(3 Minutes Read)
Morocco has taken a significant step forward in its water security strategy with the inauguration of the country’s longest water pipeline—a 203-kilometer system carrying desalinated water from the Atlantic coast to the phosphate-rich region of Khouribga. Developed and operated by OCP Green Water (OGW), a subsidiary of the state-owned OCP Group, the Jorf Lasfar–Khouribga (J2K) pipeline represents a breakthrough in the nation’s long-term efforts to secure water independence and address persistent drought conditions dating back to 2018.
The J2K pipeline plays a pivotal role in OCP Group’s broader response to Morocco’s deepening water crisis, aligning with national calls for industrial action issued in 2022. It is part of a comprehensive water strategy initiated by OCP in 2008, linking the Jorf Lasfar desalination plant directly to Morocco’s primary phosphate mining hub in Khouribga.
Stretching 203 kilometers and rising 800 meters in elevation, the pipeline—designed by JESA and built by GTM STAM—was completed in just two years. It is engineered to deliver up to 80 million cubic meters of desalinated water annually through advanced pumping and infrastructure systems.
The project represents a MAD 5 billion (approximately USD 556 million) investment in sustainable water infrastructure. While its primary purpose is to support industrial operations, the pipeline also supplies drinking water to the cities of Safi, El Jadida, and southern Casablanca, with plans to extend services to Khouribga and surrounding agricultural zones.
Construction of the pipeline generated one million man-days of employment and has created 100 permanent jobs. Additionally, by replacing dam-sourced water for industrial use, the project releases 80 million cubic meters of freshwater for rural communities and agriculture—bolstering Morocco’s climate resilience.
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In June 2025, OCP is set to achieve complete water autonomy at its Benguerir site, reaching its non-conventional water target two years ahead of schedule. The J2K pipeline stands as a landmark engineering achievement and a model for sustainable development in water-stressed regions around the world.
