Rabat – The Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (Masen) said on Saturday 20 December 2014 it has raised 1.7 billion euros
to finance the next phase of solar energy projects Noor 2 and Noor 3 in
Ouarzazate.
The funds are being provided by international organization
including the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and the German
Development Bank.
The first phase of Noor 1 project is already under
construction in the southern desert city of Ouarzazate.
The first phase of the project will cost an estimated 600 million euros and is
due to begin operating in October 2015.
Construction of the second phase Noor 2 and Noor 3 is set to
begin within eight to ten weeks and last for around 30 months, said Mustapha
Bakkoury, the head of Masen solar energy agency.
The two solar plants Noor 2 and Noor 3 have a capacity of 200
MW and 150 MW, respectively.
Noor 1 is Morocco’s first solar energy plant, with a capacity
of 160 megawatts.
A call for tenders had attracted seven firms, including from
France, Spain and Saudi Arabia. The winner will be announced within days,
Mustapha Bakkoury added.
