Morocco launches ambitious mining drive in eastern provinces
Program opens 361 exploration blocks, aiming for sustainable resource development and regional growth
RABAT, Morocco (MNTV) — Morocco has unveiled a major public tender for mineral exploration across its eastern provinces, signaling a strategic push to strengthen the kingdom’s mining sector and regional development.
The Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development said the program covers about 13,000 square kilometers in the Tafilalet and Figuig basin, an area larger than countries like Qatar or Lebanon.
It includes 361 exploration blocks, representing roughly 22 percent of the total mining domain in the region.
The initiative targets gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, and barite, among other minerals, and integrates strict environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into the tender.
Companies bidding for blocks will be evaluated on technical expertise, financial capability, local socio-economic impact, health and safety compliance, and adoption of renewable energy and circular economy practices.
Additional incentives will reward integrated sustainable mining models that combine clean energy, processing, and storage solutions, reflecting Morocco’s goal to move up the value chain.
The tender aligns with the Marrakech Declaration of November 2025, adopted during the International Mining Conference in Morocco, which commits the sector to responsible practices and ESG-compliant operations.
Officials say the program is part of a broader strategy to triple non-phosphate mining revenues by 2030 and secure critical minerals, particularly copper and zinc, for emerging renewable energy and electric vehicle industries.
Plans include supplying domestic gigafactories in Kenitra and Tangier, linking mining with downstream battery and clean energy production to boost Morocco’s strategic influence in global supply chains.
Digital reforms are central to the project, with a newly launched national mining registry streamlining licensing procedures and reducing regulatory hurdles to attract international investment.
The ministry is also formalizing small-scale local miners into cooperatives to ensure professional safety standards and stable incomes, integrating communities into the industrial expansion.
The government said the tender represents both an economic and social experiment, balancing resource development with environmental protection and local inclusion, while transforming historically marginalized territories into key contributors to a diversified national economy.
Interested companies have until May 15, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. to submit applications via regional directorates in Errachidia and Oujda, depending on the block’s location.
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