Portuguese Minister : Morocco Portugal Vow to Strengthen Cooperation in Energy and Water Sectors
The Portuguese Minister of Environment and Climate Action, Duarte Cordeiro, stressed the importance of cooperation between Rabat and Lisbon in energy and water management, noting that the two countries, which are keen to strengthen their cooperation in this area, are facing the same challenges, including the energy transition and increasing the share of renewable energy in electricity production.
At the end of a meeting with Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, held on the sidelines of the Morocco-Portugal 14th High Level Meeting (HLM), the Portuguese minister stressed the importance of exploiting electricity from renewable sources to create industrial opportunities and produce green hydrogen, highlighting the interest of developing electrical connections between Morocco and Portugal.
The Moroccan-Portuguese cooperation in this area is of great importance to both parties, he said in a statement to the press, noting that in addition to strengthening the contribution of renewable energy in the production of electricity, it is necessary to secure the supply through emergency solutions, hence the interest in establishing a connection between the two countries that will allow them to import electricity in case of need or export it in case of overproduction.
“Developing connectivity between Europe and Africa, between Portugal and Morocco, is an opportunity that will allow the establishment of a secure network in both countries for the development of industry,” said Cordeiro, stressing that both countries are working effectively in this area and seize the opportunities offered by renewable energy to attract new industries and create jobs.
Regarding water, the minister noted that both countries face the same challenges, adding that climate change leads to a scarcity of rainfall, a reality to which both countries should adapt.
in this sense, he stressed the need to work together, through the sharing of experiences and investment in water efficiency in agriculture and reuse of wastewater, praising the Moroccan experience in desalination of sea water.
For her part, Benali said that Morocco and Portugal aspire to strengthen their cooperation in the field of water, including desalination of seawater, adding that the two countries are facing the impact of climate change on water resources.
The minister underlined the common desire of Rabat and Lisbon to consolidate their partnership in this area, adding that this meeting was also an opportunity to examine ways to promote cooperation in the field of electricity link between the two countries.
The project of electrical link between Morocco and Portugal has reached the phase of finding innovative financing solutions after the end of the feasibility study phase, she stressed, saying that the two countries share the same belief in their ability to become “an energy and electricity bridge and a hub for investment and promotion of green hydrogen” for Africa and Europe.
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