2024-08-03 23:29:36
The EESC has taken it upon itself to prepare an opinion on strategic and critical minerals in view of the crucial importance of this issue in strengthening national industrial sovereignty and therefore in achieving the country’s economic development, Mr Chami said during a restitution workshop to present the Council’s opinion on the theme of “strategic and critical minerals contributing to Morocco’s industrial sovereignty”.
Developed on the basis of a participatory approach, this opinion is the result of a broad debate between the different categories that make up the Council as well as hearings organized with the main stakeholders concerned, he said, adding that it is part of an international context marked in particular by a strong increase in global demand for these minerals essential to any industry, an acceleration of the energy and digital transition and the consolidation of the bases of food and military sovereignty.
Some of these minerals, he continued, are characterized by their scarcity and the vulnerability of their supply chain which is due in part to geostrategic and political dynamics and economic, social and technological transformations.
In the case of Morocco, the EESC addresses this issue according to a prospective vision of the ecosystem of this category of minerals and its impact on the industrialization and development of the Kingdom, he noted, noting that the planned acceleration of the decarbonization of the national economy requires the development of these mining resources, which Morocco partially has, according to an inclusive and sustainable approach.
In this sense, he highlighted the potential that Morocco has in this area with a resilient mining sector that contributes to national exports up to 26% and to GDP up to 10% and to the creation of approximately 49,500 direct jobs, specifying that the CESE has established an exploratory list of 24 strategic and critical minerals essential for our country, including 7 exploited in Morocco, while addressing the issues of securing access to these types of minerals, as well as the method of managing these resources.
The Council also focused on the importance of promoting national production and optimal positioning on national and global value chains and promoting the responsible and sustainable nature of the exploitation and development of these resources, he continued.
Mr. Chami, however, pointed out the structural weaknesses and a model essentially focused on the export of concentrates and raw products (mainly excluding phosphates and cobalt), which hinder the development of the ecosystem of strategic and critical minerals in Morocco.
According to him, Morocco does not have local production or recovery, neither primary nor secondary via recycling, supply by import remains the only alternative apart from the risk of political instability in certain countries which are major producers of several minerals identified as being critical for Morocco.
Regarding the obstacles that cut across the entire mining sector, the EESC President cited the limited number of plants and processing units in the sector, the lack of tax incentives for mining activities, the slowness and complexity of procedures related to the management of mining stocks, as well as the lack of synergies and the absence of budgets for R&D in the mining sector, forcing operators to take charge of innovation activities themselves.
To meet this challenge, and in line with the forward-looking ambition given by the New Development Model, the EESC recommends a series of recommendations to enable the strategic and critical minerals sector to fully play its role as a responsible contributor to the country’s development and industrial sovereignty, he stressed.
These recommendations are structured around six priority areas that will improve the performance of the mining sector on the economic, social and environmental levels, in particular through the encouragement of investments in mining exploration, the securing and diversification of sources of supply for strategic and critical minerals while establishing a national strategic security stock.
It also involves putting in place specific support measures to encourage the emergence of an industry for recycling metals and industrial waste, and to promote the inclusive and sustainable nature of the mining sector.
2024-08-03 23:29:36