From energy poverty to sustainable development: The socioeconomic impact of rural electrification in Morocco

¹ Improvement and Valuation of Plant Resources, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofaïl University- KENITRA-University Campus, Kenitra 14000, Morocco
² Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Morocco
³ Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterial, Water and Environment, CERNE2D, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Avenue Ibn Battouta, PO Box 1014, Agdal, Rabat, Morocco

Abstract

Energy is a fundamental pillar of economic and social development, but dependence on fossil fuels poses major environmental and social challenges, particularly in rural areas of developing countries. Rural electrification is therefore an essential lever for sustainable development, promoting social equity and improving living conditions. In Morocco, rural electrification has become a national priority through the Rural Electrification Program. Thanks to this program, the rate of access to electricity has risen from 18% in 1995 to nearly 99.86% in 2022. This policy has had significant socio-economic impacts, including the creation of income-generating activities, improvements in education and health, and a reduction in rural exodus. Rural electrification in Morocco thus appears to be a strategic tool for reducing territorial inequalities and promoting sustainable development.