The Maroccan company Temasol has won a contract for a rural solar power electrification program for 37,000 households in Morocco. Temasol is jointly held by Total Energie, Total through its subsidiary Total Maroc, and Electricité de France (EDF). 
This was achieved after Morocco’s Office National d’Electricité (ONE) issued an international tender in early 2004. In 2002, the partners were already awarded a program to equip 16,000 households.
Implementation of the program will be completed by end-2007. Each household will be equipped with a solar panel and battery system to supply power for lighting and domestic appliances. Temasol will use Total Energie’s photovoltaic systems and will be responsible for managing the technical and financial aspects of the program. Under a ten-year contract, Temasol will perform maintenance and equipment replacement.
The project has an estimated budget of €21.2 million. ONE will provide €17.4 million, with the financial support of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). Technical assistance was provided in the first phase by the Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial (FFEM).
Morocco’s Office National de l’Eau Potable (ONEP) has asked Temasol to install and operate Total Energie photovoltaic pumps to provide drinking water to around 15 villages with close to 5,800 inhabitants. The contract for this program, which is also supported by AFD and FFEM, was signed on July 28, 2004.
© 2005 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
