20140930-IEA-Energy_Policies_Beyond_IEA_Countries_-_Morocco_2014_132页_1mb

Morocco 2014 Summary

Core Content

This document provides an in-depth review of Morocco's energy policy by the International Energy Agency (IEA), highlighting its challenges, achievements, and recommendations for future development. The report underscores Morocco's heavy reliance on imported energy, its efforts to diversify the energy mix, and its commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.

Main Objectives of the IEA

• Promote energy security through collective action in response to oil supply disruptions.
• Provide authoritative research and analysis to ensure reliable, affordable, and clean energy for its 29 member countries and beyond.
• Improve transparency in international energy markets.
• Support global collaboration on energy technology to secure future energy supplies and mitigate environmental impact.
• Engage with non-member countries, industry, and stakeholders to find solutions to global energy challenges.

Key Points on Morocco's Energy Policy

Energy Dependence and Costs

• Morocco is highly dependent on imported energy, with over 91% of its energy supply coming from abroad.
• The energy mix includes oil (67.6%), coal (16.1%), biofuels and waste (7.4%), natural gas (5.7%), and electricity net imports (2.2%).
• The country faces a significant import bill due to its reliance on international oil and gas prices, with some energy supplies, like bottled gas, being subsidised, which strains the national budget.

Climate Change and Environmental Impact

• Morocco has a relatively high level of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, due to its reliance on carbon fuels.
• The government has taken steps to address climate change, including ratifying the UNFCCC in 1995 and the Kyoto Protocol in 2002.
• A National Plan to Combat Climate Change was launched in 2009, setting targets for reducing GHG emissions in the energy and industry sectors.

Energy Strategy and Progress

• The 2009 National Energy Strategy outlines five main goals:
  1. Optimise the fuel mix in the electricity sector.
  2. Accelerate the development of renewable energy (wind, solar, hydropower).
  3. Make energy efficiency a national priority.
  4. Encourage more foreign investment in the energy sector.
  5. Promote regional integration.
• Since the strategy's implementation, 2 GW of coal-fired power capacity has been added, and the goal of 42% renewable energy capacity by 2020 is in progress.
• The first commercial concentrating solar power project was launched in Ouarzazate with foreign investment and support from multilateral agencies.

Institutional and Legal Framework

• A legal and institutional framework has been established to support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
• Key institutions include:
  • The Agency for the Development of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ADEREE)
  • The Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN)
  • The Institute for Research into Renewable and Solar Energies (IRSE)
• These institutions are now established and funded, beginning to have an impact on the renewable energy sector and national R&D activities.

Key Recommendations

• Sustain progress in reducing fuel subsidies, particularly for gasoline, fuel oil, and diesel.
• Reinforce the energy efficiency strategy with clear regulation and incentives, and learn from international experiences, such as those in the European Union.
• Optimise solar power deployment, especially concentrated solar power during peak hours and promote photovoltaics through medium and low voltage infrastructure.
• Accelerate the establishment of an energy regulator to oversee a more open power market and encourage gas usage.
• Maintain attractive investment terms for upstream oil and gas to incentivise international donors and investors.
• Develop a strategy to tackle subsidised butane while compensating the least affluent.
• Increase central government funding for R&D to support Morocco's leadership in renewable technologies, especially in areas where its geography gives it a natural advantage.

Major Achievements

• Electricity access has expanded significantly, with a network covering 98% of the population.
• The electricity interconnector with Spain now operates at full capacity (1400 MW).
• The Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline has contributed to the development of natural gas-fired power plants.
• The Moroccan government has taken steps to liberalise its energy markets, including the privatisation of the distribution sector and the removal of import duties on oil products.

Challenges

• High energy import dependency continues to be a burden on the balance of payments and national budget.
• Despite progress, energy efficiency remains an area for improvement, with a need for more investment in R&D.
• The transition to renewable energy requires further support and innovation, especially in photovoltaics.
• Subsidy reforms are ongoing, with the elimination of subsidies for electricity generation fuels, but bottled gas (butane) subsidies remain a challenge.

Conclusion

The IEA commends Morocco for its ambitious energy strategy and its progress in renewable energy development, market liberalisation, and regional integration. However, it urges the government to continue efforts in energy efficiency, sustainable development, and technological innovation to ensure a more secure, affordable, and environmentally friendly energy future.

Key Data (2012)

• Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES): 18.8 Mtoe, with a 58.2% increase since 2002.
• TPES per capita: 0.6 toe, significantly lower than the IEA average of 4.5 toe.
• TPES per GDP: 0.09 toe/USD 1000 PPP, slightly lower than the IEA average of 0.13 toe/USD 1000 PPP.
• Electricity generation: 27.3 TWh, with a 79.4% increase since 2002.
• Electricity generation per capita: 0.8 MWh, much lower than the IEA average of 9.3 MWh.