Morocco–Portugal power link: a new European window opens

This update focuses on Morocco Portugal power interconnection. The planned undersea power link between Morocco and Portugal is back in the spotlight as Brussels opens a new process to select cross-border energy infrastructures eligible for a specific European status and dedicated funding.

Morocco Portugal power interconnection prepares its EU candidacy

On 14 September, the European Commission launched a call for projects to join the third list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMI) in the energy sector. For electricity infrastructures, applications can be submitted until 13 November 2026.

This framework specifically targets links between an EU Member State and a third country. That is exactly the case of the Morocco Portugal power interconnection, still at study stage but officially reactivated by Rabat and Lisbon in July with a clear mandate: refine its technical and economic feasibility and design a financing structure combining European support and private capital.

Securing the status of Project of Mutual Interest would bring the interconnection into the EU energy networks framework (TEN-E), offering a more predictable regulatory environment and, potentially, easier access to certain European funding instruments.

An undersea cable of up to 1,000 MW still to be routed

The working assumption for now is an undersea power cable with a capacity of up to 1,000 MW. The route, however, has not yet been chosen. Several scenarios are on the table, from a direct Morocco–Portugal connection to options involving a detour through another territory.

This routing decision is crucial: it will determine the overall investment cost, the technical complexity of the works, the operating conditions and, ultimately, the project’s ability to generate stable revenues over time.

The business model will have to balance several factors:

• construction and maintenance costs for the submarine cable;
• technical constraints linked to sea depth and seabed topography;
• income from electricity exchanges between both shores;
• the role of the interconnection in regional grid stability.

Like any major cross-border link, the Morocco Portugal power interconnection would be a strategic network asset. Its value will depend on its capacity to smooth power flows, help integrate renewable energies and enhance security of supply on both sides.

What it could mean for Moroccans living abroad

For Moroccans living abroad, the impact of this project will be indirect, but not irrelevant in the medium and long term. Better integration of Morocco into European power networks can strengthen the reliability of the national grid and support the integration of renewables into the energy mix, two structural factors for price stability and quality of service.

Families who own a home in Morocco, or who are planning a permanent return or a real-estate investment, know that reliable electricity supply is one of the practical criteria when choosing a city or region. Any structural upgrade of the grid, including a future Morocco–Portugal link, is therefore a trend to watch.

Moroccan entrepreneurs abroad who run or plan projects in industry, tourism or services at home may also pay attention to these developments, as energy competitiveness is part of their location and expansion calculations.

The project still has many hurdles ahead: detailed studies, final investment decision, recognition as a European mutual interest project, financial closing and then construction. No official commissioning date has been announced so far, and technical and regulatory details will need to be confirmed by the competent authorities and operators.

In the meantime, this new European window confirms Morocco’s ambition to position itself as a regional energy player connected to nearby markets. It is a long-term movement that Moroccans abroad can keep in mind as they plan future returns, extended stays or investments in the country.

For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.

For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.