600 Green Mosques Planned in Morocco By 2017

Rabat – Morocco is planning to modernize the energy use in hundreds of mosques across the country to follow green and eco-friendly standards.

The project, a partnership between the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GIZ (German Corporation for International Cooperation), aims to make at least 600 mosques throughout the country more energy efficient and to raise public awareness about renewables.

Keeping in mind the standards and specifications required for green buildings, these mosques will be equipped with the latest green technologies by the end of 2017, such as energy-saving LED lighting, photovoltaic systems, and solar thermal plants to heat water. People working in these mosques will also be instructed in the use of green technologies.

Through the mosques, the project aims to inspire eco-friendly initiatives in other areas of public life and create a self-sustaining market for energy services as well as generating new jobs. This 4 million EUR initiative, financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), aims to create at least 130 jobs in the country and improve the employability of Moroccan companies working in the renewables sector.

The project supports local companies by offering training in the areas of performing installation and maintenance work in public building, corporate management and marketing. It will also be conducting analysis to identify market opportunities in the renewables sector as well as companies’ staffing requirements. The findings will then be fed back into training modules.

GIZ has been working in Morocco since 1975. It has launched several projects to promote renewables in Morocco and help the kingdom introduce a model for developing a sustainable energy production system and supply.