Morocco has a large production capacity for nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), a significant cathode for manufacturing autonomous lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), a vital component for EVs, says a scientific research published in “Next Energy” academic journal.
To benefit most from its strategic mineral resources exported currently in their raw or intermediate forms, Morocco has started refining processes to transform natural manganese ore into a high-purity manganese sulphate precursor.
Regarding nickel and cobalt sulphate, transformational processes were developed by adapting existing facilities to produce the battery-grade precursors necessary for NMC cathodes.
According to researchers, these processes will enable Morocco to produce 600 metric tons of nickel sulphate, 9305 metric tons of cobalt sulphate, and 56,160 metric tons of manganese sulphate, which in turn allows the manufacture of almost 370,000 EVs.
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) play a significant role in the energy sector, especially for electric vehicles (EVs) and portable electronics contributing to mitigating environmental issues resulting from the excessive use of fossil fuels.
According to experts, the battery is a crucial component in EVs, representing around 30% of the vehicle cost. The LIBs global market is projected to increase from 36.7 billion in 2019 to 129.3 billion in 2027, due to their adaptability, high energy conversion performances, and easy-care maintenance .
The demand for LIBs in EVs is expected to rise from 142 GWh in 2018 to 2333 GWh by 2030, accounting for more than 80% of the LIBs worldwide market.
