Embassy of India

Rabat, Morocco

Kingdom of Morocco 
Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Fisheries

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN THE FIELD OF SEA WATER DESALINATION AND IRRIGATION

FOR THE AREA OF   CHTOUKA AIT BAHA IN THE REGION OF AGADIR

The area of ​​Chtouka Ait Baha is characterized by a high value fruits and vegetable production mainly with greenhouse cultivation, which will contribute  to growth and development of the region of Agadir in the south of Morocco. Since the early 2000s, the area is subject to increasing pressure on water resources, resulting in exploitation of the groundwater of  Chtouka beyond its renewable potential, leading to a steady decline in its level and threatening the development of agriculture in this area.

The government has decided to carry out a preservation project of groundwater by supplying desalinated water from a desalination plant of sea water in a final capacity of 167,000 m3 per day supplying an irrigation network covering about 13 600 ha.

The project aims to substitute a part of the water intakein the groundwater by the water produced by the desalination plant of sea water

The Government signed an agreement to this effect with representativeagricultural organizations which provide for the implementation of collective management of water resources of Chtouka groundwater particularly through the introduction of a quota system of water intakein the groundwater in order to limit water intakes of groundwater and the commitment of producers of high 
market value cultivation to use a volume of desalinated water in the area  of 3600 to 4000 m3 per hectare per year.
The Government wishes to carry out this project as part of a public service contract by promoting participation of private sector in co-financing, concept, exploration, maintenance and commercial management of desalination and irrigation infrastructure scheduled  for a 30-year period,  including the construction period.

The Government will provide a public subsidy to cover part of the costs of the infrastructure and the private partner will be paid an irrigation fee that will be recovered from farmers.
The Ministry! Agriculture and Marine Fisherieswould like to identify and get in touch presently with investors and/or potential interested private operators. Companies and organizations are requested to collect the pre-qualification documents and submit their candidature latest April 17, 2015 to the address below.

To collect the pre-qualification documents, candidates must signfirst a confidentiality agreement.

The candidates who will be pre-qualified, will participate in the bid which will be floated  for selection of strategic partner.