Morocco vows full coal exit by 2040, seeks $30 billion in climate finance ahead of COP30

Morocco has pledged to eliminate coal from its energy mix by 2040, in one of its most ambitious climate commitments to date. The plan, announced less than three weeks before COP30 in Belém, Brazil, underscores Rabat’s push to lead Africa’s energy transition,  but hinges on securing an estimated US$30 billion in international climate financing.

Energy Transition Minister Leïla Benali confirmed that Morocco has stopped planning any new coal-fired power plants and is preparing the gradual retirement of existing ones.

 “This is a strategic shift toward cleaner, locally sourced energy,” she said, stressing that contractual reforms and public-private investments will support the transition.

Coal still provides nearly 60 percent of Morocco’s electricity, according to the Powering Past Coal Alliance, making the kingdom one of Africa’s most coal-dependent nations. Its reliance on imports exposes it to market volatility and supply disruptions,  vulnerabilities that the government aims to end through an accelerated expansion of renewables.

Under its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted to the UN, Morocco targets a 53 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 and plans to derive over 80 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2040. 

The plan builds on a decade of large-scale investments in solar, wind, and green hydrogen, including projects in Ouarzazate, Tarfaya, and Guelmim, which have positioned Morocco as a continental energy hub.

The 2040 coal exit, however, remains conditional. “Without adequate international support, Morocco will maintain its decarbonization path but without a fixed end date,” the energy ministry said in its submission. 

Analysts see this as both a signal of ambition and a reminder of the financial gap facing developing economies.

The move comes as major donors, including the European Union and the World Bank, encourage African economies to align with global decarbonization goals while demanding fairer access to funding.