The proposal was discussed during a meeting in Lisbon on Monday between Portugal's Minister for Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, and Morocco's Minister for Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali. As stated by Reuters, the two governments will also look at possible private investment to help finance the project.

The idea of connecting Portugal and Morocco's electricity grids has been on the table for several years, but it has returned to the spotlight since the major blackout that left large parts of Portugal and Spain without power in April last year. The disruption sparked a wider debate about how resilient the Iberian electricity network is and whether more international connections are needed.

At the moment, Portugal exchanges electricity with Spain, while Morocco is linked to Spain through two submarine cables beneath the Strait of Gibraltar. A direct connection between Portugal and Morocco would create another route for electricity to move between Europe and North Africa, reducing dependence on existing links and giving the network another option if problems arise.

The project also reflects the growing role renewable energy is expected to play in both countries. Portugal has continued to increase electricity production from wind and solar power, while Morocco has invested heavily in renewable energy over the past decade, including some of the world's largest solar power facilities.

Reuters reported that no construction timetable has yet been announced and further technical studies will be needed before the project can move ahead. One of the next challenges will be securing financial support from the European Union.