Doha – Leila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Transition Energy and Sustainable Development, strengthened diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom during recent high-level meetings in London, advancing Morocco’s strategic energy agenda.
In bilateral talks today with Ed Miliband, British Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Benali presented Morocco’s ambitious vision for energy sovereignty, guided by King Mohammed VI’s directives.
Accompanied by Moroccan Ambassador to the UK Hakim Hajoui, she detailed the country’s major renewable energy and green hydrogen projects designed to establish Morocco as a regional and international leader.
Miliband expressed admiration for Morocco’s “pioneering” experience in energy transition, recognizing the North African country as a key player and reliable partner in addressing shared energy and climate challenges.
The discussions centered on accelerating cooperation in renewable energy, green hydrogen development, and strengthening energy infrastructure. Both parties aim to build a robust alliance combining energy security, sustainable development, and climate change mitigation.
Speaking yesterday at the ministerial session of the Future of Energy Security summit in London, Benali stated, “The current state of global infrastructure requires radical transformations,” while shedding light on Morocco’s central role in establishing a new energy security paradigm based on strengthened investments and network modernization.
She referenced King Mohammed VI’s address to the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), where the monarch called for moving beyond incremental progress. “The Royal Guidance serves as an essential lever to accelerate the global energy transition,” Benali noted.
Though a middle-income country, Morocco manages significant responsibilities by leveraging its cultural, logistical, and energy connections with Europe and the Atlantic.
Benali revealed that 2025 marks a crucial deadline for qualitative advancement in the country’s investment policy, with plans to quadruple annual investments in renewable energy and quintuple investments in electrical grid infrastructure.
“The Royal Vision for energy security goes beyond supplying molecules and electrons to encompass a complete restructuring of the energy ecosystem,” she explained.
She then mapped out components, including strategic partnerships, energy asset security, value chain development, energy justice foundations, sustainable development, and adoption of intelligent, participatory network management models.
Regional integration forms a fundamental pillar of Morocco’s energy strategy. Benali elaborated on Morocco’s launch of a $6 billion tender for gas infrastructure development and connection to the Africa-Atlantic gas pipeline, facilitating molecule and green hydrogen transport between Africa and Europe while supporting regional and international energy transition projects.
World leaders recognize Morocco’s ambitious energy goals
In a separate high-profile engagement on March 26, King Charles III received Benali during her participation in a ministerial roundtable on water security amid climate change.
As the only North African country invited to the event organized by WaterAid under royal patronage, Morocco shared its approaches to sustainable natural resource management.
Benali stressed that Morocco’s environmental policies stem from King Mohammed VI’s directives, which prioritize energy transition, water security, and environmental protection.
She showcased Morocco’s leadership through ambitious initiatives, reinforcing her country’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addressing climate challenges.
Regarding water security, Benali stressed its importance as a national priority, highlighting structural projects like the “water highways” designed to improve water resource distribution and ensure efficient usage.
Morocco’s energy agenda continues to advance domestically, with the official launch of a tender for its first liquefied natural terminal at Nador West Med Port announced on April 23 during the 16th Energy Conference in Ouarzazate.
The project includes plans for a gas pipeline network connecting to the Maghreb Europe Gas Pipeline, which will supply existing and future power plants and industrial zones from Kenitra to Mohammedia.
On March 21, former UK Defense Minister Nick Harvey affirmed Morocco’s potential role in Britain’s renewable energy future, stating, “Morocco can play a key role in the UK’s clean energy mission.”
He outlined how the Morocco-UK Power Project could provide energy to seven million British homes, representing eight percent of Britain’s electricity needs.
The ambitious Xlinks project connecting Morocco to the UK requires political backing to secure its $29.9 billion investment plan, with approximately $6.2 billion earmarked for UK development.
The project aims to establish 11.5 gigawatts of solar and wind farm capacity in Morocco’s Guelmim Oued Noun region, transmitted through a 4,000-kilometer undersea cable to Devon in southwest England.
Major energy companies have already invested in the venture, including GE Vernova Inc., France’s TotalEnergies SE, Abu Dhabi National Energy Co., and Octopus Energy. Declared a project of “national significance” by the UK government in August 2023, it is scheduled to become operational in 2031.
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