In less than thirty years, Morocco has transformed its national electrification landscape, jumping from just 16% coverage in 1996 to an astonishing 99.9% by 2025. This dramatic rise places the country among a select few worldwide-and virtually alone on the African continent-for successfully executing such a vast, far-reaching electrification campaign.
At the heart of this achievement lies the National Rural Electrification Program (PNER), a large-scale initiative that connected nearly every corner of the country to the power grid. The Moroccan model stands as proof that even in resource-constrained settings, ambitious infrastructure projects can be both technically feasible and financially viable. Its success is now becoming a blueprint for other countries facing similar challenges.
With this track record, Morocco has emerged as a key player in Mission 300, a pan-African initiative that aims to bring electricity to 300 million people across the continent by 2030. The Kingdom is not only sharing its operational and technical know-how, but also contributing expertise in strategic planning, infrastructure management, and the development of local capacity – a critical factor for long-term sustainability.
But the impact of electrification extends far beyond cables and kilowatts. It’s a powerful catalyst for economic and social development. Access to electricity opens the door to job creation, supports small businesses, improves healthcare delivery, boosts school performance, and enables the digital economy to thrive in rural and underserved areas.
This momentum is being amplified by the Africa Investment Forum (AIF), a platform that brings together governments, project developers, and investors to accelerate energy-sector commitments. Mission 300 plays a central role in the forum’s agenda, especially when it comes to attracting private capital – a crucial piece of the puzzle in making large-scale electrification targets a reality.
Concrete commitments are expected to emerge from this effort, informed by insights gathered from previous forums in Tanzania, London, and New York, as well as upcoming discussions at the African Forum on Climate and Mobility in Johannesburg. The strategy is clear: focus on peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, design financially viable projects, and create targeted connections between public institutions and private investors.
