Faced with an increasingly severe water crisis, Morocco is taking another step to combat drought with the planned construction of a $46 million dam in Figuig, in the Oriental region. This strategic infrastructure project is part of the 2020-2027 Priority Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation.
Figuig: A Region on the Front Lines of Water Stress
The province of Figuig, in eastern Morocco, is facing a critical water shortage that sparked more than 100 days of peaceful protests in 2026. The city, known as the birthplace of the great philosopher Mohamed Abed Al-Jabri, is at the heart of a determined resistance for access to drinking water.
Water stress in the region is due to several factors:
- Climate change (reduced rainfall, increased droughts)
- Overexploitation of aquifers (progressive depletion of groundwater resources)
- Population growth (increased demand for drinking water)
- Agricultural activities (intensive irrigation in an arid region)
The Kheng Grou Dam: a flagship project under construction
The new Figuig dam, called Kheng Grou, is already under construction with promising results:
- Total cost: 1.2 billion dirhams (approximately $120 million)
- Storage capacity: 1.07 billion m³
- Annual inflow: 107 million m³ of water
- Position: 5th largest dam in the Kingdom
- Progress of work: 49% (April 2025)
- Expected completion: July 2026
- Completion rate: 100% Moroccans
The objectives of the Kheng Grou Dam
This strategic project aims to achieve several complementary objectives:
- Providing drinking water for the region facing water stress
- Irrigating agricultural land to support the local economy
- Recharging groundwater to replenish reserves
- Protecting against flooding by regulating river flow
A response to citizen mobilization
The project comes amidst social tensions surrounding water. The Figuig protests were triggered by the decision to entrust the management of drinking water to the “Al-Sharq Distribution Group,” a regional multi-service company.
The desire to streamline water management in the face of increasing scarcity was one of the main arguments of the elected officials who voted for the transfer.
Interconnecting the Basins: An Innovative Solution
The Moroccan government has focused on interconnecting the basins to secure the water supply:
- Urgent section completed between the Sebou and Bouregreg basins
- Flow rate of 15 m³/s at a cost of 6 billion dirhams
- Supply of 300-400 million m³ of drinking water annually for Rabat and Casablanca
Cutting Waste: A Government Priority
Beyond infrastructure, the Moroccan government has decided to tackle waste and better rationalize water use. This approach complements the dam development strategy to guarantee the Kingdom’s water security.
Key Takeaways
The Figuig Dam illustrates Morocco’s multidimensional response to water stress:
- Massive investments in hydraulic infrastructure (150 billion dirhams)
- Construction of 17 dams to increase storage capacity by 5.6 billion m³
- Interconnection of basins to secure key areas
- Rationalization of water use and elimination of waste
With completion scheduled for July 2026, the Kheng Grou Dam will become the fifth largest dam in Morocco, contributing to the water security of a strategic region in eastern Morocco.
