With 18% of the world’s installed desalination capacity built using its technologies, French environmental leader Veolia is reinforcing its dominance in the sector, aiming to double its operational capacity by 2030. A flagship project in Morocco marks a key step in that ambition.
Veolia has made its intentions crystal clear. The French group announced on Tuesday that it plans to double its daily desalination capacity from the current 1.4 million cubic meters to nearly 3 million by 2030. This bold target comes as global demand for freshwater intensifies, and Veolia continues to lead the charge in offering large-scale, sustainable solutions.
Among its most notable 2024 achievements, Veolia has won the contract to build Africa’s largest desalination plant, just outside Rabat. The project, structured as a public-private partnership, includes the construction, financing, and 35-year operation of a seawater desalination facility.
With a daily capacity of 822,000 cubic meters—translating to 300 million cubic meters annually—the plant will serve as a lifeline for nearly 9.3 million people across the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Fès-Meknès regions. In a country increasingly challenged by drought and water scarcity, the project stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and innovation.
Morocco is far from Veolia’s only focus. The group is also expanding its footprint in the Middle East and Europe, with recent contracts secured in the United Arab Emirates (Mirfa 2 and Hassyan plants) and the UK (Cornwall desalination facility). “These projects reflect Veolia’s strong ambitions in the global desalination market,” the company said in its statement.
Desalination is now a central pillar of Veolia’s activities, alongside waste management (35% of total revenue) and energy (25%). In 2024, the group reported a total revenue of €45 billion, including €18 billion from water-related operations.
With a strategic vision anchored in innovation and sustainability, Veolia continues to cement its leadership in the global water market—turning scarcity into opportunity.
