Morocco will begin construction of a USD1.5 billion waste-to-energy plant in Casablanca before the end of 2026, a consortium led by Swiss-Japanese engineering firm Kanadevia Inova said, as the North African nation expands investments in clean energy and modern waste management to support its climate goals and rising electricity demand.
The project, expected to enter full commercial operation by mid-2030, will become only the second largescale waste-to-energy facility in Africa. It is designed to convert municipal solid waste into electricity while reducing methane emissions from the Mediouna landfill, Morocco’s largest waste disposal site.
The plant will process thousands of tonnes of household and commercial waste annually, generating electricity for the national grid while reducing the volume of refuse sent to landfill.
Financial and technical details beyond the esestimate USD1.5 billion investment were not immediately disclosed.
The announcement comes as Morocco accelerates investment in renewable energy infrastructure to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels and improve energy security.
The country has emerged as one of Africa’s renewable energy leaders through large-scale solar and wind projects and is targeting renewables to account for more than half of its installed electricity generation capacity by the end of the decade.
Waste-to-energy technology is increasingly attracting interest from governments across Africa as rapid urbanisation and population growth strain landfill capacity and municipal waste collection systems.
The technology offers cities an alternative means of managing solid waste while producing electricity, although projects require significant upfront capital, long-term feedstock supplies and stable regulatory frameworks. Industry analysts say the Casablanca project could serve as a benchmark for other African cities seeking to combine waste management with low-carbon power generation.
Successful implementation could encourage further investment in similar facilities as governments seek to diversify electricity sources and meet emissions reduction commitments.
The Mediouna landfill has for years posed environmental challenges for Casablanca, generating methane emissions and creating pressure for authorities to modernise waste disposal systems. Capturing energy from waste is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving environmental conditions around the site.
The project also reflects growing investor interest in sustainable infrastructure across North Africa, where governments are increasingly partnering with international engineering firms and private investors to finance large-scale energy and environmental projects.
Rising demand for electricity, coupled with tighter climate commitments, has expanded opportunities for renewable and circular economy investments. Construction is scheduled to begin before the end of the year following the completion of regulatory approvals and preparatory work. Once operational in 2030, the Casablanca facility is expected to strengthen Morocco’s clean energy portfolio, improve urban waste management and reinforce the country’s position as one of Africa’s leading destinations for renewable energy investment.
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