Morocco plans to unveil a new deepwater port on the Mediterranean by next year and another Atlantic port by 2028, aiming to replicate the success of the country’s largest port, Tanger Med. Equipment and Water Minister Nizar Baraka announced that the Nador West Med port is expected to start operations in the latter half of 2026. This facility will offer 800 hectares for industrial use, with plans for eventual expansion to 5,000 hectares, which would exceed the industrial zones of Tanger Med.
Additionally, Nador West Med will feature Morocco’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, equipped with a floating storage and regasification unit linked to regional industrial hubs. This initiative is part of Morocco’s strategy to diversify energy sources and lessen reliance on coal. On the Atlantic coast, a $1 billion port is underway in Dakhla, located in the disputed Western Sahara region, promising to span 1,600 hectares for industry and 5,200 hectares for irrigated farmland using desalinated water.
Baraka highlighted that Dakhla would be Morocco’s deepest port at 23 meters, facilitating heavy industries processing materials from Sahel nations. Both ports are also set to accommodate quays for exporting green hydrogen as production begins. With over 1,400 firms operating near Tanger Med, employing around 130,000 people, Morocco’s industrial landscape continues to grow. Efforts to evaluate a potential port in Tan-Tan, in partnership with green hydrogen investors, are also underway.
