Morocco conducts one of world's most important solar energy programs, electricity office chairman

Morocco is carrying out one of the world's most important solar-generated electricity programs that will supply this form of electricity to 150,000 households by 2007, said, this Thursday, Ahmed Nekkouch, general director of the Moroccan state-owned electricity office (ONE).

The program is worth around 700 million DH (US$ 77.7 million), the official who is taking part in an international conference on renewable energies held in Bonn this June 1-4 told MAP office in Bonn.

He said the program will benefit all households that cannot be connected to the conventional grid, either because they are too far or scattered, assuring that all guarantees have been provided that customers will be supplied electricity with the same regularity and quality in addition to a 10-year duration guarantee.

The solar-generated electricity is supplied by private companies that are selected by ONE after a bid tender.

Nekkouch also stressed that this form of clean and low-cost energy is also being developed to heat water both for collective (public baths) and individual use.

The use of solar energy also reduces the use of imported energy and is a source of jobs and wealth, he went on.