The cities of Fès and Azrou hosted, on May 30 and 31, two conferences on ecological dangers in terms of energy, organized by the local environmental associative fabric, represented by ten associations.

These meetings were an opportunity for the participants to sound the alarm and denounce the harmful effects that the exploitation of shale gas and nuclear energy could have. The associative actors who took part in these conferences, in fact, pleaded for the non-use of these two energy techniques, reviewing the numerous ecological dangers they present. Speaking on this occasion, Mohamed Benata, agricultural engineer and president of the Oriental Solidarity and Cooperation Space, made it known that the production of shale gas and oil constitutes a peril for the green economy in Morocco. "The exploitation of shale gas uses hydraulic fracturing of shale gas, which is an inefficient technique with a very low energy ratio that requires the use of large quantities of water and very dangerous chemical products that pollute groundwater, the air, and the soil (benzene, methane, hydrogen sulphide, etc.) and expose humans, fauna, and flora to dangerous diseases such as poisoning and cancer. The exploitation of shale oil is also considered among the industries most destructive to the environment and the natural landscape," he explained. According to him, given that the environmental cost of exploiting shale gas and oil would be infinitely greater than the very small benefits that Morocco would make from foreign operating companies, it is absolutely necessary to stop all projects related to this industry on national territory and refrain from granting new operating permits. For his part, Dr. Ghizlane Ghallab, founding member of the collective "Solar Morocco, Nuclear-Free Morocco", affirmed the role of civil society in public debates and its involvement in decision-making regarding energy choices, firmly calling for stopping any nuclear energy project in Morocco. "Humans, their health, and their safety must imperatively constitute the first concern of any technological adventure. Nuclear energy is the most dangerous energy in the world, because its impact is almost irreversible over time. It is, in fact, a poisoned gift for future generations. Moreover, the risks of terrorism or accidents linked to nuclear power are far from negligible, as evidenced by the Fukushima accident, the radiation from which arrived by water on the American Pacific coasts. Consequently, the planet continues to hold its breath, because the situation is far from being under control," she indicates. And to conclude: "All these reasons must incite politicians to drop any nuclear energy project in Morocco, notably that of the creation of a nuclear power plant between Safi and Essaouira, and bet more on renewable energies, which are much more promising and allow for the preservation of the environment and human health."

For a nuclear-free Morocco. Created in 2011, following the Fukushima accident, the collective "Solar Morocco, Nuclear-Free Morocco" is composed of citizens worried about the development of the Moroccan nuclear programme. By denouncing the risks of nuclear energy, its costs, and its health and environmental impacts, this collective aspires to raise awareness among the Moroccan population and to spark a national debate around the subject. "Solar Morocco, Nuclear-Free Morocco" works to invite nuclear and solar energy experts, the Ministry of Energy, the National Electricity Office, Masen (Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy), and journalists to its debate. The collective also advocates for the development of solar energy, as well as other renewable energies to compensate for energy production and create a sustainable and lasting economy in Morocco.