Morocco nears completion of Beni Azimane Dam
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Construction crews in Morocco’s Driouch province have completed 98% of work on the Beni Azimane Dam, a project intended to bolster water security.
Work on the dam, built on the Kert River, began in October 2021 and is scheduled to finish in December 2026, with reservoir filling already underway.
Abdelaziz Zaki, the project manager, stated the dam is part of the National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Program 2020-2027 initiated by King Mohammed VI, addressing water stress and droughts in the country. The 70-meter-high dam will store around 44 million cubic meters of water and combines concrete and compacted earth in its construction, a design chosen after thorough geological studies of the mountainous terrain.
Beyond water storage, the Beni Azimane Dam will supply drinking water, support irrigation for local farms, and protect against flooding in Driouch province and surrounding areas. The construction has also benefitted the local economy, creating over 600,000 workdays and providing training for the local workforce. Moroccan institutions collaborated on the project, including the Directorate of Hydraulic Infrastructure, NOVEC engineering firm, and the Public Laboratory for Testing and Studies.
Once finished, officials expect the dam to support agriculture, create tourism opportunities, and reduce migration from rural areas.
