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Rabat – The Taghzirt Dam in Beni Mellal province is advancing quickly, with 10% of construction already finished. Backed by a budget of MAD 1.35 billion ($132.3 million), the dam will boast a storage capacity of 85 million cubic meters.
Launched in August 2022, the Taghzirt Dam is a key infrastructure project for the region, situated on the Oued Derna, a tributary of the Oum Er-Rbia river. The dam is set to tackle the growing demand for irrigation water in the Dir region and generate hydroelectric power.
Currently, its 95-meter concrete structure is under construction, with compacting efforts well underway.
According to the Maa Dialna platform, linked to the Ministry of Equipment and Water, the project is on track to be completed by September 2027, three months ahead of schedule.
The Taghzirt Dam will play a fundamental role in both agricultural irrigation and supplying drinking water to nearby towns, helping to alleviate the region’s persistent water shortages.
This issue became particularly evident in September when Beni Mellal, Afourar, and surrounding areas endured a five-day water outage.
The Tadla Independent Water and Electricity Distribution Agency (RADEET) attributed the crisis to flooding at the Afourar water treatment plant, which contaminated the water supply for Beni Mellal, Souk Sebt, and nearby villages, forcing many families to seek alternative water sources for their essential needs.
Read Also: Water Shortage: Beni Mellal Residents Without Water in Homes for Five Days Straight
The Beni Mellal-Khenifra region is undergoing rapid development in hydraulic infrastructure, with projects like the construction of a dam on the Oued Lakhdar in the Ait Majden commune of Azilal province.
This dam, with a storage capacity of 151.62 million cubic meters, will boost water transfers from the Oum Er-Rabia to the Haouz region, supplying water for both drinking and irrigation, while also contributing to flood control and electricity generation.
The Taghzirt and Oued Lakhdar dams are pillars of Morocco’s broader strategy of improving water infrastructure, relying entirely on local companies and expertise. With a combined storage capacity of 236 million cubic meters, these dams will play a vital role in water management, agricultural growth, and energy production in the region.
Morocco and China recently signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a three-year cooperation program on water resources. The agreement, signed in Rabat by Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, and China’s Vice-Minister of Water Resources, Zhu Chengqing, outlines a strategic partnership for 2025-2027, amid increasing concerns over water scarcity and climate-related challenges.
