Chinese battery materials company CNGR Advanced Materials has unveiled ambitious plans to commence the production of critical battery components for electric vehicles (EVs) in Morocco. To bring this vision to fruition, CNGR intends to establish a strategic joint venture with Al Mada, one of Africa’s largest private investment funds. Together, they aim to construct a state-of-the-art facility in Jorf Lasfar, situated within the El Jadida region of Morocco, with the primary goal of processing indigenous raw materials, including cobalt, phosphate, and manganese, into essential battery components.
The primary focus of this collaborative effort will center on the production of precursors for NCM (Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese) and LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) cathode materials, crucial components of modern EV batteries. Additionally, the plant will incorporate recycling facilities, aligning with sustainability objectives. In the initial phase, both companies envision annual production capacities of 120,000 tonnes for NCM precursors, 60,000 tonnes for LFP precursors, and 30,000 tonnes for battery material recycling. This collective effort is poised to yield an impressive annual production capacity of 70 GWh, a substantial figure that can potentially power over one million electric vehicles.
While the primary production objective is aimed at satisfying the surging demand in Europe and America, specific customers have not been disclosed at this juncture.
The project is set to require a substantial investment of approximately 20 billion Moroccan dirhams, equivalent to 1.8 billion euros. Construction is slated to commence later this year, contingent upon securing the necessary permits, with production operations scheduled to commence in 2025.
CNGR Advanced Materials and Al Mada are actively engaged in discussions with the OCP Group, a global leader in phosphate products, to secure the essential raw materials required for the battery components. However, no details regarding suppliers for cobalt and manganese products have been divulged in the official announcement.
The chosen location for this ambitious endeavor, Jorf Lasfar, is strategically positioned along the Atlantic coast, boasting convenient access to a seaport in El Jadida. It is important to note that while Jorf Lasfar has traditionally been recognized for housing Morocco’s largest coal-fired power plant, no specific information regarding the energy supply for the forthcoming battery materials factory has been provided by the partnering companies in their official communication.
