Growth Gateway: Investing in critical minerals processing in Africa, Morocco investment case (summary)
Published 10 October 2025
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This investment case positions Morocco as a strategic location for critical minerals (CM) processing, driven by surging global demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies.
With global supply chains heavily concentrated in China, Morocco’s proximity to Europe, free trade agreements with both the EU and US, and inclusion in the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) make it uniquely placed to serve Western markets. The country already hosts a thriving automotive export sector and is developing an integrated battery value chain, including projects in lithium, cobalt, graphite, and black mass recycling.
Morocco’s competitive advantages include a stable political environment, robust infrastructure (notably the Tangier Med Port), low-cost skilled labour, and significant renewable energy potential. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and targeted tax incentives further enhance its attractiveness for investors.
However, challenges remain, including limited domestic reserves of some key minerals (eg lithium and nickel), the need for green energy scale-up, and reliance on Chinese processing technology. Addressing these through green financing, technology partnerships, and recycling initiatives will be key to unlocking Morocco’s full potential.
The report outlines 5 investor-ready opportunities:
- green energy financing
- project finance for midstream processing
- long-term offtake agreements
- black mass/scrap recycling
- technology partnerships with local businesses including OCP and Managem
Morocco has a projected £1.5 billion to £3 billion domestic battery market and access to £35 billion to £55 billion in EU and US markets by 2030. Morocco presents a timely and strategic opportunity for UK investors and businesses to secure resilient, low-carbon supply chains while supporting sustainable development in North Africa.