The COBCO company inaugurated its first lithium-ion battery materials production unit on Wednesday with an annual production capacity of 40,000 tons in Jorf Lasfar. This move marks a strategic turning point towards establishing a comprehensive industrial ecosystem for batteries in Morocco.
The project is part of the first phase of investments by COBCO’s integrated industrial complex, which specializes in the manufacturing of advanced precursor materials (pCAM) for nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMC) based cathodes. These elements are essential for electric vehicle batteries and stationary energy storage systems.
This achievement is the result of a strategic partnership between the Moroccan Investment Fund “Mada” and CNGR Advanced Materials, a global leader in battery materials. The project spans over 200 hectares, establishing a strategic platform for developing clean technology industries in Morocco and enhancing the country’s position as a key player in global green technology value chains.
Moroccan ambitions extend to the establishment of three complementary industrial projects, with a total investment estimated at several billion dirhams and a production capacity equivalent to 70 GWh annually, sufficient to equip around one million electric vehicles each year. The complex will produce 120,000 tons of NMC cathode materials and 60,000 tons of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathodes, along with bio-metal refining units and recycling facilities for black mass, processing more than 60,000 tons annually.
The project is expected to create over 5,000 job opportunities during the construction phase and 1,800 direct and 1,800 indirect jobs once the factory commences operations. Special attention will be given to training Moroccan talents and transferring technical expertise through partnerships with national universities and technological institutions.
Amid global shifts towards more sustainable production chains and compliance with new environmental requirements such as the European carbon tax, COBCO emerges as a new industrial player leveraging Morocco’s strategic advantages: low-cost green energy, geographic proximity to Europe and America, significant mineral resources, and extensive free trade agreements.
COBCO’s board of directors noted that the new factory was built and operational in less than a year, reflecting the readiness of the Moroccan investment environment to welcome advanced global industry projects. COBCO demonstrates a strong commitment to innovation, industrial excellence, and environmental protection, with its environmental strategy aiming for 80% renewable energy usage by 2025 and 100% by the end of 2026, alongside projects for desalination, recycling, and acquiring certifications that conform to international environmental standards such as ISO 14064, ISO 14044, and ISO 50001.
Through this pioneering project, Morocco reinforces its position as a leading industrial platform in Africa and the southern Mediterranean, actively contributing to the global transition towards a low-carbon, environmentally friendly economy.
