COP28 Unveils the Signing of Two Large Scale Innovative Water Projects Using Alternative Energy in Morocco

Metito Utilities and Tahliya Group sign an agreement to jointly develop two projects in Morocco.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco signed a declaration on December 4th,2023, to develop a “solid and innovative partnership” in efforts to develop economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Following this announcement, Metito Utilities, a global investor and developer of sustainable water management solutions and climate resilient water assets, signed an agreement with Tahliya Group, a prominent UAE-based infrastructure company specializing in power generation and desalinated water production plants in Africa. Together, Metito and Tahliya intend to develop a multi-user irrigation project, by way of desalinated water, in Morrocco. The desalination projects will be powered by renewable energy.

The official signing ceremony took place at the Metito’s offices in the National Industries Park in Dubai, coinciding with the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The event was hosted by Rami Ghandour, CEO Metito Utilities and Zouheir Bensaid, the Chairman and CEO of Tahliya Group.

In response to the unveiling of this strategic partnership, Rami Ghandour expressed, “Metito’s founding principles are Impact, Sustainability, and Innovation. Guided by these principles, we are thrilled to join forces with Tahliya Group to adeptly tackle pressing issues concerning water scarcity, food security, and sustainable development in Morocco. Leveraging Metito’s proficiency in high-value engineering, coupled with our proven track record in developing large-scale desalination plants, and Tahliya Group’s expertise in infrastructure development, we are poised to establish a sustained and meaningful impact through the projects we are developing together.”  Metito has topped the global charts for being the provider of the largest desalination plants, in capacity, for 2 years in a row 2021-22 and 2022-23 as announced by the Global Water Intelligence report.

Zouheir Bensaid, Chairman and CEO of Tahliya Group, underscored the significance of both projects, “Aligned with the UN Sustainability Development Goals, Metito and Tahliya Group, will mark a new milestone in the water industry by developing alternative energy powered desalination plants at a scale, for the purpose of irrigation in Morocco.  Both companies possess all essential attributes and a shared vision that positions this collaboration as one poised for genuine impact on the communities and individuals we aim to reach through our projects. We are confident that our projects will result in substantial and far-reaching effects.”

Morocco is a key market for Metito and Tahliya which promises immense potential as an investment hub, given the nation’s diverse assets and conducive business climate. Metito will examine mobilising multiple pockets of capital and expertise to realise the planned projects, including potentially Africa Water Infrastructure Development (AWID).