Over 80% of rural areas to get electricity this year

Over 80% of Moroccan rural areas will be connected to electricity by end of this year, said Energy and Mining Minister, Mohamed Boutaleb.

The official told the House of Representatives' question-time weekly session the rural electrification rate will go up from a present 72% to over 80% by yearend.

He added that by 2007, the rural electrification program projects to supply electricity to 13,558 villages. An additional phase of this program to include 1,310 villages in the 2006-2007 period.