Morocco ranked as the second-largest coal consumer in Africa, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest report, “Coal 2024: Analysis and Forecast to 2027.”
Morocco follows South Africa, which remains the continent’s top coal consumer, driven by rising global demand for the fossil fuel.
The report revealed that South Africa consumed a staggering 165 million tons of coal in 2024, accounting for a whopping 86% of Africa’s total coal consumption.
This surge is due to a slight improvement in the country’s economic activity and a reduction in power outages.
The majority of South Africa’s coal is used for electricity generation, with projections indicating a further increase in coal-fired power production over the next three years.
While Morocco ranks second in African coal consumption, it lags significantly behind its southern neighbor.
Morocco consumed approximately 9.7 million tons of coal in 2024, marking a slight decrease from the previous year.
Morocco’s coal consumption is primarily concentrated in large power plants such as Jorf Lasfar, Asfi, and Nador.
According to the report, Morocco uses coal exclusively for power generation. Its coal demand is projected to have declined slightly by 3.3% in 2024. The addition of 6 TWh of renewable generation by 2027 is set to reduce coal demand modestly to 9.0 Mt during the period to 2027.
Despite importing all its coal, Morocco has been diversifying its energy mix by investing heavily in renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
However, the government’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint has led to a proposed increase in taxes on coal used for electricity generation.
Globally, coal remains a dominant energy source, with China and India accounting for a large portion of the world’s demand.
The IEA report says there’s increasing competition from Indonesia and Mongolia, challenging traditional coal exporters like Australia and Russia.
While Africa’s coal consumption is growing, it still represents a relatively small portion of the global market. But the continent’s abundant coal reserves, coupled with its growing energy demands, make it a crucial player in the global coal market.
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