International agencies and external support—regional and global—are important components of this greening programme. Covering the equivalent of 35 football grounds and generating 160 MW in phase 1, it works by concentrating heat from the sun using parabolic mirrors to generate heat in turbines, from which electricity can then be generated. In 2009 the country imported 97 per cent of its energy needs, at a cost to the state of Dh62 billion ($6.2 billion) a year. With rapid growth in energy demand, Morocco needed to take a decisive step in a new direction (Financial Times, 23 November 2015).