Renewable Energy, a Spearhead for Employment in Morocco
10 June 2011
Read by 1518 persons
More than 50,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector will be created in Morocco by 2020, with a quarter of them in wind and solar energy, the government recently announced.
Renewable energies will account for 42 percent of Morocco's electricity production capacity by 2020, Energy Minister Amina Benkhadra said at a conference held on May 31 in Oujda. The government will invest some 73 billion dirhams (€6.4 billion) to install a new electricity production capacity of 3,640 MW by 2015.
To meet the demands of the job market, Morocco plans to train a new generation of specialists in alternative energies.
"We will discuss this issue with the various stakeholders involved, including universities, to meet our human resources needs," the minister said.
Participants at this conference signed an agreement to create an institute for training in renewable energies and energy efficiency. This agreement provides for the creation of a vocational training system adapted to the needs of companies in the green energy sector. It also provides for the financing of preliminary studies, support for technical expertise and the creation of training centers.
Several Moroccan universities have begun to offer undergraduate and master's level programs in renewable energies, in order to promote the training of specialists in this field, the Ministry of Higher Education indicated.
"For several years, the government has grasped the scale of the deficit in terms of specialized profiles," explains economist Mohamed Nadiri. "Several institutes have therefore been created to support the country's new economic direction."
Young people are increasingly aware of the new needs of the job market and are doing their best to choose university programs that guide them correctly.
This sector is very promising, as it includes several areas that are currently experiencing strong development, explained Amine, a graduate in renewable energies and energy systems.
"I had never thought about this field before," he told Magharebia. "The ambitions displayed by the government, since 2009, have encouraged many students to change their orientation. It must be said that the objectives set are very ambitious and will benefit the promotion of the economy and youth employment. New power plants will be put into production in the coming years."
Karim El Ouardi, a high school graduate, has already chosen his path and plans to orient his university studies towards the energy systems sector.
"It's advice from my parents and my older brother," he explains. "And I'm convinced of it because I don't intend to choose a branch that is no longer in demand on the job market."
Published on June 8, 2011
Posted online on June 10, 2011
magharebia.com
Renewable energies will account for 42 percent of Morocco's electricity production capacity by 2020, Energy Minister Amina Benkhadra said at a conference held on May 31 in Oujda. The government will invest some 73 billion dirhams (€6.4 billion) to install a new electricity production capacity of 3,640 MW by 2015.
To meet the demands of the job market, Morocco plans to train a new generation of specialists in alternative energies.
"We will discuss this issue with the various stakeholders involved, including universities, to meet our human resources needs," the minister said.
Participants at this conference signed an agreement to create an institute for training in renewable energies and energy efficiency. This agreement provides for the creation of a vocational training system adapted to the needs of companies in the green energy sector. It also provides for the financing of preliminary studies, support for technical expertise and the creation of training centers.
Several Moroccan universities have begun to offer undergraduate and master's level programs in renewable energies, in order to promote the training of specialists in this field, the Ministry of Higher Education indicated.
"For several years, the government has grasped the scale of the deficit in terms of specialized profiles," explains economist Mohamed Nadiri. "Several institutes have therefore been created to support the country's new economic direction."
Young people are increasingly aware of the new needs of the job market and are doing their best to choose university programs that guide them correctly.
This sector is very promising, as it includes several areas that are currently experiencing strong development, explained Amine, a graduate in renewable energies and energy systems.
"I had never thought about this field before," he told Magharebia. "The ambitions displayed by the government, since 2009, have encouraged many students to change their orientation. It must be said that the objectives set are very ambitious and will benefit the promotion of the economy and youth employment. New power plants will be put into production in the coming years."
Karim El Ouardi, a high school graduate, has already chosen his path and plans to orient his university studies towards the energy systems sector.
"It's advice from my parents and my older brother," he explains. "And I'm convinced of it because I don't intend to choose a branch that is no longer in demand on the job market."
Published on June 8, 2011
Posted online on June 10, 2011
magharebia.com
