Morocco is set to create an industrial zone dedicated to the production of batteries for electric cars, covering 283 hectares. Called the “Al Jorf Acceleration Industrial Zone”, the project has already attracted three initial investments worth around 2.3 billion dollars (24 billion dirhams). It is expected to generate 4,000 jobs, according to Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour. “This is the first time that Morocco has created an industrial zone specifically for the manufacture of electric batteries,” he told Al Sharq.

The minister added that the first investments, including a joint venture between Chinese battery component manufacturer CNGR and the private African investment fund Al Mada, are already underway. Located 100 kilometres south of Casablanca, close to the industrial complex of the Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP) group, the zone is expected to host the production of electric vehicle batteries and all their components, including cathodic starters and the recycling of “black mass”.