Morocco was ranked 26th in the world and 5th in terms of clean innovation according to the Green Future index drawn up by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which covered 76 countries.
In this ranking, Morocco (26th worldwide) was listed among the countries that are “committed to building a green future” for it has adopted “an ambitious climate policy”.
Morocco is thus in the lead of Middle Eastern and North African countries, followed, far behind, by the United Arab Emirates (42nd), Egypt (58th), Saudi Arabia (61st), Kuwait. (65th), Algeria (72nd) and Qatar (76th).
The authors of the Green Future Index report recalled that King Mohammed VI initiated, ten years ago, a national debate on the future of energy in the country, which led to a fundamental re-examination of Morocco’s energy policy with the objective of increasing the renewable energy share to 52% by 2030.
+ To contribute to the development of clean energies in the African continent +
Quoting the director general of the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE), Saïd Mouline, the report also pointed out that, in addition to developing wind and solar energies, Morocco has managed to reduce its energy costs.
“At less than $0.03 per kilowatt/hour, renewables are now our cheapest means for generating electricity,” Mouline said.
The report also emphasized that fossil fuel subsidies have been removed and replaced by energy transitional programs, noting that the agricultural sector for instance, has so far benefited from the installation of 40,000 pumps to ensure solar energy-based irrigation.
At the African level, Mouline stressed that Morocco will be able to contribute to the development of clean energies in the continent.
“Today in Africa, around 600 million people live without electricity, however, we have the means and capacities to help them benefit from renewable energies and fill this need”, he said, recalling that AMEE has created a center for capacity promotion in Marrakech, to provide fellow Africans with proper training sessions in areas such as renewable electrification and sustainable pumping of water for agriculture.
Morocco is also looking up north, for about 60% of the turbine blades manufactured within Moroccan factories will be destined for export, mainly to Europe.
The Green Future Index report issued by MIT is based on research and analysis conducted by global experts in climate change, in relation to green energies and technologies. It takes into consideration the efforts made by countries, aimed at reducing their carbon emissions, developing clean energies, as well as innovation in green sectors and environmental preservation.