Morocco’s minister says the country will open two deepwater ports in 2026 and 2028
Morocco is set to inaugurate a new deepwater Mediterranean port next year, along with another on the Atlantic in 2028, according to Equipment and Water Minister Nizar Baraka. This initiative reflects the North African country’s ambition to emulate the achievements of Africa’s largest port, Tanger Med.
Nador West Med, currently under construction on the Mediterranean, is expected to be operational in the latter half of 2026, Baraka informed Reuters during an interview.
It will provide 800 hectares for industrial activity, with intentions to grow to 5000 hectares, exceeding the industrial zones of Tanger Med, he stated.
The port will host Morocco’s inaugural liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal – a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) – connected by a pipeline to industrial centers in the northwest, as Morocco advances investments in natural gas and renewable energy to lessen reliance on coal.
In the southern part of the Atlantic coast, Morocco is developing a $1 billion port in Dakhla, located in the contested Western Sahara region.
According to Baraka, the facility will be encircled by 1,600 hectares designated for industrial activities and 5,200 hectares allocated for farmland that will be irrigated using desalinated water.
“According to Baraka, the port is set to be completed in 2028 and will be Morocco’s deepest, reaching a depth of 23 meters.” Such depth would bolster heavy industries dedicated to processing raw materials from Sahel countries, he stated.
Officials have promoted Dakhla as a portal for landlocked Sahel nations to access global trade.
Baraka stated that both Nador and Dakhla ports will feature quays specifically designed for the export of green hydrogen once production commences.
Nador and Dakhla are set to become Morocco’s third and fourth deepwater ports, following in the footsteps of Tanger Med and Jorf Lasfar, which serves as a port for energy, bulk cargo, and phosphate exports on the Atlantic.
As of 2024, industrial zones close to Tanger Med have welcomed 1,400 companies, providing jobs for 130,000 individuals in various sectors such as automotive, aeronautics, textiles, agri-food, and renewable energy, according to official statistics.
Baraka mentioned that Morocco is contemplating the construction of a port in Tan-Tan along the Atlantic, collaborating with investors in green hydrogen.
“Baraka stated that we are carrying out studies to determine the suitable size of the port.”
