Rabat – Morocco is set to purchase 7,000 buses in preparation for upcoming major sports events, including the 2030 World Cup, which the country will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour announced the plan on Tuesday during the Green Impact Summit on sustainable mobility in Morocco by 2030.
Mezzour stated that the Ministry of Interior recently launched the first call for tenders to acquire 1,317 buses, including 30 electric buses. He also revealed that the government aims to make half of the remaining fleet electric as part of Morocco’s transition to greener transportation.
Electric buses cost the same as traditional fuel-powered ones, the minister noted, arguing that this makes the shift to sustainable mobility a viable option. He mentioned Morocco’s potential in the electric vehicle industry, noting that the country is preparing to manufacture all components of electric batteries.
Morocco is set to become one of only five countries in the world producing electric vehicles “from mine to factory,” Mezzour said, hailing the country’s rich resources of cobalt and phosphate, which are key materials for lithium battery production.
He added that Morocco’s focus on electric vehicle production, including chassis, engines, and batteries, will help triple the country’s exports by 2032 and boost economic growth and job creation.
The country has recently outlined a detailed plan to prepare for the hosting of major sports events, including the fast-approaching 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The plan includes renovating already existing stadiums and building a new one, as well as upgrading airports, especially the Mohammed V airport in Casablanca.
Fouzi Lekjaa, Delegate Minister for Budget and President of the Moroccan football federation, recently said the plan addresses key areas such as human rights, climate action, energy transition, infrastructure, accommodation, football, mobility, and security.
