News
Wednesday 3 January 2018

12.3 billion dirhams invested in the province of Jerada in the period 2003-2017, minister says

Vocal synthesis
12.3 billion dirhams invested in the province of Jerada in the period 2003-2017, minister says

Investments in the north-eastern province of Jerada between 2003 and 2017 amounted to 12.3 billion dirhams, Minister of Energy, Mining and Sustainable Development, Aziz Rabbah, said Tuesday in Rabat.

Answering a question at the House of Advisors (upper house), the minister explained that these investments included infrastructures, with 224 projects planned, for an overall budget of about 1.543 billion dirhams, and productive sectors, with 28 projects, for around 10 MMDH, particularly in the energy sector.

In the social field, investments concerned 111 projects for a budget of 380 million dirhams, in addition to 336 projects under the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) worth 340 million dirhams, he added.

The State had to close Jerada’s mine, which was one of the largest in the Kingdom, the minister said, adding that a collective agreement was signed in this regard in 1998.

The total compensation related to the closure of this mine, which was allocated under this agreement, amounted to 2.2 billion dirhams, he said, adding that 4,647 employees received compensation worth 1.3 billion dirhams.

The minister pointed out that it was decided to maintain the Jerada Thermal Power Plant (3 units), which employs about 100 people, and to add a fourth unit (3 billion dirhams), which will provide 400 jobs for the local population, in addition to the planning of a fifth power station in Jerada and the extension of the Beni Mathar power plant, to improve its productivity and increase the number of jobs.

In addition, the government has ensured the implementation of a program to reduce social and spatial disparities and opened a dialogue with local actors and representatives of the nation at the national level, Rabbah added.

The withdrawal of 1,400 licences was the first step taken within the framework of the policy adopted by the previous government in addition to the adoption of a new law on mines, he said.

MAP: 02/01/2018