On October 28, King Mohammed VI presided over a working session at the Royal Palace in Rabat to review the development of Morocco's port infrastructure, focusing on the Nador West Med complex and the expansion of Tanger Med. The meeting follows a similar session held on January 28, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the country's port capabilities. The King was briefed on the current state of the projects and their future development by Fouad Brini, president of the supervisory board of TMSA and the board of directors of Nador West Med.
The Nador West Med project aims to create a new port and industrial hub that will complement the existing Tanger Med facility. The project has already secured 54 billion dirhams in public and private investment. The first container terminal at Nador West Med is set to begin operations soon, with a capacity of 3.5 million containers. A second terminal with a capacity of 1.8 million containers is expected to be operational by April 2027, representing an investment of 8 billion dirhams in private funding.
The Nador West Med complex will also feature infrastructure for hydrocarbons and liquefied natural gas. The hydrocarbon terminal will be linked to a storage area with a potential capacity of 4 million cubic meters. The liquefied natural gas terminal will be able to handle up to 5 billion cubic meters per year. These facilities are expected to enhance Morocco's energy security in line with royal directives. The port will also include terminals for solid bulk and general cargo.
The industrial zone at Nador West Med is already operational, hosting one factory and three more under construction. The project is expected to create 14,000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs in the short term. To support the development of the site, several connectivity infrastructure projects are planned, including a Selouane-NWM railway link, a Guercif-NWM highway, and upgrades to the road network. These improvements aim to facilitate access to the complex and enhance its connectivity.
In parallel with the Nador West Med project, Morocco is preparing an extension of Tanger Med, known as Tanger Med 3. Located west of Tanger Med 2, this new port will feature 1,200 meters of quays and offer an additional capacity of 4.5 million containers per year, with an investment of 8 billion dirhams. A concession agreement has been signed with Maersk-APM, a global leader in maritime transport, for the development of the new container terminal.
The Tanger Med 3 project will also involve the ongoing expansion of the passenger and ro-ro port, as well as the eastern extension of Tanger Med 2. Upon completion, the Tanger Med complex could reach a total capacity of 20 million containers, positioning it among the top 10 ports globally. The King emphasized the need for the economic and social benefits of these projects to be shared by all concerned provinces and to translate into tangible improvements for local populations.
King Mohammed VI called for the acceleration of training programs tailored to the needs of new economic activities to facilitate the professional integration of young people and enable local populations to benefit concretely from the returns on port, industrial, and energy investments. The working session was attended by several high-ranking officials, including advisors and ministers responsible for interior, economy, finance, equipment, water, forests, industry, trade, investment, and inclusive economy.
Key points
- The Nador West Med and Tanger Med 3 projects aim to strengthen Morocco's port infrastructure and enhance its competitiveness.
- The projects are expected to create thousands of jobs and stimulate economic growth in the regions concerned.
- The developments will position Morocco as a major player in the global maritime industry.
