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Morocco has committed to removing coal from its energy sources by 2040, marking one of its most significant climate pledges so far. This initiative, revealed just under three weeks prior to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, highlights Rabat’s effort to take a leading role in Africa’s shift toward sustainable energy, although it depends on obtaining around $30 billion in global climate funding.

Energy Transition Minister Leïla Benali stated that Morocco has ceased plans for any new coal-powered electricity facilities and is working on the phased closure of current ones.

“This marks a strategic move towards more sustainable, locally available energy,” she stated, emphasizing that changes in contracts and collaborations between the public and private sectors will aid the transformation.

Coal accounts for almost 60 percent of Morocco’s electricity generation, as reported by the Powering Past Coal Alliance, which makes the country one of the most coal-reliant in Africa. This dependence on imports leaves it vulnerable to market fluctuations and supply issues, challenges the government seeks to address by speeding up the development of renewable energy sources.

With its revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted to the United Nations, Morocco aims for a 53 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 and intends to generate more than 80 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2040.

The strategy is based on ten years of significant investments in solar, wind, and green hydrogen, including initiatives in Ouarzazate, Tarfaya, and Guelmim, which have established Morocco as a key energy center in the continent.

The 2040 phase-out of coal, nevertheless, is still dependent on conditions. “With insufficient international assistance, Morocco will continue its decarbonization journey but without a set conclusion date,” stated the energy ministry in its report.

Experts interpret this as an indication of aspiration and a reflection of the economic disparity that developing nations continue to face.

The action follows significant donors, such as the European Union and the World Bank, urging African economies to meet global decarbonization targets while pushing for more equitable access to financial resources.

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