INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology
learning process ensures the complete
transfer of the technical and process
skill sets necessary to optimise the
manufacturing process.
Siemens Gamesa inaugurates
the first blade plant in Africa
and the Middle East
S
iemens Gamesa Renewable Energy
(SGRE) has officially inaugurated
its new rotor blade factory in
Tangier (Morocco), at an event chaired
by Morocco’s Minister of Industry,
Investment, Trade and Digital Economy,
Moulay Hafid El Alamy, and Markus
Tacke, CEO of Siemens Gamesa.
The first blade plant of a wind turbine
manufacturer in Africa and the Middle
East is ready to offer wind turbine blades
‘100% made in Morocco’. To equip the
SWT SWT-DD-130 platform turbines
(up to 4.2MW power rating), B63-10
blades with a length of 63 metres are
produced for export to Europe, Africa
and the Middle East, as well as for local
projects. The plant is ready to produce
other blade models in the future, which
could reach up to 75 metres. These
integral blades are based on licensed
technologies and made of composite
materials. The plant of 37,500 square
metres, which started production in
April 2017, is strategically located in the
industrial zone of Tanger Automotive
City, approximately 35 kilometres from
Tanger-Med port and ideally positioned
between Europe and Africa. company and a solid business decision.
We invest where we see strong business
opportunities, and the opportunities
here in Morocco are stronger than ever
before. This location in Tangier provides
us with direct access to some of the
most important markets of tomorrow
– here in Morocco, throughout the
Middle East, in Europe and in the
Mediterranean region.” In the context
of the Accelerated Industrialization Plan
launched in April 2014 by the Ministry
of Industry, Investment, Trade and
Digital Economy, the blade plant will
create 600 attractive jobs, as well as an
estimated number of 500 auxiliary jobs.
The Minister of Industry, Investment,
Trade and Digital Economy, El Alamy,
underlined the importance of this
project: “The first wind turbine blades
in Africa and the Middle East will be
produced in Tangier and it represents
a pride for the Kingdom. This pioneer
project allows localising value and
announces the development of an
ecosystem ‘renewable energy industry’
which reinforces the strategic choices
of Morocco, under the leadership of His
Majesty King Mohammed VI, aimed at
the development of a green economy.”
Markus Tacke, CEO of Siemens Gamesa,
explained the solid business rationale for
this project: “This factory is good for our A training centre of 3,500 square metres
was created to facilitate the knowledge
transfer from Denmark to Tangier. The
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TMSA (Tanger Med Special Agency),
responsible for the planning,
development and the management
of the Tanger Med Port complex and
industrial platform, has shown great
support and insight in the achievement
of this project. Fouad Brini, President
of TMSA, commented, “The Siemens
Gamesa project confirms the compelling
offer of Tanger Med for multinationals.
We are delighted about the uniqueness
of Tanger Med’s value proposition,
combining quality of the infrastructure
and the perfect alignment between port
and industrial zone that met Siemens
Gamesa’s expectations”.
“In Morocco, the demand for electricity
increased at an average annual rate
of 6.7% from 2003 to 2013. Thus,
renewable energy is particularly
attractive, offering a secure supply
of domestically-produced power and
contributing to energy independence.
Our commitment to the government and
people of Morocco is clear: we will work
together with you in meeting your energy
challenges, today and in the future”,
concluded Ricardo Chocarro, Onshore
Business CEO of Siemens Gamesa.
The new blade factory plays an
important role in contributing to the
Morocco’s national programme to
achieve production of electricity from
clean energy to up to 52% by 2030, of
which 20% is generated by wind. The
850MW project that will be built by the
consortium Siemens Gamesa, Nareva
and ENEL, represents a major milestone
in this goal.
With 72% market share in Morocco,
Siemens Gamesa delivered key wind
energy projects including Tarfaya
(300MW), Tangiers (140MW), Essaouira
(60MW) and Haouma (50MW).
Siemens Gamesa is market leader in
Africa with over 15 years of existence
and presence in countries like Morocco,
as well as in Algeria, Egypt, South
Africa, Tunisia, Mauritania, Kenya and
Mauritius Islands. n
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