The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a €200 million loan to OCP Group, the world leader in plant nutrition solutions and phosphate-based fertilizers, aimed at strengthening water security through the development of new desalination facilities in Morocco.

The EBRD loan will finance the construction of two seawater desalination facilities for OCP Group, at its key industrial complexes in El Jadida (Jorf Lasfar) and Safi. These new facilities, with a capacity of approximately 35 million m3, will support the production of fertilizers essential for global food security, enabling OCP Group to meet the increasing demand for sustainable agricultural solutions.

Morocco experiences significant water stress, with annual water availability of only 790 m3 per capita (measures below 1,000 m3 per capita are conventionally considered a situation of chronic water scarcity), while the cities of El Jadida and Safi are located in a highly stressed catchment area where water demand exceeds 80% of the available freshwater supply.

The new desalination facilities in El Jadida (Jorf Lasfar) and Safi will enable OCP Group to further reduce its use of freshwater for its water-intensive industrial processes. This shift is especially crucial as the region faces increasing droughts, allowing OCP Group to contribute to more sustainable water management in a highly strained environment.

These new facilities will also contribute to the reinforcement of water security in Morocco, by providing desalinated water for industrial use and preserving natural freshwater resources for local drinking water supplies.

This investment aligns with the EBRD’s Strategy for Morocco and its Green Economy Transition Approach 2021-2025.