Morocco launches factory for electric battery materials

Morocco has entered the global electric vehicle supply chain with COBCO’s inauguration of a 20-billion-dirham factory at Jorf Lasfar on June 25, marking the kingdom’s strategic leap into green technology manufacturing.

The facility, spanning 238 hectares, represents a joint venture between Moroccan Africa-oriented investment fund Al Mada and Chinese giant CNGR Advanced Materials. As the first factory outside Asia in this sector and ranking among the world’s top four, COBCO (Core Battery Components) positions Morocco as a regional hub for clean technologies.

The plant focuses on producing precursor cathode active materials (pCAM) using Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) technology, with an annual capacity of 120,000 tons. These precursors constitute approximately 30% of lithium-ion battery weight and are crucial for performance. Additional production lines include 60,000 tons of Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) cathodes and a 30,000-ton recycling unit for black mass recovery.

With projected capacity of 70 GWh annually, COBCO can supply key materials for lithoum-ion batteries for one million electric vehicles yearly through a fully integrated technological chain. The facility leverages Morocco’s strategic advantages including free trade agreements with the EU and United States, deep-water port infrastructure at Jorf Lasfar, and access to critical resources.

Employment impact includes 5,000 jobs during construction and 1,800 direct positions plus equivalent indirect employment in operations. Technology transfer initiatives encompass specialized training programs linked to CNGR’s R&D, new industrial skill development, and partnerships with Moroccan universities for energy and materials expertise.

The project responds to global supply chain relocalization trends and European carbon border adjustment requirements, transforming Morocco from raw materials exporter to global technology player capable of mastering battery value chains from refining to recycling.