Morocco’s energy transition minister, Leila Benali, outlined an ambitious plan to reform the country’s mining sector, pledging stronger worker protections, streamlined regulations and deeper integration of mining regions into the national economy.
The mining industry accounts for nearly 10% of Morocco’s gross domestic product, 20% of export value and provides more than 40,000 direct jobs, making it a cornerstone of economic growth, Benali told MPs.
The overhaul includes a new mining law, Bill 72-24, replacing a previous draft withdrawn in 2021.
The legislation prioritizes worker safety, introducing a professional card to guarantee miners’ rights. It also simplifies administrative procedures, promotes mineral processing, and creates a national committee for strategic minerals, she said.
The reforms aim to improve governance and strengthen local supply chains, Benali said, adding that mining regions such as Tafilalet, Figuig and Jerada will be integrated into the national strategy through modernization programs, technical support and specialized industrial zones.
Jerada will also see a digital platform linking coal miners directly to the domestic market, she said.
Future plans include a national digital mining register in 2026 to consolidate more than 240 procedures, and transforming the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines into the National Office of Mining Industries under Bill 56-24, Benali added.
Infrastructure projects connecting Nador and Jorf Lasfar, along with initiatives to recycle mineral materials, are also part of the strategy, she said, noting that the reforms reflect Morocco’s push for industrial sovereignty and innovation in a sector critical to its economy.
