By Abbas Nazil
Morocco’s OCP Group has reached a major milestone in water sovereignty, commissioning the country’s longest water pipeline—an engineering feat stretching 203 kilometers from the Atlantic coast to the Khouribga phosphate mine, the largest in the world.
This development comes two years ahead of schedule, positioning Morocco at the forefront of water resilience and sustainability in the face of escalating water stress.
The Jorf Lasfar-Khouribga (J2K) pipeline, operated by OCP Green Water, delivers desalinated water from the Jorf Lasfar facility inland to support industrial and community needs.
Developed as part of a national push for non-conventional water sources, the project was initiated following the Moroccan government’s 2022 call to address worsening water scarcity.
The pipeline is a key part of OCP’s broader sustainability strategy, launched under the leadership of King Mohammed VI and aimed at securing water autonomy across its operations.
OCP’s commitment to water innovation dates back to 2008, with the J2K pipeline representing the culmination of years of strategic investment.
According to Hanane Mourchid, OCP’s Chief Sustainability & Innovation Officer, the company’s desalination capacity began with 25 million cubic meters per year and has scaled dramatically since.
The new pipeline is designed to transport up to 80 million cubic meters annually, overcoming an 800-meter elevation difference through a highly engineered system of pumps and large-diameter pipes.
The infrastructure includes 187 kilometers of 1,300-millimeter pipes and 16 kilometers of 600-millimeter sections, supported by high-capacity pumping stations. Designed by the JESA joint venture and constructed by local consortium GTM STAM, the pipeline was completed in a record 24 months.
During construction, the project generated roughly one million man-days of employment, averaging 1,300 jobs per day, with 85 percent of the labor force sourced locally. It has also created 100 permanent roles in operations and maintenance.
Beyond serving OCP’s industrial needs, the J2K pipeline is transforming regional water access.
It is already supporting potable water delivery to Safi, El Jadida, and southern Casablanca—meeting nearly 30% of the latter’s water demand.
Future plans include extending supply to Khouribga and agricultural zones in the Oum Rabia region. This will free up over 80 million cubic meters of dam water for farming and local use.
Simultaneously, OCP has achieved water autonomy at its Benguerir site, using treated wastewater from Marrakech.
Together with the J2K pipeline, this success means OCP has met its 2025 non-conventional water target two years early, reinforcing its leadership in sustainable resource management.