Morocco Achieves a Global Milestone: OCP Group Fully Adopts Non-Conventional Water for Its Industrial and Mining Operations

By: Iman El Aloui | ALDAR

The OCP Group, the world’s leading producer of phosphate and its derivatives, has announced a full transition to using non-conventional water across all its industrial and mining activities—marking an unprecedented environmental and developmental achievement in the extractive industries sector.

This strategic shift toward sustainability was made possible through the use of alternative water sources to freshwater, including treated and desalinated water. Central to this transition is the water pipeline stretching between Jorf Lasfar and Khouribga, one of the largest water transport projects in Africa. This advanced infrastructure supplies OCP facilities with approximately 80 million cubic meters of desalinated water annually, exclusively used to operate the world’s largest phosphate mines.

This milestone reinforces the Group’s commitment to a sustainable development vision aligned with the High Royal Directives, and supports Morocco’s national efforts to preserve natural resources amid increasing challenges related to water scarcity and climate change.

But this dynamic goes beyond environmental impact—it also serves as a powerful lever to secure water sustainability for strategic industries, and strengthens Morocco’s position as a global leader in green innovation and environmental transformation. The initiative is in line with OCP’s 2023–2027 strategy, which emphasizes the circular economy, energy transition, and carbon neutrality by 2040.

This groundbreaking move has received widespread praise from environmental organizations and international financial institutions. It is seen as a world first in the mining industry, and opens up new avenues for Global South countries to rethink water resource management in the face of mounting climate pressures.

With this achievement, Morocco once again affirms its leadership in environmental innovation and long-term strategic planning, demonstrating that sustainable development is not just a slogan, but a national choice backed by strong political will and tangible projects.