The Belgian group Jan De Nul is joining forces with the Australian mining company Fortescue to develop an underwater cable intended to transport green energy from Morocco to Europe. This ambitious project involves the construction of an electrical cable of more than 1,000 kilometers, making it possible to exploit the energy potential of North Africa, rich in wind and solar energy at lower costs.

Jan De Nul, CEO of the Belgian family business, recently signed a cooperation agreement with Fortescue in Rabat, said a press release. Two giant ships, the Fleeming Jenkin and a sister ship, have already been ordered at a cost of more than 200 million euros each. These vessels, capable of carrying up to 28,000 tonnes of cables, will be the largest in the world in their category and are expected to be delivered between 2026 and 2027.

Andrew Forrest AO, Founder and Executive Chairman of Fortescue, said: “ The lack of cable laying capacity creates a barrier in connecting Morocco to Europe, making this collaboration with Jan De Nul one of the most remarkable opportunities we have around the world .” He adds that ” it will bring substantial benefits to North Africa and Europe in terms of employment, economic growth and the choice for citizens to use fuels made from green energy .”

This project is reminiscent of that of Xlinks, a British initiative aimed at installing a 3,800 kilometer cable between Morocco and the United Kingdom, estimated at more than 26 billion euros. Jan De Nul, with its new vessels, also hopes to play a key role in this endeavor. Additionally, the company is considering a similar connection between Egypt and Europe.