Morocco's rural electrification to reach 70% in 2004, minister

Electrification of Morocco's rural areas is expected to reach a rate 70% in 2004 when the General Rural Electrification Program (PERG) will have reached its third phase, said minister of energy and mining, Mohammed Boutaleb.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of two loan agreements extended by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) to Morocco for the extension of Morocco's electricity grid, Boutaleb said the PERG 2002-2004 phase will necessitate some 4 billion Dirhams (nearly US$ 400 million).

The minister added that the fourth phase of the PERG will be divided in two stages. In the first phase, extending between 2004 and 2006, electricity will be supplied to villages that will have met the 20,000 Dirham (US$ 2,000) per home payment ceiling. In the second stage, running between 2006 and 2007, villages that will have met the 27,000 Dirham (US$ 2,700) per home payment ceiling will be connected, including 157,000 homes that will be fitted with solar panels.

Boutaled was upbeat that all the country's regions will be connected to the electric grid by 2007.