Morocco Launches Major Mining Initiative Covering 13,000 km²
Morocco is taking a significant step in transforming its extractive sector by launching a call for private investment covering 361 mining exploration areas. Led by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the operation spans approximately 13,000 km² — a territory larger than some countries — marking a new phase in building a modern and responsible mining industry.
Located mainly in the Oriental and Drâa-Tafilalet regions, these areas represent nearly a quarter of the Tafilalet-Figuig mining basin, known for its exceptional geological wealth. The program covers a total of nearly 1.3 million hectares and aims to attract operators capable of unlocking this potential through a sustainable and inclusive approach.
Strategic Geological Potential
The subsoil of these territories contains significant reserves of precious metals such as gold and silver, as well as key industrial resources — copper, lead, zinc and barite — essential to modern production chains and advanced technologies. This mineral diversity gives the area growing strategic importance amid strong global demand for raw materials.
The initiative is the first large-scale operation since the Marrakech Declaration of November 2025, which laid the foundations for a new mining model based on ESG standards. Investors will no longer be selected solely on financial or technical capacity; they must also demonstrate their ability to generate local economic benefits, create jobs and comply with strict environmental, safety and social responsibility standards.
The Kingdom intends for these projects to set benchmarks in responsible mining. Applicants are encouraged to prioritize renewable energy to power sites, optimize water use in these arid zones, and adopt circular economy solutions that reduce waste and promote recycling.
Additional incentives are planned for projects incorporating clean technologies, energy storage systems and local resource processing facilities, with the aim of maximizing on-site added value.
Beyond exploration, the program forms part of a broader strategy to stimulate economic activity in the eastern and south-eastern regions of the country. By attracting structuring investments and sustainably developing natural resources, authorities aim to turn these areas into new industrial and growth hubs.
Editorial team/le7tv
