Dakhla seawater desalination project nears completion in Morocco

The seawater desalination and irrigation project in the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region of Morocco is nearing completion, with construction progress reported at approximately 97 to 99 percent. During a field visit on October 30, 2026, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, Khalid Hatimi, inspected the facility located in Bir Anzarane.

The project integrates a desalination plant with a 60 megawatt wind power station to ensure sustainable water production. It aims to produce 37 million cubic meters of water annually, allocating 30 million cubic meters for agricultural irrigation and 7 million cubic meters for drinking water. The infrastructure includes a 130-kilometer irrigation network.

With a total investment of 2.6 billion dirhams, the project is expected to create between 20,000 and 30,000 permanent jobs and generate an annual added value exceeding 1 billion dirhams. It will support a new 5,000-hectare irrigated perimeter, targeting the production of 500,000 tons of early crops annually while reducing pressure on local groundwater resources.