5 FROM FUEL-POOR TO RADIANT: MOROCCO’S ENERGY …
139
sub-Saharan Africa, as well as a Desert-to-Power plan to export renewable
energy to the Sahel. 116 Like Germany, ONEE emphasizes sharing proven
energy expertise and know-how with sub-Saharan Africa. 117
Despite opposition from Algeria and South Africa, Morocco was readmitted to the African Union (AU) in 2017 after leaving in 1984 over
the Western Sahara conflict. 118 In his inaugural speech to the AU in
2017, King Mohammed VI emphasized Morocco’s interest in joining the
pan-African project and the importance of electricity and natural gas integration with West Africa. 119 He lamented the failed Arab Maghreb Union
and gestured toward the idea that regional integration brings security and
prosperity. Morocco is seeking to join the West African Power Pool and
has discussed building a cross-border transmission line between Dakhla
in Western Sahara and Nouadhibou in Mauritania. 120 In theory, this line
would connect Morocco to the West African Power Pool, but it is unclear
what electricity generation would be exported from Morocco to northern
Mauritania. Over half of Mauritania’s population lives in Nouakchott,
which is 480-km (300-miles) from Nouadhibou.
Western Sahara
The only resource that has provided rents to the Moroccan government
is phosphates. Western Sahara’s phosphate reserves compose just 10%
of Morocco’s proved reserves, but this affords Morocco a monopoly
on phosphate exports to Europe. 121 South Africa has been trying to
block phosphate exports from Western Sahara since Morocco rejoined
the AU. 122
Infrastructural integration has been used by states to foster interdependence with territories. For example, the Soviet Union worked to
build a centralized grid across Eastern European and Central Asian
Soviet states. 123 Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW)—a UK activist
group—has been monitoring Morocco’s renewable energy activity and
the European companies that support it in Western Sahara. WSRW criticizes the 5 MW CIMAR wind farm in Western Sahara, which powers a
cement facility, with turbines provided by Spanish company Acciona. 124
WSRW also criticizes Siemens for developing the 50 MW Foum El Oued
wind farm in Western Sahara, and the Tarfaya wind farm near the border
of Morocco and the disputed territory. 125
Although two of the five CSP sites in the Moroccan Solar Plan were
originally slated for Western Sahara, the government struggled to obtain
139
sub-Saharan Africa, as well as a Desert-to-Power plan to export renewable
energy to the Sahel. 116 Like Germany, ONEE emphasizes sharing proven
energy expertise and know-how with sub-Saharan Africa. 117
Despite opposition from Algeria and South Africa, Morocco was readmitted to the African Union (AU) in 2017 after leaving in 1984 over
the Western Sahara conflict. 118 In his inaugural speech to the AU in
2017, King Mohammed VI emphasized Morocco’s interest in joining the
pan-African project and the importance of electricity and natural gas integration with West Africa. 119 He lamented the failed Arab Maghreb Union
and gestured toward the idea that regional integration brings security and
prosperity. Morocco is seeking to join the West African Power Pool and
has discussed building a cross-border transmission line between Dakhla
in Western Sahara and Nouadhibou in Mauritania. 120 In theory, this line
would connect Morocco to the West African Power Pool, but it is unclear
what electricity generation would be exported from Morocco to northern
Mauritania. Over half of Mauritania’s population lives in Nouakchott,
which is 480-km (300-miles) from Nouadhibou.
Western Sahara
The only resource that has provided rents to the Moroccan government
is phosphates. Western Sahara’s phosphate reserves compose just 10%
of Morocco’s proved reserves, but this affords Morocco a monopoly
on phosphate exports to Europe. 121 South Africa has been trying to
block phosphate exports from Western Sahara since Morocco rejoined
the AU. 122
Infrastructural integration has been used by states to foster interdependence with territories. For example, the Soviet Union worked to
build a centralized grid across Eastern European and Central Asian
Soviet states. 123 Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW)—a UK activist
group—has been monitoring Morocco’s renewable energy activity and
the European companies that support it in Western Sahara. WSRW criticizes the 5 MW CIMAR wind farm in Western Sahara, which powers a
cement facility, with turbines provided by Spanish company Acciona. 124
WSRW also criticizes Siemens for developing the 50 MW Foum El Oued
wind farm in Western Sahara, and the Tarfaya wind farm near the border
of Morocco and the disputed territory. 125
Although two of the five CSP sites in the Moroccan Solar Plan were
originally slated for Western Sahara, the government struggled to obtain