Morocco’s Next-Generation Hydropower Project gets a USD 265 million boost from the World Bank Group

The World Bank Board of Directors has endorsed US$265 million to support the Ifahsa Pumped Hydropower Storage Project in Morocco.

This is a major clean energy infrastructure investment in northern Morocco and one of the most significant of its kind on the African continent.

The project will strengthen the reliability and resilience of Morocco’s electricity system by providing flexible storage capacity to support the integration of higher levels of renewable energy generation and will provide Moroccan electricity consumers – including households and businesses – with a more reliable, cleaner supply of electricity.

Located near Chefchaouen, the project will serve as a giant rechargeable battery for the national electricity grid.

During periods of high renewable energy production — when the sun is shining, or the wind is blowing — the facility can pump water to an upper reservoir.

That water is then released through turbines to generate electricity precisely when it is needed most.

The initiative will create real economic opportunities for Moroccan communities.

During construction, the project is expected to generate around 820 direct jobs annually, while the renewable energy capacity it enables will create additional employment opportunities across the energy sector and beyond.

Moroccan businesses will also benefit from access to cleaner electricity, strengthening their position in international markets that increasingly demand low-carbon supply chains.

The 300-megawatt facility will enable Morocco to integrate at least 1 gigawatt of additional solar and wind energy into its national grid, helping unlock around US$1 billion in private investment.

In doing so, it will replace approximately 3 terawatt-hours of electricity currently generated from fossil fuels each year — avoiding an estimated 1.7 million tons of CO₂ emissions annually.

The World Bank’s contribution combines financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), concessional financing from the Clean Technology Fund, and a grant from the Livable Planet Fund.

The project is co-financed by the African Development Bank and implemented by the Office National de l’Électricité et de l’Eau potable (ONEE).

Together, the co-financing by the two multilateral development banks demonstrates how international partnerships can mobilize funding for large-scale clean energy investments and accelerate the transition to a more resilient, low-carbon energy future.

“The Ifahsa project exemplifies the kind of transformative partnerships we strive to build — bringing together multilateral institutions and national authorities, mobilizing capital, and investing in infrastructure that delivers environmental, social, and economic dividends.

We are honored to stand alongside ONEE with the African Development Bank in supporting what is, to date, one of Morocco’s most ambitious clean energy endeavors,” said Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, Division Director for the Maghreb and Malta at the World Bank.

World Bank Group Appoints Nicola Pontara as Division Director for Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger

In another development, the World Bank Group has announced the appointment of Nicola Pontara as Division Director for the Sahel countries – Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad.

In his new role, Mr. Pontara will lead the strategic dialogue with the World Bank’s key partners and ensure the coordination of its engagement in the four Sahel countries.

Its action will focus on promoting jobs through strategic investments in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, digital connectivity and human capital, to support inclusive and sustainable growth.

“It is with pride and a deep sense of responsibility that I will serve the Sahel, a region where I started my career,” said Nicola Pontara, Division Director for Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger. “Within the World Bank Group, I look forward to working closely with governments, technical and financial partners, the private sector, and civil society to support the region’s development priorities. Together, through the new Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs), we will support sustainable economic recovery, job creation, and climate resilience.”

An economist by training, Mr. Pontara joined the World Bank in 2000 through the Young Professional program. He has extensive experience leading programs and teams in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, East Asia and the Pacific, and Europe and Central Asia, while leading strategic dialogue with governments and partners.

An Italian national, he specializes in fragile contexts and has worked to develop policies adapted to conflict-affected countries. He also helped establish the Center for Conflict, Security and Development in Nairobi, led the World Bank office in Juba, South Sudan, and held country manager positions in La Paz, Vientiane, and Belgrade. He holds a Ph.D. from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and authors regularly on poverty, natural resources, and European integration.