Eau potable : l’ONEE déploie un programme de 50 millions d’euros pour améliorer la qualité de l’eau au Maroc et au-delà

Morocco’s national utility ONEE is launching a €50 million program to expand access to potable water, targeting rural communities and urban peripheries by 2027, backed by German development bank KfW and aligned with national infrastructure goals under the 2023-2027 Water Strategy, creating immediate demand for engineering firms, water treatment specialists, and project finance advisors capable of navigating public-private partnerships in North Africa’s evolving utility landscape.

The initiative, announced amid growing pressure on Morocco’s water resources due to prolonged drought and rising urbanization, will fund the construction of 120 new water treatment plants and the rehabilitation of 80 existing facilities across eight regions. According to ONEE’s 2024 Annual Report, the utility serves 3.8 million customers but faces a 22% gap in rural potable water coverage, a deficit the program aims to cut by half within three years. KfW’s involvement signals confidence in Morocco’s institutional capacity to execute large-scale infrastructure, with the bank citing Morocco’s improved regulatory framework for public utilities as a key factor in its decision to co-finance the project.

“This isn’t just about pipes and pumps—it’s about de-risking long-term water security for industries that depend on consistent supply, from agriculture to manufacturing,” said Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, during a recent briefing with international development partners. “We’re building resilience into the system so that economic activity isn’t held hostage by rainfall variability.”

The scale of the undertaking creates a clear B2B opportunity: engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms with experience in modular water treatment systems will be in high demand, particularly those familiar with North African regulatory environments and capable of delivering turnkey solutions under tight timelines. Similarly, financial intermediaries specializing in infrastructure finance—such as multilateral development banks or export credit agencies—will play a critical role in structuring blended finance packages that combine concessional loans with commercial debt. Legal advisors versed in PPP frameworks under Morocco’s Law 86-12 on public-private partnerships will also be essential to ensure bankable projects that attract private sector participation without compromising public accountability.

ONEE’s internal projections, shared during a technical workshop with the World Bank in March 2025, estimate that the program will reduce non-revenue water losses from 38% to 25% nationally by 2028, saving approximately 120 million cubic meters annually—equivalent to the yearly consumption of a city of 1.5 million people. This efficiency gain translates directly into lower operational expenditures and improved EBITDA margins for the utility, which reported a 14.3% EBITDA margin in its 2023 financial statements, up from 11.7% in 2021, driven by tariff reforms and operational streamlining.

“Investors are increasingly looking at water utilities not as cost centers but as infrastructure assets with predictable, inflation-linked cash flows,” noted Karim Senhadji, Head of Infrastructure Investments at CDG Capital, Morocco’s sovereign wealth fund affiliate. “When you pair physical upgrades with smart metering and demand management—both components of this ONEE initiative—you’re creating an asset class that can support long-term, yield-focused investment.”

The program also intersects with broader regional trends. The African Development Bank’s 2024 Water and Sanitation Sector Assessment highlights North Africa as a hotspot for climate-resilient water investment, projecting $28 billion in needed infrastructure across the Maghreb by 2030. ONEE’s initiative serves as a potential model for replication in Tunisia and Algeria, where similar coverage gaps persist and international financiers are actively scouting for bankable projects. This opens doors for cross-border consulting firms and regional platforms that specialize in scaling water solutions across multiple jurisdictions.

From a supply chain perspective, the initiative will strain local capacity for specialized components such as ultrafiltration membranes, chemical dosing systems, and SCADA integration kits—areas where international suppliers with established logistics networks in Casablanca and Tangier medina ports hold a competitive edge. Firms that can offer localized maintenance training and spare parts availability will be better positioned to win long-term service contracts post-construction.

As Morocco advances toward its goal of 100% urban and 90% rural potable water access by 2030, the success of ONEE’s €50 million program will be measured not just in cubic meters delivered, but in the durability of the partnerships forged to build it. For B2B providers seeking to engage in North Africa’s infrastructure renaissance, the time to assess capabilities, align with local partners, and monitor tender pipelines is now—before the first shovel hits the ground.

For vetted engineering firms, water technology specialists, and infrastructure finance advisors equipped to support projects like ONEE’s potable water expansion, explore the World Today News Directory to connect with pre-vetted, regionally experienced partners who understand the financial, technical, and regulatory realities of delivering water security in emerging markets.