Morocco is moving forward with one of Africa’s most ambitious waste management and clean energy projects, with plans to build a $1.5 billion large-scale waste-to-energy plant in Casablanca. The project aims to turn millions of tonnes of household waste into electricity while addressing one of the country’s biggest environmental challenges: landfill pollution. The facility, which is expected to begin construction in 2026 and become fully operational by 2030, will be developed by a consortium led by Swiss-Japanese waste management company Kanadevia Inova, in partnership with Moroccan energy fi

Morocco is moving forward with one of Africa’s most ambitious waste management and clean energy projects, with plans to build a $1.5 billion large-scale waste-to-energy plant in Casablanca. The project aims to turn millions of tonnes of household waste into electricity while addressing one of the country’s biggest environmental challenges: landfill pollution. The facility, which is expected to begin construction in 2026 and become fully operational by 2030, will be developed by a consortium led by Swiss-Japanese waste management company Kanadevia Inova, in partnership with Moroccan energy firm Nareva and Japanese trading company Itochu. Turning Waste Into Electricity Once completed, the plant will process around 1.5 million metric tonnes of waste every year and generate approximately 115 megawatts of electricity using municipal waste, landfill gas and solar energy. The electricity produced is expected to provide power for nearly one million people, supporting Morocco’s efforts to expand renewable and alternative energy sources. The project has already secured a power purchase agreement with Morocco’s state-owned electricity utility, while financing is expected to come mainly from local lenders. Construction work will be carried out by Moroccan engineering company Somagec. Tackling Casablanca’s Landfill Crisis The project will focus on transforming the Mediouna landfill, Morocco’s largest dumpsite, which has faced years of environmental challenges including unpleasant odours, polluted farmland and methane emissions caused by decomposing waste. Developers say the waste-to-energy facility could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the reduction estimated to be equivalent to around 20% of Switzerland’s annual emissions. The initiative is also expected to support Morocco’s broader environmental goals by improving waste management and reducing dependence on traditional energy sources. A New Chapter for Africa’s Clean Energy Ambitions The Casablanca project represents a major step in Africa’s transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions. As many African countries face growing urban populations and increasing waste production, waste-to-energy technology is gaining attention as a way to solve environmental problems while producing electricity. However, environmental groups continue to debate the technology, warning that waste incineration must be carefully managed to avoid harming recycling efforts and creating new pollution risks. Despite these concerns, Morocco sees the project as an important investment in the future — combining waste reduction, energy production and climate action in one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies.

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