Nexans, a world leader in the design and manufacturing of cable systems, held the 4th edition of its “Climate Day” on September 26, 2024 in Rabat. Organized in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, as well as the ENR Cluster, this event was initially postponed due to the tragic Al-Haouz earthquake in 2023. This annual meeting, previously organized in New York, Paris and Stockholm, brought together key players in the energy sector and experts to discuss climate challenges and propose concrete solutions in favor of sustainable electrification.
During his speech for Nexans’ very first Climate Day in Africa, Christopher Guerin, CEO of Nexans, highlighted Nexans’ long-standing commitment to Morocco and the African continent. He discussed the consequences of the earthquake that struck Morocco the previous year and reaffirmed Nexans’ support for the affected families.
Mr. Guerin highlighted the importance of the energy transition to respond to climate challenges, in particular the acceleration of the transition to renewable energies and the modernization of electricity networks. Nexans, a pioneer in electrification for 130 years, is determined to offer carbon-free energy to Africa and to avoid an energy divide between countries. Morocco, with its modern and digitalized electricity network, is cited as an example.
In addition, Mr. Guerin insisted on the need to invest massively in global electricity infrastructure to make them resilient to climate risks, while advocating a model of energy sobriety that combines economic and environmental performance.
Finally, the CEO of Nexans wanted to emphasize the importance of the quality of education in Morocco, in particular the expertise of Moroccan schools which train highly qualified technicians and engineers, constituting a major asset for the development of the energy sector. .
For her part, the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, underlined the crucial importance of accelerating sustainable investments to support the energy transition in Morocco and Africa. According to Ms. Benali, this transition requires increased mobilization of green investments, accompanied by the development of resilient and sustainable economic models, as well as the simplification of procedures at national and continental scale.
She recalled that Morocco began its energy transition in 2009, considering it a fundamental pillar to achieve the objectives of sustainable development and decarbonization, both for the Kingdom and for its neighbors. Leila Benali also highlighted Morocco’s strategic role as one of the five connector countries in the world and the only viable corridor between Europe, Africa and the Atlantic basin. She insisted on the need to unlock this “reservoir of productive capacities” to meet the country’s energy ambitions.
The minister set an ambitious objective of 1,400 megawatts of renewable energy to be developed annually, compared to the 160 megawatts produced on average each year between 2009 and 2022. For this, she underlined the importance of strengthening storage systems, improve the business climate, promote innovation, and develop human capital to guarantee sustainable electrification and effectively combat climate change.
The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ryad Mezzour, also spoke, affirming that energy is “the essential vector of economic and social development”. He stressed that industrialization and job creation cannot be achieved without an acceleration of the energy transition, essential to carry out the Kingdom’s strategic projects.
Mohamed Benchaâboun, general director of the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, for his part insisted on the crucial importance of climate financing to deal with the effects of climate change. He highlighted the need for public-private partnerships to mobilize financial resources while sharing risks and promoting technology transfer.
The Mohammed VI Fund, with an initial capital of 15 billion dirhams, plays a key role in supporting sustainable infrastructure and the energy transition, according to Benchaâboun. He underlined the urgency of accelerating decarbonization, by focusing on renewable energies and the electrification of transport.
Chakib Alj, president of the CGEM, recalled that the energy transition represents an opportunity for Africa to become a world leader in this area. He also reiterated the CGEM’s commitment to supporting the decarbonization of Moroccan companies and strengthening local skills through sustainable partnerships with other African countries.
The 4th edition of Climate Day was marked by the launch of the electrification project for the “Shems’y” village, a refuge for orphans of the Al Haouz earthquake. The event also celebrated the six winners of the Nexans Climate Challenge, a competition aimed at rewarding the most innovative projects in environmental sustainability.
Asma Loudni
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– 2024-09-27 16:40:33
