Energy produced in the desert of occupied Western Sahara is soon feeding the occupying power of Morocco with water. 

Morocco’s water crisis has deepened in recent years, driven by six consecutive years of drought.  Traditional water sources are drying up, while climate projections warn of rising water stress and declining rainfall. 

In response, the government has pivoted toward desalination, rapidly scaling it up to ensure water security for cities, agriculture, and industry. Morocco now operates 17 desalination plants, with four more under construction and plans for nine additional facilities by 2030 – together expected to deliver 1.7 billion m³ annually.

Yet, just as with its renewable energy push, Morocco is increasingly drawing on the resources of occupied Western Sahara to power these projects.This is highly problematic: Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara is illegal under international law. Through the desalination programme, based on energy projects in the occupied territory, Morocco is making itself even more dependent on the annexation of the territory. 

 In recent months, two major desalination plants in Morocco proper have been tied directly to wind farms across the border in the occupied territory. 

• Casablanca Desalination Plant - Powered by Bir Anzarane Wind Farm

The Casablanca-Settat desalination project, projected to become the largest of its kind in the world, is expected to provide 300 million m³ annually, supplying drinking water to 7.5 million people and irrigation to 5,000 hectares. The plant is slated to be fully operational by 2028.

The mega-project is being developed by a consortium of Spain’s ACCIONA (50 %) and two Moroccan firms linked to Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch: Green of Africa (45 %) and AfriquiaGaz (5 %). 

The project represents an investment of €613 million - with Spain (including Spain’s export credit agency) contributing roughly €340 million. 

Crucially, the plant will be powered by the 360 MW Bir Anzarane wind farm in occupied Western Sahara. The project is controlled by Green of Africa Dakhla, with Vinci (30 %) as a co-owner. Nearly half (47 %) of the wind farm’s production will be dedicated to keeping Casablanca’s taps running - an arrangement that exports the energy of occupied land to Morocco’s economic capital.

• Agadir Desalination Expansion — Powered by El Aaiún Wind Farm

In the Agadir region, Moroccan officials plan to expand the existing desalination facility from 275,000 m³/day to 400,000 m³/day by 2026, with half of that serving agricultural needs. 

This major upgrade is being delivered through a public-private partnership led by Cox, a Spanish water and energy management firm, in collaboration with Morocco’s ONEE and the Ministry of Agriculture. Cox will raise the plant’s capacity by 125,000 m³/day, doubling its impact - supplying drinking water to 2 million people and irrigation to 13,600 hectares. 

The expansion carries a €250 million price tag to be invested between 2025 and 2027. In keeping with its “Energy Follows Water” strategy, Cox will construct a 150 MW wind farm to power the expanded facility. However, crucially, this wind farm will be located in El Aaiún, occupied Western Sahara, and developed via a joint venture with AMEA Power, based in the UAE. AMEA brings the renewable energy component and joins Cox in this second phase under their Water Alliance Ventures partnership.

The expanded desalination facility should be operational by end-2026, with the wind farm expected to come online in 2027.  

These projects exemplify what Saharawis describe as green colonialism: their land and resources are harnessed to meet Morocco’s needs, while they remain excluded from both decision-making and benefits.

“Powering Morocco’s flagship water security infrastructure using energy generated on occupied land, without Saharawi consent, raises legal and ethical concerns. It consolidates the exploitation of occupied territory under the guise of green infrastructure, effectively legitimizing Morocco’s untenable presence in Western Sahara, while also deepening its dependency on the occupation”, says Sara Eyckmans from Western Sahara Resource Watch.

WSRW has written to ACCIONA over a similar project on 14 April 2025, Bank of Africa on 4 September 2025, Vinci on 14 February 2025, AMEA Power on 5 September 2025, Cox on 5 September 2025. 

None have so far responded to the request.