Morocco signed this weekend a major investment agreement in Tan-Tan to construct the Tan-Tan Polysilicon Plant. The new industrial unit will be for the production of polysilicon. Polysilicon is usually a key material that is used for production of solar panels.

The Tan-Tan polysilicon project is expected to cost approximately MAD 8 billion (about $800 million). Additionally, it is expected to create about 1,500 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect jobs.

Location: El Ouatia industrial zone, near the city of Tan-Tan, in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region of Southern Morocco.

Cost: approximately $800 million

Annual production capacity: 30,000 metric tonnes (MT) of polysilicon.

Key partners involved:

In terms of capacity, the plant will have an annual production capacity of 30,000 tons. Also, 85% of the produce will be exported to international markets.

The agreement for the polysilicon plant was signed by Karim Zidan who is Morocco’s Delegate Minister for Investment and Policy Evaluation and Philip Jenkins, the CEO of the American company GPM Holding.

The polysilicon plant project was classified as a strategic project by Morocco’s National Investment Committee in February 2024. Furthermore, the polysilicon plant aligns with the country’s national strategy for renewable energy.

The project will join others such as the planned $6.5 billion Gotion Gigafactory to strengthen industrial value chains that are related to renewable energy. Additionally, it will position Morocco as a key player in the global energy transition.

Alongside the investment agreement of the Tan-Tan polysilicon plant , the officials signed a cooperation protocol between the Ministry, the region of Guelmim-Oued Noun, the Tan-Tan province, and GPM Holding.

The agreement that was signed focuses on local support for the project, boosting economic integration, developing a regional industrial ecosystem, and training young talents in coordination with educational and specialized institutions.

According to the Ministry of Investment and Policy Evaluation, the initiative reflects the directives of King Mohammed VI to promote productive investment that creates jobs and reduces regional disparities. It also contributes to the broader development momentum in Morocco’s southern provinces.

This is the first major industrial project of its kind in Tan-Tan, marking a milestone in Morocco’s efforts to invest in the southern regions in recent years. The government has been actively supporting initiatives in the three southern regions. This is in a bid to promote local development, create jobs, and strengthen the economic role of Morocco’s southern provinces.