Mining opportunities in Morocco for Australian METS

The attractiveness of a country’s mining sector depends on several influential factors, including its stability, the geological and mining potential of its subsoil, its legislative and regulatory frameworks governing mining activities, its tax regime, and the quality of geological infrastructure.

Morocco is politically stable and benefits from a rich and varied geological environment. This has enabled mining activity to develop in many regions of the country. It also has a relatively well-developed geological infrastructure.

Morocco is positioning itself as a regional and global leader in sustainable mining, drawing on strategic natural resources, particularly phosphates. With the global energy transition and increased demand for critical metals, Morocco aims to become a key player in Africa and beyond in the field.

A phosphate-rich country

Moroccan mining production is largely dominated by phosphates (90%). Morocco holds three-quarters of the world’s phosphate resources, according to the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, The Mineral Industry of Morocco in 2020-2021.

As a result, Morocco is a leading international player in this sector, ranking third in the world in terms of production and first in terms of exports. In addition to phosphates, many other minerals and ores are mined in Morocco, including lead, zinc, copper, cobalt, silver, gold, manganese, fluorite and barite.

This mining landscape, combined with recently adopted mining legislation, has led the Fraser Institute to rank Morocco as the most attractive mining destination in Africa, and eighth worldwide for mining investment (Fraser Institute, Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2024, July 2025).

OCP Group reshapes METS requirements

OCP Group’s US$13 billion investment program through 2027 is the largest single driver reshaping Morocco’s mining equipment landscape. OCP’s transition to 100% renewable energy by 2028 creates cascading equipment requirements, as traditional diesel-powered machinery becomes incompatible with the company’s operational mandate. The strategic shift toward green ammonia production, targeting 1 million tonnes annually by 2027, requires specialised equipment for hydrogen-powered mining fleets, positioning Morocco as a testing ground for next-generation mining technologies.

National development strategy encourages METS investment

Morocco’s National Mining Sector Development Strategy creates systematic incentives that extend beyond traditional tax breaks to encompass technology transfer requirements and local content mandates.

The new mining code prioritises digitisation of mining title management and extends exploration permits, creating regulatory certainty that encourages long-term equipment investments. Morocco’s ranking as Africa’s most attractive mining destination by the Fraser Institute reflects the policy’s effectiveness in attracting international equipment suppliers and technology partners.

The government’s focus on critical minerals development, particularly 7 of the 24 critical minerals Morocco possesses, creates niche equipment opportunities for rare earth extraction and processing technologies.

Local content requirements embedded within the strategy favour equipment suppliers that establish manufacturing or assembly operations within Morocco. This creates competitive advantages for companies willing to invest in domestic capabilities.

Automation supports mining in harsh environments

Partnerships that bypass traditional implementation barriers are helping accelerate Morocco’s mining automation. For instance, OCP Group is collaborating with Teal Technology, QuWireless and Nexaglobe on the connectivity infrastructure needed for autonomous operations in harsh mining environments.

Mantrac Group’s deployment of Al-powered Driver Safety Systems to detect fatigue showcases how automation can improve safety metrics and reduce operational downtime. The development of autonomous Load-Haul-Dump systems, achieving 90% bucket fill in underground operations, again shows how Morocco is adopting sophisticated technologies that enhance productivity in challenging mining environments.

Morocco is also using digital twin technology integration to support real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. This reduces equipment downtime and extends asset lifecycles in a water-scarce environment.

Specialised extraction equipment targets cobalt and copper deposits

Managem Group is a Moroccan industrial mining group with a diversified portfolio of metals. The group is active across the entire mining cycle, from exploration to the sale of raw materials. It employs 6,000 people and operates in 9 African countries, including Morocco. Managem Group is majority owned by Al Mada, a pan-African private equity fund.

Morocco provides a robust downstream integration covering the entire battery value chain, which drives upstream mining equipment requirements.

Managem’s expansion into cobalt and copper mining across 8 African countries, with market capitalisation increasing from US$2 billion to US$6.1 billion, reflects the sector’s growth trajectory and equipment investment capacity. The Tizert copper mine development in Morocco and acquisition of the Karita gold project in Guinea requires adaptable equipment platforms that can operate across different geological conditions.

The projected tripling of critical mineral demand by 2040, with market value reaching US$400 billion by 2050, positions Morocco’s METS market for sustained growth, driven by energy transition requirements.

Rules of origin

To be labelled as “originating from Morocco” and to benefit from 0% tariffs, products need to include minimum “local content” (60% for EU, 35% for US). This includes local materials, cost of production factors (labour, energy), and more.

Therefore, products incorporating imported minerals (e.g., lithium) need to go through significant transformation in Morocco to qualify for tariff cuts.

Read more about Morocco’s mining transformation and the opportunities for Australian METS.