megaprojects play a special role for any country because of their direct influence on the economy
in terms of creating new jobs increasing export financial programs and strengthening
the tourism sector this is right and significant for most african countries
morocco a north african country bordering the atlantic ocean and the mediterranean sea
is distinguished by its berber arabian and european cultural influences
morocco's strategic location on the mediterranean sea has allowed it to attract foreign investment
due to its relatively abundant labor market morocco still faces many issues related to
corruption illiteracy poverty and unemployment recently the international monetary fund imp
approved 3.42 billion dollars to be used for structural reforms to strengthen the economy
recent developments aimed towards modernizing the country include new advancements in technologies
as well as more accessible transportation most of the mega projects in morocco are financed
by investment banks and institutions like the world bank european investment bank and others
which lend money for important projects in the energy water and transport sectors welcome back
our fellow new tourist in this video we look at the 10 most impressive mega projects in morocco
before we begin do well to like the video and subscribe to our channel to get notified when
we release new content now let's dive in 10. MOHAMMED VI TOWER ($314 Million)
The Mohammed VI Tower is a 250m high-rise mixed-use next to the Bouregreg River in Rabat,
the Moroccan Capital. The 250-meter high Mohammed VI Tower is designed to be visible from a distance
of 50 kilometers all around. With a total area of 102,800 m², the building consists of a tower set
on a podium, to resemble a rocket on its launch pad. The 55 storeys contain a luxury hotel,
offices, high-end apartments, and even a viewing terrace on the top floor.
According to the architect, the building structure can withstand not only the usual elements, such as
strong winds or seismic events but also flooding. The Mohammed VI Tower is designed to be certified
LEED Gold and HQE, complying with the highest international environmental quality standards.
On its south façade, a total of 3350 m² of solar panels will be installed as well as an
internal energy recovery system. 9. ARRIBAT CENTER ($245 Million)
Located a few minutes from Ragat Agdal, the Arribat center is the largest HSL station in
Africa. It is the cities largest shopping Mall and combines a variety of spaces including;
offices, a hotel, an urban park, and a car park among others.
The structure sits on a 5 hectares/12 acres piece of land and it took up over US$ 245m to construct.
Chapman Taylor, an award-winning practice of global architects and master planners
famous for designing places and buildings that are both creative and successful,
created the concept design and performed an oversight role in the initial construction phases.
8. HYATT REGENCY TAGHAZOUT BAY ($300 MILLION)
Hyatt Place Taghazout Bay is part of Morocco’s Taghazout Bay Resort, sustainable development
in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. The Taghazout Bay Luxury Resort will have
nine new-build hotels and a range of tourist residences providing luxury living and bedrooms.
Designed by Moroccan firm Karim Chakor Architecte, the 152-bed hotel is located
10 miles (17 kilometers) north of the Moroccan coastal town of Agadir. The project for the
development of Taghazout tourist resort is part of the Azur plan within the framework of the
tourism development strategy "Vision 2020". 7. WESSAL CASABLANCA PORT ($730 MILLION)
In the spring of 2014, the King of Morocco unveiled the Wessel Casablanca-Port programme,
aimed at radically transforming Casablanca’s port district.
The Port of Casablanca is designed to improve the operational performance of the country's
major port and, through its technical assistance component, to help integrate port activities into
the country's efforts to promote exports and to improve the management and the financial viability
of the major public enterprise in the port sector. The project will provide finance for:
(a) rehabilitation of port infrastructure in the port of Casablanca;
(b) replacement of workshop equipment to repair cargo handling machinery;
(c) a heavy lifting crane, concrete mixer and transport equipment for the maintenance of the
new breakwater at Mohammedia; and (d) technical assistance for project engineering, construction
supervision, port operations and management. 6. SUSTAINABLE CITY ($2.5 Billion)
Zenata ecological city is located in the northeast of the Moroccan metropolis of Casablanca.
It covers 1,830 hectares with 5km of coastline opening onto the Atlantic Ocean.
The project consists of 2,000 ecological dwellings covering a surface area of 70 hectares.
Developed mainly for the middle class, and the dwellers of slums in Casablanca, the
residential units of the eco-city will be occupied in three phases by 2023, to house 8,700 families.
According to the general manager of the Zenata Development Company, Mohammed Amine El Hajhouji,
the work to fully connect the eco-city to the water, electricity and sanitation networks has
been completed, as has the construction of transport infrastructure and works on the
railways located in the area. Created
in 2006 at the initiative of the State, Zenata is the first African city to be awarded the Eco-City
Label (ECL), a certification obtained at COP 22. The construction works are financed by Morocco,
through loans of US $166m from the French Development Agency (AFD), another US $166m
from the European Investment Bank (EIB), and a US $4.4m grant from the European Union (EU).
5. THE GRAND THEATRE OF RABAT ($143 Million) The Grand Theatre of Rabat (The Great Theatre of
Rabat) is a large performing arts centre that is under construction in Rabat, the capital city of
Morocco since October 2014. It was designed by Zaha Hadid and the Zaha Hadid Architects team.
The Theatre has a fluid sculptural form that is inspired by the Bouregreg River
Occupying a site of approximately 55 000 square meters, the facility on the inside features an
1800-seat theatre, an open-air amphitheatre with a capacity of 7000 people. The theatre
is constructed in a bid to promote arts and cultural development in the North African Country.
It is estimated to cost US$ 143M. It will be the largest theatre in the Arab world and Africa.
4. DAKHLA BLOCKCHAIN WIND FARM ($2.4 Billion) Rabat - US start-up Soluna technologies AM WIND
plans to build a 900 megawatts wind park in Dakhla, southern Morocco which would
be known as the Dakhla Blockchain Wind Farm. The wind park in Dakhla will cover an area of
11,313 hectares to supply services dedicated to blockchain technologies. The Dakhla project will
require an overall investment of $ 2.5 billion and has the potential to generate more than
400 highly skilled jobs over its lifetime. The startup plans to set up a local centre
of excellence developing expertise in blockchain technology accessible to a growing global market.
This technology is now adopted by some of the largest financial institutions in the world.
1% of the revenue generated by this project would be invested in local development.
The wind park project in Dakhla will allow Morocco to promote the development
of its blockchain and finance sectors, in addition to becoming a real technology hub.
3. OUARZAZATE MEGA SOLAR PROJECT ($2.5 Billion) Ouarzazate Solar Power Station, also called Noor
Power Station is a solar power complex located in the Drâa-Tafilalet region in Morocco,
10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Ouarzazate town, in Ghessat rural council area. At 510 MW,
it is the world's largest concentrated solar power plant. With an additional 72 MW photovoltaic
system the entire project is planned to produce 582 MW at peak when finished. It is being
built in three phases and four parts. The total project's estimated cost is around $2.5 billion.
The plant will be able to store solar energy in the form of heated molten salt, allowing for the
production of electricity into the night. Phase 1 comes with a full-load molten salt storage
capacity of 3 hours. Noor II, commissioned in 2018, and Noor III, commissioned in January 2019,
store energy for up to eight hours. It will cover an area of 2,500 hectares (6,178 acres).
2. MAHDIYYA RENEWABLE ENERGY CITY ($2.5 Billion) Built on an area of more than 3,000
hectares in the area - the size of 3,500 football fields -- the Noor-Ouarzazate complex,
produces enough electricity to power a city the size of Prague,
or twice the size of Marrakesh. Situated at the gateway to the Sahara Desert, the whole complex
provides 580 megawatts -- saving the planet from over 760,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Morocco has one of the most ambitious energy targets in the world.
The goal is for 42% of its power to come from renewable sources. The country is well on track
to hit its target too with 35% of its energy is already renewable thanks to sites such as Noor
Ouarzazate. Unlike conventional solar panels which deliver energy directly to the grid,
curved mirrors concentrate radiation to heat tubes of fluid that are pumped to a power unit.
The unit holds the energy for use at a later time -- specifically at night when demand is greater.
Imported fossil fuels currently provide for 97% of Morocco's energy needs, according to
World Bank. As a result, the country is keen to diversify and start using renewable energy.
MOHAMMED VI TANGIER TECH CITY ($1 Billion) The Mohammed VI Tangier Tech City is intended
to be a core development and growth vector for the entire African continent. It would cover
over 2,000 hectares and would be carried out in 3 phases. Construction of roads linking to the city
has already begun and the government of Morocco has offered tax incentives to food, aeronautics
and automobile industries among others. 200 Chinese companies will open factories,
generating around $10bn in investment and creating 100,000 jobs.
BMCE Bank of Africa commented in a statement that the agreement reflected the determination
of the three groups to develop the tech city by "providing all the necessary means to move
forward in the implementation of the project". There you go. 10 Impressive mega projects in
Morocco. If you did enjoy the video and would love more of such, please click
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