Toward carbon–neutral transportation: Harnessing Morocco’s critical minerals for sustainable lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are a viable option for achieving carbon neutrality in the transportation sector. A key component of this alternative, lithium-ion batteries (LIB), contributes to developing sustainable and energy-efficient vehicles. Recognising the significance of mineral raw materials for a sustainable LIB supply chain, leading countries have established policies and initiatives to enhance their autonomous sourcing of these critical components. This article examines, for the first time, the Moroccan resources and policies concerning these vital minerals, highlighting the opportunities and challenges in building a robust mining supply chain to support local LIB production. A rigorous examination of prior works has pinpointed the key vital minerals used in LIB, followed by a discussion on Morocco’s potential regarding these critical minerals. Morocco benefits from political stability and possesses significant reserves and production capacity for battery raw materials, including 30 million metric tonnes of phosphates, 1.5 million metric tonnes of manganese, 45 million metric tonnes of cobalt and nickel, 5 million metric tonnes of copper, and further prospective deposits of iron, lithium, and graphite. The findings indicate that although the country’s resource wealth and political stability offer a strong foundation, it is necessary to improve mineral exploration and production levels of these critical minerals, as well as to valorise these reserves, which are currently being exported in their raw or intermediate forms without substantial additional value for the nation. The present study establishes a foundation for sustainable electric mobility through the development of a local industrial ecosystem for LIB.