Morocco presents water desalination experience in San Diego's international seminar

Experts from the Moroccan drinking water board "ONEP" took part from last August 29 through September 3 in an international seminar on sea water desalination in San Diego, USA.

The Moroccan experts presented Morocco's experience in sea water desalination.

A sea water desalination plant is already operational, supplying water to Laayoune and Boujdour (southern Morocco), and another plant for the desalination of underground water is projected.

The Boujdour plant, with a daily capacity of 250 cubic meters, was completed in 1977 and modernized in 1995. It provides a daily 7,000 cubic meters of water to the city of Laayoune and a daily 800 cubic meters to Boujdour.

ONEP says the major problem of these plants is the high investment and operation costs as energy costs alone represent between 20 to 50% of the production cost.

ONEP is also conducting studies to use nuclear energy in water desalination with the collaboration of China and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Another study deals with the use of solar energy with the cooperation of Switzerland.