King Mohammed VI on Wednesday in Casablanca issued instructions to ensure the launch of the Nador West Med port and industrial complex under optimal conditions, ahead of its operational start scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.
The king chaired a working meeting at the royal palace in Casablanca devoted to the new Nador West Med port and industrial complex, according to a statement from the Royal Cabinet.
The meeting comes as the port prepares for its operational launch later this year and forms part of the Royal Vision aimed at durably integrating the national economy into global value chains through world-class port infrastructure.
An overview was presented to the sovereign by Fouad Brini, Chairman of the Board of Nador West Med, outlining the project’s progress and achievements to date. Following the international success of Tanger Med—now the leading port hub in Africa and the Mediterranean—the Nador West Med project further strengthens Morocco’s ambition to develop a high-performance, complementary national port system serving economic competitiveness, job creation and balanced territorial development, the statement said.
Designed as an integrated project, Nador West Med combines a new-generation port complex with a vast industrial, logistics and energy platform. To date, the project has mobilised public and private investments totaling 51 billion dirhams (approximately €4.6 billion). On the port side, core infrastructure works have been completed, including 5.4 kilometres of breakwaters, nearly 4 kilometres of quays and four energy berths. Concession contracts for the two container terminals have been signed, with phased commissioning set to begin this year.
The project also includes a strategic energy component, featuring a hub with the kingdom’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, with an annual capacity of 5 billion cubic metres, as well as a hydrocarbons terminal. This infrastructure is intended to directly address national energy sovereignty requirements.
At launch, the port will have an annual capacity of 5 million containers and 35 million tonnes of liquid and solid bulk cargo, with long-term expansion potential reaching 12 million containers and 15 million tonnes of liquid bulk.
New activity zones covering an initial area of 700 hectares are also planned alongside the port complex and have already attracted the first international operators. Confirmed private investments currently stand at 20 billion dirhams (around €1.8 billion), reflecting the confidence of leading maritime and industrial players in Morocco’s positioning.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the king instructed all stakeholders to take the necessary measures to ensure a smooth start-up, while accelerating the implementation of targeted training programmes.
These measures aim to support investors, facilitate youth integration and employability, and ensure a broad and lasting territorial impact of the project across the port’s area of influence.
MK/ak/sf/lb/as/APA