China’s BTR New Material to develop Morocco’s first EV cluster

China’s BTR New Material Group, a global EV battery component maker, signed a deal with the Moroccan government to build a 300 million dollar-plant in the country to produce cathode.

The plant will produce cathode, a critical material in battery manufacturing, in Mohammed VI Tanger Tech City, the investment ministry said in a statement.

Cathode materials are key ingredients for determining the battery capacity and life of electric vehicles.

BTR New Material Group’s investment marks the first EV ecosystem in Morocco, which plans to build on availability of raw material to attract global manufacturers.

The 15-hectare factory will employ 2500 people and produce 25,000 tons of cathode by September 2026, before reaching full capacity at 50,000 tons, the ministry in charge of investment said.

“This investment in the electric vehicle sector is not isolated. It is the first in an upcoming series of large-scale projects, which would position the Kingdom as an attractive hub for EV battery manufacturing,” minister in charge of investments Jazouli was quoted as saying.

“Morocco is determined, under the enlightened leadership of HM King Mohammed VI…to strengthen its foothold as a continental and regional hub in the automotive industry, by playing a key role in the revolution of green mobility,” he said.