Morocco's electricity sector liberalization for 2005

Morocco will maintain the liberalization of the electricity sector for 2005, director general of the National Office of Electricity (ONE), Ahmed Nakkouch said.

In an interview published Tuesday by the daily in French L'Economiste, the executive said that on the basis of studies conducted recently, it was decided to uphold the liberalization agenda and introduce improvements to the initial scheme, such as giving customers the choice between two markets, a regulated and a free one. ONE will carry on its mission as a public service utility and market regulator, he added.

The regulated and free suppliers can complement each other, the objective being to enhance the system and encourage private investments. The question is whether to entrust relevant administrations with the mission or create a regulation agency, he stressed.

The regulated market will remain protected and guaranteed and control systems will be introduced for exchanges to be undertaken in complete transparency and with a regulated pricing system.

The office will invest some $80-100 million to renovate the power plant of Mohammedia (near Casablanca), Nakkouch said.