The Minister of Environment of Portugal, Maria da Graça Carvalho, announced that a submarine electricity cable between Portugal and Morocco will only proceed if there is private financing or support from the European Union. This position was defined after a meeting with the Minister of Energy of Morocco, which took place in Castro Verde, in the district of Beja.
The project is still in an initial stage of discussion, being described by the minister as "still a conversation" with her Moroccan counterpart. However, Maria da Graça Carvalho recognizes the need for Portugal to have an energy alternative, after the blackout recorded in April last year, which forced the country to restart the electricity grid alone, without support from Spain.
Calculations carried out a few years ago estimated an investment of around one billion euros for the construction of this cable, considered a kind of "submarine electricity highway". The main advantage pointed out is precisely the ability to restart in case of a generalized failure.
The project has been raising concerns in Spain, which is not included in this possible direct energy connection between Portugal and Morocco.
