Morocco’s water sector has a new industry leader. Tarik Hamane, Director General of the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), has been unanimously elected president of the Moroccan Association for Drinking Water and Sanitation (AMEPA) for the 2026 to 2030 term.
The election took place during the association’s general assembly in Rabat, where members also approved a new Board of Directors and Executive Bureau.
According to ONEE, the new board has 27 members, while the executive bureau includes 12 representatives from across Morocco’s drinking water and sanitation sector.
Members also voted to update AMEPA’s statutes to reflect changes taking place in the country’s water sector. The changes are aimed at giving the association a bigger role in supporting local industry, engineering expertise and water infrastructure development.
Founded in 1997, AMEPA brings together more than 95 public and private sector members, including ONEE, Regional Multiservice Companies (SRMs), concessionaires, engineering firms and specialised construction companies.
The association says it wants to help build a stronger ecosystem around Morocco’s water industry and promote local expertise at home and abroad.
Hamane’s appointment comes at a critical time for the sector. Morocco is facing its seventh straight year of drought and is investing heavily in projects to secure water supplies.
These include major water transfer projects linking river basins across the country and a rapid expansion of seawater desalination plants. Morocco aims to meet more than half of its drinking water needs through desalination by 2030.
The country is also restructuring the way water and electricity services are managed through the rollout of Regional Multiservice Companies, which are expected to improve distribution networks and reduce water losses.
The government has earmarked billions of dirhams for water infrastructure projects, while international partners, including the European Union and several European development institutions, have committed additional funding to support water security and climate resilience efforts.
