Morocco loses around 50 million cubic meters of dam storage capacity each year due to siltation, Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the House of Councillor’s question time, Baraka said the issue of sediment accumulation in dams has become increasingly pressing, prompting the Ministry to step up efforts to mitigate the impact.
He said studies had been conducted to assess the extent of the loss in storage capacity, leading to a series of preventive measures. Among them is an agreement signed with the National Agency for Water and Forests to boost reforestation efforts, aimed at curbing sediment inflow into reservoirs.
Siltation is now a key factor in the design of new dams, with specific storage volumes allocated to sediment build-up over a minimum operational lifespan of 50 years, Baraka added. This approach is intended to ensure long-term cost-effectiveness of the infrastructure.
In response to recurring droughts, the ministry has also launched sediment removal programmes at smaller dams. However, the minister noted that dredging remains costly, with operations reaching up to MAD 70 per cubic meter.
Baraka stressed the need to explore alternative strategies, including raising the height of some major dams to increase storage capacity and mitigate the long-term effects of siltation.
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