The Moroccan Ministry of Energy has provided assurance that the energy infrastructure in regions affected by the September 8 earthquake, which tragically claimed nearly 3,000 lives, remains largely intact.
The ministry reported only “minor” defects in the Ouarzazate solar thermal megaplant, which have since been promptly addressed.
In an official statement, the ministry clarified that the damage was confined to certain equipment at the Noor plant, emphasizing that these issues were swiftly repaired, and confirmed that all energy installations are operating normally, and nuclear facilities were unaffected by the seismic event.
The Noor solar complex, renowned as one of the world’s largest, boasts an installed capacity of 580 megawatts spread across its four plants, with the first commencing operations in 2016.
Regarding the supply of energy products such as diesel, gasoline, butane gas, and aviation fuel in the quake-affected areas, the Ministry of Energy underscored that there have been no shortages. Rigorous monitoring of fuel deliveries to these regions has been conducted to ensure uninterrupted supply.
Addressing the mining sector, the ministry stated that there have been no significant disruptions following the earthquake. Technical teams, in collaboration with mining companies, have been actively assessing and mitigating potential damages and risks in underground mining deposits and surface facilities.
The earthquake, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, struck several provinces in the Atlas region on September 8, resulting in a tragic loss of nearly 3,000 lives and leaving more than 5,500 individuals injured.