Morocco’s National Railways Office (ONCF) announced Sunday in a statement that its high-speed train, Al Boraq, commenced using green energy starting January 1, 2022.
The clean energy was provided by national operator, ONCF – which powers the national railway network, replacing its electricity consumption with clean energy.
The Office operates its green transformation in a progressive way, by switching 25% of its overall energy consumption to green energy, to reach 50% in 2023 before bringing it to full, the release adds.
The ONCF in the short term, will improve the overall carbon footprint, with the equivalent of 120,000 tons of CO2 avoided each year, or 4 million trees planted.
This initiative is part of the national energy strategy led by HM King Mohammed VI, which provides for increasing the share of renewable resources to reach,more than 52% of installed capacity by 2030.
This places the Kingdom as one of the most committed emerging countries in the development of wind and solar energy.The Al Boraq speeds at 320km/hr, making it the fastest in Africa. Morocco is also fast becoming Africa’s automotive hub, with over MAD 65 billions worth in export, in 2018.
The Moroccan government took loans from France, Saudi Arabia,Kuwait and Development partners to launch the €2 billion high-speed rail project on November 15, 2018.