Brussels, 18/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - “We want integration of electricity markets” in the Mediterranean, said Morocco's energy minister Abdelkader Amara, commenting on the results of the Euro-Mediterranean conference on setting up three energy platforms. The conference took place in his country on 6 May (see EUROPE 11311).
“We won't be able to talk about strategic and solid partnerships if we do not integrate the electricity markets” in the whole area concerned, both in the north and in the south of the Mediterranean, he said in an interview published in Moroccan media. This “integration, [which is] furthermore beneficial for all the countries,” will be Amara's “real hobbyhorse” and, he adds, “in this precise area, the integration that we have proposed is completely in line with what is currently happening internationally”. This “inevitably first involves physical interconnections, then regulatory, legislative and organisational convergence”.
Amara also underlines the interest of dialogue on renewable energies. This will result in a “boost to renewable energies in the South and North”, “a good marriage” between these energies and gas. “We have launched a roadmap on natural gas. This is a large-scale structured product” of which his country is pushing for more use. (Fathi B'Chir)