Morocco is set to make history as the host of Africa’s first battery gigafactory, backed by a landmark $5.6 billion investment from Chinese company Gotion High-Tech.
The project will place Morocco at the heart of the global clean energy race, positioning it as a key supplier of batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.
Beyond its industrial scale, the initiative underscores China’s growing economic presence in Africa while highlighting Morocco’s strategic role as a bridge between the continent and Europe.
According to Khalid Qalam, Gotion’s Moroccan director, construction will begin soon, with earthworks already completed and production scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2026.
The facility will produce batteries, cathodes, and anodes, with Europe serving as the primary export market. Initial operations will create 2,300 jobs, while the full five-phase project is expected to add 10,000 positions.
Gotion aims to supply European automakers as well as Morocco’s own auto hubs, where Renault and Stellantis already operate, while also targeting energy storage markets across Africa and the Middle East, regions naturally suited for renewables with nearly 300 days of sunshine each year.
Located in Kenitra, northwest Morocco, the gigafactory will be led by Gotion High-Tech, one of the world’s largest battery producers. Production is projected to begin in late 2026 with an initial capacity of 20 gigawatt-hours annually, enough to power hundreds of thousands of electric vehicles.
Over time, the plant could scale up to 100 GWh, making Morocco a major global supplier. The first stage alone involves $1.3 billion in investment and is expected to create 17,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Don’t Miss This:
Rwanda To Host Africa’s First Public Flight Of China’s Self-Flying Electric Air Taxi
For Morocco, this project marks a major leap into high-tech manufacturing, diversifying beyond traditional sectors like agriculture and textiles.
Unlike typical assembly plants, the facility will produce critical electrode materials such as cathodes and anodes, allowing for vertical integration that reduces dependence on imports while strengthening supply chain security.
Morocco’s automotive industry has already posted record exports of MAD 157 billion ($15.7 billion) in 2024, a 6.3% increase, after surpassing China, Japan, and India as the EU’s top automotive exporter in 2023.
About 85% of the gigafactory’s output will be exported to the European Union, which is preparing for its 2035 ban on new fossil fuel cars.
By supplying batteries closer to Europe, Morocco helps reduce reliance on long Asian supply routes while cementing its own relevance in the EV revolution.
This investment is part of China’s broader industrial strategy in Africa, where it has steadily expanded its presence in railways, ports, and energy infrastructure.
In Morocco alone, companies such as BTR, CNGR, Hailiang, and Shinzoom are investing in the battery sector, turning the country into a North African hub for green technologies.
For Beijing, the gigafactory strengthens its influence in a region that functions as both a gateway to Europe and a partner in Africa’s development agenda, while advancing its global clean energy supply chain strategy. The Morocco-China partnership carries significance well beyond national borders.
By anchoring Africa’s first battery gigafactory, Morocco is setting a precedent for how the continent can evolve from a supplier of raw materials into a value-added manufacturer in the clean energy economy.
If replicated in resource-rich African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the model could allow Africa to capture greater value from its minerals rather than exporting them cheaply.
For Morocco, the project is both economic and geopolitical, aligning the country more closely with China while reinforcing its trade ties with the European Union.
For Africa, it represents a blueprint of how strategic partnerships can generate jobs, transfer technology, and carve a stronger role in the global industries of the future, according to Business Insider.
As the world accelerates toward clean energy, Morocco’s gigafactory could become a defining model for how African nations transform natural resource wealth into sustainable, long-term prosperity.
Don’t Miss This:
Morocco Emerges As New Gold Contender With Discovery Of High-Grade Deposits In Guelmim
Image Credit: Business Insider Africa
