Morocco’s 2026 ambition is to leverage strategic minerals to fuel industrial development. In February this year, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development launched a large-scale exploration program for precious and base metals, offering 361 blocks across 13,000 km² in the Tafilalet and Figuig Mining Region. The tender, which incentivizes sustainable, circular and renewable-integrated mining projects, exemplifies Morocco’s drive to become a regional hub for battery materials and renewables.
In 2026, the country is emphasizing mineral processing, scaling up green hydrogen projects and strengthening its electricity grid to link domestic production with export-oriented industrial and clean energy supply chains.
Mining: Can Morocco Turn its Mineral Resources into Industrial Wealth?
The kingdom’s 2026 push is about value-added processing and creating integrated supply chains that link mining with industrial applications.
Morocco’s phosphate sector is a global powerhouse, controlling 70% of the world’s phosphate rock reserves and state‑owned OCP Group dominates the full value chain from extraction to refined products. Chinese firm Sinoma Construction is building advanced phosphate processing units for OCP to boost fertilizer production towards 20 million tons by 2027.
Additionally, Morocco is leveraging its 50 billion ton phosphate reserves to become a hub for lithium‑iron phosphate (LFP) battery production, offering a lower-cost alternative to cobalt-based batteries. Chinese firm Gotion High-Tech is building Africa’s first gigafactory in Kenitra, with an initial 20 GWh capacity set to start production in Q3 2026, scaling to 100 GWh. Meanwhile, South Korean chemical company LG Chem and Chinese battery manufacturer Huayou Cobalt are developing an LFP cathode materials plant and lithium refinery, targeting 50,000 tons per year by 2026.
Renewables: Green Hydrogen is the Priority
In 2026, Morocco will accelerate green hydrogen investments, committing $35 billion to develop projects across its southern provinces. The Kingdom is scaling up its ambitions with the Power to Hydrogen pilot project, scheduled to start in 2026 in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region. The facility will produce 10,000 tons of green hydrogen annually using a 100 MW electrolyzer powered by a 200 MW hybrid solar and wind plant. Once green hydrogen production ramps up, Morocco plans to export to Germany, the Netherlands and other EU markets.
Power: Transmission and European Linkages
Morocco’s renewable expansion is closely tied to grid infrastructure and power transmission. In 2026, the country is expected to release the results of its tender for the construction of the 2 GW
Boujdour-Tensift ultra-high voltage link, spanning 1000 km.
Beyond domestic expansion, Morocco is pursuing interconnections with Europe, exploring opportunities to link its growing renewable base to external markets. Morocco and Spain are currently finalizing a third subsea cable, which is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2026. This will add 700 MW of capacity, bringing the total interconnection between the two countries to 2,100 MW. Additionally, Preliminary technical negotiations are ongoing in 2026 between Morocco’s ONEE and Portugal’s REN for a direct electrical link.
