At the Aït Baha cement plant, energy never stops
At Morocco's Aït Baha cement plant, about 70 kilometers southeast of Agadir, Abdelkrim Ezzahidy keeps a close eye on several control screens. The indicators are all steady, and the lights green. Just a few meters from his workstation, a kiln operates at full capacity, reaching temperatures of nearly 1,450 degrees Celsius.
Ezzahidy is the director of the cement plant, with an annual capacity of two million tons of clinker and 2.2 million tons of cement. Production at this facility owned by Ciments du Maroc (CIMAR) relies on a delicately calibrated process in which even minor fluctuations in electricity supply can affect performance.
"This kiln must operate at maximum efficiency, without interruption," Ezzahidy explains. "Stable energy supply is essential to ensure the continuity of our operations, protect jobs, and support our growth."
A stable grid: the foundation of a growing industrial sector
Over the past decades, Morocco has seen a profound transformation of its industrial sector. The country has modernized its infrastructure, encouraged innovation, and strengthened its position in regional and global value chains.
This momentum has been accompanied by rising energy demand from both businesses and households. Meeting this demand requires a robust electricity network capable of handling peak consumption while supporting long-term economic growth.
At the same time, Morocco has committed to increasing the share of renewable energy in its national energy mix, aiming to reach 52 percent by 2030.
While this model is both sustainable and competitive, it also presents a major challenge: the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy. Fluctuations of sunlight and wind conditions require careful management to ensure the stability of the national grid.
A strategic response to renewable energy intermittency
The Abdelmoumen Pumped Storage Power Plant (STEP), developed and operated by the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), plays a strategic role in maintaining this stability.
Located about 70 kilometers east of Agadir, the facility helps meet demand during peak consumption periods, while compensating for inevitable drops in solar and wind generation.
Supported by €179 million in financing from the African Development Bank Group as part of the Integrated Wind, Hydropower and Rural Electrification Program (PIEHER), the project is a key driver of flexibility and resilience within Morocco's electricity system.
"More than just infrastructure, the Abdelmoumen pumped storage plant is a strategic asset that helps stabilize the national grid and supports Morocco's industrial growth, strengthening its integration into global value chains," says Achraf Tarsim, Country Manager of the African Development Bank Group in Morocco.
A 350 MW "giant hydraulic battery"
The system relies on two water reservoirs: one located at a lower level and another positioned 600 meters higher. They are connected by pipelines and underground tunnels and supplied by the Abdelmoumen dam located next to the site.
Water stored at the higher elevation acts as a reserve of potential hydropower energy. When demand increases and renewable sources are insufficient, the water is released downward, flowing through reversible pump-turbines to generate electricity.
Conversely, when renewable energy production exceeds grid demand, water is pumped back up to the upper reservoir, effectively storing surplus renewable energy.
With an installed capacity of 350 megawatts (MW), the plant can deliver electricity almost instantly and can start up to 20 times per day thanks to its multi-start technology. When needed, the facility can adjust its output from 90 MW to 350 MW to stabilize the grid during peak demand.
A complex and rare infrastructure in Africa
Across Africa, only a handful of countries have developed pumped storage facilities, which rank among the most complex energy infrastructure to design and operate, requiring advanced engineering expertise and precision.
"What may appear to be a simple installation actually involved overcoming major technical challenges," explains ONEE engineer and Senior Project Manager, Hamid Lamrabet Raillani. "Geological uncertainties were a major factor. It was only while excavating that we were able to truly understand the terrain and the hydro-geological conditions of the site. These realities required us to modify the water intake system connected to the Abdelmoumen dam and to innovate throughout the project's implementation."
National impact, local benefits
For Ciments du Maroc, a subsidiary of Heidelberg Materials employing nearly one thousand people in Morocco, the reliability of the electricity grid is critical to maintaining industrial performance and safeguarding jobs.
The project's benefits extend beyond its national impact. During construction, the Abdelmoumen pumped storage plant created more than 1,400 jobs, most of which were filled by workers from local communities.
"It is a source of national pride to deploy such complex infrastructure to support our country's development," says ONEE engineer Hamid Lamrabet Raillani.
Through its scale and the resources mobilized, the project illustrates Morocco's strategic vision for energy development. In complex systems, success is never the result of chance--it is built step by step through foresight, innovation, and the support of partners such as the African Development Bank Group.
