RABAT — Morocco has set a target to phase out coal-fired power generation by 2040, contingent on the availability of international climate finance to help fund its transition, the government announced this week. The plan marks a significant step for an emerging economy that remains heavily reliant on coal but is rapidly expanding its renewable-energy base.
The Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development said Morocco aims to increase the share of renewables in its electricity mix to around 52 percent by 2030. Achieving the coal phase-out by 2040 would depend on mobilizing external financing to modernize power infrastructure, expand solar and wind capacity, and ensure a “just transition” for affected workers and communities.
Minister of Energy Transition Leila Benali told Reuters that Morocco “will need consistent and predictable support” to retire coal plants and secure affordable alternatives. Coal currently supplies about 70 percent of Morocco’s electricity, making the shift one of the most ambitious clean-energy goals in the region.
Morocco has already built a reputation as a renewable-energy pioneer in Africa. The Noor Ouarzazate solar complex, one of the largest of its kind in the world, and a series of wind farms along the Atlantic coast have positioned the country as a potential exporter of green electricity to Europe through future interconnections.
Analysts say the policy underscores the growing role of developing countries in driving the global energy transition ahead of COP30 in Brazil next year. Morocco’s proposal aligns with its commitments under the Paris Agreement and advances several Sustainable Development Goals, including affordable clean energy, decent work, and climate action.
However, implementation will hinge on securing adequate climate finance from multilateral lenders and private investors. The government has emphasized that without access to concessional funding and technology transfer, the coal-phase-out timeline may need revision.
What does this mean?
For governments and development agencies, Morocco’s plan illustrates the balance between ambition and equity in global climate policy. It reinforces the case for channeling climate finance toward countries that set credible fossil-fuel exit dates but lack the fiscal capacity to deliver them independently. Supporting Morocco’s transition could strengthen regional confidence in climate-aligned growth models across Africa and serve as a template for integrating social safeguards into national decarbonization strategies.
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