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International Mining( ISSN No: 1747-146X) is published monthly by Team Publishing Ltd, GBR and is distributed in the USA by Asendia USA, 17B South Middlesex Avenue, Monroe NJ 08831 and additional mailing offices. Periodicals postage paid at New Brunswick NJ. POSTMASTER: send address changes to International Mining, 17B South Middlesex Avenue, Monroe NJ 08831
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ISSN 1747-146X
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THE LEADER VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 2
Forward-looking Morocco
Dateline: Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Merzouga n Constitutional monarchy
As the industry is lifting itself out of its with long history of malaise, helped by Brexit and the start of the political stability Trump Presidency, it is likely that the great n Africa’ s most potential of Morocco will receive more attention. Europeanised country
Morocoo is best known for its top ranked n Young country – 65 % of reserves of phosphate, estimated at 50 billion the population is under tonnes. In 2015, Morocco and the Western Sahara 25 years of age came in second to China in terms of phosphate n Excellent network of roads production, mining 30 Mt of phosphate rock. n Thermal coal and hydroelectric energy, emerging
Commenting in December on the first nine solar capabilities months of 2016, Mostafa Terrab, Chairman and n Mining viewed as a driver of economic Chief Executive Officer of OCP, a global leader in the development phosphate and phosphate derivatives markets, n Favourable legislative and tax environment – said:“ Despite softer market conditions and a including five-year tax exemption for new mining contraction of total revenues for the whole fertiliser projects; 50 % tax reduction for miners exporting industry, we were able to sustain good profitability their products and State contribution on levels throughout this period. Our profitability implementation of new infrastructure improved substantially compared to the previous n Underexplored land with significant mineral quarter and has been stable since the beginning of potential this year. This performance was notably driven by n Strategic location with access to global markets. lower input costs, improvements in our operating
The“ emerging solar capabilities” comment is a efficiency, market and product diversification and great example of how the country is looking higher fertiliser sales in high growth markets. forward. The Noor Solar Complex is being
“ We anticipate the market environment to remain developed 10 km northeast of the city of Ouarzazate stable for the remainder of the year as well as for by Masen, the group responsible for managing the beginning of 2017.” renewable energy in Morocco. Phase One of the
The mineral industry is one of Morocco’ s largest project involved the construction of a 160 MW, with foreign exchange earning sectors, dominated by three hours storage, concentrated solar power OCP, but also of importance are the mining of
( CSP) plant named Noor I, while Phase Two involves cobalt, nickel, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, the construction of the 200 MW Noor II CSP plant antimony, fluorspar, barite, talc, clays and salt.( 7.2 hours storage) and the 150 MW Noor III CSP
Australia’ s Kasbah Resources is focused on tin in plant( eight hours storage) and Phase Three will Morocco with two proximal projects. It is the manager involve the construction of the Noor IV CSP plant. It and operator of the Achmmach Tin Project JV. is among the largest( if not the largest) solar power
A positive DFS into a‘ Small Start Option’ for the projects in the world. Over a surface area of 3,000 development of a two-stage, lower throughput, lower ha it is being developed to have a total capacity of capital cost underground mine, concentrator and 580 MW by 2018. associated infrastructure at Achmmach was completed Another sign of the kingdom’ s go-ahead in August 2016. Just 10 km away, Kasbah retains a approach, and underlining the significance of this 100 % interest in the prospective Bou El Jaj tin project. being a country of youth, in January HM the King
Maya Gold and Silver’ s enthusiasm for Morocco inaugurated the Mohammed VI Polytechnic was discussed in detail in the article in September University in Benguerir Green City. This is an 2014. Its Zgounder silver mine is now producing at international university for“ applied research, an annualised rate approaching 600,000 oz. It has innovation and entrepreneurship looking to build discovered some very interesting 2.5 m thick Cu-Au- important links between Morocco, Africa, and the Ag-rich fractures and veins at the mine and world.” It features an education and research model continues with exploration of its projects in the entirely based on innovation and experimentation. country including the Boumadine polymetallic Its main goal is to establish a platform for deposit and a highly-prospective exploration innovation, training the next generation of African property adjacent to Imiter mine. Imiter is Morocco’ s researchers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. biggest silver producer and is among the top ten
John Chadwick silver producers in the world.
Founder Stability, infrastructure and opportunity are john @ im-mining. com reasons Maya puts forward for its interest in the kingdom:
FEBRUARY 2017 | International Mining 3