Morocco, although it contains no oil in its bosom, is nonetheless rich in such minerals as tin, gold and diamonds which are available in large deposits present in this country.
However, according to Les Echos Quotidien, a Moroccan daily, this nation in the north of Africa does not utilize its natural resources at a full extent.
Phosphates appear to be the main natural heritage of Morocco, which commands three quarters of their global reserves needed to produce fertilizers.
And the Moroccan authorities are currently mulling to put tin, gold and diamonds on a production conveyor.
As for gold, the Sahara Desert is one of the regions of Morocco, which has a great mining potential for this metal.
Exploration for gold carried out here by a Canadian mining company, Metalex, revealed the presence of its large deposits, as well as diamond deposits and a real potential for uranium mining.
The biggest tin deposit is located in the Moroccan town of Achemmach in the Meknès area.
Australia’s Kasbah Resources has already contracted to conduct exploration and mining operations to produce this silver-white metal. According to this contract, the company will produce four to six thousand tons of tin concentrate, starting from 2013.
Morocco pins high hopes on tin since it is widely used in manufacturing electronic components for automobiles.
To date, the largest producer of tin is China, but due to depletion of its natural resources this country could become a potential buyer of the metal from Morocco.
Following the wake of Metalex and Kasbah Resources, large multinational companies are drawn to Morocco’s mineral wealth as if by a magnet.
Nevertheless, the country’s mining sector continues to be one of the most closed to foreign competition to protect domestic firms.
According to Les Echos Quotidien, exploration, concession and mining activities of foreign companies in Morocco are subject to approval by the State, in particular, by the National Hydrocarbon and Mines Department.
The mining permit duration cannot exceed four years, with a right for three extensions.
In 2010, the Government of Morocco granted 650 licenses to foreign firms and signed 77 concession contracts. According to the newspaper, this figure does not pose any threat to Moroccan companies.
Nevertheless, paleontologist Abderrazak El Albani from the Universite de Poitiers in France, for his part, expressed fears that the wealth of Moroccan mineral resources is too generously transferred to be developed by foreign companies, which ultimately do not work for Morocco.
The scientist regrets the fact that local authorities do not adequately use the services of other Moroccan professionals, like him, working abroad, in order to ensure the exploitation of natural resources of the country by the Moroccans.
"I think Morocco is missing something. Although the country is open to the outside world, it is not sufficiently addressing the potential of Moroccans abroad. There are Moroccans, who are well trained and extremely competent in this area and working in Canada, the United States Germany or France. I know some who are ready to help the country, but they must be given human and financial resources for such research," concluded El Albani.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
