This study concerns the Ouarzazate solar complex project.

With a capacity
of 500 MW and an estimated output of 1,150 GWh / year (in case solar thermal
technology is used), this project is the first in a series of five solar power plants
that will total 2,000 MW by 2020. To this end, an area of 2500 ha was selected
on the Tamzaghten Izerki site belonging to the ethnic community Ait Oukrour
Toundout, located in the Ghessat rural district. The site is located about 10 km
from Ouarzazate on the national road going towards Errachedia. The first phase
will be conducted by the company or consortium chosen through an international
tender to be launched in the second quarter of 2011. This study is an
environmental impact assessment framework study to be supplemented by a
specific environmental and social assessment which will take into account the
specificities of the plant and related facilities. This "specific" study will also
meet the requirements of international financial institutions.

This project will:

 Reduce energy dependence of the Kingdom (Morocco currently has a

strong dependency on oil for its energy needs – 95%),

 Value a national resource: Morocco has a very high sunlight rate, and the
project will allow to ensure that the solar resource valuation will be
controlled at the national level and thus to make the population benefit
from the economic fallout,

 Create a long term competitive advantage in the energy sector,

 Reduce greenhouse gas emissions: the Moroccan Solar Plan will prevent
the emission of 3.7 million tons of CO2.