Morocco Launches a Polysilicon Industrial Unit in Tan-Tan and Enhances Investments in Green Hydrogen
The Moroccan government has signed a new investment agreement in Tan-Tan aimed at establishing an industrial unit for the production of polysilicon. This initiative is part of the country’s efforts to promote productive investment and enhance development in the southern regions.
The project aligns with royal directives aimed at creating job opportunities and reducing regional disparities. The agreement was signed by Karim Zidan, the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Investment, Planning, and Evaluation of Public Policies, alongside a representative from GPM Holding SA, for the establishment of a specialized industrial unit in Tan-Tan.
This investment is one of the major projects upon which the kingdom is banking to advance its leadership in renewable energies, particularly industries related to solar panel value chains, thereby reinforcing Morocco’s position as a key player in the global energy transition.
The National Investment Commission granted this project the status of “strategic investment” during its meeting on February 8, 2024, due to its financial value of approximately 8 billion dirhams and its capacity to create 1,500 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect jobs. The unit will also have an annual production capacity of 30,000 tons, 85 percent of which is intended for export.
During the event, a protocol for institutional cooperation was signed to support the project geographically and enhance local economic integration, particularly through the qualification and training of young talents in partnership with training institutions, as well as supporting the establishment of a comprehensive local industrial ecosystem. Participants in the signing included the Ministry of Investment, Planning and Evaluation of Public Policies, the Klamim Oued Noun region, the Tan-Tan province, and GPM Holding SA.
In a related context, the government previously announced the signing of preliminary contracts to allocate land for five investors, both Moroccan and international, to implement six green hydrogen projects in southern Morocco, with a total estimated value of around 319 billion dirhams. This announcement followed a meeting of the steering committee responsible for Morocco’s green hydrogen initiative, chaired by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.
Moreover, Morocco revealed last March the selection of six national and international investors to execute seven green hydrogen projects in the southern regions, including the “ORNX” alliance, which consists of American, Spanish, and German companies for ammonia production, and another alliance featuring Emirates’ TAQA and Spain’s Cepsa, alongside projects from Moroccan company Nareva and Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power, and a Chinese alliance made up of UEG and China Three Gorges.
These investments come at a time when Morocco is accelerating its efforts to secure its energy needs, as it imports 96 percent of its requirements. The country is leveraging its solar and wind resources, as well as its maritime advantages, to develop green hydrogen, aiming to cover more than 4 percent of global demand for this clean energy.
