the large-scale Agadir plant and the upcoming Casablanca-Settat desalination complex—demonstrate Morocco’s commitment to adopting cutting-edge technologies and expanding capacity at an unprecedented pace.

Investment activity is being further accelerated by public-private partnerships (PPPs), which play a crucial role in mobilizing financing and facilitating knowledge transfer. International companies, technology providers, and engineering firms are increasingly active in the Moroccan market, reflecting strong investor confidence in the sector’s long-term potential.

Despite major gains, challenges do remain: high capital expenditure requirements, the need for specialized technical expertise, regulatory complexities, and disparities in access to desalinated water across regions continue to pose hurdles. Nonetheless, Morocco’s comprehensive approach—built on innovation, sustainability, and strategic investment—positions it as one of Africa’s most advanced desalination markets.

A central driver of the sector’s momentum is the National Programme for Potable Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI) 2020–2027, which falls under the broader National Water Plan 2020–2050. Designed to enhance water availability for both drinking and irrigation, the program focuses heavily on diversifying water sources and boosting climate resilience. In May 2023, the program’s budget was increased to US$ 14.3 billion, signaling the government’s deep commitment to sustained investment in water infrastructure.

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Key Growth Drivers

1. Robust Government Initiatives

Government policy is the most powerful force shaping Morocco’s desalination expansion. A flagship example is the Casablanca-Settat seawater desalination plant, which is set to become the largest in Africa when completed. Located in the Lamharza Essahel commune near El Jadida, the facility is designed to supply drinking water to approximately 7.5 million residents across Greater Casablanca, Settat, Berrechid, and Bir Jdid.

The project is being developed in two phases across a 50-hectare site:

• Phase 1: Operational by late 2026, with a production capacity of 548,000 m³/day.
• Phase 2: Expected by mid-2028, expanding capacity to 822,000 m³/day, including facilities for agricultural use.

Built under a PPP model, the project requires an investment of 6.5 billion dirhams and employs reverse osmosis powered by 100% renewable energy. It also forms a key component of King Mohammed VI’s broader National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Program (2020–2027), which involves a total budget of 143 billion dirhams.

These large-scale initiatives underscore Morocco’s strategy of combining sustainability with resilience, ensuring long-term national water security while enhancing environmental performance.

2. Technological Advancements

Technological progress is lowering costs and improving the efficiency of desalination systems across Morocco. Reverse osmosis has undergone significant innovation, including:

• Higher-efficiency membranes
• Improved fouling resistance
• Energy recovery devices reducing overall consumption
• Advanced pre-treatment methods (ultrafiltration, dissolved air flotation)
• Increased automation and digital monitoring

These improvements have reduced operational expenditure, boosted output reliability, and extended the lifespan of plant components.

New Moroccan desalination facilities increasingly incorporate such innovations to ensure competitive performance. For example, the Casablanca-Settat plant will use next-generation pressure exchangers and automated quality monitoring systems to maximize efficiency. As Morocco continues to scale up capacity, modern technology will play an essential role in lowering per-unit water production costs while aligning operations with national sustainability targets.

3. Integration of Renewable Energy

Morocco is a global leader in renewable energy development—especially solar and wind—and is strategically aligning this capacity with its desalination expansion.

Renewable-powered desalination offers clear benefits:

• Lower operating costs
• Reduced dependence on fossil fuels
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions
• Enhanced sustainability compliance
• Increased energy and water security

The Agadir desalination plant, one of the major renewable-powered projects, exemplifies the country’s vision: a large-scale, solar-integrated facility designed to serve both municipal consumers and agricultural irrigation networks.

As renewable energy costs continue to decline, Morocco’s desalination facilities are increasingly expected to operate on hybrid or fully renewable systems. This strategy strengthens the country’s long-term resilience to climate change and volatile energy markets.

Challenges in the Moroccan Market

1. High Capital and Operational Costs

While renewable-powered RO systems reduce long-term operation costs, the initial investment required to construct large-scale desalination plants remains significant. Specialized materials, energy infrastructure, and advanced membranes add to capital requirements. Skilled labor shortages and the need for continuous maintenance also elevate operational costs. Smaller municipalities often struggle to finance such infrastructure without state or private sector support.

2. Unequal Water Distribution

Although desalination plants are concentrated in coastal regions, inland communities remain more dependent on rainfall and groundwater. Expanding distribution networks to remote regions requires major investment and logistical planning. Ensuring equitable access is an ongoing policy challenge.

Regional Insights

East Morocco

The eastern region is witnessing notable progress in desalination expansion due to a surge in water demand and prolonged droughts. The Nador desalination plant, launched in February 2025, boasts a capacity of 250 million cubic meters per year, supplying both municipal and agricultural networks.

A recent agreement with China’s Lipu Industry will further add a facility capable of producing 548,000 tons of desalinated water per day, making the East a rising hub for desalination capacity. The region significantly contributes to Morocco’s objective of achieving 1.5 billion m³/year of desalination capacity by 2030.

West Morocco

Western Morocco is home to some of the country’s most strategic desalination investments. The Casablanca desalination plant—set to serve more than 7.5 million residents—is the largest ongoing project and a cornerstone of national water security efforts.

The Safi desalination plant, currently under development, will supply 86,400 m³/day and support both industrial activity and municipal needs. These projects highlight the West’s importance as a primary demand center, driven by population density and industrial growth.

Market Segmentation

By Technology

• Reverse Osmosis (RO)
• Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) Distillation
• Multi-Effect Distillation (MED)
• Others

By Application

• Municipal
• Industrial
• Others

By Water Source

• Seawater
• Brackish Water
• River Water
• Others

By Region

• East
• West
• North
• South

Key Player Analysis

Covered from four perspectives—Overview, Key Persons, Recent Developments, Revenue:

• International Development Enterprises (iDE)
• DowDuPont
• Doosan Group
• Ovivo
• Aquatech
• Veolia
• Guangzhou KangYang Seawater Desalination Equipment Co.

These companies play diverse roles in technology supply, engineering, operations, and water infrastructure development. Their involvement underscores Morocco’s strong appeal as a strategic market for desalination and water technology innovation.