Morocco, Canary Islands joint energy projects

Morocco and the Canary Islands signed, here Thursday, an agreement to cooperate in joint energy development projects, particularly in renewable energy, with the assistance of the Technology Institution of the Canaries (ITC).

Minister of Industry, Trade and New Technologies of the autonomous government, Luis Soria, signed with his Moroccan peer, Mohamed Boutaleb, the accord which stipulates that ITC takes in charge the planning of energy projects in remote areas in Morocco. The Institute is currently working on a development plan of renewable energy in the north African country.

The accord is part of a memo of understanding signed last year between the two sides, providing for the development of bilateral cooperation in "priority sectors of joint interest." These sectors include production, transport, electricity distribution, renewable energy development, sea water desalination.

At the signing ceremony, Boutaleb expressed hope the accord will consolidate cooperation between Morocco and the Canary Islands, and encourage them to explore new projects.

Renewable energy is indispensable in the current economic context marked by strong international competition and the upsurge of the combustibles' prices, said the minister as reported by Europapress agency.