Morocco has chosen a joint-venture bid led by Australian technology provider Rubicon Water to upgrade the main irrigation canals of the Béni Moussa perimeter in the Tadla plain. The Office Régional de Mise en Valeur Agricole du Tadla (ORMVAT) selected the bid after conducting administrative, technical, and financial assessments through Morocco's public procurement process. The winning offer was submitted by a joint venture between Rubicon's Spanish and Moroccan partners, with Rubicon's technology accounting for approximately A$12 million of the total contract value.
The Béni Moussa perimeter covers around 69,600 hectares and relies on regulated water from the Bin El Ouidane dam. The existing canal-regulation infrastructure has been in operation since the 1950s, prompting ORMVAT to seek automated control technology to improve efficiency. The project involves Rubicon supplying major components, including Total Channel Control technology, automated canal-regulation gates, communications infrastructure, and the NeuroFlo software platform. These upgrades will enable real-time monitoring and autonomous control of canal flows and water levels.
The modernization effort in Tadla has been ongoing for nearly two decades. ORMVAT initiated a feasibility study for Béni Moussa in 2007 and has since worked to convert farms from traditional gravity irrigation to localized drip systems. To date, 49,000 of the targeted 72,200 hectares have been converted, with 23,200 hectares remaining. The agency aims to increase irrigation efficiency from around 50% to 90% through these upgrades.
The Rubicon project focuses on modernizing the main canals that feed the farm-level networks, rather than the distribution networks themselves. This is crucial for Morocco, which faces deepening water scarcity. The World Bank ranks Morocco among the world's most water-stressed countries, with per-capita water availability declining from approximately 2,600 cubic meters in the 1960s to around 600 cubic meters in 2020.
The project is part of Morocco's National Irrigation Water Saving Program, which targets around 550,000 hectares nationally. Rubicon Water specializes in automating gravity-fed irrigation networks and has been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange since 1995. A successful completion of the Tadla project would represent Rubicon's largest contract to date in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Rubicon's Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Rodgerson, welcomed the selection of the bid, describing the project as a "landmark" opportunity in Morocco. The company classifies the Tadla project among five major incremental opportunities worth A$47 million that it considered "Close" in its FY26 results presentation. The selection is not yet final, pending a statutory 15-day appeal period, after which the joint venture will move forward with a signed, euro-denominated contract.
The project has significant implications for Morocco's agricultural sector and its efforts to address water scarcity. With the Tadla project, Morocco aims to enhance irrigation efficiency, reduce water waste, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. The partnership with Rubicon Water is expected to bring advanced technology and expertise to the region, supporting Morocco's goals for water conservation and agricultural development.
Key points
- Morocco selects Australian-backed bid to modernize Béni Moussa irrigation canals
- The project aims to increase irrigation efficiency from 50% to 90% in the Tadla plain
- The modernization effort is part of Morocco's National Irrigation Water Saving Program, targeting 550,000 hectares nationally
