Morocco Invests $1.5 Billion in Casablanca Waste-to-Energy Plant to Generate 115MW of Power
Morocco is moving ahead with a $1.5 billion waste-to-energy project in Casablanca that will convert municipal waste into electricity while addressing pollution at the country’s largest landfill.
Construction of the facility is expected to begin by the end of 2026, with commercial operations targeted for mid-2030.
The project is being developed by a consortium involving Swiss-Japanese waste management company Kanadevia Inova, Moroccan energy firm Nareva and Japanese trading company Itochu.
Once operational, the facility is expected to process approximately 1.5 million tonnes of waste annually and generate around 115 megawatts of electricity, enough to supply nearly one million people.
The plant will use municipal waste, landfill gas and solar energy to generate power.
The project will also target the rehabilitation of the Mediouna landfill, which has been associated with methane emissions, unpleasant odours and pollution affecting surrounding farmland.
The developers estimate that the facility could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the potential impact equivalent to removing hundreds of thousands of vehicles from the road.
The project has secured a power purchase agreement with Morocco’s state-owned electricity utility, ONEE, while financing is expected to come mainly from local lenders. Moroccan engineering company Somagec will oversee construction.
Beyond electricity generation, the project forms part of Morocco’s broader effort to modernise waste management and expand cleaner energy solutions.
However, waste-to-energy facilities remain subject to environmental debate, with critics warning that incineration can create air pollution and potentially reduce incentives for recycling.
If successfully delivered, the Casablanca facility could become a major example of how African cities can combine waste management, environmental remediation and energy generation within a single infrastructure project.