Desalination & Water Sustainability
2nd Edition North Africa Smart Infrastructure Week 2026
- 4 - 5 May 2026
- Four Seasons Hotel Rabat At Kasr Al Bahr, Morocco
Conference Agenda
Day 1
09:00 - 09:50
REGISTRATION & WELCOME COFFEE
09:50 - 10:00
WELCOME NOTE BY THE CONFERENCE PRODUCER
10:00 - 10:20
SPECIAL REMARKS BY THE GUEST OF HONOUR
10:20 - 10:40
WATER SECURITY IN MOROCCO 2030–2050: VISION, STRATEGY, AND IMPLEMENTATION
- How is Morocco shaping its national desalination roadmap to secure water for the next generation?
- Can renewable energy become the driving force behind Morocco’s large-scale desalination revolution?
- What strategies will ensure sustainable and equitable access to water across all regions of the Kingdom?
10:40 - 11:00
VIP EXHIBITION TOUR
10:40 - 11:25
PANEL DISCUSSION| THE RISE OF SEAWATER DESALINATION HUBS: AGADIR, DAKHLA, AND CASABLANCA
- How are Morocco’s flagship desalination projects redefining the nation’s path toward water independence?
- What PPP models and financing innovations are driving large-scale success across coastal regions?
- Can green hydrogen and solar integration transform desalination plants into models of sustainable power and performance?
11:25 - 11:45
INNOVATING MOROCCO’S WATER FUTURE: TECHNOLOGY, EFFICIENCY, AND SUSTAINABILITY”
- Which emerging desalination technologies can boost Morocco’s production while reducing costs and environmental impact?
- How can AI and smart monitoring systems optimize plant performance and water quality in real-time?
- What role do digital twins and predictive analytics play in securing Morocco’s long-term water security?
11:45 - 12:15
FIRESIDE CHAT | BUILDING A CIRCULAR WATER ECONOMY IN MOROCCO — TURNING WASTE INTO A NATIONAL RESOURCE
- How can Morocco’s industrial water reuse policies accelerate sustainability and reduce pressure on freshwater reserves?
- What is the most promising wastewater-to-resource initiatives transforming challenges into economic opportunities?
- Which emerging technologies and digital systems are enabling a truly closed-loop water ecosystem across industries?
12:15 - 12:45
FIRESIDE CHAT | PUBLIC-PRIVATE SYNERGY: ATTRACTING INVESTMENT IN MOROCCO’S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE”
- What instruments (PPP frameworks, policy instruments, tariff models) are unlocking investment in large desalination and water-transfer projects?
- How are private investors aligning with the Kingdom’s strategic goals for water security and climate resilience?
- What risk-sharing and revenue mechanisms are proving effective in Morocco’s unique context?
12:45 - 12:55
INNOVATION SESSION
12:55 - 13:05
INNOVATION SESSION
13:05 - 13:15
INNOVATION SESSION
13:15 - 13:35
NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK
13:15 - 13:35
THE ROAD AHEAD – MOROCCO’S PATH TO 1.7 BILLION M³/YEAR BY 2030
- Overview of project pipeline: new plants, inter-basin transfers, rural deployment
- Key policy enablers & regulatory reform: e.g., legal framework supporting desalination and PPPs
- Government, regulator, private sector – commitments & next steps
13:55 - 14:25
FIRESIDE CHAT | MOBILISING DESALINATED WATER FOR AGRICULTURE AND CITIES: A BALANCED APPROACH”
- Examining how desalinated seawater is shifting from purely urban drinking supply toward supporting irrigation and agricultural sectors
- What strategies exist to prioritise and allocate desalinated water between drinking water, industrial, and irrigation uses?
- How can Morocco monitor and manage the trade-offs between cost, sustainability and food-water security linkage?
14:25 - 14:45
BRINE MANAGEMENT & CIRCULAR VALORIZATION
- How can brine valorisation turn waste streams into profitable resources through mineral recovery and ZLD options?
- What are the technological and regulatory hurdles to adopting circular brine solutions in the region?
- How can sustainable brine management reduce environmental impact while improving operational efficiency?
14:45 - 15:05
DIGITAL TWINS, AI & REAL-TIME RO PLANT OPTIMIZATION
- How can digital twins and AI optimize reverse osmosis plant performance in real time?
- What lessons can operators learn from predictive analytics to reduce downtime and energy consumption?
- How can data-driven plant optimization accelerate operational efficiency and decision-making?
15:05 - 15:10
CLOSING REMARKS
15:10 - 16:10
NETWORKING LUNCHEON & END OF DAY ONE
Day 2
09:15 - 10:10
REGISTRATION & WELCOME COFFEE
10:10 - 10:20
OPENING NOTE BY THE CHAIRPERSON
10:20 - 10:30
WELCOME NOTE BY THE CONFERNCE PRODUCER
10:30 - 10:50
INNOVATING MOROCCO’S WATER FUTURE: TECHNOLOGY, EFFICIENCY, AND SUSTAINABILITY
- Which emerging desalination technologies can boost Morocco’s production while reducing costs and environmental impact?
- How can AI and smart monitoring systems optimize plant performance and water quality in real-time?
- What role do digital twins and predictive analytics play in securing Morocco’s long-term water security?
10:50 - 11:35
PANEL DISCUSSION | DESALINATION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY: MOROCCO’S LOW-CARBON WATER STRATEGY
- How can Morocco integrate solar, wind, and green hydrogen at scale to power desalination plants?
- What technical, financial, and regulatory challenges must be addressed for low-carbon water production?
- Which projects are leading the way and setting benchmarks for regional replication?
11:35-12:05
FIRESIDE CHAT | BUILDING A CIRCULAR WATER ECONOMY IN MOROCCO — TURNING WASTE INTO A NATIONAL RESOURCE”
- How can industrial water reuse policies accelerate sustainability and reduce freshwater pressure?
- Which wastewater-to-resource initiatives are proving transformative for agriculture and industry?
- What digital and technological tools are enabling a truly closed-loop water ecosystem?
12:45 - 12:55
INNOVATION SESSION
12:55 - 13:05
INNOVATION SESSION
13:05 - 13:15
INNOVATION SESSION
13:05 - 13:30
NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK
13:30 - 13:50
DISTRIBUTED SENSING, WATER QUALITY ANALYTICS & CYBERSECURITY
- How can distributed sensors transform monitoring and control of water quality across networks?
- What strategies can ensure cybersecurity for increasingly digitized water and desalination systems?
- How can predictive analytics support proactive maintenance and early detection of contamination risks?
13:50 - 14:10
AGRICULTURE AND URBAN SYNERGIES: EFFICIENT WATER ALLOCATION IN MOROCCO”
- How can desalinated water support both urban drinking needs and irrigation for agriculture?
- What policy and technological mechanisms ensure equitable water allocation?
- How do innovative water pricing and reuse strategies help reduce waste and optimize consumption?
14:10 - 14:30
ADVANCED MEMBRANES, ENERGY RECOVERY & LOW-ENERGY RO
- How can next-generation membranes and energy recovery devices dramatically reduce RO energy consumption?
- What innovations are enabling low-energy desalination without compromising water quality?
- How can operators balance technological upgrades with cost-effectiveness and scalability?
14:30 - 14:35
CLOSING REMARKS
14:35 - 15:35
NETWORKING LUNCHEON & END OF DAY TWO