Morocco’s l’Office National de l’Electricitie et de l’Eau Potable (ONE) has invited companies to prequalify for the contract to build the M’dez – El-Menzel hydropower complex in Haut Sebou.

Companies have until 31 May to submit prequalification entries for the contract to build the complex, which will include the 125MW El-Menzel plant and the 45MW M’Dez plant. The Haut Sebou complex will be located 45 kilometres south east of the city of Sefrou.

The M’dez – El-Menzel complex will form the centrepiece of the High Dam Sebou, which will have a capacity of 700 million cubic metres. The dam will provide protection for downstream areas and improve water control for the upper Sebou for irrigation development in the basin and the production of electrical energy.

The facilities at each component will consist of a power plant intake, headrace tunnel, access gallery, surge tank and 225kV substation. The complex is planned to contribute to the Haut Sebou development programme.

ONE has received a loan from the African Development Bank (AFDB) to go toward the construction of the plant. The complex is part of Morocco’s national strategy to reach the target of producing 42 per cent of the country’s electricity by renewable methods by 2020.

As part of the country’s ambitious renewables targets, the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (Masen) recently invited companies to submit prequalification entries for the next phases of the 500MW solar power complex planned for Ouarzazate in Morocco.