Spain wants a piece of the pie

Major Spanish interests want to position themselves to win projects in Morocco’s massive program to renovate its railway infrastructure and build new high-speed lines. With the help of their government, they are ready to compete with French firms such as Alstom, which built the kingdom’s first high-speed line between Tangiers and Casablanca seven years ago.

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Spanish Transport Minister Raquel Sanchez informed Ministers of Transport and Logistics Mohamed Abdel Jalil and Minister of Infrastructure and Water Nizar Baraka, at the summit meeting between Spain and Morocco in Rabat in early February, of Spain’s great interest. Companies to participate in infrastructure projects implemented in the Kingdom.

“Spain wants to participate in the development of new infrastructure, especially in projects to expand the high-speed rail network and the airport network,” the Spanish minister said. At the end of the meeting, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding “to enhance cooperation in the field of transport, with a special focus on railways and their infrastructure.”

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Rabat wants to spend about 34.7 billion euros between now and 2040 to build 1,100 kilometers of new high-speed lines, such as the railway linking Kenitra to Casablanca with Marrakech or Agadir, or Rabat with Oujda. All of these projects are currently under study. The Kingdom wants to invest 2.14 billion euros between now and 2025, part of which will be used to purchase 100 trains. Spanish companies such as Renfe and Adif, which already have a partnership with ONCF, or ALSA and Balearia, intend to contribute.