Morocco, Spain Discuss Boosting Cooperation in Energy Transition

Last updated Feb 2, 2023

Rabat – The consolidation of strategic cooperation in the fields of energy transition, environment and sustainable development was the focus of talks, Thursday in Rabat, between the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali and her Spanish counterpart, Teresa Ribera Rodríguez.

التقت السيدة الوزيرة اليوم نظيرتها الإسبانية تيريزا ريبيرا على هامش الاجتماع 12 رفيع المستوى🇪🇸 🇲🇦 وتباحثتا سبل تعزيز التعاون في مجموعة من المجالات ذات الاهتمام المشترك كالطاقات المتجددة والاندماج الجهوي والتخطيط المكاني البحري والتنسيق في أفق #COP28UAE و #UNEA6 @Teresaribera pic.twitter.com/iH6w3fv7pN

— MTEDD وزارة الانتقال الطاقي والتنمية المستدامة (@MTEDDMAROC) February 2, 2023

After the meeting, which was held in conjunction with the 12th Morocco-Spain High-Level Meeting (HLM), Benali gave a press conference in which he stated that the two governments wanted to revitalize their strategic alliance in the energy sector and further solidify their collaboration in areas such as green hydrogen, electricity, gas, mining, the environment, and sustainable development.

The meeting provided an opportunity to talk about a variety of topics related to “COP28 preparations as part of Morocco’s presidency of the 6th assembly of the United Nations for the environment,” which runs concurrently with Spain’s presidency of the European Council in the second half of 2023, she added.

Teresa Ribera Rodriguez, vice president of the Spanish government and minister for ecological transition and demographic challenges, expressed her satisfaction with the level of bilateral cooperation relations, highlighting the shared perspectives of the two parties on issues relating to the environment and energy.

In a press release, she stated that “we are convinced of the importance of working together” for a healthier environment in a time of climate challenges, noting that Morocco has high aspirations in the energy sector.

In this regard, she emphasized “the strong commitment of Morocco” to advance cross-border collaboration, particularly in the energy sector, in order to address environmental and climate challenges.

Ribera Rodrguez is a member of the delegation traveling with Pedro Sánchez, the president of the Spanish government, who is currently in the Kingdom to co-chair the 12th session of the High Level Meeting Morocco-Spain with Aziz Akhannouch, the president of Morocco.

The 12th Morocco-Spain HLM, which takes place eight years after the last meeting of this institutional mechanism, is a part of the strategic partnership and the new energy that has emerged in relations between the two countries as a result of Mr. Sanchez’s visit to Morocco last April at HM King Mohammed VI’s invitation.