Morocco Approves $1.5bn Waste-to-Energy Plant for Casablanca

Morocco is set to build a $1.5 billion waste-to-energy plant in Casablanca, a project expected to transform municipal waste into electricity for nearly one million people while helping the country tackle mounting landfill pollution and strengthen its renewable energy mix.

A consortium comprising Swiss waste management firm Kanadevia Inova, Moroccan energy company Nareva, Japanese trading house Itochu and local construction company Somagec has signed a concession agreement with Casablanca's city authorities to develop the facility.

Construction is will begin before the end of 2026 once financing is secured, with commercial operations targeted for mid-2030.

The project will process about 1.5 million metric tonnes of municipal waste annually and generate around 115 megawatts of electricity through a combination of waste processing, landfill gas recovery and solar energy.

The development represents one of Africa's largest waste-to-energy investments and is expected to become only the continent's second large-scale facility of its kind. It also shows Morocco's growing efforts to diversify its electricity mix while addressing the environmental challenges posed by rapid urbanisation and rising waste volumes.

Project combines waste treatment with power generation

The new facility will replace decades of uncontrolled waste disposal at the Mediouna landfill, which has been associated with groundwater contamination, foul odours and methane emissions.

By capturing landfill gas and converting waste into electricity, the project aims to reduce emissions while easing pressure on Casablanca's overburdened landfill infrastructure.

Kanadevia Inova explained that the plant could cut greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to about 20 percent of Switzerland's annual emissions.

The consortium has already secured a long-term power purchase agreement with Morocco's state-owned electricity and water utility, ONEE, guaranteeing a market for the electricity produced.

Developers added that the project will be financed largely through Moroccan banks, reducing foreign exchange risks and giving domestic financial institutions a central role in one of the country's biggest environmental infrastructure projects.

Project faces environmental scrutiny

While waste-to-energy facilities are increasingly being adopted to address waste disposal and electricity shortages, they remain controversial because many rely on incineration.

Environmental groups argue that such projects could discourage recycling if waste separation systems are inadequate and have called for strict emissions monitoring to minimise air pollution.

The Casablanca project's long-term success will depend not only on construction but also on robust environmental safeguards, transparent emissions reporting and effective recycling policies.

Once successfully implemented, the facility could provide a model for other African cities seeking to reduce landfill dependence, improve waste management and generate additional electricity from municipal waste as urban populations continue to grow.