Marrakech – Russia has proposed sharing its extensive experience in protecting energy infrastructure from cyberattacks with Morocco.
This offer came during the third meeting of the working group on energy cooperation between the two countries, according to an official statement from the Russian Ministry of Energy.
Russian Deputy Energy Minister Roman Marshavin held virtual talks with Mohammed Ouahmid, Secretary General of Morocco’s Ministry of Energy Transition, to discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.
During the exchange, Marshavin spotlighted Russia’s comprehensive expertise in countering hacker attacks on energy facilities.
“We are ready to demonstrate how our energy facilities are protected from computer viruses and other impacts. We can share all these developments and protection methods. We believe that our countries have great potential for cooperation,” Marshavin stressed.
What does Moscow have to offer?
The Russian side claims significant operational expertise in cybersecurity for energy infrastructure, developed through managing its extensive networks across electricity, oil, gas, and hydraulic systems.
A key factor in this expertise is the convergence of IT and OT (operational technology) systems. Russian operators have implemented “defense-in-depth” architectures specifically designed for industrial systems.
These security measures include strict segmentation of control networks, whitelist implementation for ICS/SCADA protocols, real-time asset inventory, and anomaly detection at the process level. This technical foundation is supported by 24/7 Security Operations Centers dedicated to operational technology.
Russia’s cybersecurity framework also includes capabilities for analyzing malware targeting programmable logic controllers and remote terminal units, along with threat intelligence focused on advanced actors’ tactics, techniques, and procedures.
On the governance side, Russia has established regulatory requirements for critical information infrastructure security. These include mandatory audits, crisis exercises, and certification of solutions, including GOST cryptography and hardware authentication devices.
Their approach incorporates detailed “playbooks” for incident response that cover isolation of network segments, switching to secure manual modes, and prioritized restoration procedures.
Russian energy operators test patches and configurations in test environments and digital twins to minimize downtime. They also control the supply chain for firmware and integrators, and conduct regular red team exercises.
The cross-sector coordination between electricity, oil pipelines, and gas pipelines facilitates the sharing of indicators of compromise and coordinated responses to various threats, including DDoS attacks, ransomware, wipers, or sabotage attempts.
This comprehensive approach has resulted in better-hardened substations, SCADA centers, and compression stations, supported by continuity and recovery plans designed to reduce downtime and operational impact during security incidents.
Beyond cybersecurity
Beyond cybersecurity, both sides expressed interest in developing joint projects in the gas sector, modernization and construction of electric power infrastructure, and renewable energy sources.
Marshavin noted that Russian companies possess deep expertise in modernizing energy systems using various energy sources. “The Russian experience is unique in that we know how to integrate different energy sources into a unified network and ensure its stable operation,” he explained.
The high-level discussions demonstrated both countries’ willingness to implement joint initiatives across a wide range of sectors, with special attention given to renewable energy projects, an area where both nations recognize vast opportunities for cooperation.
In Morocco, the energy transition is anchored by utility-scale solar and wind platforms – Noor Ouarzazate, Midelt’s hybrid CSP-PV, Tarfaya, and emerging Atlantic-coast clusters – under MASEN’s proven PPP framework and reinforced by interconnections with Spain and Portugal.
Current priorities include utility-scale storage, flexible generation that stabilizes variable output, and a green-hydrogen roadmap tied to export corridors and industrial decarbonization in fertilizers, steel, and ammonia.
Joint initiatives could combine Russian engineering, grid-hardening, and SCADA security with Morocco’s project finance, permitting, and site development to accelerate gigawatt-scale build-out, modernize transmission, and localize components.