OREANDA-NEWS. His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, inaugurated the Mediouna waste water treatment plant (Greater Casablanca Region) in the presence of Francois Hollande, President of the French Republic, Gerard Mestrallet, Chairman and CEO of GDF SUEZ, and Jean-Louis Chaussade, Chief Executive Officer of SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT.

In addition, the Office National des Chemins de Fer of Morocco has entrusted Cofely Ineo, a subsidiary of GDF SUEZ, with the design and construction of the rail signals, telecommunications systems and control centre for the future high speed rail line (LGV) connecting Tangiers to Kenitra (Atlantic coast). The contract is worth a total of 120 million euros1.

The Mediouna plant is designed for a population of 40,000. Operated by Lydec, a subsidiary of SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT, it is the first waste water treatment plant in Morocco and in North Africa to use the membrane filtration process. This innovative technology is used to re-use treated waste water for agricultural irrigation. The plant will help protect the Oued Hassar from waste water discharge from Mediouna and conserve water resources.

The Mediouna plant is part of a wider investment program in the Greater Casablanca Region, designed to protect the environment from waste water discharge, conserve water resources and provide inhabitants with a better quality of life, in particular high quality bathing water.

“This inauguration by the King of Morocco in the presence of the President of the French Republic and our CDG and RMA Watanya partners, is an honour for Group” declared Gerard Mestrallet. “It demonstrates the support of the Moroccan and French authorities for the Group’s commitment to being the long-term key industrial and commercial partner in Morocco. Signing the contract for the future LGV again illustrates our desire to contribute to the Kingdom’s continuing development.”

GDF SUEZ operates in Morocco in the areas of electricity generation, alongside its Moroccan partner Nareva, energy services, water treatment and waste products.

In February 2013, GDF SUEZ and its Moroccan partner Nareva Holding announced the construction of the Tarfaya wind farm, the largest wind farm project in Africa with a capacity of 300 MW. Moreover, the Group, in partnership with Nareva Holding and Mitsui, is in the process of finalising the development of the Safi project, a 1,320 MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant, that will also help ensure the country’s energy future.

The Group is keen to support the country’s energy growth, which has been increasing on average by 6% per annum since 1998 and is expected to continue to grow over the next 20 years.

GDF SUEZ also has major operations in energy services. At the end of 2011, Cofely was awarded the facility management contract for the new Renault factory in Tangiers, the largest contract of its type in Morocco.

With regard to the environment, SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT operates via Lydec, a company listed on the Casablanca stock exchange, in charge of water and electricity distribution, public sanitation and lighting services in Greater Casablanca. SITA Maroc, Degremont and Safege also have major operations in the Kingdom.