Khouribga — The OCP Group marked a major step in its energy transition strategy on Monday with the inauguration of the first phase of its photovoltaic program, delivering 202 MW of operational solar capacity across sites in Khouribga and Benguerir.
The event brought together senior OCP executives, local authorities, and members of the press for a presentation outlining the company’s progress toward its carbon-neutrality targets and its broader industrial transformation.
The ceremony was opened by Abdelkrim Ramzi, Director of OCP’s Khouribga Integrated Platform, who welcomed participants and underlined the significance of deploying large-scale renewable energy infrastructure on former mining lands.
The session featured interventions from Omar Kadir, CEO of OCP Green Energy; Faris Derrij, Managing Director of SBU Mining; and Hanane Morchid, Chief Sustainability and Innovation Officer.
Together, they detailed the program’s objectives, technical scope, and expected impacts on OCP’s operations and surrounding communities.
Ramzi announced that the newly commissioned solar farms — including the 105 MW Ouled Fares plant, now the largest photovoltaic facility in Morocco — have already begun supplying OCP’s mining and industrial sites.
“As of today, and even for several weeks now, we can say that 100% of the daytime electricity needs of the Khouribga site and the Gantour site are supplied by solar energy,” he said.
“This is already a major milestone.” The first phase was completed with a total investment of MAD 1.8 billion and achieved a local integration rate of roughly 60%.
A strategic shift toward 100% green electricity by 2027
The solar rollout forms part of OCP’s broader Green Investment Program (2023–2027), which allocates $13 billion to renewable energy, desalinated water, green hydrogen and ammonia, and sustainable industrial growth.
A central pillar of the plan is achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2027, supported by a deployment target of 1.2 GW of green energy capacity within the same timeframe.
As outlined during the presentation, additional phases of the program are already under development, including new solar and wind projects expected to push OCP’s renewable capacity beyond 2 GW after 2027.
The company is also advancing Morocco’s first large-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a 25 MW/125 MWh unit in Benguerir designed to stabilize production and manage intermittency. The system will support peak shifting, grid services, and improved operational continuity.
Executives emphasized that the transition to green energy is directly tied to OCP’s mining and industrial strategy.
They noted that decarbonizing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 requires both clean power generation and increased operational efficiency.
The use of rehabilitated mining lands for solar fields was presented as a key example of circular land management.
They also highlighted parallel investments in sustainability, including non-conventional water through OCP Green Water, large-scale desalination projects, and social initiatives aimed at strengthening local ecosystems.
These include youth training programs, support for cooperatives, and efforts to boost local supply chains.
The event concluded with a visit to the Ouled Fares solar farm, to observe the facility’s infrastructure and receive technical briefings on performance, grid integration, and environmental safeguards.
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