MARRAKECH, Dec 8 (Reuters) – Morocco plans to open a new deepwater port on the Mediterranean next year and another on the Atlantic in 2028, according to Equipment and Water Minister Nizar Baraka. The country aims to follow in the footsteps of Africa's largest port, Tanger Med.
The Nador West Med port, which is currently under construction in the Mediterranean, is expected to be operational in the second half of 2026. Baraka mentioned in an interview that it will cover 800 hectares for industrial activities, with potential expansion to 5,000 hectares, surpassing the industrial zones of Tanger Med.
This new port will also feature Morocco's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, consisting of a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU). It will be connected to industrial areas in the northwest via a pipeline, as Morocco seeks to invest in natural gas and renewable energy to lessen its reliance on coal.
On the Atlantic coast, a $1 billion port is being constructed in Dakhla, located in the disputed Western Sahara region. This facility will be surrounded by 1,600 hectares designated for industrial activities and 5,200 hectares set aside for farmland irrigated with desalinated water, Baraka stated.
Baraka noted that the port will be ready by 2028 and will be Morocco's deepest at 23 meters. This depth will facilitate heavy industries aimed at processing raw materials from Sahel countries.
Officials have promoted Dakhla as a key entry point for landlocked Sahel nations to access global trade.
Once production starts, both the Nador and Dakhla ports will include quays specifically designed for exporting green hydrogen, according to Baraka.
Nador and Dakhla will become Morocco's third and fourth deepwater ports, following Tanger Med and Jorf Lasfar, which specializes in energy, bulk cargo, and phosphate exports on the Atlantic.
By 2024, the industrial zones near Tanger Med are expected to host 1,400 companies, employing about 130,000 people across various sectors, including automotive, aeronautics, textiles, agri-food, and renewable energy, based on official statistics.
Moreover, Morocco is also exploring the possibility of building a port in Tan-Tan on the Atlantic coast, in collaboration with green hydrogen investors. Baraka stated, “We are conducting studies to determine the appropriate size of the port.”