Benali calls for rethink in Morocco’s energy efficiency strategy

Energy Minister Leila Benali has called for a fundamental shift in Morocco’s approach to energy efficiency, saying it demands “a change in philosophy” across all levels of government. 

Speaking before the parliamentary committee on public finance and governance, Benali said the issue challenges the very framework of public investment, noting that “results won’t appear immediately, but years later.”

She argued that the energy transition strategy launched in 2009 now requires an overhaul. “We’re rethinking the model and prioritizing communication to ensure all stakeholders,especially at the territorial level, understand their role,” she said. 

This includes adapting local public lighting systems and agricultural infrastructure to energy-saving standards.

Benali revealed that the government is also pursuing deep institutional reforms, particularly within the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency. She stressed that energy policy must reflect a new balance of power between central and local authorities. 

“The ministry doesn’t impose its vision,” she said, “but we are ready to fund municipalities willing to commit.”

She also pointed to the urgent need to retrain engineers and technicians in sustainability-focused skills. “There’s nothing wrong with going back to school. Training is a pillar of the new energy philosophy,” she said.

Citing the “Energy Reward” initiative, Benali said that empowering citizens to cut consumption can have direct fiscal benefits. “We’ve allocated real resources and achieved real results.”

She concluded by calling on lawmakers to support structural reform. “The battle is collective. Parliament has a duty to push this conversation forward and reshape the legal framework,” she said. “Reform isn’t just a goal,it’s a path to better governance and accountability.”