Morocco launches digital mining cadastre to cut red tape and boost investments

Leila Benali began by directly addressing mining workers during her speech at GITEX 2026, emphasizing that this project crowns efforts toward deep reform in the sector. This process includes not only a legal overhaul, but also the launch of new tenders and changes to mining licenses.

Through this new platform, the Kingdom seeks to honor its legacy as a "vibrant hub of trade and minerals" by ushering in a new era for this strategic pillar of the national economy.

The minister painted a stark picture of a bygone era — a mining potential "buried under mountains of paperwork," tangled archives, and months of waiting for a simple signature.

The digital mining cadastre stands as the technological answer to these obstacles. This unified platform connects three key pillars: potential, data, and law. Through cutting‑edge tools, it enables:

- Automated spatial control

- Resolving permit overlaps

- Using artificial intelligence to ensure immediate legal security

"Making the invisible visible"

One of the major innovations lies in data overlay. By combining geoscientific data and mapping with solar and wind energy zoning, the platform puts an end to exploration "in the dark." Investors now gain a clear view of the territory, transforming decades of archives into a fluid, real‑time system. "The rule is now the same for everyone," the minister insisted.

This project also embodies the Kingdom’s ESG vision — environment, social, and governance. According to the minister, it materializes the commitment made during the Marrakech Declaration of November 2024, where more than 40 African nations pledged to build a responsible mining sector. The goal is for each project to genuinely benefit local communities while respecting the environment.

Technology in the service of humanity

Leila Benali emphasized that "technology has no meaning if it does not serve people." In this spirit, she announced an additional step currently under development: adapting the system to make it fully accessible to visually impaired individuals. For the minister, opportunities should never face physical barriers.

By inviting "partners who share the same vision" to help build this sustainable future, the minister concluded her speech by officially launching Morocco’s new digital mining cadastre.

Secteur des mines : fin de l’opacité, le cadastre minier marocain entre dans l'ère du 2.0