Transport in Morocco
Equipment and Transport
Basic infrastructures are the backbone of economic growth and development. This explains why they are among the highest priorities of the government.
In fact, all the commercial and touristic activities of the country depend on the construction, extension and the improvement of roads. Therefore, the Ministry of Equipment and Transport is making all efforts to achieve a modern basic infrastructure, facilitating the local, regional and international exchanges and ensuring the fluid, comfortable and safe movement of goods and people.
A- Strategy of the Ministry of Equipment and Transport
The strategy of the Ministry of Equipment and Transport reflects the statement of the government’s general policy, which focuses on:
· The economic and social development via the strengthening and the modernization of the large infrastructural as well as superstructural networks;
· The implementation of a proximity policy through the opening up of rural zones.
B- Data on the Sectors of the Ministry
1- Roads and Highways Sector:
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Construction and Preservation of Road Network
It is thanks to its road network that Morocco is listed among the first African countries, with a total length of 60,000km (~38,000 miles) 60% of which is covered.
Besides the Mediterranean bypass which is under construction and which will link Tangier to Saidia, 1,500km (~950 miles) of roads are built every year.
In addition, approximately 50% of the Ministry’s budget allocated annually to the roads sector is devoted to maintenance.
Mediterranean bypass
Extending over 550km (~350 miles) from Tangier to Saidia, the Mediterranean bypass will allow the development of the Mediterranean coast, its opening up and the promotion of its important potential.
Currently, 172km (~110 miles) are completed [Tangier-Ksar Sghir (30km/~19 miles), Saidia-Ras-Kebdana (20km/~13 miles), Ksar Sghir-Fnideq (30km/~19 miles) and Oued Kert-Ras Kebdana (92km/~57 miles)], and 278km (~173 miles) are under construction [Al Hoceima-Ras Afrou (84km/~52 miles), Jebha-Al Hoceima (103km/~64 miles) and Tetouan-Fnideq (28km/~17.5 miles)].
The studies and funding related to the realization of the Tetouan - El Jebha section (120km/~74.5 miles) are finalized. Works will start as soon as it is budgeted in the finance bill.
Rural Roads
The completion in 2005 of 11,000km (~6,900 miles) of roads of the first national program of rural roads (PNRR1) will increase the rate of the populations benefiting from roads to 54%. In addition, from 2005, the realization of the 15,000km (~9,400 miles) expected in the new program (PNRR2) will increase the rate of accessibility of the rural population to the road network to 80% by 2015.
Highways
The rate of completion of the highway network that has been prevailing until now is 50km/year (31 miles/year).
The need to upgrade our infrastructures has imposed the improvement of this rate, by shifting to 150km/year. This will allow having a 1,500km (~940 miles) highway network in 2010 instead of the present 594km (~370 miles).
In this regard, a significant step was taken in 2004 with the implementation of measures and financial mechanisms necessary to fulfill the highway program:
· Signature of the state-ADM (Autoroutes Du Maroc: Highways of Morocco) contract program to which the state commits itself to annually increase the capital of the ADM by 320MDH over 5 years, and the adoption of the principle of deferred loads principle as well as the issuance of bonds guaranteed by the state;
· Signature of a convention between Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development and ADM according to which / that the Fund agrees to make a contribution of an annual increase of the capital of the ADM amounting to 500MDH over 3 years.
Currently, the highway network includes:
· Highway sections in service: 594km (~370 miles);
· Highway sections under construction: 272km (~170 miles);
· Highway sections being launched: 95.5km (~59.5 miles);
· Scheduled Highway projects: 584km (~363 miles).
Expressways
Commonly referred to as expressways, the dual carriageways constitute structuring projects of high added economic and social value allowing the linkage of the economic centers of the regions. Their realization, along with the financial participations of the Regional councils and national organisms / bodies has given the partnership a new impetus in the realization of road infrastructures.
The year 2005 witnessed the completion of the doubling of the RN2 (Route National 2: National Road 2) linking Oujda Angad Airport to Ahfir (20km/~12.5 miles) and Salouane to Aroui (9km/~5.5 miles) besides the launch of the doubling of RN13 between Tetouan and Fnideq (25km/~15.5 miles) and RN1 between Laayoune and El Marsa (24km/~15 miles).
Road Safety
Recognizing the need to solve the issues related to road safety, the Ministry of Equipment and Transport has come up with, after consultations with all contributing or concerned departments, a national strategy for a sustainable and realistic road safety, via setting defined objectives over ten years.
A national action plan on control was drawn up after consultations with the Royal Gendarmerie and the Directorate General for National Security to reposition the control mission within the policy of fight against road insecurity. This plan was approved by the Road Safety Standing Committee.
In addition, a reform of the judicial and regulatory arsenal in terms of road safety has been initiated.
It is thanks to the implementation of these actions, the number of traffic accidents recorded in 2004 has decreased by 4%.
2- Railways Sector:
The Moroccan railway network has a length of 1,900 km (~1,200 miles) 370km (~230 miles) of which are double tracked. 53% of the network is electrified and 900km (~560 miles) operate by diesel power.
This network can reach up to 160Km (~100 miles)/h in the main axes. It is in the form of a corridor linking Marrakech in the center to Oujda in the East, with antennas relating the port of Tangier to the strait, and the ports of Safi and Jorf-Lasfar on the Atlantic.
Moreover, within the framework of the development of railway infrastructure, an amendment to the contract program was signed on August 2004 including the realization of two major projects, namely:
· The Taourirt-Nador railway (117km/~73 miles) at a cost of 1.776MDH. (Works in progress)
· The railway service of the new Tangier-Med port (45km/~28 miles) at a cost of 2.863 MDH. (Works are about to start).
3. Maritime sector:
Morocco’s port network consists of 30 port, with a coastline of 3,500km (~2,200 miles), distributed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
To these ports will be added soon to the port Tangier-Med whose cost is estimated at 16MMDH. The realization of this port, which is expected to be completed in 2007, will allow Morocco to develop a transshipment port of a large scale.
Passenger traffic is handled primarily by two major ports: Tangier on the Strait and Nador in the north of Morocco.
Already operational passenger shipping lines are:
Ø TANGIER-ALGECIRAS (SOUTHERN SPAIN)
Ø TANGIER-SETE (FRANCE)
Ø TANGIER-GENE (ITALY)
Ø TANGIER-TARIFA (SPAIN)
Ø NADOR-ALMERIA (SPAIN)
Ø NADOR-SETE (FRANCE)
These lines are exploited by eight Moroccan and Spanish companies.
4- Airlines Sector :
Morocco has an airline heritage composed of 15 international airports located in the major cities of the kingdom. These airports are served by road axes in a good state and with an efficient service level. They are also equipped with very modern aeronautical facilities for commercial traffic management in the best conditions of fluidity and safety.
The total capacity of the passenger terminals of the said airports is about 12 millions pax/year, 4 million of which for Casablanca-Mohamed V airport, 2.2 million for Agadir-Al Massira airport and 1.5 million for Marrakech-Menara airport.
Furthermore, in accordance with the reform the sector had undergone, a clear improvement in the Moroccan air traffic served was felt during 2005.
2005 was also marked by the start of negotiations with the EU with view to conclude a Euro-Mediterranean agreement within the framework of civil aviation (Open Skies Agreement).
5- Public Equipment Sector :
Within the framework of the delegated work control, the Ministry of Equipment and Transport has carried through various socio-cultural projects on behalf of other departments (University hospitals of Fez and Marrakech, Councilors’ chamber, National Library of the Kingdom).
Further, the Ministry was entrusted with the construction of football stadiums in the following cities:
· Marrakech: work in progress until 25/O8/2005 = 83.83%;
· Tangier: work in progress until /08/2005 = 87,84%;
· Agadir: work in progress until 25/08/2005 = 29,83%;
6- Construction Sector:
2004 was marked by the signing of a 2004-2007 contract program between the state, represented by the Ministry of Equipment and Transport and the Ministry in charge of Housing and Urbanism on the one hands, and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises as well as the National Federation of Construction and Public Works on the other hand.
The main objectives of the actions to be undertaken under this contract are:
· Improving the structure of the enterprise and modernizing its management methods;
· Ensuring the continuity of the enterprise;
· Developing the performance of the enterprise;
· Strengthening the partnership between the Administration and the enterprises;
· Ensuring the visibility of the construction market.
C- Reforms Launched by the Ministry of Equipment and Transport
The Ministry of Equipment and Transport has launched reforms involving all the sectors under its functions. These reforms aim at meeting the needs of users as well as the increasing demand for means of transportation of different economic operators that have become more demanding.
The said reforms are concerned with the infrastructures and the organizational as well as the institutional facets of the sector, namely:
· The liberalization of road transport of goods with a view to setting up an economically effective transport system with better conditions of quality, safety, reliability and cost.
· The reorganization of ports sector (creation of a national agency of ports regulation and a national company of ports exploitation) with a view to providing the Moroccan economy with an efficient tool to fulfill the country’s ambition and goals in securing its economic development in the European and Mediterranean market.
· The liberalization of the airlines sector to improve and encourage the level of development the project target. (vision of 2010)