Morocco plans to exploit its cobalt reserves as part of the supply chain for rechargeable batteries once its first cobalt plant in Marrakech is completed by the end of the first quarter of 2022.
In an interview with Reuters, Abdellah Mouttaqui, secretary-general of Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mining (ONHYM), said the country is taking steps to increase its cobalt production.
Moutaqqui noted that Morocco ranks ninth globally, producing 1,900 tonnes of uranium a year, with the 11th-largest reserves.
In recent years, cobalt demand has increased due to the use of rechargeable batteries in cars, phones, and other devices. ONHYM is exploring additional cobalt deposits in the Siroua region – a peak in Morocco’s Anti-Atlas mountain range – with Moroccan mining company Managem.
The global leader in commodities, Glenore, reached an agreement last month with Managem to open a cobalt plant in Guemassa, 37 kilometers from Marrakech.
Cobalt is mostly produced as a byproduct of the processing of nickel or cobalt ores, but about 15% is produced from other primary sources, such as Moroccan cobalt-arsenic ores.
Moreover, Moutaqqui states that the ore in Morocco, particularly Bou Azzer, one of the oldest mines in the country, is well known for its purity and is highly valued.
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