128 S. MOORE
million Mohammed VI Prize for the Climate and Sustainable Development at Africa Climate Week. 35 Following COP 22, Morocco joined
just seven other non-OECD countries as an International Energy Agency
(IEA) Association Country. 36
Fuel Switching and Geopolitics
Since electrification began in Morocco under the French Protectorate,
Morocco has had a prominent renewable energy (hydroelectricity) plan
while large quantities of electricity generation from fossil fuels were developed without being publicized by the state. 37 The French Protectorate,
and later King Hassan II, projected Morocco’s dam-building initiative as
its main energy source, in spite of the fact that half or more of installed
capacity came from fossil fuels. 38 Today, Morocco’s renewable energy
strategy does not eliminate fossil fuels but rather reduces their percentage
as installed capacity grows. Very little fossil fuel capacity is being retired;
rather, the plants are being refurbished and even expanded, as new fossilfueled plants are being constructed. In 2009, Morocco’s installed capacity
was composed of 28% hydroelectricity (including pumped storage), 68%
thermal electricity (including fuel oil/diesel, natural gas, and coal), and
4% wind. 39 By 2030, Morocco’s installed capacity is expected to include
48% conventional thermal energy: 23% natural gas, 21% coal, and 4% fuel
oil/diesel. 40
Coal
Morocco is expanding its coal-fired power plant at Jorf Lasfar by
700 MW, to reach 2,056 MW. 41 Additionally, a Chinese company is
building and financing a so-called clean coal plant of 350 MW capacity
at Jerada. 42 Even with these expansions, the overall percentage of coal
in the portfolio is set to decrease because of increasing installed capacity.
Morocco must import almost all of its coal, e.g., 6,490,000-tonnes in
2016 and 6,742,000 in 2017. In 2017, Russia provided about half
of Morocco’s steam coal imports, or 3,164,000-tonnes, plus 54,000tonnes of coking coal imports. Coal is typically not a geopolitical resource
because of its abundance and varied sources of supply. However, South
Africa was a large exporter of steam coal to Morocco in 2016 (2,005,000tonnes), but exports fell to 600,000-tonnes in 2017 as the two countries
butted heads over Western Sahara. 43
million Mohammed VI Prize for the Climate and Sustainable Development at Africa Climate Week. 35 Following COP 22, Morocco joined
just seven other non-OECD countries as an International Energy Agency
(IEA) Association Country. 36
Fuel Switching and Geopolitics
Since electrification began in Morocco under the French Protectorate,
Morocco has had a prominent renewable energy (hydroelectricity) plan
while large quantities of electricity generation from fossil fuels were developed without being publicized by the state. 37 The French Protectorate,
and later King Hassan II, projected Morocco’s dam-building initiative as
its main energy source, in spite of the fact that half or more of installed
capacity came from fossil fuels. 38 Today, Morocco’s renewable energy
strategy does not eliminate fossil fuels but rather reduces their percentage
as installed capacity grows. Very little fossil fuel capacity is being retired;
rather, the plants are being refurbished and even expanded, as new fossilfueled plants are being constructed. In 2009, Morocco’s installed capacity
was composed of 28% hydroelectricity (including pumped storage), 68%
thermal electricity (including fuel oil/diesel, natural gas, and coal), and
4% wind. 39 By 2030, Morocco’s installed capacity is expected to include
48% conventional thermal energy: 23% natural gas, 21% coal, and 4% fuel
oil/diesel. 40
Coal
Morocco is expanding its coal-fired power plant at Jorf Lasfar by
700 MW, to reach 2,056 MW. 41 Additionally, a Chinese company is
building and financing a so-called clean coal plant of 350 MW capacity
at Jerada. 42 Even with these expansions, the overall percentage of coal
in the portfolio is set to decrease because of increasing installed capacity.
Morocco must import almost all of its coal, e.g., 6,490,000-tonnes in
2016 and 6,742,000 in 2017. In 2017, Russia provided about half
of Morocco’s steam coal imports, or 3,164,000-tonnes, plus 54,000tonnes of coking coal imports. Coal is typically not a geopolitical resource
because of its abundance and varied sources of supply. However, South
Africa was a large exporter of steam coal to Morocco in 2016 (2,005,000tonnes), but exports fell to 600,000-tonnes in 2017 as the two countries
butted heads over Western Sahara. 43