Report: Morocco’s nuclear plans still on hold, but new tech could change that

Source : Hespress: Report: Morocco’s nuclear plans still on hold, but new tech could change that https://en.hespress.com/107428-report-moroccos-nuclear-plans-still-on-hold-but-new-tech-could-change-that.html

by Imane Lechheb • 7 April 2025

With a grid that can handle the added load of a nuclear reactor, Morocco has the technical setup needed. But despite these capabilities, Morocco’s nuclear plans are still on paper, with no real progress on building any reactors.

Morocco, along with a few other African countries, has a large enough electricity grid to safely include a nuclear reactor.

In 2022, the country’s grid had a capacity of almost 10 gigawatts, which meets the minimum requirements set by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

This means Morocco could technically host a nuclear reactor up to 1 gigawatt in size, without disrupting the stability of the national grid.

However, while Morocco signed an agreement with Russia’s Rosatom in 2017 to explore peaceful nuclear energy, there hasn’t been much action since.

Morocco has faced the same roadblocks many others in Africa face—financing, technical skills, and unstable regulations.

The report shows the growing challenge from renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which are faster and cheaper to set up than nuclear power.

Renewable energy is booming worldwide, and it’s outpacing nuclear, which is struggling to keep up with new builds while old reactors continue to shut down.

Yet, there’s hope for Morocco in small modular reactors (SMRs). These smaller, more flexible reactors could be a great fit for the country’s grid.

Countries like Ghana are already in talks about SMRs, raising the question of whether Morocco can seize the opportunity with its better grid setup.

But the path is far from clear. The global nuclear industry is facing major financial and political hurdles, with few companies able to design and build nuclear plants, and many facing heavy debts or international sanctions.

While Morocco’s nuclear energy plans are still in their early stages, there’s a chance the country could move forward with the right investments and strategies, especially as new technologies like SMRs gain traction.

(More...)