How the mining sector is adapting to new economic, social and sustainability demands

The second International Mining Congress in Marrakech ended Wednesday, Nov. 26, with the adoption of Africa's ESG framework for the mining sector. The initiative will establish the first African OTC corridor, Origin Transit, and Certification, bolstering Morocco’s role as a regional mining leader.

Several Moroccan mining operators had anticipated the ESG framework, revising strategies over recent years through social and environmental responsibility policies. They are now awaiting a mining reform and an environmental impact study aimed at extending sustainability standards across the country’s operations.

Morocco holds a regional leadership position in mining, but growth potential remains. New opportunities such as self-production could cut operating costs and boost output through greener mining practices.

Emile Detry, associate director at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), said Morocco’s mining competitiveness rests on three pillars: positioning projects at the bottom of the cost curve to offset volatility, building green clusters with refining to advance in the value chain, and securing financing at both national and international levels.

How operators aim to transform Morocco’s mining

Momentum in mining investment is also evident among major Moroccan operators, notably OCP Group, which holds three-quarters of the global phosphate reserves.

OCP Group has set a target of decarbonized production by 2040, outlining several strategic steps: 100% clean energy by 2027, full reliance on unconventional water by 2025, and the production of green ammonia. Beyond these goals, the company is focusing on strengthening the value chain to boost security, productivity and competitiveness.

For OCP, the shift is not only technological but also a full process overhaul. The Group has set out an integrated plan to modernize production from end to end, spanning drilling to the shipment of the final product.

The first effects of the shift will appear with the launch of the new M’Zinda-Safi axis, which includes plans for a next-generation Integrated Remote Operations Center (IROC). The center will oversee operations from extraction to processing, giving shape to Mine 5.0.

The Tizert mine, operated by Managem Group, reflects the rise of a new generation of Moroccan mines that combine technology, sustainability and environmental standards. Recently brought into production, the site utilizes 100% unconventional water and sources its power from clean energy. The green copper project is expected to boost Morocco’s output and underpin Managem’s strategy for critical metals.

Through its engineering arm Reminex, Managem develops sustainability solutions adapted to Morocco’s mining sector, serving both its own sites and other operators. The solutions draw on the group’s laboratories and more than 40 years of experience across mines in Morocco and Africa.

Strategic transformation of the sector underway

Mining projects carry higher investment risks than other sectors and require long development cycles, sometimes stretching up to 15 years. To unlock the full potential of the industry, the country must attract substantial and committed investment.

The long‑awaited digitization of Morocco’s mining cadastre is set to open new investment opportunities. The project aims to deepen subsurface knowledge by using data science to identify promising areas. It is also designed to attract new investors through fully dematerialized procedures that improve transparency and reinforce momentum in the sector.

Yet a digital platform streamlining administrative procedures will not be enough. Mining operators must also be encouraged to develop valorization projects that bring production closer to the raw materials needed by processing industries.

Upstream, ONHYM is promoting mining projects with a recent emphasis on critical metals needed for the energy transition. Exploration teams across the country are building mining indices to reduce risks for operators with the technical and financial capacity. One example is the Zgounder mine, which is expected this year to double Moroccan silver production.

Like in the hydrocarbon sector, ONHYM's role is expected to evolve. The office could shift from promoting and developing mining investments to becoming a direct investor, notably through its planned transformation into a public limited company.

Kharrouba Copper Mining: expansion with sustainability at core

Launched as an exploration project in 2008 on a site once operated by French companies during the Protectorate era, Kharrouba Copper Mining has since grown into a copper‑producing operation near Marrakech.

Since 2016, Kharrouba Copper Mining has operated the Jbiel copper mine near Kelaa des Sraghna. A small-scale pilot operation was launched, with support from KCC, a Canadian company that saw strong potential in the Moroccan project.

Backed by exploration investments in trenches and drilling, and supported by geophysics, output has risen to 800 tons of ore per day within a 318 km² mining perimeter that has yet to reveal all its potential.

Culico Metals recently acquired a stake in Kharrouba Copper Mining through a $3 million investment. The deal is enabling Kharrouba Copper Mining to expand output to 1,000 tons of ore per day and to explore new opportunities in the Marrakech region and beyond, with a focus on developing critical metals projects in Morocco.

Confronted with water stress in the arid Jbilet region north of Marrakech, the mine dam was initially fitted with a geomembrane to recycle water. As drought conditions worsened, Kharrouba Copper Mining (KCM) invested in a more efficient recycling system.

The new setup combines a thickening system to reduce sludge with a filter press that recovers water from the plant for reuse in the mining process, cutting operating costs and strengthening water sustainability.